World War II Honoree

Richard A. Graczyk

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Richard Graczyk

Relationship

Son

Richard A. Graczyk: Volunteered in the U.S. Army. He served during WWII in the Pacific theater from May,1943 to January 1946. He was assigned to the 41st Division, General MacArthur's "Jungleers", Battery A, 218th Field Artillery Battalion, and was promoted to Sergeant after 5 months as private. ** He operated machine gun positions and 155M Howitser Cannons. ** Military occupational specialties were: Basic Training inf (521) Cannoneer (531) Machine Gunner (531) Ammunition NCO (864) ** ** He participated in the following combat operations as mentioned in personal photos after leaving Fort Mason in San Francisco, Ca in a convoy bound for Australia (Melbourne?). ** Battle of Wadke, May 1944 – Dutch New Guinea ** Battle of Biak , May-August 1944 – Western New Guinea (Netherlands East Indies) ** Battle of Mindoro, December 1944 – Philippine Islands ** Battle of Zamboanga, March – August 1945 – Philippine Islands ** ** Following Japanese formal surrender on September 2, 1945 the 218th Field Artillery Battalion was assigned responsibility for a series of islands south of Hiroshima and to the west of Kure. Battery A of the 218th Battalion moved to Eta Jima on 27 October and three days later was followed by the remainder of the unit. ** He was discharged in January, 1946 and returned to United States via San Francisco, Ca, traveled by train back to Chicago, Il. ** 41st Division – General MacArthur's "Jungleers" WWII Combat Operations: Sanananda Salamaua Toem Soepiori Basilan Busanga Morobe Aitape Wadke Palawan Sanga Sanga Jolo Nassau Bay Hollandia Biak Zamboanga Bongao Davao.