World War II Honoree

John J. Zubal

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private 1st Class. On March 12, 1943, he entered the United States Army at Altoona, Pennsylvania, deployed to England after the completion of his Combat Infantry Training. He served as a member of the 66th Infantry ‘Black Panther’ Division, assigned to Baker Company, 1st Battalion an element of the 264th Infantry Regiment. Sunday December 24, 1944, while on deployment from Southampton, England to Cherbourg, France, crossing the English Channel aboard the SS Leopoldville, it came under attack by the German Submarine, U-486. The Submarine Commander fired two torpedoes, striking the ship, which began to sink slowing in the frigid waters five miles from the coastal shoreline of Cherbourg, France with a loss of 802 lives. Killed in action, Monday, December 25, 1944 and buried in the Saint-Mere-Eglise #2 Battlefield Cemetery in Carentan, France. After the cessation of hostilities in Europe, his remains were transferred, with interment in the Normandy American cemetery located at Colleville-sur-Mer, France. This Soldier, an American Patriot, awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life for his country.