World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
James Novak
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Chicago, Illinois
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. SERVED IN EUROPE, WHERE HE EXPERIENCED COMBAT WITH REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, 502ND PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO PARACHUTED INTO THE SAINT-MARTIN-DE-VARREVILLE AREA ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODENAMED: OPERATION OVERLORD. ON THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1944 HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING HIS REGIMENT’S OBJECT TO SEIZE AND CONTROL THE CANAL EXITS, THREE AND FOUR AT SAINT-MARTIN-DE-VARREVILLE AND AUDOUVILLE-LA-HUBERT, FRANCE. HE WAS BURIED IN THE TEMPORARY VII CORPS BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY NEAR SAINT MERE EGLISE, FRANCE. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATION AND CITATION: THIS SOLDIER, AN AMERICAN PATRIOT, WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.