Eino Borspakka
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Eino E. Borspakka
Mr. Borspakka inducted into the Army on May 2, 1942, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Home at entry: Embarrass, Minnesota.
He served as a Technician Fouth Grade and tank crewman with Company D of the 735th Tank Battalion on Utah Beach during the Normandy Invasion, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe.
Later with the Third Army to Rhine River crossing. At Strassburg, Germany, of five tanks that went in, his was the only one to come out. He was wounded in action by shrapnel. Next, drove on to participate in the Battle of the Bulge, which was the last German stronghold.
In his words: "After that battle was over, President Roosevelt announced that the war had ended. We were sweating out whether or not we would have to go to Japan. Then they dropped the atomic bomb which ended the war with Japan. We were very happy."
He received the following: Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Citation for Liberation of France, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with several bronze battle stars and three overseas service bars.
Mr. Borspakka was honorably discharged on November 1, 1945, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 42.
