My father, George Telecky, was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on March 21, 1915. He was one of 3 children born to Frank and Tillie Telecky, who emigrated from Czechoslovakia in 1905. He married my mother, Genevieve, on June 9, 1937. I was his only child, born in March, 1944.

In 1947 my mother remarried an ex Marine. I have one stepsister and 2 stepbrothers (one deceased). My stepfather was a wonderful father to me, but I often wonder what life would have been like if my real father had lived.

My father, George Telecky, received his induction orders on Oct. 27, 1943. He left for Camp Dodge, Des Moines, IA on Nov. 17, 1943. On Dec. 16, 1943 he was sent to Camp Roberts, CA for basic training. He returned in May 1944 and saw me for the first and only time (I was 6 weeks old). On may 24, 1944 he was sent to Fort Ord, CA where he awaited deployment to the Pacific. He shipped out July 4, 1944 to New Guinea, where he joined the 6th Division in Sansipor.

On Dec. 25, 1944 he left Sansipor for Luzon, arriving at Linguyan Gulf on Jan. 9, 1945. For the next month his 1st Infantry Regiment moved southeast from the gulf, securing the towns of Urdaneta and Villasis in the Cabaruan Hills. His 6th Division encountered much resistance around Munoz, San Jose and Rizal.

By Feb. 14, 1945 the 6th Division headed to the San Miguel area to clear the mountains. George's 1st Infantry Regiment was sent to the Bataan area to help cut off escape routes of Japanese withdrawing from Mariveles on the southern tip of the peninsula. (this was the first time U.S. troops had been in Bataan since the death march in 1942). The 1st Infantry leap frogged across the middle of Bataan, from Orion to Bagac, securing vital road junctions and clearing out the remaining Japenese troops.

Around Feb. 21, 1945, with southern Bataan sealed off, his 1st Infantry headed for the mountains east of Manila (the Shimbu Line). Here they joined the rest of the 6th Division. On the 24th of Feb. 1945, the mountain attacks began. The 6th Division's 63rd Infantry attacked on the north side of Mt. Pacawagan. George's 1st Infantry on the north side of Mt. Mataba, and the 20th Infantry on the south side.

On Feb.27, 1945, George's Company L, 1st Infantry, was pinned down by heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire. During the night the Japanese successfully infiltrated their lines. In the morning, their company was ordered to withdraw. Orderly withdrawal was impossible, so it was necessary to withdraw by infiltration (each man by himself or in small groups). Withdrawal continued through the day of the 28th. A check was made at the rendezvous point and George was one of the missing. He was listed as missing in action. Later, when that territory was occupied by our troops, his body was found and identified.

George was temporarily buried in the U.S. Armed Forces Cemetary # 2 in Manila. Later his body was returned to the United States and reburied on Oct. 13, 1948 in the Veteran's Memorial at the entrance to Czech National Cemetary in Cedar Rapids, IA.