Article published in the Syracuse Herald American Sunday, January 16, 1944 page 30
Kotas Given Silver Star Posthumously; Died a Hero
[Photo]
MRS. HELEN KOTAS wears Silver Star Medal awarded posthumously to her son, Pfc. John J. Kotas. for gallantry in action. 1stLt. Raymond Kotas, brother of the hero, is shown at center, and soldier's father, Anthony Kotas, stands at right.
The Silver Star, the third highest Army service decoration, was awarded posthumously to Pfc. John J. Kotas of Solvay yesterday at headquarters of District 3, Second Service Command.
Presentation was made by Col. John F. Daye, commanding District 3, to Mrs. Helen Kotas of 119 Alice Avenue, Solvay, mother of the hero.
Kotas was killed Aug. 5 in an infantry action in Sicily. He had fought through the entire North African campaign. He enlisted in January. 1941, and left for overseas service in July, 1942 In a letter written from Sicily
shortly before his death, he sent home the Purple Heart, awarded for wounds received in action. He was 25 years old.
The Silver Star was awarded for "gallantry in action" by command of Maj. Gen Heubner and was granted under General Order No. 51, dated Sept. 25, 1943, at Headquarters First U.S. Army Division and signed by the Chief of Staff, Col. S.B. Mason, G.S.C.
The citation read in part: When his company was subjected to heavy machine gun crossfire in its advance on an enemy hill, Private Kotas, unmindful of the enemy's strategic advantage, stormed one of the enemy nests in a valiant attemp to destroy it. Although killed in this action, his effective grenade fire compelled the enemy machine gun crew to withdraw.
The hero's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kotas, and his brother, Lt. Raymond C. Kotas, 21. a pilot attached to the Third Air Force, Barksdale. La., were among friends and relatives attending the ceremony.
***
Obituary published in the Syracuse Herald Journal, Wednesday, July 28, 1948
3 War Dead To Be Buried This Week
FUNERAL SERVICES will be held this week for three area
dead whose bodies were returned recently from Europe. They are Pvt. Edwin A. Fairbank, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Fairbank of Dewitt; Corp. Anthony G. Papaleo, 29, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cannazzo of 319 Fabius St. and Pfc. John J. Kotas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kotas, 119 Alice av., Solvay. ...
... Pfc. Kotas was killed in action in Sicily, Aug 5, 1943. His body will arrive in Syracuse today from a Sicilian cemetery.
Born in Solvay, he attended Solvay High School and [entered the] service in January 1941. He left for overseas in July 1942. A member of the invasion forces in North Africa, Pfc. Kotas served as a member of the 16th Infantry, 1st Division.
He was awarded the Purple Heart, with cluster, the presidential unit citation, and Silver Star.
Survivors besides his parents,are a sister, Mrs. William Krasnewich; a brother, Raymond Kotas; a niece, Nancy Krasnewich.
Services will be held at 8:30 A. M. from the home and at 9 A. M. in Sacred Heart Church. Members of Solvay-Geddes Veterans of World War II will hold military services in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Kotas Given Silver Star Posthumously; Died a Hero
[Photo]
MRS. HELEN KOTAS wears Silver Star Medal awarded posthumously to her son, Pfc. John J. Kotas. for gallantry in action. 1stLt. Raymond Kotas, brother of the hero, is shown at center, and soldier's father, Anthony Kotas, stands at right.
The Silver Star, the third highest Army service decoration, was awarded posthumously to Pfc. John J. Kotas of Solvay yesterday at headquarters of District 3, Second Service Command.
Presentation was made by Col. John F. Daye, commanding District 3, to Mrs. Helen Kotas of 119 Alice Avenue, Solvay, mother of the hero.
Kotas was killed Aug. 5 in an infantry action in Sicily. He had fought through the entire North African campaign. He enlisted in January. 1941, and left for overseas service in July, 1942 In a letter written from Sicily
shortly before his death, he sent home the Purple Heart, awarded for wounds received in action. He was 25 years old.
