Chester Danich
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Chester Danich was inducted into the Army on March 2, 1943.
"I embarked from New York to Europe in an old Italian luxury liner known as the Monticello...arrived in Liverpool, England.. from Liverpool went to Southampton where I boarded an LST which took me to Normandy.
Although the beachhead was supposed to be secured, we were attacked by German fighter planes and many men were killed. I moved from the beachhead and was assigned temporarily to the 1st Infantry Div. and engaged in the hedge-row fighting from Normandy to St. Lo. I then joined the 2nd Armored "Hell on Wheels" Div., 3rd Battalion, Company G, in major offensive campaigns against the Germans in Belgium, Holland, the Ardennes and into Germany. The 2nd Armored was involved in the capture of the first Germany city, Aachen.
In early November the 2nd Armored was assigned to spearhead a major offensive with 9th Army....On Nov. 15 I, along with many others, got cut off from the main body and was reported missing in action. We all eventually made it back to our lines.
We were then assigned to take the high ground around the Roer River. I was wounded in this action by artillery, receiving a shrapnel wound in my neck and back. I was sent to the 48th Evac Hospital in Maastrich, Holland...and eventually flown to London to the 136th General Hospital. I was transferred to the 307th Convalescent Hospital in Lemington, England and was discharged there to the 434th Fighter Squadron. I returned to the United States with the 434th aboard the aircraft carrier Enterprise."
He received the:
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart,
Combat Infantryman Badge,
European-African-Middle East Campaign Service Medal,
American Campaign Service Medal,
World War II Victory Medal and two overseas service bars.
He was discharged on his birthday on Dec. 6, 1945.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 65.
