Frank Gardeski
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Frank D. Gardeski of Hibbing, Minnesota, enlisted in the Army on October 10, 1942 at Fort Snelling, Minn.
He served as a Staff Sergeant and aircraft machinist with the 878th Air Engineer Squadron of the 460th Air Service Group (troop carrier service group), 1st Allied Airborne Army.
"Shortly after airborne infantrymen were landed near Eindhoven Best, Nijmegen and Arnham, service wing mechanics were flown in to build airstrips and repair and salvage aircraft damaged in the invasion operations. Although exposed to heavy artillery fire, succeeded in installing new engines and wings on battle-damaged planes and in rebuilding flak-ripped gliders. The planes were used to evacuate wounded while the gliders were employed to haul Allied Columns."
He sailed from Marseilles, France Sept. 1, 1945.
Mr. Gardeski received the Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and three overseas service bars.
He was honorably discharged Nov. 13, 1945 at Camp McCoy, Wis.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 86.
