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DEAN LALICH

 

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.

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