Technical Sergeant Five (T/5) John E. Bistrica graduated from high school in June 1942 and was inducted into the U.S. Army on 3 April 1943 at Akron, Ohio. On 10 December 1943, he was assigned to C Company, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division and sent overseas on the HMS "Rangatikki" to England. Bistrica participated in the Normandy Landings on D-Day, 6 June 1944, landing on Omaha Beach in the first wave. He fought with his unit in Caumont and St. Lo, France, and in Mons and Liege, Belgium before entering Germany and fighting at Stohlberg. Bistrica was reported missing in action on 8 October 1944, but was found by an armor unit and sent to Hospital Plant 4114 in England. After recovering, he was assigned to the 314th Replacement Company, Ground Forces Replacement Depot, England, and then to Detachment 510, Supply. Bistrica sailed for home on the "Queen Mary" on 9 December 1945 and was discharged at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, on 19 December 1945.
From the description of John E. Bistrica papers, 1943-1992, undated (bulk 1943-1945). (US Army, Mil Hist Institute). WorldCat record id: 771914065
