Stephen F. Prelesnik
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Stephen Frank Prelesnik of Eveleth, Minnesota was inducted into the Army on June 30, 1943.
He was a Corporal and a field lineman with Headquarters Battery, 42nd Field Artillery, 12th Regimental Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, serving at Nomandy (Utah Beach, D-plus-1), Cherbourg and St. Lo in France and with the first U.S. troops in Paris plus the Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe.
His unit was in the Huertgen Forest in November-December 1944 and at Bastogne on Dec. 27, 1944. He was wounded in action.
His battalion later served at Eichstatt, Bavaria, working with displaced persons.
Mr. Prelesnik received the: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Service Medal with five bronze battle stars, and the World War II Victory Medal.
He was discharged on Oct. 22, 1945.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 257.
