IN PARACHUTE INFANTRY
Pfc John A. Kazlauskas, is now
a member of the 508th Parachute Infantry, in combat training at Camp
Mackall, NC. His mother Mrs. J. A. Kazlauskas resides at 629
East Fourth street. He joined the Army March 24, 1942 and won
his wings as a United States parachutist on January 21, 1943.
The 508th Parachute regiment, made up of trained jumpers, recently
returned to camp from airborne maneuvers in the field. The
commanding general, impressed by its "excellent showing", commended
the "spirit and discipline shown at all times by the men, in
spite of inclement weather, fatigues, loss of sleep and hunger."
The 508th is commanded by Colonel Roy e. Lindquist, 36, West Point
class of '30 and a pioneer parachutist.
[Mount Carmel Item, Mount Carmel, PA, Thursday,
July 29, 1943, Page 8] |
Local Paratrooper
Wounded In Belgium
Pfc John A. Kazlauskas, 25, son of Mrs. Mary A.
Kazlauskas, 109 south Spruce street, this city, was slightly wounded
in action in Belgium on December 24, according to official note
received by his mother.
A paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, commanded by Mount
Carmel's Maj. Gen. James M. Gavin, Pfc Kazlauskas fought in
Italy, took part in the invasion of France on D-Day, and was in on
the 82nd's brilliant work in Holland before going into Belgium.
A Mount Carmel High School graduate, he entered the service three
years ago and has now been overseas a year.
[Mount Carmel Item, Mount Carmel, PA, Monday,
January 22, 1945, Page 7] |
WOUNDED IN BELGIUM
Pfc John A. Kazlauskas, a 1938 graduate of Mount Carmel High
School, was slightly wounded in action in Belgium. He was a
paratrooper with the Airborne Division commanded by Major General
James M. Gavin, a former Mount Carmel Boy.
[Mount Carmel Item, Mount Carmel, PA, Friday,
January 26, 1945, Page 5]
 Soldiers
Discharged
At Indiantown Gap
INDIAN TOWN GAP, Nov. 30 --- The list
of Pennsylvania soldiers discharged from the service through the
Separation Center, Indiantown Gap Military Reservation includes
[bottom line]
Pfc John A. Kazlauskas, 109 south Spruce
street, Mount Carmel.
[Mount Carmel Item, Mount Carmel, PA, Friday,
November 30, 1945, Page 3] |
Pennsylvania WW Veterans
Bonus application submitted by John A. Kazlauskas on 20 February 1950.
He received the maximum bonus of $500.
Most of John's service
history was captured in the 4 news articles shown at left.
John was promoted from Pvt
to Pfc on 21 July 1944 following the regiment's return from Normandy. Up
until that point he had been assigned to Company A but was transferred
to Hq 1st on 7 August 1944.
After Pfc Kazlauskas was
wounded on Christmas eve, 1944 he was evacuated to a field hospital.
He did not return to duty until 31 March 1945 so his "slight wound" must
have been more serious than reported.
In reading these articles
and seeing two of them proudly informing readers that Major General
Gavin was from Mount Carmel as well makes one wonder whether the two
hometown boys ever had a chat. |
