134th Infantry Regiment Website
"All Hell Can't Stop Us"
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134th Infantry Regiment Website"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
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Joseph John Madanski, son of Jan and Wladyslawa (Kasprzak) Madanski, was born January 18, 1917 in Cleveland, Ohio. He married Dorothy Ann Volanski in 1938 and the couple had 4 children, Barbara, Patricia, John and Charles. He registered for the draft October 16, 1940. At the time he was working at Industrial Rayon Corporation in Cleveland. He was inducted into the Army July 12, 1944 and joined Company F, 320th Infantry Regiment on January 17, 1945 from the 83rd Replacement Battalion while the unit was in the vicinity of Hompre, northwest of Bastogne, Belgium. He was promoted to Private First Class January 21 and again promoted to Sergeant April 5, 1945. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for heroic action March 31, 1945 in the vicinity of Bottrop, Germany. Sgt Joseph J Madanski was killed in action April 15, 1945 in the vicinity of Gottesgnaden, southeast of Magdeburg, Germany. He was awarded a Silver Star Medal for gallantry during the battle in which he died. He is buried at Saint Mary's Cemetery, Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio.
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Bronze Star Medal Citation |
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Sergeant Joseph J Madanski, 35929756, (then private first class), Infantry, United States Army, for heroic service in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States near * * * , Germany on 31 March 1945. Sergeant Madanski, an acting squad leader, voluntarily accompanied a raiding party across the * * * Canal under heavy enemy observation and fire, then displayed excellent leadership in directing his men in clearing a group of fortified buildings, inflicting heavy casualties among the enemy defenders. His courageous leadership contributed to the success of this hazardous mission, which relieved pressure on an adjoining unit and enabled other elements of his company to cross the canal and seize their objective that night. Sergeant Madanski was killed in a subsequent action against the enemy. Entered military service from Ohio. General Orders No. 32, Headquarters 35th Infantry Divison, 13 May 1945 |
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Silver Star Medal |
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Sergeant Joseph J Madanski, 35929756, Infantry, United States Army, for
gallantry in action near * * * , Germany on 15 April 1945. While leading the
attack of his platoon across an open field, Sergeant Madanski, an acting squad
leader, saw a well-concealed enemy machine gun, warned his troops to take cover,
then when the enemy weapon opened fire, remained in an exposed position and
silenced the machine gun with rifle fire. He continued firing upon other enemy
positions in the area to cover withdrawal of his men, and while so engaged was
killed by enemy fire. Sergeant Madanski's gallant self-sacrifice is in accord
with military tradition. Entered military service from Ohio. |
