Private First Class Joseph Nedza
According to the 1920 United States Federal Census, Joseph Nedza, at the time 4 years old, was the son of Albert and Agnes Nedza who resided at 111 South Fourteenth Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were both born in Poland, were both 39 years old and immigrated to the U.S. in 1903. His father was a laborer in a steel mill. Other siblings were: his brothers, Jacob, 10 years old; Stanley, 8; Frank, 6; Edward (his twin); and sister, Gertrude, 1.
The 1930 United States Federal Census shows Joseph placed in the Thorn Hill School Allegheny County Industrial Home for Boys, a reform school. He was 14 years old at the time. From Sep. to Dec. 1940 Joseph served a three month sentence for burglary (Pennsylvania Prison, Reformatory, and Workhouse Records).
According to the 1940 United States Federal Census, Joseph Nedza resided at 911 Pretense Way in Pittsburgh. He was 24 years old and his occupation was machine operator in a glass factory. He lived there with his mother, Agnes, the head of the household in a home that was rented. Agnes was a 60 year old widow. She was born in Austria about 1880. Also living there were Joseph's five siblings: brothers Jacob, 29 years old; Stanley, 27; Edward (his twin); and John, 18; and his sister, Blanche, who was 22.
According to his in the U.S., World War II Draft Card dated Oct. 16, 1940, Joseph was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Dec. 31, 1915. He was employed by Dravo Constuction Co. He weighed 145 pounds, was 5 feet, 4 inches tall, had a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and blonde hair.
Nedza enlisted on Feb. 12, 1943 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was assigned Army Serial No. 33425827. Nedza was assigned to Company H, 3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), known as the "Red Devils."
The 508th PIR was part of the 82nd Airborne Division and participated in the Operation Market Garden on Sep. 17, 1944. At approximately 1330 hours on the 17th the Red Devils jumped into Holland . Their Drop Zone was the area east of the dropped on the Groesbeek Heights and southwest of the town of Wyler which was just inside the German border.
3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry, commanded by Lt. Colonel Louis G. Mendez, Jr., landed several hundred yards southeast of DZ "T". The battalion assembled quickly and by 1830 hours occupied its initial objective, the high ground in the area of Berg en Dal-Ubbergen-Beek. This terrain was key to the success of the 82nd Airborne Division.
Throughout the 19th, the Germans began to form in the area behind Beek in what appeared to be an imminent counterattack. On 20 September, the Germans began to systematically shell the positions in Beek and Berg en Dal, causing some casualties. In the late afternoon an attack by enemy armor and infantry developed at Beek. A platoon road block was overrun and the enemy advanced almost to Berg en Dal. Company H counterattacked, and reestablished the Beek position at 2140 hours, after a bitter fight.
Based on Nedza's date of death, it appears that this is where Private First Class Nedza was killed. According to the citation that posthumously awarded him the Silver Star Medal on Nov. 30, 1944:
"for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 3d Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 22 [sic] September 1944, at [redacted], Holland. A machine gun position northeast of [redacted] delivered such destructive fire upon our company attacking at night that the entire attack was momentarily stopped. Private First Class Nedza, a rifleman, locating the enemy gun a short distance away, made his way alone through defending enemy forces and reached the machine gun position. Unaided, he attacked the position and completely destroyed it. Without further delay, which could have gained for the enemy added time to meet our attack and might have caused us serious casualties, the company was permitted to move forward. Private First Class Nedza was killed in this action. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army."
However, if his date of death in the citation is correct (Sep. 22), it could be that he was killed during the 3rd Battalion's attack to clear the enemy from the eastern portion of the Circul Van de Coij.
The awarded was reported in the April 29, 1945 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The paper stated :
"Pvt. Joseph Nedza, a South Side paratrooper, has been posthumously awarded a Silver Star for gallantry, the Army announced yesterday.
Pvt. Nedza, 29, of 911 Pretense Way, a rifleman won the medal by wiping out a Nazi machine gun nest single-handed. He lost his life in the action. His twin brother. Pvt. Edward Nedza, was killed in action in New Guinea May 27. 1944.
The Silver Star was presented to John Nedza, another brother now at home."
