Michael Yachus

Private Michael Yachus was born Michael Yatzus to Ukrainian immigrant parents, Wasyl and Anna Yatzus, who came to America in 1908. They originally settled in Delaware, where Michael was born in 1919. He was third of five children, coming after brothers Stephen and Charles, and before Peter and baby sister Mary. Michael Yatzus dropped out of high school after one year, and worked as a jackhammer operator prior to being drafted.

The Yatzus family moved to Camden NJ sometime after 1923, where they opened a grocery store at 986 Central Avenue, on land which became the Clement T. Branch Village public housing project. According to the 1930 Census, Wasyl had passed away, and the family was still renting the property at 986 Central Avenue. Anna was still running the grocery store, and Michael’s brother Stephen had gone to work in one of Camden’s shipyards to help support the family. The house on Central Avenue was razed around 1940 to make way for the Clement T. Branch Village public housing project. The family moved to 731 Sylvan Street, and Stephen Yatzus entered the military, and was serving at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941. Anna Yatzus and her children later moved again to an address at 679 Ferry Avenue, not far from the railroad tracks that cross Ferry Avenue. Besides the 679 Ferry Avenue address, his family is recorded as living at 698 Viola Street in the Camden County Centennial book, published in the spring of 1944. This is apparently in error.

Called to service, he entered the Army under the name Michael Yachus. His experience as a jackhammer operator noted, he was assigned to the 31st Signal Construction Battalion with several other men from his immediate neighborhood, all of whom had entered service on October 24, 1942. Private Yachus was killed when the transport HMT Rohna was sunk by a German guided missile in November of 1943. He was initially reported as missing in action. His mother was notified on May 23, 1944 that he was killed in action. The circumstances of his death, and the 1,014 other American soldiers aboard the Rohna, were kept a secret.

On July 27, 2002, a memorial service was held at American Legion Memorial Post 274 in Private Yachus’ old South Camden neighborhood to honor the Rohna victims from South Jersey, three of whom were named on the monument on the Post’s grounds. The Yatzus family was located and attended the service. After almost 59 years, the complete story of Private Michael Yachus’ sacrifice to America was finally brought home.

Former Camden Resident, Holder of Six Awards, Among New Casualties
Shiloh Flier Listed Downed in Europe

Fifteen South Jersey men were among the 1,511 reported by the War Department today as killed in action on the six fighting fronts. Two others from this area are reported missing.

Killed:
Staff Sergeant Ronald J. Pearce, of 330 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, formerly of 3404 Federal Street, Camden.
Private First Class Charles La Porta, of 142 Chestnut Street, Williamstown.
Private Frank Ballerino, of 2004 South 10th Street, Camden.
Sergeant Elmer F. Day, of 521 Lexington Avenue, Merchantville.
Corporal William T. Eastlack, of 142 I Street, Carney’s Point.
Private Clarence T. Jaggers, of Columbia Road and St. James Walk, National Park.
Sergeant Carl E. Johanson, of 5019 Jefferson Avenue, Pennsauken.
Corporal Steven V. Koscianski, of 966 Bulson Street, Camden.
Private First Class William R. McKeon, of Pine Avenue, Blackwood.
Sergeant Andrew W. Olsen, of Dorothy.
Corporal Aldo Steffanice, of 74 Norman Avenue, Pennsgrove.
Private First Class John A. Landicina, of 402 Southeast Avenue, Vineland.
Michael Carr, of 1059 Everett Street, Camden.
Captain Carlton P. Hogan, of 207 East Union Street, Burlington.
Corporal Millard E. Buckingham, of 38 Grant Street, Deepwater.

Missing:
Lt. Robert Probasco, of Shiloh.
Lt. John Ruggiero, of Bridgeboro Road, Beverly.

3 On Troopship Lost

Ballerino, Koscianski, and Carr are believed to have met their fates on the same transport. War Department telegrams to families of all three men reveal that each was a passenger on a troopship that was lost due to enemy action in the Mediterranean on Nov. 27, 1943. All have been awarded Purple Hearts.

This was the closest that the general public got to the truth of the matter. As a matter of fact, 12 of the fifteen men listed above were on that transport, the HMTS Rohna. Five other Rohna victims were also on the War Department casualty lists for that day.

The following reported as dead in today’s official casualty list were previously reported as missing: Sergeant Day, Private Jaggers, Corporal Koscianski, Private McKeon, and Private Steffanice.

Also listed as dead in today’s official casualty list but previously reported in these columns are: Private Michael Yachus, 679 Ferry Avenue, Camden; Joseph H. Johnson, 1273 South Merrimac Road, Camden; Private Harry V. Taylor, 3 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield; Private Merl H. Reagle, Maple Avenue, Lindenwold; Private Jacob K. Jenkins, Marne Highway, Mt. Holly, formerly of Pennsauken; Private Harry E. Harker, 6 Beach Avenue, Blackwood; PFC Jack S. Dubois, Church Street, Williamstown; and Charles R. Stewart Jr., 319 Linden Street, Camden.