John A. Mlynarczyk Jr.
Rank: Corporal, U.S. Army
Serial: 32484856
Unit: 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division
Entered service from: Delaware
Died:
Burial: Plot B, Row 12, Grave 116 — Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines
Awards: Bronze Star, Purple Heart
Biography
John A. Mlynarczyk Jr.
Corporal John A. Mlynarczyk Jr., 25, of 1333 Princess Avenue, Camden, NJ, was born in Wilmington, DE, on June 4, 1919. As a boy he attended St. Hedwig’s School in Wilmington, and Wilmington High School, where he was a forward on the school basketball team. He was employed as a shipfitter at a shipyard.
He entered the Armed Services in December of 1942, and was attached to the anti-tank section of his unit. Before being sent to the Pacific, he was stationed at various Army bases including Fort Dix, Fort Lewis, WA, Camp White, OR, and Camp Beale, CA.
After 22 months of service, John Mlynarczyk was killed in action against the Japanese on Leyte in the Philippines on October 28, 1944. He was survived by his wife Jennie and son John A. Mlynarczyk 3rd, his parents of 605 South Harrison Avenue, Wilmington, DE, four brothers, and three sisters.
On October 12, 2003, Mrs. Jennie Mlynarczyk was presented with the Bronze Star medal that her husband had earned, in a ceremony at the Polish Heroes Monument at Cooper River Park.
Children of Vets, Gold Star Wives Given Yule Party
Camden Courier-Post —
Children of Vets, Gold Star Wives Given Yule Party
More than 30 children of War II veterans and Gold Star Wives were feted Saturday at a Christmas party sponsored by South Jersey Unit 26, Military Order of the Purple Heart Auxiliary.
The affair was held in the post home, 565 Walnut street, with Mrs. Beatrice Hoover, president, and Mrs. Mary Vogel, vice president, in charge.
Fred Vogel, post welfare officer, acted as Santa Claus and distributed gifts and stockings filled with candy to the children. The guests were treated to ice cream, cake, soft drinks and cookies.
Among those present were Mrs. Pauline Bartsch, of Collingswood, president of the Gold Star Wives, with her son, Albert Thompson, 9, and Mrs. Jennie Mlynarczyk, of 1333 Princess avenue, recording secretary, with her son, John, 9.
Mrs. Tish Dougherty, of 304 Lincoln avenue, Bellmawr, a Gold Star mother, was presented with her son, William, 6.
Soldier's Widow Receives Medal
Camden Courier-Post —
Cpl. John A. Mlynarczyk was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery and heroism, nearly six decades after he died in battle earning it.
His widow, Jenny, received the medal during a brief, somber service at Polish Heroes Park on the Cooper River.
Mlynarczyk, then a 24-year-old Camden resident, was assigned to the Army’s anti-tank division. He had been in the military for 22 months when fighting escalated toward the end of World War II. He was among thousands of Americans who died in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines.
“He was the leader of his platoon,” Jenny Mlynarczyk said. “They were out of ammo and he went for more. A sniper shot him but he just kept going and they shot him again.”
She said the couple’s only son, John, was just 2 years old at the time. But her in-laws and other relatives helped them get through.
Jenny Mlynarczyk, now of Oaklyn, said she tried for decades to have her husband properly recognized but was told time and again that many service records, including his, had been lost in a fire. It wasn’t until her grandson, Alexander, got involved with an Internet search that they were able to locate documentation that led to the medal, which recognizes heroic or meritorious achievement or service.
“I feel wonderful, because it took 59 years,” she said at Sunday’s service.
Fred Litwak of Haddon Township also served in the Battle of Leyte. Litwak did not know Mlynarczyk, but he said the opposing Japanese forces they faced were tenacious. “They were dug in everywhere,” said Litwak, 79, a radar operator aboard a Navy amphibious unit. “Our biggest problem was their suicide planes. They knocked off 38 of our ships.”