According to the 1920 United States Federal Census, Joseph Nedza, at the time 4 years old, was the son of Albert and Agnes Nedza who resided at 111 South Fourteenth Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were both born in Poland, were both 39 years old and immigrated to the U.S. in 1903. His father was a laborer in a steel mill. Other siblings were: his brothers, Jacob, 10 years old; Stanley, 8; Frank, 6; Edward (his twin); and sister, Gertrude, 1.
The 1930 United States Federal Census shows Joseph placed in the Thorn Hill School Allegheny County Industrial Home for Boys, a reform school. He was 14 years old at the time. From Sep. to Dec. 1940 Joseph served a three month sentence for burglary (Pennsylvania Prison, Reformatory, and Workhouse Records).
According to the 1940 United States Federal Census, Joseph Nedza resided at 911 Pretense Way in Pittsburgh. He was 24 years old and his occupation was machine operator in a glass factory. He lived there with his mother, Agnes, the head of the household in a home that was rented. Agnes was a 60 year old widow. She was born in Austria about 1880. Also living there were Joseph's five siblings: brothers Jacob, 29 years old; Stanley, 27; Edward (his twin); and John, 18; and his sister, Blanche, who was 22.
According to his in the U.S., World War II Draft Card dated Oct. 16, 1940, Joseph was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Dec. 31, 1915. He was employed by Dravo Constuction Co. He weighed 145 pounds, was 5 feet, 4 inches tall, had a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and blonde hair.
Nedza enlisted on Feb. 12, 1943 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was assigned Army Serial No. 33425827. Nedza was assigned to Company H, 3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), known as the "Red Devils."
The 508th PIR was part of the 82nd Airborne Division and participated in the Operation Market Garden on Sep. 17, 1944. At approximately 1330 hours on the 17th the Red Devils jumped into Holland . Their Drop Zone was the area east of the dropped on the Groesbeek Heights and southwest of the town of Wyler which was just inside the German border.
3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry, commanded by Lt. Colonel Louis G. Mendez, Jr., landed several hundred yards southeast of DZ "T". The battalion assembled quickly and by 1830 hours occupied its initial objective, the high ground in the area of Berg en Dal-Ubbergen-Beek. This terrain was key to the success of the 82nd Airborne Division.
Throughout the 19th, the Germans began to form in the area behind Beek in what appeared to be an imminent counterattack. On 20 September, the Germans began to systematically shell the positions in Beek and Berg en Dal, causing some casualties. In the late afternoon an attack by enemy armor and infantry developed at Beek. A platoon road block was overrun and the enemy advanced almost to Berg en Dal. Company H counterattacked, and reestablished the Beek position at 2140 hours, after a bitter fight.
Based on Nedza's date of death, it appears that this is where Private First Class Nedza was killed. According to the citation that posthumously awarded him the Silver Star Medal on Nov. 30, 1944:
"for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 3d Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 22 [sic] September 1944, at [redacted], Holland. A machine gun position northeast of [redacted] delivered such destructive fire upon our company attacking at night that the entire attack was momentarily stopped. Private First Class Nedza, a rifleman, locating the enemy gun a short distance away, made his way alone through defending enemy forces and reached the machine gun position. Unaided, he attacked the position and completely destroyed it. Without further delay, which could have gained for the enemy added time to meet our attack and might have caused us serious casualties, the company was permitted to move forward. Private First Class Nedza was killed in this action. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army."
However, if his date of death in the citation is correct (Sep. 22), it could be that he was killed during the 3rd Battalion's attack to clear the enemy from the eastern portion of the Circul Van de Coij.
The awarded was reported in the April 29, 1945 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The paper stated :
"Pvt. Joseph Nedza, a South Side paratrooper, has been posthumously awarded a Silver Star for gallantry, the Army announced yesterday.
Pvt. Nedza, 29, of 911 Pretense Way, a rifleman won the medal by wiping out a Nazi machine gun nest single-handed. He lost his life in the action. His twin brother. Pvt. Edward Nedza, was killed in action in New Guinea May 27. 1944.
The Silver Star was presented to John Nedza, another brother now at home."
