World War II Honoree

Max Afanesko

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Curtisville, Pennsylvania

Honored By

A Grateful American

SERVED IN COMPANY C, 272ND INFANTRY OF THE FIGHTING 69TH DIVISION AS A MASTER SERGEANT. HE WAS CHOSEN BY GENERAL HODGES TO SERVE AS AN INTERPRETER BETWEEN THE AMERICAN FIRST ARMY AND THE RUSSIAN FORCES AT THE HISTORIC MEETING OF THE ALLIES. AT ELBE RIVER, HE CROSSED ENEMY LINES FREEING 100 U.S. PRISONERS OF WAR. RECIPIENT OF THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.