PFC Batista John Gillio’s story is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by many young Americans during World War II. He was born to Italian immigrant parents, Louis and Enrichetta Gillio, in Oglesby, Illinois, on 21 July 1921. Batista’s father, Louis Gillio, had come to the United States as a teenager joining his older brothers Antonio and August. He settled near them in the LaSalle/Peru/Oglesby area of LaSalle County, Illinois, and eventually met and married Enrichetta. Together, they had in addition to Batista, two older sons Charles and Louis Jr and two daughters Rose and Mary. Life was challenging…
Tag: Westclox
PVT Frank Joseph Harzheim Jr., Service number 36784510
Frank Joseph Harzheim was born in Peru, Illinois, on 21 September 1913. He was the fifth child of Frank and Gertrude Potthoff Harzheim. His parents were both immigrants who left Germany for the U.S. in the late 1880s. They married in Peru, Illinois, on 8 November 1898. At the time of Frank’s birth, his family was living in a home they purchased at 1516 Eighth street in Peru, and his father was working as a caster at the local clock factory, Westclox. After Frank was born, his parents had four more children. Their total of nine kids included three boys…
Flight Officer Arthur Dale Starkey, Service Number T-223756
Arthur Dale Starkey, sometimes referred to as Archie, was born on 4 October 1916, in Mount Vernon, Illinois. His parents were Clyde W. and Lola Bell Yearwood Starkey. When Arthur was born, his parents had been married for 10 years and already had a son Leroy and two daughters—Mildred and Helen. Arthur’s father, Clyde, was born in Indiana while Arthur’s mother was born in Jefferson county, Illinois. After their marriage, Clyde and his wife Lola seemed to live for some time in Rochelle and in Mount Vernon, Illinois. But they eventually settled in Peru, Illinois, prior to 1918. In Peru,…
SF 3/C Robert Godfrey Reinhard, Service No. 7251857
Robert Godfrey Reinhard was born on 17 August 1921, in LaSalle, Illinois, to John and Hannah Medill Reinhard. His parents had been married for 12 years when he was born and already had three other children: Lawrence, Lucile, and John. Robert’s father, John, worked as a shipping clerk for the cement company. All but one of Robert’s grandparents were no longer living when he was born. So possibly the only grandparent he knew was his maternal grandfather James Medill who lived in LaSalle. James had sailed to American from Scotland in the 1850s and found work as a miner. When…
PVT Andrew W. Mrowicki, Service No. 36761577
Andrew W. Mrowicki was born on 15 July 1918, in LaSalle, Illinois. He was the first child of Andrew Alexander and Loretta Krueger Mrowicki. A few months after Andrew was born, the country was overtaken by a deadly flu pandemic. The risk of Andrew, a baby, contacting this illness must have caused great concern for his family. In addition, the United States was still fighting a war in Europe, and Andrew’s father had to leave his family to serve overseas when Andrew was just a small baby. He left the United States with other members of Battery A of the…
Seaman 2C Robert August Koehler, Service no. 9450770
Robert August Koehler was born on 28 September 1918, in Peru, Illinois, as both war and a flu pandemic were raging across the world. While the war would cease a month and a half after his birth, the pandemic would go on for another year. In the midst of this turmoil, Robert’s parents, August and Elsie Elizabeth (Pyka) Koehler, were raising Robert and his two older sisters Mildred and Gladys in a home they owned at 2315 Main street in southwest Peru. August Koehler was supporting his family by working as a buffer at Westclox—a local clock factory. Two years…
SGT Carl John Gielow, Service Number 36485740
Carl John Gielow was born on 16 April 1921, in LaSalle, Illinois, to Carl Louis and Rose Kierski Gielow. Carl’s parents had married the year before on 16 September 1920. Gielow Sr. was a teamster at Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Company, the same job held by his father-in-law., John Kierski. Three of Carl Gielow Jr.’s grandparents were immigrants from Germany, and one was from Poland. All had settled in the U.S. in the 1880s, and Carl most likely would have known all four of them. His paternal grandparent Carl Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Gielow died in 1928 when Carl was 6…
PVT John Mathew Gerdovick, Service No. 36675870
John Mathew Gerdovick (also referred to by some family members as Gerdovich) was born in LaSalle, Illinois, on 22 June 1918, while the United States was engaged in the first World War. His parents were John and Christine Krizel Gerdovick—both immigrants from Jugoslavia who married In LaSalle on 16 November 1913. Their first child had been a daughter who they named Christine. Four more children followed John’s birth: William (Frank), Joseph (Frank), Marie, and Richard. John’s father, John Gerdovick Sr., worked in the quarry at the cement company. He had purchased a home in the southwest part of LaSalle on…
T SG Anton John Budgen, Service Number 16079863
Anton John Budgen was born on April 29, 1915, to Stanley Alex and Mary Bacevich Budgen. When Anton was born, his father Stanley was working as a miner in a coal mine—a job he held throughout his life. Stanley had been born in 1881 in Lithuania and left his country around the turn of the century to travel to America. There he met his future wife, Mary Bacevich—a young lady who also left Lithuania for America. They married in St. Ann’s Parish in Spring Valley, Illinois, soon after Mary arrived in the U.S. Stanley and Mary’s first child was a…