George A. Pavelich
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
George A. Pavelich of Hibbing, Minnesota enlisted in the Army on Dec. 23, 1940.
He was a First Sergeant with the 252nd Quartermaster Pack Troop, pack artillery, in the China-Burma-India Theater.
He said: "We left the United States in August 1944 for Calcutta, India, then up Ledo Road into Burma. After struggling three weeks through the monsoon-flooded Magaung Valley, the mule pack outfits joined the Mars Task Force. On Christmas day they moved into jungle hill country of Central Burma. Christmas packages and food for a holiday meal were delivered by air drop. The Mars Task Force and QM units were in a number of skirmishes and battles at Tonkwa, Nan, Paka and Hosi Valley with casualties to both men and mules.
"The Mars Force entered Lashio in March with the Chinese 30th and 38th Divisions, ending the Central Burma campaign. The Quartermaster and mule packs were ordered back to Myitkyina to deliver the mules to Kunming 800 miles away. Leaving the mules with the Chinese army, the men marched with Merrill's Marauders through the entire North and Central Burma campaigns. Their duties were to follow the dim, narrow, ancient stone caravan jungle trails carrying rations, ammunition and artillery to maintain the campaign against the Japs.
"They moved over wild terrain and operated from air drop fields, hauling material up to the front lines. Artillery units carried heavy weapons up and down steep mountains matted with jungle vegetation, keeping pace with the ever-retreating Japs over the Marco Polo trail from Myitkyina to Lungning. Conditions were tough: swollen rivers to cross, knee-deep mud -- and men were stricken with dysentery, malaria and jungle fevers. In one outfit, three men died of mite typhus. Despite a lack of water and food -- and the illness -- they marched 2,300 miles through jungles and across the Himalayas.
"It was said that the Quartermaster and artillery pack outfits established one of the greatest records of endurance to come out of the war."
Mr. Pavelich received the: Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Service Medal with five bronze battle stars, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and two overseas service bars.
He was discharged on Jan. 8, 1946, to re-enlist in the Regular Army.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 240.