The Silver Star was awarded for "gallantry in action" by command of Maj. Gen Heubner and was granted under General Order No. 51, dated Sept. 25, 1943, at Headquarters First U.S. Army Division and signed by the Chief of Staff, Col. S.B. Mason, G.S.C.
The citation read in part: When his company was subjected to heavy machine gun crossfire in its advance on an enemy hill, Private Kotas, unmindful of the enemy's strategic advantage, stormed one of the enemy nests in a valiant attemp to destroy it. Although killed in this action, his effective grenade fire compelled the enemy machine gun crew to withdraw.
The hero's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kotas, and his brother, Lt. Raymond C. Kotas, 21. a pilot attached to the Third Air Force, Barksdale. La., were among friends and relatives attending the ceremony.
***
Obituary published in the Syracuse Herald Journal, Wednesday, July 28, 1948
3 War Dead To Be Buried This Week
FUNERAL SERVICES will be held this week for three area
dead whose bodies were returned recently from Europe. They are Pvt. Edwin A. Fairbank, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Fairbank of Dewitt; Corp. Anthony G. Papaleo, 29, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cannazzo of 319 Fabius St. and Pfc. John J. Kotas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kotas, 119 Alice av., Solvay. ...
... Pfc. Kotas was killed in action in Sicily, Aug 5, 1943. His body will arrive in Syracuse today from a Sicilian cemetery.
Born in Solvay, he attended Solvay High School and [entered the] service in January 1941. He left for overseas in July 1942. A member of the invasion forces in North Africa, Pfc. Kotas served as a member of the 16th Infantry, 1st Division.
He was awarded the Purple Heart, with cluster, the presidential unit citation, and Silver Star.
Survivors besides his parents,are a sister, Mrs. William Krasnewich; a brother, Raymond Kotas; a niece, Nancy Krasnewich.
Services will be held at 8:30 A. M. from the home and at 9 A. M. in Sacred Heart Church. Members of Solvay-Geddes Veterans of World War II will hold military services in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Article published in the Syracuse Herald American Sunday, January 16, 1944 page 30
Kotas Given Silver Star Posthumously; Died a Hero
[Photo]
MRS. HELEN KOTAS wears Silver Star Medal awarded posthumously to her son, Pfc. John J. Kotas. for gallantry in action. 1stLt. Raymond Kotas, brother of the hero, is shown at center, and soldier's father, Anthony Kotas, stands at right.
The Silver Star, the third highest Army service decoration, was awarded posthumously to Pfc. John J. Kotas of Solvay yesterday at headquarters of District 3, Second Service Command.
Presentation was made by Col. John F. Daye, commanding District 3, to Mrs. Helen Kotas of 119 Alice Avenue, Solvay, mother of the hero.
Kotas was killed Aug. 5 in an infantry action in Sicily. He had fought through the entire North African campaign. He enlisted in January. 1941, and left for overseas service in July, 1942 In a letter written from Sicily
shortly before his death, he sent home the Purple Heart, awarded for wounds received in action. He was 25 years old.
The Silver Star was awarded for "gallantry in action" by command of Maj. Gen Heubner and was granted under General Order No. 51, dated Sept. 25, 1943, at Headquarters First U.S. Army Division and signed by the Chief of Staff, Col. S.B. Mason, G.S.C.
The citation read in part: When his company was subjected to heavy machine gun crossfire in its advance on an enemy hill, Private Kotas, unmindful of the enemy's strategic advantage, stormed one of the enemy nests in a valiant attemp to destroy it. Although killed in this action, his effective grenade fire compelled the enemy machine gun crew to withdraw.
The hero's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kotas, and his brother, Lt. Raymond C. Kotas, 21. a pilot attached to the Third Air Force, Barksdale. La., were among friends and relatives attending the ceremony.
***
Obituary published in the Syracuse Herald Journal, Wednesday, July 28, 1948
3 War Dead To Be Buried This Week
FUNERAL SERVICES will be held this week for three area
dead whose bodies were returned recently from Europe. They are Pvt. Edwin A. Fairbank, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Fairbank of Dewitt; Corp. Anthony G. Papaleo, 29, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cannazzo of 319 Fabius St. and Pfc. John J. Kotas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kotas, 119 Alice av., Solvay. ...
