World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Stanley Florian Nykiel
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Chicago, Illinois
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS A UNITED STATES MARINE WHO EXPERIENCED COMBAT IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. SERVED WITH INDIA COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 22ND MARINES, SIXTH MARINE ‘THE STRIKING SIXTH’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA (INVASION DATES: EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 1-JUNE 22, 1945), CODE NAMED: OPERATION ICEBERG WAS FOUGHT ON THE RYUKYU ISLANDS OF OKINAWA, THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT IN THE PACIFIC WAR OF WWII. KILLED IN ACTION TUESDAY, MAY 15, 1945 AND WAS BURIED IN THE SIXTH MARINE DIVISION BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON OKINAWA. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS COUNTY AND FAMILY WITH MILITARY HONORS. INTERMENT IN THE SAINT ADALBERT CATHOLIC CEMETERY, NILES, ILLINOIS ON MARCH 29, 1949.