John Ponikvar, Jr.
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Unit Info: Naval Reserve
John Ponikvar, Jr. enlisted as an Aviation Cadet, U.S. Naval Reserve, on October 1, 1942, at Minneapolis, Minnesota. Home at entry: Chisholm, Minnesota. He was discharged on June 18, 1943.
He was inducted into the Army Air Corps on September 17, 1943, at Fort Snelling, as an aviation cadet, and discharged on June 29, 1945, to accept a commission as a First Lieutenant on June 30, 1945.
Mr. Ponikvar served as an aerial navigator with the occupation forces in Europe and the continental U.S.
He was awarded the following: American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany).
Mr. Ponikvar was honorably discharged on February 18, 1947, at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 255.
