Passenger manifest for the SS
Paris showing Dean Lalich as a child (age 7) on line
9. His father Paul, a naturalized U.S.
citizen, appears on the preceding line and two
siblings follow.
it would appear that the family is
being reunited as Dean's sister Mildred is 3 years
older and his brother Braniselev is a year younger
yet both were born in Pancevo, Yugoslavia [now
Serbia] whereas Dean was born in Detroit.
The Paris [color photo] was the
largest liner under the French flag, at 34,569 tons.
On 18 April 1939 the ship caught fire [center photo]
while docked in Le Havre and temporarily blocked the
new superliner Normandie from exiting dry dock. She
capsized and sank in her berth where she remained
until after World War II, almost a decade later. A
video shows the SS Paris on fire and capsizing.
While the Liberté was being
refitted in Le Havre, a December gale tore the ship
from her moorings and threw her into the
half-submerged wreck of the Paris [photo at right].
She settled quickly, but fortunately in an upright
position. Six months later she was refloated and by
spring 1947 she was in St. Nazaire for her final
rebuilding. |
Draft card for Dean Lalich showing
as a member of Co L, 165th Infantry, National Guard
which was later deactivated. He was recalled
to active duty, by General Order 360, AGO, NY
Dean enlisted in the Army at New
York City, NY on 23 October 1942 and completed
parachute school on 5 March 1943 as a member of
Company E, 508th.
Pvt Lalich was transferred to the
parachute pool at Fort Benning on 15 April 1943.
Dean was discharged from the Army
on 14 August 1943. He married Dorothy Blanche
on 26 December 1944. |