Philip Streczyk

Philip Streczyk was a sergeant in the U.S. 1st Infantry Division during World War II.

He is famous as one of the first men off the beach at Omaha Beach. He served in E Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, under Lieutenant John M. Spalding. He and his men helped make the breakthrough there on D-Day possible. His platoon landed on the Easy Red sector, and made it to the seawall largely intact, unlike most in the first wave. Instead of attacking up the beach exits, as was planned, he instead helped find and clear a path up the mined bluffs, left of Exit E-1. Once at the top, he attacked the enemy fortifications from the rear, clearing out trenches and pillboxes along Exit E-1 and taking prisoners. He was able to interrogate several of the Ost battalion POWs because he spoke fluent Polish. Later on D-Day he was involved in actions further inland at Colleville-sur-Mer.

For his actions on D-Day, he was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Great Britain's Military MedalFact|date=July 2007. His company commander later called him "the greatest unsung hero of World War II".

He saw action in five other major battles during WWII with the "Big Red One", including Tunisia, Sicily, and Hurtgen. He was also awarded the Silver Star four times.

Streczyk is a native of East Brunswick Township, New Jersey.

External links

* [http://www.warchronicle.com/16th_infantry/soldierstories_wwii/wozenski.htm Commander's Interview] from warchronicle.com

References

*"D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II", Stephen Ambrose, Simon & Schuster, 1994, ISBN 0-684-80137-X