William J. Lopac
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
William J. Lopac of Buhl, Minnesota, was inducted into the Army on June 13, 1943, Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Home of entry: Buhl, Minnesota.
He served as a Technician 5th Grade in Sicily, Anzio (where he joined the 36th Engineer Combat Battalion), Southern France for detached service with a Navy demolitions team, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, Central Europe.
"Working with the invasion force, we blew up underwater obstacles to allow landing craft across to the beach for infantry landings. We swam with satchel charges and prima cord which were slipped over timbers which had been driven down into the bottom of the sea.
"After beaches were secure we worked with infantry into Southern France putting up bridges for mobile equipment. A couple of weeks into France, while taking training on land mines, I ended in an Army hospital with malaria -- something that I guess I can be thankful for as my platoon was wiped out erecting a bridge near Saverne, France. I had gone into Munich, Germany and Salzburg, Austria and back to Italy through the Brenner Pass, then back to Germany when the war ended.
"My unit was dissolved and I was assigned to the 90th Infantry Division. guarding prisoners. Luckily, I wasn't seriously wounded except for a punctured ear drum and some small shrapnel cuts."
Mr. Lopac received the: Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars and bronze arrowhead, World War II Victory Medal and three overseas service bars.
He was honorably discharged on January 6, 1946.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 178.
