John T. Stimac
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
John T. Stimac entered the Army on July 13, 1943, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Home at entry: Hibbing, Minnesota.
Served as a Sergeant, squad leader, and Browning Automatic Rifleman with Company G of the 172nd Infantry Regtiment in New Caledonia, New Guinea, and Luzon.
Mr. Stimac shared the following: "While in New Guinea we received orders to recapture Luzon in the Philippines. January 9, 1945, the 43rd and 172nd Infantry participated in the beachhead in Lingayen Gulf, pushing north to cut off the road to Rosario.
"We then headed for Clark Field in a dusk engagement with the enemy. We had to withdraw and this is where I covered the company's withdrawal and received the Silver Star...(After the Japanese surrendered) we packed up and sailed to Japan.
"After three weeks the rumor was that the 43rd was going home. Men with enough points would go home--the rest would go to the First Cavalry Div., which included me. Then came the surprise.
"The night before the 43rd was to sail home they informed me that, because of the Silver Star (five points), I was to sail for home, which I did in September 1945."
Mr. Stimac was awarded the following: Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze battle stars, World War II Victory Medal, three overseas service bars, Bronze Arrowhead, and Philippine Liberation Medal with one bronze star.
He was honorably discharged December 9, 1945, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 309.
