Sergeant Theodore J. Dziennick

Served as a rifleman with the 9th Infantry, “The Old Reliables,” 39th Infantry Regiment, “The Fighting Falcons – anything, anywhere, anytime, bar nothing,” Company E.

Served from July 15, 1942 to September 22, 1945; overseas from March 17, 1943 to December 20, 1944. Trained at Camp Roberts, California with Company C, 81st Infantry Training Battalion. Engaged in first combat in Tunesia and was the first infantry unit to enter Bizerte.

Returned to England, redeployed to Sicily with Patton’s 7th Army, landing at Palermo on August 2, 1943, fought through to the center of the island, helped 1st Division capture Troina and later to defeat German positions at Randazzo. Again returned to England.

Departed Southampton, England and landed on Utah Beach July 12, 1944 (D-Day +6), fought in and secured the critical port of Cherbourg and then fought across France and Belgium. The Fighting Falcons joined with the 47th Infantry Regiment in capturing Roetgen, the first German town to fall in World War II, helped secure the Remagen bridgehead and roared across Germany as the Allied forces finished off the last of the German resistence. Awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge; the Bronze Star Medal for Heroic Achievement; the Purple Heart Medal for wounds sustained in action at Cherbourg, France on June 24, 1944; the Combat Action Ribbon; three Distinguished Presidential Unit Citations; the Army Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal; the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal with one Silver (5 awards) and one Bronze Star for the six campaigns of Tunesia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Alsace-Ardennes, and the Rhineland; the World War II Victory Medal; and the French Jubilee of Liberty Medal.

The 39th Regiment also earned two French Croix de Guerre Medals with Palms, the Belgian Fourragere for having been cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for actions crossing the Meuse River at Dinnat, Belgium on September 6, 1944 and in the Ardennes as well as the French Fourragere for two citations in the Order of the Day of the French Army. Also earned three overseas service bars and one service stripe (hash mark). Discharged at Fort Sheridan, Illinois and presented the “Ruptured Duck” lapel pin for honorable service.