Private First Class Joseph Nedza
According to the 1920 United States Federal Census, Joseph Nedza, at the time 4 years old, was the son of Albert and Agnes Nedza who resided at 111 South Fourteenth Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were both born in Poland, were both 39 years old and immigrated to the U.S. in 1903. His father was a laborer in a steel mill. Other siblings were: his brothers, Jacob, 10 years old; Stanley, 8; Frank, 6; Edward (his twin); and sister, Gertrude, 1.
The 1930 United States Federal Census shows Joseph placed in the Thorn Hill School Allegheny County Industrial Home for Boys, a reform school. He was 14 years old at the time. From Sep. to Dec. 1940 Joseph served a three month sentence for burglary (Pennsylvania Prison, Reformatory, and Workhouse Records).
According to the 1940 United States Federal Census, Joseph Nedza resided at 911 Pretense Way in Pittsburgh. He was 24 years old and his occupation was machine operator in a glass factory. He lived there with his mother, Agnes, the head of the household in a home that was rented. Agnes was a 60 year old widow. She was born in Austria about 1880. Also living there were Joseph's five siblings: brothers Jacob, 29 years old; Stanley, 27; Edward (his twin); and John, 18; and his sister, Blanche, who was 22.
According to his in the U.S., World War II Draft Card dated Oct. 16, 1940, Joseph was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Dec. 31, 1915. He was employed by Dravo Constuction Co. He weighed 145 pounds, was 5 feet, 4 inches tall, had a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and blonde hair.
Nedza enlisted on Feb. 12, 1943 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was assigned Army Serial No. 33425827. Nedza was assigned to Company H, 3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), known as the "Red Devils."
The 508th PIR was part of the 82nd Airborne Division and participated in the Operation Market Garden on Sep. 17, 1944. At approximately 1330 hours on the 17th the Red Devils jumped into Holland . Their Drop Zone was the area east of the dropped on the Groesbeek Heights and southwest of the town of Wyler which was just inside the German border.
3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry, commanded by Lt. Colonel Louis G. Mendez, Jr., landed several hundred yards southeast of DZ "T". The battalion assembled quickly and by 1830 hours occupied its initial objective, the high ground in the area of Berg en Dal-Ubbergen-Beek. This terrain was key to the success of the 82nd Airborne Division.
Throughout the 19th, the Germans began to form in the area behind Beek in what appeared to be an imminent counterattack. On 20 September, the Germans began to systematically shell the positions in Beek and Berg en Dal, causing some casualties. In the late afternoon an attack by enemy armor and infantry developed at Beek. A platoon road block was overrun and the enemy advanced almost to Berg en Dal. Company H counterattacked, and reestablished the Beek position at 2140 hours, after a bitter fight.
Based on Nedza's date of death, it appears that this is where Private First Class Nedza was killed. According to the citation that posthumously awarded him the Silver Star Medal on Nov. 30, 1944:
"for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 3d Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 22 [sic] September 1944, at [redacted], Holland. A machine gun position northeast of [redacted] delivered such destructive fire upon our company attacking at night that the entire attack was momentarily stopped. Private First Class Nedza, a rifleman, locating the enemy gun a short distance away, made his way alone through defending enemy forces and reached the machine gun position. Unaided, he attacked the position and completely destroyed it. Without further delay, which could have gained for the enemy added time to meet our attack and might have caused us serious casualties, the company was permitted to move forward. Private First Class Nedza was killed in this action. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army."
However, if his date of death in the citation is correct (Sep. 22), it could be that he was killed during the 3rd Battalion's attack to clear the enemy from the eastern portion of the Circul Van de Coij.
The awarded was reported in the April 29, 1945 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The paper stated :
"Pvt. Joseph Nedza, a South Side paratrooper, has been posthumously awarded a Silver Star for gallantry, the Army announced yesterday.
Pvt. Nedza, 29, of 911 Pretense Way, a rifleman won the medal by wiping out a Nazi machine gun nest single-handed. He lost his life in the action. His twin brother. Pvt. Edward Nedza, was killed in action in New Guinea May 27. 1944.
The Silver Star was presented to John Nedza, another brother now at home."
