Surnames: Wojt, Tomkowiak, Rutowski

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 05/27/1943

Wojt, John (25 JAN 1918 - 30 APR 1943)

A telegram received Friday by Mr. and Mrs. Adam Wojt of the Township of Withee (Clark Co., Wis.) announced the death of their son Jon, who was killed in action on April 30, 1943 in the North African Battle. This is the first known casualty of a boy from this community.

John was born in Thorp on Jan. 25, 1918, and was brought up on the farm of his parents in the town of Withee. He enlisted in the regular army in 1938 and served three years in Company D., 3rd Infantry, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He returned to his home here for several weeks and was inducted into the army again March 14, 1942. He spent some time at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Fort Dix, N.J. before being shipped to North Ireland and some time in November of last year he landed in North Africa. He was killed in the defense of his County on April 30, 1943, serving Hq. Co., 1st Bn., 6th Armored Inf.

He leaves to mourn, his parents, Adam and Sefania Wojt, five brothers, Joseph of Eau Claire, Anton and Victor of Thorp, Edward of Oregon, and Adam, who is also in the service; five sisters, Harriet (Mrs. Frank Tomkowiak) of Thon, Aux. Rose Wojt of George, AFC Wanda Wojt of Louisiana, Edna of Chicago and Josephine of thorp; and his grandmother, Mrs. Rose Rutowski of Thorp.

Mr. and Mrs. Wojt have one other son, Adam, in the army and two daughters, Rose and Wanda in the WAACS.