Ladislaus “Lad” Zawacki was born on 25 July 1912, in Peru, Illinois, to George and Anna (Kotecki) Zawacki. His parents were both life-long residents of Peru who had married the year before his birth. The couple had two sons following Lad’s birth: Edward who was born in 1918 and Raymond, born in 1923. Tragically, when Lad was 13, his brother Raymond passed away at the age of two due to broncho-pneumonia.
Growing up in Peru, Lad attended the local grade school and lived a modest life. By 1930, his parents had purchased a home at 1803 Pulaski Street, where Lad, then 17 years old, was working as a press operator at the Westclox clock factory. A decade later, Lad was still at Westclox, working full-time as a plater, earning an annual salary of $1,000. In October 1940, as the United States prepared for potential involvement in World War II, Lad registered for the draft. At the time, he was 28 years old, standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair.
By 1942, Lad had married Mary Vogrinc, and they were living at 1412 Pulaski Street, close to his childhood home. He continued to work at Westclox, providing for his new family. In 1943, Lad’s brother Edward was called to serve. He enlisted in the Army Air Force on 25 May 1943, in Peoria.
Later that year, Lad himself entered the service on 22 October 1943, and was sent to Camp Chaffee in Arkansas for training. He served as a Light Weapons Infantryman in Company E of the 133rd Infantry, 34th Infantry Division. On 1 October 1944, PFC Zawacki’s company, part of the 2nd Battalion, was tasked with attacking enemy positions near Modonna dei Fornelli, Italy. Companies F and G led the assault, facing heavy mortar and artillery fire. By 1800 hours, Company F was nearing Cedrecchia, which was heavily defended. Despite breaching the protective wire around the town by 2300 hours, the troops were forced to retreat early the next day. However, their resolve did not waver. At 0300 hours on 2 October 1944, after an intense bombardment with tank destroyers, the companies, including PFC Zawacki’s, launched another attack. Following a protracted and fierce battle lasting about 14 hours, the 133rd Infantry Division successfully secured Cedrecchia.
Tragically, during this intense combat on 2 October 1944, PFC Ladislaus Zawacki was killed in action by small arms fire. His sacrifice was a testament to his courage and dedication to his country. Initially, his body was placed in a temporary cemetery in Italy. After the war, his remains were returned home for permanent burial in St. Valentine’s Cemetery in Spring Valley, Illinois.
In recognition of his bravery and service, PFC Zawacki was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery.
If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please email feedback@storiesbehindthestars.org.
- SBTSProject/Illinois/LaSalle
- SBTS Historian: Pam Broviak
You can also access this story at the following sites:
Fold3 Memorial: https://www.fold3.com/memorial/664259395/pfc-ladislaus-anthony-zawacki-service-no-36696116/stories
Sources:
- 1920 U.S. Census, George Zawacki, Ancestry.
- 1930 U.S. Census, George Zawacki, Ancestry.
- 1940 U.S. Census, George Zawacki, Ancestry.
- State of Illinois Death Certificate, Raymond Zawacki, No 46899, FamilySearch.
- “LaSalle, Illinois, United States records, Aug 6, 2018,” George Zawacki and Anna Kotecka, FamilySearch, image 1451 of 2785.
- “Marriage Record: LaSalle. Marriage Registers,” George Zawacki and Anna Kotecki, images, FamilySearch, image 72 of 275.
- “U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” Ladislaus Anthony Zawacki, Ancestry.
- “U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” Edward Zawacki, Ancestry.
- U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946, Edward Zawacki, Ancestry.
- “U.S., Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945, Ladislaus A Zawacki, Ancestry.
- “133rd Infantry Regiment, WWII Narrative History,” 34th Infantry Division Association, http://www.34ida.org/images/133_Infantry_Regiment_Narrative_History.pdf
- Obituary for Edward Zawacki, NewsTribune, 12 January 2004, GenealogyBank.com.
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/126150739/ladislaus-a.-zawacki
