Eugene “Jack” Kraszewski was drafted as soon as he turned 18 and joined the 553rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, 9th Division on March 1, 1943.
He landed on Utah Beach on D-Day and later fought in the Battle of Bulge.
The Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive in the West during World War II, beginning in December 1944. It was intended to split the Allied forces in the Ardennes region, but ultimately failed, inflicting heavy losses on the Germans and setting the stage for the final Allied advance towards victory.
Kraszewski was unable to complete his final year of high school due to military service.
But last week, the now 100-year-old veteran received an honorary high school diploma from the Pulaski Community School District.
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WWII Veteran Jack Kraszewski Receives Diploma
It’s amazing that Jack Krajewski earned his high school diploma 81 years after being drafted during World War II.
Earlier this year, the community of Pulaski held a parade in his honor to commemorate his service and his 100th birthday. Kraszewski rode through the streets in a World War II-era Jeep.
“I can’t express in words how much I enjoyed it,” Kraszewski said of the parade. “So many people came out to see me.”
He also recalled to reporters the dangers he faced in Europe while fighting for the United States.
“We shot down aircraft that were firing machine guns, low-flying aircraft,” he said. “Our guns were 40mm and 50 caliber, so they couldn’t reach the bombers.”
“We were outside 24 hours a day, even though it was raining, humid and the weather was bad.”
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Also visited France on D-Day
Jack Krajewski also returned to France with other veterans to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy.
He entered France a few months after D-Day, NBC 26 in northeastern Wisconsin reported. After the parade, he recalled an emotional reunion with his father when he returned home from the war.
“As soon as I got home I yelled, ‘Who’s home?’ and my dad woke up, and it was a nice reunion,” he said.
Krajewski returned to his job as a cheesemaker, where he eventually met his wife and started a family.
He says he’s not sure what the secret to longevity is, but he thinks it might require some help from above.
“I don’t know. The person upstairs took care of me,” he said.
Now the community is taking care of it Him.
