John Blanck (ASN 42104261) served with Co F 179th, 45th Infantry in Italy and France.

Acording to his separation papers he spent:

• Four months in basis training
• Nine months as a rifleman
• Eight months as a prisoner of war

Documents show that

1. John received his notice to register to appear for a physical examination from Local Board No. 9 in Hoboken on November 13, 1942, Address 2 Potter Place, Weehawken, New Jersey
2. He received his 1-A Classification January 6, 1943, address 2 Potter Place Weehawken
3. His son, Dennis, was born June 5, 1943
4. Date of induction into the Army, January 14, 1944.
5. Date of entry into active service, Febuary 4, 1944, Newark, New Jersey. He spent four months in basis training. I do not know where he did his basic training.
6. Photo of him in uniform, clearly taken in the States, might have been taken at the end of basic training.Two of the photos are dated April 15, 1944
7. His son, Tom, was born June 9, 1944
8. He was shipped to the European Theater of Operations on July 27, 1944 and arrived in Europe on August 12, 1944
9. He spent from August 12 to October 2 in Italy. The Italian campaign was basically over by the time he arrived.The only battles or campaigns listed on his discharge papers was "Rhineland". Rome had been taken by the Americans on June 4th. When I went to Caserta, Italy (East of Naples) in 1974, John told me that he had been in Caserta during the war. He also mentioned that he had been in Monte Cassino. Monte Cassino had been taken by the Allies in the middle of May 1944.
10. He was transfered from Italy to France between October 2 and October 4, 1944.
11. He was capture near Wissenbourg, France (Lorraine) on November 28, 1944
12. He was processed as a prisoner of war through Stammlager (Main Camp) at Limburg on the Lahn on December 2, 1944
13. At some point he was taken to a POW camp in Czechoslovakia
14. On December 15, 1944, his wife, Alice, received a telegram that he was missing in action
15. Three months later, Alice received a letter, dated March 9, that John was missing in action near Wissenbourg on November 28
16. Alice received a telegram that he was a prison of war on March 21, 1945
17. On May 7, 1945 he and other prisoners left the POW camp and headed for the American Lines
18. He left Europe on June 2, 1945
19. He arrived stateside on June 12, 1945. He had been gone a little under a year, and had spent five plus months as a POW.
On June 15, 1945 he was assigned to the Hotel Dennis in Atlantic City, New Jersey for 71 days of "rehabilitation and recovery" to finish August 26, 1945"
20. He got his seperation papers from the Army on August 17, 1945

Communication From the Army

December 15, 1944 Telegram

On December 15, 1944 Alice received the following telegram from the US Government, address 12 Cooper Place, Weehawken:

THE SECRETARY OF WAR DESIRES ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEP REGRET THAT YOUR HUSBAND PRIVATE JOHN J BLANCK HAD BEEN REPORTED MISS IN ACTION SINCE TWENTY EIGTH NOVEMBER IN FRANCE IF FURTHER DETAILS OR OTHER INFORMATION ARE RECEIVED YOU WILL BE PROMPTLY NOTIFIED

DULOP ACTING THE ADJUTANT GENERAL

March 9, 1945 Letter

In early March 1945 Alice received a letter, dated March 9, from the War Department stating that John's whereabouts was still unknown but that

"A report has now, been received, however, which states that on 28 November, Private Blanck was acting in the capacity of rifleman with a company in a defensive position near Wissenbourg, France. An emeny tank and three half-tracks attacked from the north and overran that part of the company area occupied by your husband's platoon, continuing the raid for about ten minutes. It was following this action that your husband's absence was noted, but a search of the area failed to disclose any trace of Private Blanck.

Lists of prisoners of war received from the enemy, through the International Red Cross, have been carefully checked, but Private Blanck's name has not been found on any of them. The military authorities are utilizing all the means at their disposal to locate our men missing in action, and you may be assured that if any information is received in this office concerning your husband, it will be communicated to you without delay.

My sympathy is with you during this long and difficult period of anxiety."

March 21, 1945 Telegram

On March 21, 1945, three months after the first telegram, Alice received a second telegram from the Adjutant General, address 12 Cooper Place, Weehawken.

BASED ON INFORMATION RECEIVED THROUGH THE PROVOST MARSHAL GENERAL RECORDS OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN AMENDED TO SHOW YOUR HUSBAND PRIVATE JOHN L BLANCK A PRISONER OF WAR OF THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT ANDY FURTHER INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL BE FURNISHED BY THE PROVOST MARSHAL GENERAL

J A ULIO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL

Discharge Papers August 17, 1945

On August 17, 1945 John received an Honorable Discharge from the Army. He was discharged from Ft Dix New Jersey. This document listed him in Co F 179th Infantry and says his date of active service was February 4, 1944. He entered the service in Newark, New Jersey. It gives the following information pertaining to his service over seas:

1. Battles and campaigns, "Rhineland.
2. Service outside the continental US and return.

   Date of Departure      Destination     Date of Arrival
   27 Jul 44                             ETO           12 Aug 44
   2 Oct 44                              ETO           7 Oct 44
   2 Jun 45                              USA          12 Jun 45

   Notes:

   • ETO = European Theater of Operations

   • I believe that these dates and places represent transportation dates. In other words, the first set of dates indicate that he left the US on July 27, 1944 and arrived in Europe on August 12, 1944. The last set of dates indicates that he left Eruope on June 2, 1945 and arrived in the US onJune 12, 1945. The middle set of dates must represent a transportion form Italy to France. The 45th Infantry fought in Alsace/Lorraine in November 1944.

3. Continental service 7 months and 28 days
4. Foreign service 10 months and 16 days

Miscellaneous information from the military papers.

1. When he was discharged the address was 12 Cooper Place Weehawken.
2. John graduated from Union City High School, Union City, New Jersey in 1934
3. He got a certificate from Architecture-Mechanics Inst. New York, New York in 1938
4. His civilian occupation. Keuffel and Esser Co. Hoboken, 12 years, last date of employment, 1943

   "Foreman of paper converting company. Also was Assistant Superintendent in charge of stock and shipping. Coordinated work of 80 people engaged in shipping Army and Navy supplies."

Letter from the War Claims Commission March 1951

In a letter from the War Claims Commission in Washington, D.C. dated March 21, 1951 and addressed to John Joseph Blanck, 260 Standish Avenue, Hackensack, John was awarded $162.00 "to cover the period imprisonment and/or internment, etc. of yourself from 28 November 1944 to 8 May 1945".