John C. Svetecz

Pvt John Svetecz died of wounds on 06 June 1944, serving with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment. On D-Day, the 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry came ashore at Omaha Beach's Easy Red sector roughly forty-five minutes behind schedule, landing under continued German fire from the high ground above the beach. The battalion fought its way off the sand, sent one company to secure the right flank while the remainder swung left to outflank the enemy, and helped capture a pillbox overlooking the valley along with fifteen to twenty German defenders. Ordered to take over the mission of a battalion from the 16th Infantry that had suffered heavy losses, the men crossed a mined area, pushed inland to the edge of Colleville-sur-Mer, and by evening held positions along the road south of town, forming a box around German troops trying to escape the area; by the next morning the battalion had taken more than 160 prisoners and killed roughly 50 more in the fighting that continued through the night. Pvt Svetecz was wounded in this action and died of wounds on 06 June 1944.