Joseph Ellsworth Hajkowicz was in the 3rd squad of the 3rd Platoon of B Co. of the 411th Reg of the 103 Inf Div. He was one of the youngest in the platoon (born in 1925). I'm researching the men of the 3rd Platoon pictured with my father in Sep 44 just before they shipped out to join the 7th Army in Southern France. The platoon entered combat in mid-Nov 44 and Joe died as the result of a direct hit by a German 88 on 30Nov44 during an artillery barrage that occurred as the platoon entered the vineyards near Barr, France. Joe is buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France. My father was buddied with Joe at this time. He saw Joe's body pinwheel 20ft up into the air, but when the shelling started the platoon had to charge forward to get "under" the guns so they never were able to recover Joe's body. It was raining and the ground was wet which my father said saved many lives as the shells exploding in the soft mud didn't spread shrapnel as much as they typically did. The charge surprised the Germans and they abandoned their positions. I believe part of this battle was written up in Stars & Stripes because they attacked into a cemetery and men from both sides would jump in phosphorus shell holes and come out glowing like a ghost as they charged from tombstone to tombstone. My father reported that at one point that day, he ran by the strange sight of one of his SGTs in a fist fight with a German NCO in the middle of the battle. Apparently, a German surrender attempt somehow went afoul.

T. Toohig, Joe was a squad mate and a foxhole buddy of my Father. RIP. 411 Ready to Strike.