Transcribed from the Otesego County Herald Times Sept 23, 1948
Submitted by Jim Shearer

Sgt.Kucharek To Be Accorded Burial Honors

Military honors will be given Staff Sgt. George A. Kucharek, Elmira soldier killed in action on December 2, 1944 on Leyte Island in the Philippines, on September 27 at St. Thomas church in Elmira. The Rev. Jerome Szydlowski will be celebrant of the requiem high mass at 9 a.m. and the services will be conducted at the church cemetery. Clyde Wilks Post No. 1518, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will be in charge of the military rites at the grave.
The body of the well-known Gaylord and Elmira resident, who was 21 years old at the time of his death, was temporarily buried in the military cemetery on Leyte. It arrived by New York Central train early September 22, and veterans of the VFW post formed a guard of honor to escort the remains to the funeral home.
S/Sgt. Kucharek was a native of Elmira, born February 20, 1920. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kucharek, live on their farm located nine miles west of Gaylord. S/Sgt. Kucharek attended the local schools there, and later joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. where he became proficient in machine repair work. He entered service on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day, and was assigned to the infantry. He was an active member of St. Thomas Holy Name Society.
Surviving besides the parents, are five sisters, Mrs. Anthony Franckowiak of Elmira, Mrs. Leon Fettig and Mrs. James Shearer, both of Petoskey, Mrs. Roy Kneudson of Columbus, Ga., and Miss Susan Kucharek at home; nine brothers, Nicholas of Petoskey, Pvt. Floyd Kucharek, with the army in the Aleution Islands, and Ally, Ben, Zigmund, Peter, Bernard, Thomas, and Raymond, at home.
A special appeal has been made my Matt Dickerson, service officer of the VFW post, that all veterans, wheter affiliated with the VFW or not, be on hand, in uniform if possible, to attend the rites. They are asked to assemble at the VFW hall at 8 p.m., September 27.