Edward J. Kotzian

Era: World War II

Military Branch: Army

Edward J. Kotzian of Soudan, Minnesota, was inducted into the Army on June 15, 1942.

He was a Private First Class and parachutist-infantryman with the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Normandy (D-Day) in Central Europe.

He made a combat jump on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He became a prisoner of war of Germany on June 9, and escaped three weeks before the war's end. He joined a reconnaissance unit and fought on for several weeks.

Mr. Kotzian received the: Parachutist's Badge, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with two bronze battle stars, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and overseas service bars.

He was honorably discharged on October 30, 1945 at Fort McClellan, Ark.

Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 156.

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