In the United States on Memorial Day, we remember men and women who lost their lives in the Armed Forces. I thought perhaps this thread could highlight some of our brave WW 2 soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice. I'm starting with this story from my book, Always Remember - World War II Through Veterans' Eyes Joseph Slosarczyk of Wisconsin served with the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Slosarczyk was affectionately known as “Joking Joe Jones’ by his platoon, because “he always loused it up” when telling a joke and “…the guys enjoyed this more than the joke because he was so funny,” according to his buddy Robert L. Williams of Union, Kentucky. But Joking Joe never joked about a premonition he had; he was convinced that he would die in combat. “Joe could always get an argument by saying he knew he wasn’t coming back,” Williams recalled. When Joking Joe’s buddies argued that nobody could predict the future, “…he was adamant and never gave in on that point.” When Williams asked Joking Joe to take a picture with him so it could be sent home to relatives, Joking Joe agreed saying “somebody would have a picture to remember him by.” Williams didn’t argue with Joking Joe; he knew he couldn’t convince him otherwise. Joking Joe was a kind-hearted fellow so Williams considered it fitting the Army selected Joking Joe to be in charge of releasing pigeons for communication purposes during maneuvers: “He would release them from our jump planes tucked in a paper sack to protect their feathers from the wind. They would escape the sack and fly back to base.” Shortly after midnight on the eve of D-Day, Joking Joe and the rest of the paratrooper platoon prepared for their jump into occupied France. Because of his assignment, Williams recalled Joking Joe brought something extra in his packs: We were all loaded down with equipment, guns, and ammunition, but Joe was also carrying two of his birds in paper sacks…He was confident that “His birds” would save the whole outfit by flying back to England with important information. As a defensive measure in preparation of an invasion, the Germans opened and closed the locks of the dams controlling the Merderet and Douve Rivers causing the fields and marsh areas to flood. Loaded down with their heavy equipment, many of the paratroopers drowned in the deep water. Joking Joe made it out, but soon discovered his pigeons had drowned. “It was tragic to Joe,” Williams recalled. “Heart breaking, yet funny to the rest of us as we remembered the many months of serious training, he had put in.” But out of respect for Joking Joe, none of the men laughed at the dead pigeons. The pigeons, too, foretold Joking Joe’s fate. Soon after losing his beloved pigeons, and nearly drowning himself after the D-Day jump, Joking Joe became the radio operator for the platoon. During heavy fighting around Carentan on D-Day plus 4, Joe “…manned a radio all night and day without relief…” A runner for D Company, also under heavy fire, arrived requesting a radio man. The Sergeant looked at Joe who “…protested that he was exhausted and needed to rest,” Williams remembered. “But when informed that he was the only man available, he headed for D company. Joe believed in God and country. He could not shirk his duty.” Despite being hungry and exhausted, having had little sleep or food for the past five days, Joking Joe volunteered to work the radio for D company. At about 4:00 pm in the afternoon, in the orchards and hedge rows just north of Carentan, Joking Joe stood up momentarily “…and caught a rifle bullet in the chest. It took just five days in battle for Joe’s prediction to come true. Just like he always said, he wasn’t going home.” Joking Joe Slosarczyk’s premonition had correctly foretold his future, Slosarczyk was buried with 9,387 American military dead at the Normandy American Cemetery on the bluff overlooking Omaha Beach. When Robert Williams returned to Normandy in June 1994 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day with a parachute jump, Williams carried the treasured picture he and Joe had taken of themselves in his left breast pocket. Here's the picture Williams (left) took with Slosarczyk (on the right).
Captain Hugh Woollatt, Lancs. Fusiliers escaped from the OFLAG VB Biberach and made a home run, only to die in action on D-day - one of my heroes in my book ready by end 20021 Stefan.