... Pfc. Kotas was killed in action in Sicily, Aug 5, 1943. His body will arrive in Syracuse today from a Sicilian cemetery.
Born in Solvay, he attended Solvay High School and [entered the] service in January 1941. He left for overseas in July 1942. A member of the invasion forces in North Africa, Pfc. Kotas served as a member of the 16th Infantry, 1st Division.
He was awarded the Purple Heart, with cluster, the presidential unit citation, and Silver Star.
Survivors besides his parents,are a sister, Mrs. William Krasnewich; a brother, Raymond Kotas; a niece, Nancy Krasnewich.
Services will be held at 8:30 A. M. from the home and at 9 A. M. in Sacred Heart Church. Members of Solvay-Geddes Veterans of World War II will hold military services in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Kotas Given Silver Star Posthumously; Died a Hero
[Photo]
MRS. HELEN KOTAS wears Silver Star Medal awarded posthumously to her son, Pfc. John J. Kotas. for gallantry in action. 1stLt. Raymond Kotas, brother of the hero, is shown at center, and soldier's father, Anthony Kotas, stands at right.
The Silver Star, the third highest Army service decoration, was awarded posthumously to Pfc. John J. Kotas of Solvay yesterday at headquarters of District 3, Second Service Command.
Presentation was made by Col. John F. Daye, commanding District 3, to Mrs. Helen Kotas of 119 Alice Avenue, Solvay, mother of the hero.
Kotas was killed Aug. 5 in an infantry action in Sicily. He had fought through the entire North African campaign. He enlisted in January. 1941, and left for overseas service in July, 1942 In a letter written from Sicily
shortly before his death, he sent home the Purple Heart, awarded for wounds received in action. He was 25 years old.
The Silver Star was awarded for "gallantry in action" by command of Maj. Gen Heubner and was granted under General Order No. 51, dated Sept. 25, 1943, at Headquarters First U.S. Army Division and signed by the Chief of Staff, Col. S.B. Mason, G.S.C.
The citation read in part: When his company was subjected to heavy machine gun crossfire in its advance on an enemy hill, Private Kotas, unmindful of the enemy's strategic advantage, stormed one of the enemy nests in a valiant attemp to destroy it. Although killed in this action, his effective grenade fire compelled the enemy machine gun crew to withdraw.
The hero's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kotas, and his brother, Lt. Raymond C. Kotas, 21. a pilot attached to the Third Air Force, Barksdale. La., were among friends and relatives attending the ceremony.
***
Obituary published in the Syracuse Herald Journal, Wednesday, July 28, 1948
3 War Dead To Be Buried This Week
FUNERAL SERVICES will be held this week for three area
dead whose bodies were returned recently from Europe. They are Pvt. Edwin A. Fairbank, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Fairbank of Dewitt; Corp. Anthony G. Papaleo, 29, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cannazzo of 319 Fabius St. and Pfc. John J. Kotas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kotas, 119 Alice av., Solvay. ...
... Pfc. Kotas was killed in action in Sicily, Aug 5, 1943. His body will arrive in Syracuse today from a Sicilian cemetery.
Born in Solvay, he attended Solvay High School and [entered the] service in January 1941. He left for overseas in July 1942. A member of the invasion forces in North Africa, Pfc. Kotas served as a member of the 16th Infantry, 1st Division.
He was awarded the Purple Heart, with cluster, the presidential unit citation, and Silver Star.
Survivors besides his parents,are a sister, Mrs. William Krasnewich; a brother, Raymond Kotas; a niece, Nancy Krasnewich.
Services will be held at 8:30 A. M. from the home and at 9 A. M. in Sacred Heart Church. Members of Solvay-Geddes Veterans of World War II will hold military services in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Inscription
JOHN J KOTAS
NEW YORK
PFC 16 INF 1 DIV
WORLD WAR II
JUNE 24 1919 AUG 5 1943
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