World War II Honoree

Stanley E. Czernecki

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lawton, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE ON OCTOBER 28, 1943. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP FANNIN AT TYLER, TEXAS AND FORT ORD AT MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA. PARTICIPATED IN THE NEW GUINEA AND LEYTE CAMPAIGNS. DURING ONE COMBAT OPERATION, HE AND 21 OTHER SOLDIERS WERE GIVEN THE MISSION TO ELIMINATE AN ENEMY MACHINE GUN POSITION. ONLY HE AND ONE OTHER SOLDIER RETURNED FROM THAT MISSION. DURING OPERATIONS ON LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, HE WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION, CAPTURED BY THE JAPANESE, HELD FOR THREE DAYS AND LEFT FOR DEAD. HE WAS RESCUED BY AMERICAN FORCES, MEDICALLY EVACUATED AND THEN HOSPITALIZED ON LEYTE. LATER EVACUATED BACK TO THE STATES AND HOSPITALIZED AT BROOKE ARMY HOSPITAL IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND THEN AT THE VETERAN'S HOSPITAL IN HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS FOR TREATMENT OF HIS WOUNDS. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. QUALIFIED FOR THE EXPERT MARKSMANSHIP BADGE. MEDICALLY DISCHARGED ON MARCH 11, 1945 AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.