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Personal info

Full name
GACEK, Thomas
Date of birth
22 May 1926
Age
18
Place of birth
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Hometown
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
36473571
Rank
Private First Class
Function
unknown
Unit
119th Infantry Regiment,
30th Infantry Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
6 April 1945
Place of death
In the vicinity of Afferde, southeast of Hameln, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
J 3 22

Immediate family

Members
Bartholomew Gacek (father)
Bernice A. (Juszczyk) Gacek (mother)
Lottie M. Gacek (sister)
Genevieve A. Gacek (sister)
Matthew Gacek (brother)
Jeannette Gacek (sister)

More information

Pfc Thomas Gacek enlisted at Fort Sheridan, Illinois on 14 August 1944.

Per Col. R. Baker, Commanding: The company was attacking with the Second Armored Division. They were riding tanks of this unit and providing infantry support for them in the drive east from Afferde, Germany to Schulenberg, Germany. He was killed instantly by German Panzerfaust fire during a fierce fight when they met a group of German tanks.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record,
www.ancestry.com – 1930/1940 Census, www.oldhickory30th.com, WWII Draft Cards

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Thomas Kovach