Max Melnek - 298th Engineer Combat Battalion, WWII, WW2

Max Melnek

Source: MorningSun, Published June 17, 2015
Melnek, Max J.; age 91; of Farwell; passed away Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at the Woodland Hospice House in Mt. Pleasant. Max was born the son of the late George and Christina (Bal) Melnek on May 14, 1924 in Chicago, IL. Max had retired from the military after serving a combined 35 years in the Air Force and Army; during W.W.II Max was held as a POW. He was united in marriage to Josephine Pasco in 1981. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and wild mushroom gathering. Max is survived by his wife, Josephine; children, Josh (Chary) Melnek of Mt. Pleasant, Lynette (Jim) Simon of NE, Patty (Frank) Dinovo of Kansas City, MO, Loretta Ramas of Denver, CO and Gail (Terry) Berigan of Omaha, NE; many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Max was predeceased by his daughter, Jeanie; brothers, Don and Charlie; and sisters, Mary and Virginia. Visitation Thursday, June 18, 2015 at the Clare Chapel of Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home. Services at the Vernon Twp. Cemetery on Friday with Rev. Prentice A. Tipton, Jr. Contributions to St. Jude Children�fs Research Hospital.

Source: Find A Grave
Max J. Melnek
BIRTH 14 May 1924, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
DEATH 16 Jun 2015 (aged 91), Farwell, Clare County, Michigan
BURIAL Vernon Township Cemetery, Vernon Township, Isabella County, Michigan
MEMORIAL ID 147974918

Source: WW2pow.info
SERIAL NUMBER 36585597
Name: MELNEK MAX J
Grade: TEC5 Technician, Grade 5
Grade Code O: Chief nurse or Head dietitian or Head physical therapy aide or Technician 5th Grade
Service Code: ARMY
Arm of Service: Corps of Engineers
Date Report: Day 07 Month 08 Year 1944
Racial Group: WHITE
State of Residence: Michigan
Type of Organization: Engineer Combat Battalion
Parent Unit Number: 0298
Area: European Theatre: France
Latest Report Date: Day 27 Month 03 Year 1945
Source of Report: Individual has been reported through sources considered official.
Status: Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
Detaining Power: GERMANY
Camp: Stalag 12A to 9B Limburg An Der Lahn Hessen-Nassau, Prussia 50-08

Source: Clare Sentinel, Friday Morning, October 6, 1944

M1SSING-1N ACTION
Mr. and'Mrs. George Melnek, of Vernon township, received a telegram from the War Department Saturday morning, saying that their son, Pvt. Max Melnek, had been reported missing in action since August 7th. Pvt. Melnek was employed at Thayers' dairy before joining the armed forces.

Source: Clare Sentinel, Friday Morning, March 23, 1945

Mr. and Mrs. George Melnek, of Vernon township, received a telegram from the War Department, Friday of last week, stating that their son, Cpl. Max Melnek, previously reported missing in action in Germany and later reported a prisoner of war of the German Government, had been liberated.

Source: Clare Sentinel - Friday, January 12, 1945, page 1
Parents of Max Melnek Hear From Him in Germany
Mr. find Mrs. George Melnek, of Vernon township, received word Monday through; a letter from their son, Cpl. Max. J, Malnek, under date of November 9, 1944, stating that although he is a prisoner of- war in Germany, he is Well and feeling good and wishing his friends a Happy New Yeah. Max had been reported missing in action since August 7th.

Source: Clare Sentinel - Friday, June 01, 1945 - Page 1
President Art Damoth called the Clare Kiwanis Club meeting to order Tuesday evening and presented �Bob� Chapman, as chairman of the evening�s program. Guests present included Harry Wehrly, Conrad Walker, Floyd Werts, Fred Busclie, George Scott and Ed Johnston. �Bob" then introduced as honored guests of the evening: Coxswain Frederick Scott, Pic. Floyd Callihan, Cpl. Max Melnek,- Pvt. Orville Allen and Pfc. Russell Mater. Pfc. Callihan spoke of conditions and his experiences in a German prison camp, and Coxswain Scott of his experiences aboard the U. S. Aircraft Carrier Franklin, thrilling their listeners with first hand information they had personally gleaned while overseas.

Source: National WWII Memorial
Max J. Melnek
BRANCH OF SERVICE U.S. Army
HOMETOWN Farwell, MI
ACTIVITY DURING WWII
Sergeant. Served with 298th (C) Combat Engineer Battalion. Participated In the invasion of Northern France; Normandy. Captured July 1944. Imprisoned at Stalag 3c Germany. Liberated by Russian military March 1945.

Listed in 1943 Journal August 1943
Entry 0700 - Aug 25/43 (1943)
Lt. Kahofer, Sgt. Paquette, Techn 5th Gr Fuller, Pfc Sprang, & Pvt Melnek left for Tenn. Maneuver Area as advance detail for 298th per authority contained in par 5, SO # 205 Hq Op Rucker, Ala., dated Aug. 23/45

Listed in After/After Action Reports 26 July - 1 Dec 1944:
LOSSES IN ACTION - H&S Co - 7 AUGUST 1944
Tec 5 Max J. Melnek 36585597

[ History ][ Journals ][ Roster ][ Connections ][ Haak Scrapbook ]

Please e-mail me at the address below.