World War II Honoree

John W. Wolinsky

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Swoyersville, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER FOR BASIC TRAINING AND ENGINEER MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (MOS) ADVANCED TRAINING. HIS BATTALION STAGED AT CAMP MYLES STANDISH AT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. HE SAILED ABOARD THE FAST TROOP TRANSPORT SHIP USS WAKEFIELD (AP-21) FROM THE BOSTON PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JULY 26, 1944, AND ARRIVED IN LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND ON AUGUST 1, 1944. HIS UNIT LANDED IN FRANCE ON AUGUST 28, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) WITH THE 551ST ENGINEER HEAVY PONTOON BATTALION. HIS BATTALION PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HIS DUTIES INCLUDED ASSEMBLING PONTOON BRIDGES. WHILE HIS BATTALION WAS CONSTRUCTING A VIADUCT OVER THE MOSELLE RIVER IN FRANCE IN SEPTEMBER, 1944, IT CAME UNDER STEADY FIRE FROM GERMAN ARTILLERY. THERE WAS LITTLE COVER AND HIS COMPANY SERGANT WAS HIT AND LOST BOTH LEGS WHILE LEADING THE WORK PARTY. A NUMBER OF OTHER SOLDIERS WERE ALSO KILLED OR WOUNDED. DURING THE BARRAGE, HE NOTICED A TERRIFIED BROWN AND WHITE STRAY DOG AND RESCUED IT. HE TOOK IT BACK TO THEIR CAMP, NAMED IT '88' AFTER THE GERMAN ANTIAIRCRAFT GUN, AND FED, WATERED AND PLAYED WITH THE DOG. THE DOG HELPED HIS UNIT'S MORALE AND REMINDED THEM OF HOME AND A HAPPIER TIME OF LIFE. AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HE SERVED WITH ARMY OCCUPATION FORCES IN GERMANY. LATER, WHEN THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT UNCONDITIONALLY SURRENDERED IN AUGUST, 1945, HIS UNIT WAS AT MUNSTER, GERMANY SCHEDULED FOR REASSIGNMENT TO THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER. THOSE ORDERS WERE AMENDED AND HIS BATTALION RETURNED TO THE BOSTON PORT ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1945. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (3 CAMPAIGNS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH 'GERMANY' CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.