World War II Honoree

Stanley M. Jankiewicz

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Harrison, New Jersey

Honored By

John C. Burkhardt, SVC MOPH, Chapter 1919, Austin, Texas

INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY ON FEBRUARY 13, 1941, AND SENT TO FORT BLISS, TEXAS TO TRAIN IN THE 'HORSE CAVALRY,' ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 1ST BRIGADE, 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION. HE WAS TRAINED INFANTRY AS A RIFLEMAN, MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY NUMBER 745. ON JULY 2, 1943, THEY WERE SENT TO THE WEST COAST TO FIGHT IN THE PACIFIC CAMPAIGN. THEY FIRST SAW COMBAT ACTION IN THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS, BISMARCK-ARCHIPELAGO AND NEW GUINEA. NEXT THEY TOOK PART IN THE 6TH ARMY INVASION OF LEYTE, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, OCTOBER 20, 1943. THREE MONTHS LATER THEY LANDED NORTH OF MANILA AT THE LINGAYEN GULF, JANUARY 1945. THEY RECEIVED ORDERS TO GO TO THE SANTO TOMAS SEMINARY TO FREE SEVERAL THOUSAND PRISONERS, WHOM THEY FEARED WOULD BE EXECUTED BY THEIR JAPANESE CAPTOR. FEBRUARY 3, 1945, THEY BROKE THROUGH ENEMY LINES, FORMED A FLYING COLUMN, AND PROCEEDED TOWARD MANILA. BY NIGHTFALL THEY HAD MADE IT TO THE FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY AND CAME UNDER HEAVY FIRE, AND HE WAS WOUNDED. THEY BYPASSED THE UNIVERSITY AND REACHED SANTO TOMAS AFTER DARK, FREEING THE PRISONERS. THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST DARING RESCUE MISSIONS OF WWII. AMONG HIS DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS ARE THE MARKSMAN M1 RIFLE, EXPERT M1 CARBINE, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC SERVICE MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND THE PURPLE HEART RIBBON. DECEMBER 15, 1945, HE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE.