Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
MATYSAK, Michael Felix - Date of
birth
12 July 1910 -
Age
34 - Place of
birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois -
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36326709 -
Rank
Technician Fifth Grade -
Function
Cook -
Unit
E Company,
2nd Battalion,
325th Glider Infantry Regiment,
82nd Airborne Division
-
Awards
unknown
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
5 February 1945 - Place of
death
Between Udenbreth, Germany and Vielsalm, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 10 | 22 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Michael Matysak (father)
Clara (Detlaff) Matysak (mother)
Henry Schwartfeger (step-father)
Helen Matysak (sister)
Frank Matysak (brother)
Mariana Matysak (sister)
Andrew Matysak (brother)
Catherine Matysak (sister)
Albert J. Matysak (brother)
Julia 'Sophia' Matysak (sister)
Henry H. Schwartfeger (half-brother)
Clara Schwartfeger (half-sister)
Arthur W. Schwartfeger (half-brother)
Rose L. (Mezzano) Matysak (wife)
More information
T/5 Michael F. Matysak worked as a salesman and a roofer before he enlisted at Camp Grant, Illinois on 26 March 1942. He was transferred to Camp Claiborne in Louisiana, where he joined his regiment.His father emigrated in 1882 from Germany and married. His mother also emigrated from Germany (probably in 1880). Michael had already five older sisters and brothers. Michael was 4 years old when his father passed away. Two years later his mother remarried with Henry Schwartfeger. Three more brothers and sisters were born.
He was sitting in the back of a truck when somehow a wrecked friendly tank, towed by a recovery vehicle incidentally turned the turret. The barrel of the tank hit the skull of Michael and he died shortly after. Four other men were also killed during this incident, Wilbur T. Fields, Howard W. Morrison, Charles P. Ricotta, Sidney W. Samuels.
His younger stepbrother, Henry H Schwartfeger, was killed during the battle of Saipan in the Pacific on 11 July 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.archives.gov, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com - www.ancestry.com - 1920/1930 Census / Henske Family Tree by eric_henske, www.findagrave.com - CWGC/ABMC, www.ww2-airborne.us, Form 180, Danny Ter Horst
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Chicago Daily News - 20 May 1942 - courtesy of Kathy McDermott