World War II Honoree

James J. Zeleznikar

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Barberton, Ohio

Honored By

Zandra Cirar

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AT BASTOGNE, FRANCE. SERVED WITH COMPANY A, 144TH INFANTRY, CANNON COMPANY, 320TH INFANTRY, 35TH DIVISION 'SANTA FE DIVISION'. BATTLED 10 MONTHS ACROSS THE ELBE RIVER WITHIN 42 MILES OF BERLIN. HITTING OMAHA BEACH JULY 7, 1944 THE 35TH FORCED THE GERMANS FROM ST. LO, BROKE THE COUNTER-OFFENSIVE AT MORTAIN, SWEPT ACROSS FRANCE, CRACKED INTO GERMANY'S SAAR VALLEY DECEMBER 12 AND THEN INTO BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG AGAINST VON RUNDSTEDT'S ARDENNES BULGE. AWARDED THE EXPERT COMBAT INFANTRYMENS BADGE, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS RIBBON WITH 3 BATTLE STARS AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.