On the eve of Memorial Day, a local World War II veteran wants to make sure there’s a permanent reminder in Philadelphia of the sacrifices his fellow soldiers made.
Army Corporal Stan Wojtusik, who served in the 106th Infantry Division, was injured and captured during the Battle of the Bulge of World War II.
The Battle, which lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945, was a German offensive campaign against the Allied forces during the war and a final effort by Hitler to split the Allies in two. With 600,000 troops involved, it was the largest battle fought by the United States in World War II.
“It was a surprise attack,” Wojtusik said. “This was Hitler’s last hurrah. There’s not a day that doesn’t go by that I don’t think of this battle.”
The U.S. Department of Defense reports 19,000 American soldiers were killed, 47,500 wounded and 23,000 missing in the Battle.
“I was 18-years-old at the time,” Wojtusik told NBC10. “Just turned 18. We were picking those Germans off left and right.”
Seventy years after the historic battle, Wojtusik, who grew up in South Philly and now lives in Torresdale, is leading the effort to erect a permanent memorial in Philadelphia’s Washington Square Park. Preliminary designs are for an 8-by-8-foot stone monument, according to Philly.com.
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“They should remember the sacrifices that these guys put up,” Wojtusik said. “Their first baptism of fire, of going into battle.”
Wojtusik and other supporters face several challenges however. Washington Square already has a Revolutionary War memorial. They also need federal approval as well as at least $100,000. Yet Wojtusik’s biggest concern is time as many World War II veterans are passing away.
“Time is running out for a good many of them,” he said.
All donations to the memorial fund can be sent to Philadelphia chapter treasurer Gary Lambert , 123 Garfield Avenue, Collingswood, New jersey, 08108. You can also visit the Battle of the Bulge website for more info.
