World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Theodore J. Dziennik
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Chicago, Illinois
Honored By
Patrick T. Daily
Relationship
Son
SERGEANT; RIFLEMAN WITH 9TH 'THE VARSITY' INFANTRY, 39TH 'ANYTHING ANYWHERE, ANYTIME BAR NOTHING' REGIMENT, COMPANY 'E'. SERVED FROM JULY 15, 1942 TO SEPTEMBER 22, 1945; OVERSEAS FROM MARCH 17, 1943 TO DECEMBER 20, 1944. TRAINED AT CAMP ROBERTS, CALIFORNIA. ENGAGED IN FIRST COMBAT IN TUNISIA AND WAS FIRST INFANTRY UNIT TO ENTER BIZERTE. RETURNED TO ENGLAND, RE-DEPLOYED TO SICILY WITH 7TH ARMY UNDER GENERAL PATTON, LANDED AT PALERMO ON AUGUST 2, 1943. FOUGHT THROUGH TO THE CENTER OF THE ISLAND, HELPED CAPTURE TROINA AND DEFEAT THE GERMANS AT RANDAZZO AND MESINA. RETURNED TO ENGLAND. DEPARTED SOUTHAMPTON WITH 1ST ARMY UNDER GENERAL BRADLEY, LANDED ON UTAH BEACH ON JULY 10, 1944, D-DAY+4. CUT OFF THE COTENTIN PENINSULA WITH VII CORPS, SECURED THE CRITICAL PORT OF CHERBOURG. THE 9TH THEN FOUGHT ACROSS NORTHERN FRANCE, BELGIUM AND DEEP INTO GERMANY. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE; THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT; THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL FOR WOUNDS SUSTAINED IN ACTION AT CHERBOURG, FRANCE ON JUNE 24, 1944; THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON; THE ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL; THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL; THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER (5 AWARDS) AND 1 BRONZE STAR FOR THE 6 CAMPAIGNS OF TUNISIA, SICILY, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ALSACE-ARDENNES, AND THE RHINELAND AND THE BRONZE ARROWHEAD FOR THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT ON SICILY; AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. THE 39TH REGIMENT RECEIVED 3 DISTINGUISHED PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATIONS; 2 FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE MEDALS WITH PALMS; THE BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR HAVING BEEN CITED IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY OF THE BELGIAN ARMY FOR ACTIONS CROSSING THE MEUSE RIVER AT DINNAT, BELGIUM ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1944 AS WELL AS FOR ACTION IN THE ARDENNES. ALSO RECEIVED THE FRENCH FOURRAGERE FOR 2 CITATIONS IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY OF THE FRENCH ARMY. DISCHARGED AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS, EARNING THE 'RUPTURED DUCK' LAPEL PIN FOR HONORABLE SERVICE.