World War II Honoree

Frank F. Paczkowski

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Jersey City, New Jersey

Honored By

Mr. Richard Pace

Relationship

Nephew

INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY ON 9/24/42 AT NEWARK, NEW JERSEY AT AGE 24. SENT TO THE ANTI-AIRCRAFT TRAINING CENTER AT CAMP STEWART, HINESVILLE, GEORGIA. EMBARKED FROM THE PORT OF NEW YORK ON 3/5/43 ONBOARD THE TROOPSHIP SS MONTEREY AND DEBARKED AT THE U.S. NAVAL OPERATING BASE, CASABLANCA, MOROCCO ON 3/18/43. SERVED AS AN ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY GUNNER IN THE NORTH AFRICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AT CASABLANCA, MOROCCO; TUNIS, TUNISIA AND ORAN, ALGERIA WITH THE 637TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS BATTALION. ON 7/22/44 THEY WERE SHIPPED FROM THE U.S. NAVAL OPERATING BASE, ORAN, ALGERIA TO THE PORT OF NAPLES, ITALY. ON 8/5/44 HE WAS ASSIGNED TO SERVE AS A HEAVY MORTAR CREWMAN IN THE CHEMICAL WARFARE SERVICE. HE WAS A MEMBER OF A 5-MAN 4.2 INCH MORTAR CREW. THEY SET UP, AIMED AND FIRED WEAPON FROM A CARRIER OR GROUND MOUNT TO PLACE EXPLOSIVE, TOXIC GAS, SHELLS OR SMOKE ON ENEMY POSITIONS. SERVED IN COMPANY C, 100TH CHEMICAL MORTAR BATTALION, 5TH ARMY. BY MAY 8, 1945 (V-E DAY) THE BATTALION HAD FIRED 62,679 ROUNDS AT THE ENEMY. AS A PART OF OPERATION MAGIC CARPET, HE EMBARKED FROM ITALY ON 9/29/45 ONBOARD THE LIBERTY SHIP SS ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL AND DEBARKED AT THE PORT OF BOSTON ON 10/12/45. HE WAS AT CAMP MYLES STANDISH, TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS THE NEXT DAY. BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS: ROME-ARNO 1944; NORTHERN APENNINES 1944-1945 AND PO VALLEY 1945. DECORATIONS: GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HE EARNED A MARKSMAN BADGE WITH A RIFLE BAR M1 GARAND AT CAMP STEWART, GEORGIA. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON 10/18/45 AT THE ARMY SEPARATION CENTER, FORT DIX, WRIGHTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY.