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PFC John Jukas 117th Inf Reg 30 Inf Div Old Hickory

Discussion in 'Military Service Records & Genealogical Research' started by Cas, Jun 19, 2013.

  1. Cas

    Cas Member

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    Hi Guys,

    I adopted another grave at the Henri Chapelle Cemetary in Belgium, that of PFC John Jukas from Penssylvania KIA January 22nd 1945 and awarded Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

    Can anyone help with me research ?
     
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  2. Skipper

    Skipper Kommodore

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  3. Cas

    Cas Member

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    Thanks Skipper, I missed the sortedbyname link, Ancestry is no help for me since I don't have an account..... perhaps anyone does

    I currently have 2 graves on Margraten (both in contact with the family) and 5 on Henri Chapelle, with a request for one more pending
     
  4. KodiakBeer

    KodiakBeer Member

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  5. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    From www.abmc.gov website, his ASN is 33621051. Here is his NARA electronic enlistment record:

    View attachment 18971
     

    Attached Files:

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  6. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Good one ,Tommy. You got to it before I did. Thanks Cas for finding out as much as you can when you adopt a grave.
     
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  7. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    I just came across some additional info:

    From: Schuylkill County's Hero Dead of WWII in the Pottsville Republican newspaper:

    Presumably, John Jukas was known as Edward locally in Schuylkill County. His full name may have been John Edward Jukas or perhaps Edward John Jukas. Apparently, his mother was living in Kaska, Pennsylvania which is a very small town in Schuylkill County.

    I would recommend requesting his IDPF which may help clear up some of these points.
     
  8. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    I checked NARA for both names, but came up empty. I agree that the IDPF is the ways to go. It certainly would help make things clear.
     
  9. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Frances Jukas in the 1940 Census

    Kasha
    Blythe,
    Schuylkill, Pennsylvania
    Household Members Age Head Frances Jukas 42
    Daughter Bernadine Jukas 19
    Daughter Frances Jukas 17
    Son John Jukas 15 This seems to be the one.
    Son Raymond Jukas 13
    Daughter Jean Jukas 11
    Son Leonard Jukas 5

    Came across this in Ancestry from the 1940 Census. I'm checking to see if there are any nieces or nephews still around.
     
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  10. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    I'm pretty sure John & Edward are the same person. It's not likely that a John Jukas and an Edward Jukas from the same small town would be KIA in France on the same day. However, its not impossible either, I suppose.
     
  11. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    I'm sure you're right. The coincidences strain credulity.
     
  12. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    Here's John Jukas' page on Find a Grave which also has a picture of his marker at Henri-Chapelle. It doesn't shed any more light on the matter, but I thought it was worth posting.
     
  13. Cas

    Cas Member

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    Thanks guys for all the effort, I mailed the library in Pottsville and see what comes up.

    I'm certain that pvt Jukas wasn't killed in France but in Belgium, since the 30 Inf Div was active in the Battle of the Bulge at that time.

    I'm curious about the bronze star.

    LRusso216, thanks for doing the search for family ! I apriciate it very much !
     
  14. KodiakBeer

    KodiakBeer Member

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    I should have copied this earlier for Cas. We know that Private Jukas was in the 117th, but he is not listed in the 1st Battalion history, so was either 2nd or 3rd Battalion - histories that I do not have in my possession.

    At any rate, the images below are the from 117th history. January, 1945, after the clash with the Leibstandarte in and around the Ambleve River, is remembered as the most miserable period of the entire war for Old Hickory. The 30th was engaged in a series of frontal assaults to push the Germans out of Belgium, a strategy that has garnered a lot of criticism over the years - why no encirclement to leave them cut off in the Ardennes? There were many casualties to simple hypothermia and frostbite since they had not been issued winter gear prior to the move south in December.

    On the 22nd, the 2nd Battalion attacked and took Rodt, Belgium. This might well be where John Edward Jukas died.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I've posted this illuminating Medical Department 22 January entry before.

    Monday
    22 January 1945

    Today we had a number of prisoners brought in. Trenchfoot and frostbite seems to their problem, and they have a very good reason.

    When we first came into this sector we had a number of atrocities committed to our our men, by the Germans, and this made our men fighting mad. Then they would capture Germans, and find them to be wearing our GI shoes. That was just too much. When they capture any Germans the fellows down on the front lines make them take off their shoes, and walk back in their bare feet in the snow. This serves two purposes. One is to make them sorry they are Germans and then it is a good way to keep them from escaping.

    Casualties to Date:
    Division - 20741
    Civilians - 786
    Enemy - 1575
    Other - 2768
    Total - 25870
     
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  15. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    It is very possible that the newspaper was either given the wrong location or reported it wrong. Hopefully the library can clear up the name issue. He likely would have received the CIB and by virtue of that been eligible for the BSM. However, that was a post-war upgrade. So, unless the was added later, he would have received it for some particular action.
     
  16. Cas

    Cas Member

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    TD-Tommy776 would you be so kind to explain the CIB and BSM abriviations, I have no clue to their meaning....

    BSM (Bronze Star Medal ?)

    Thanks for helping guys it means a lot !
     
  17. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    CIB means Combat Infantyman's Badge. See my signature for what it looks like. You are correct about the BSM. It was awarded after WW2 to any who had a CIB, so it wouldn't show up in the records.
     
  18. Cas

    Cas Member

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    Thanks LRusso216,

    I received a reply from the Library , with excuses of the librarian for reply so late. Apperently it had been caughed in the spamfilter.

    She's going to do some research, just have to wait I guess.....
     
  19. Cas

    Cas Member

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  20. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    That would make perfect sense. If his father was also named John, that would mean his son would be John Jukas, Jr. It would then make perfect sense that he was known in his hometown as Edward, presumably his middle name. And his father's death in a mining accident in 1929 would explain why only his mother is mentioned in the county's listing of WWII KIAs.

    Another point made earlier is that he was killed in Belgium & not France. It does not surprise me that they would have gotten the country wrong. This is not a reflection on Belgium, but on the lack of geographical familiarity with Europe.
     

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