Grave marker for Cpl Walter J. Bednarz in the Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Cemetery, Adams, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Cpl Bednarz, HQ 3rd, was killed in action on 18 September
1944, in Berg en Dal, Holland.. He was awarded the Purple Heart. |
 Body
of War Hero
Arrives Wednesday
Corp. Walter J. Bednarz,
former Company M member, posthumous holder of the Distinguished Service
Cross, and son of John Bednarz of 131/2 Hoosac street, who
was killed in action Sept 18, 1944 in Holland while serving with the
paratroops, will arrive in Adams Wednesday afternoon aboard the 1:57
o'clock train from Pittsfield.
Funeral Director Anthony Bloniarz will meet the body and remove it
to the funeral home, 17 Hoosac street. Military arrival honors
will ne paid by the repatriation committee of Adams post, American
Legion. Funeral plans are incomplete but services probably will be
held Thursday morning at St. Stanislaus Kostka church. Burial will
be in St. Stanislaus cemetery beside his mother who died Feb. 10, 1924.
Corp. Bednarz one of two Adams residents to receive the Distinguished
service cross, this country's second highest military decoration, was 23
years of age when he lost his life in te invasion of Holland. The
other Word War 2 veteran to win the posthumous award was Lieut. Col.
Sterling S. Burnette, who was killed in France, Dec. 11 1944.
Corp. Bednarz was born in Adams, a son of John Bednarz and the late
Mrs.. Theresa Bednarz. He was graduated from St. Stanislaus
Parochial school, and attended Adams high school. He was a member
of St. Stanislaus Kostka church and the Polish Alliance drum corps.
He entered federal service with Company M, January 16, 1941,
serving with that unit for 18 months, and then transferred to the
paratroops. He received his wings on March 14 1943 and was sent
overseas in October of that year. He served in England until
D-Day, when he went to France to take part in the initial invasion
there. He was wounded in action July 4 in France, and was returned
to England for hospitalization for burns. After two weeks he
returned to active duty with the 508th parachute infantry unit, and was
serving with that outfit when the airborne invasion of Holland cost his
life.
His body was returned to this country late in December aboard the
army transport Barney Kirshbaum and has been at the Schenectady , N.Y.
receiving station since
NOTE: References to Company M are for
a local National Guard unit. |
