John Willard Stilinovich
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
STILINOVICH, John Willard
John Willard Stilinovich was born on May 19th 1915 to Gasper Guy & Mathilda Matija [Naglich] Stilinovich in Hibbing, Minnesita.
Mr. Stilinovich was inducted into the U.S. Army July 14th 1942, at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Home at entry: Hibbing.
He served as a rifleman and scout with Company E of the 274th Infantry Regiment of the 70th Infantry Division in Rhineland and Central Europe. He was wounded in action on January 6th 1945, in the ETO. He rose to the rank of Private First Class (PFC).
PFC Stilinovich earned the following merits for his service:
- Bronze Star Medal,
- Purple Heart,
- Good Conduct Medal,
- Combat Infantryman Badge,
- American Campaign Medal,
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 bronze battle stars,
- World War II Victory Medal,
- two overseas service bars, -and-
- Bronze Arrowhead.
He was honorably discharged January 20th 1946, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. After the war he returned home and married Mary Katherine [Saban] and they started a family.
Mr. Stilinovich died on November 23 2007 at 92 years of age in Hibbing. He is buried at Maple Hill Cemetery in Hibbing.
Source(s): Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 309.
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Page 1 WWII Draft Registration Cards - Fold3
John Willard Stilinovich (1915-2007) - Find a Grave Memorial
U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 - Ancestry.com