According to the 1920 United States Federal Census, Joseph Nedza, at the time 4 years old, was the son of Albert and Agnes Nedza who resided at 111 South Fourteenth Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were both born in Poland, were both 39 years old and immigrated to the U.S. in 1903. His father was a laborer in a steel mill. Other siblings were: his brothers, Jacob, 10 years old; Stanley, 8; Frank, 6; Edward (his twin); and sister, Gertrude, 1.
The 1930 United States Federal Census shows Joseph placed in the Thorn Hill School Allegheny County Industrial Home for Boys, a reform school. He was 14 years old at the time. From Sep. to Dec. 1940 Joseph served a three month sentence for burglary (Pennsylvania Prison, Reformatory, and Workhouse Records).
According to the 1940 United States Federal Census, Joseph Nedza resided at 911 Pretense Way in Pittsburgh. He was 24 years old and his occupation was machine operator in a glass factory. He lived there with his mother, Agnes, the head of the household in a home that was rented. Agnes was a 60 year old widow. She was born in Austria about 1880. Also living there were Joseph's five siblings: brothers Jacob, 29 years old; Stanley, 27; Edward (his twin); and John, 18; and his sister, Blanche, who was 22.
According to his in the U.S., World War II Draft Card dated Oct. 16, 1940, Joseph was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Dec. 31, 1915. He was employed by Dravo Constuction Co. He weighed 145 pounds, was 5 feet, 4 inches tall, had a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and blonde hair.
Nedza enlisted on Feb. 12, 1943 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was assigned Army Serial No. 33425827. Nedza was assigned to Company H, 3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), known as the "Red Devils."
The 508th PIR was part of the 82nd Airborne Division and participated in the Operation Market Garden on Sep. 17, 1944. At approximately 1330 hours on the 17th the Red Devils jumped into Holland . Their Drop Zone was the area east of the dropped on the Groesbeek Heights and southwest of the town of Wyler which was just inside the German border.
3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry, commanded by Lt. Colonel Louis G. Mendez, Jr., landed several hundred yards southeast of DZ "T". The battalion assembled quickly and by 1830 hours occupied its initial objective, the high ground in the area of Berg en Dal-Ubbergen-Beek. This terrain was key to the success of the 82nd Airborne Division.
Throughout the 19th, the Germans began to form in the area behind Beek in what appeared to be an imminent counterattack. On 20 September, the Germans began to systematically shell the positions in Beek and Berg en Dal, causing some casualties. In the late afternoon an attack by enemy armor and infantry developed at Beek. A platoon road block was overrun and the enemy advanced almost to Berg en Dal. Company H counterattacked, and reestablished the Beek position at 2140 hours, after a bitter fight.
Based on Nedza's date of death, it appears that this is where Private First Class Nedza was killed. According to the citation that posthumously awarded him the Silver Star Medal on Nov. 30, 1944:
"for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 3d Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 22 [sic] September 1944, at [redacted], Holland. A machine gun position northeast of [redacted] delivered such destructive fire upon our company attacking at night that the entire attack was momentarily stopped. Private First Class Nedza, a rifleman, locating the enemy gun a short distance away, made his way alone through defending enemy forces and reached the machine gun position. Unaided, he attacked the position and completely destroyed it. Without further delay, which could have gained for the enemy added time to meet our attack and might have caused us serious casualties, the company was permitted to move forward. Private First Class Nedza was killed in this action. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army."
However, if his date of death in the citation is correct (Sep. 22), it could be that he was killed during the 3rd Battalion's attack to clear the enemy from the eastern portion of the Circul Van de Coij.
The awarded was reported in the April 29, 1945 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The paper stated :
"Pvt. Joseph Nedza, a South Side paratrooper, has been posthumously awarded a Silver Star for gallantry, the Army announced yesterday.
Pvt. Nedza, 29, of 911 Pretense Way, a rifleman won the medal by wiping out a Nazi machine gun nest single-handed. He lost his life in the action. His twin brother. Pvt. Edward Nedza, was killed in action in New Guinea May 27. 1944.
The Silver Star was presented to John Nedza, another brother now at home."
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