KOPECKY, Tec5 Richard E. "Dick"
KOPECKY, SCHMIDT, MCCOURT, PIERCE
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/22/2013 at 11:52:21
The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Friday, March 02, 1945, Page 14T-5 RICHARD E. KOPECKY IS
KILLED IN ACTION FEBRUARY 21Parents Get Message From
Secretary of War Friday MorningClear Lake - Mr. and Mrs. John KOPECKY, 324 E. Main street, received a message from the war department Friday morning as follows:
"The secretary of war desires me to expresss his deep regret that your son, T/5 Richard E. KOPECKY, was killed in action Feb. 21 in France. Confirming letter follows, J. A. ULIO, the adjutant general."
T/5 KOPECKY, known familiarly as "Dick," entered the service in October, 1943, and went first to Fort Riley, Kans., where he received basic training at the cavalry replacement training center. Last July 1 he completed a communications course at the cavalry school and spent 2 weeks at home. He was then sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. and went overseas early this year. His parents have had but 2 letters from him overseas, one written Jan. 29 and the other Feb. 8. In the first letter he told of the cold and living in tents. In the 2nd he was at the front and in a town so they lived in a house. He said he was anxious to get the war over and come home.
T/5 KOPECKY was born at Mason City and came to Clear Lake as a young lad. He was graduated from Clear Lake high school, having been prominent in all musical events and also in basketball. He was a member of the cornet quartet which won state and national honors.
Besides his parents he is survived by 2 brothers, John, Sioux City, and S/Sgt. Cyril C. KOPECKY, in service, and 4 sisters, Mrs. Donald SCHMIDT and Miss Mildred, Cedar Rapids; Miss Rosalyn, a teacher, and Mrs. Keith McCOURT, at home.
~ ~ ~ ~
The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
April 17, 1945, Page 8PURPLE HEART SENT KOPECKYS
Cavalry Commander Commends Soldier
Clear Lake - Mr. and Mrs. John KOPECKY, 342 E. Main street, received a communication Monday from Henry L. Stimson, secretary of war, stating that their son, T/5 Richard E. KOPECKY, has been awarded the purple heart decoration posthumously. There was also a memorial certificate signed by President Roosevelt.
The KOPECKYS also received a letter from Maj. Gen. J. A. ULIO, the adjutant general, written March 5 and confirming an earlier message stating that their son had been killed in action in France Feb. 21.
Capt. John D. BEAVER, cavarly commander of the 70th reconnaissance troop, of which Richard was a member, wrote personally to Mr. and Mrs. KOPECKY as follows:
"Your son was killed instantly with 2 others when their vehicle was hit by a German 88-mm shell. These 3 were doing their job in a superior manner but it was a tough assignment. He was a good soldier. Officers and comrades-in-arms held him in high esteem and he served the cause of decency and justice with all he had. One thing I particularly admired in your son was his cheerfulness. No matter how difficult things were, he could always manage a grin and a wise-crack. Burial services of the religious faith he expressed were held in Alsace-Lorraine, France.
Mr. and Mrs. KOPECKY have been notified they may obtain the burial flag by making a request for it. They have received letters of sympathy from Secretary STIMSON and from General MARSHALL.
~ ~ ~ ~
The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
June 26, 1945, Page 5MEMORIAL FOR R. E. KOPECKY
Services Planned at Methodist Church
Clear Lake - Memorial services for T/5 Richard E. KOPECKY, who was killed in action Feb. 21, 1945, in France, will be held at the First Methodist church Sunday at 2 o'clock with the Rev. Warner M. HUBBARD, pastor, officiating.
T/5 KOPECKY, son of Mr. and Mrs. John KOPECKY, 324 E. Main street, was born at Mason City Sept. 9, 1925, and attended Jackson and Roosevelt schools there until he reached the 7th grade. He moved with his parents to Clear Lake where he entered school and became identified with many extracurricular activities. As a ember of the cornet quartet, brass quartet and band, he gained recognition in state music contests and in national events at St. Paul and Minneapolis. In addition he became proficient in basketball and played forward on the first Clear Lake team that went to sub-state. In his senior year he was chosen May day king and was graduated from high school May 21, 1943.
Preceding his induction into the army he was employed by the International Harvester company at Mason City. Nov. 20, 1943, he entered the service at Camp Dodge and after 2 weeks was assigned to Fort Riley, kans., for basic training and radio communications. June 29, 1944, he was graduated with the advance class in radio with the rating T/5 and was granted a furlough which he spent at Clear Lake.
He received further training at Camp Adair, Ore., and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., leaving the states Jan. 8, 1945, and landing at Marseilles, France, for immediate combat duty. Feb. 21 his reconnaissance unit was sent out to set up heavy machine gun artillery. While on duty a tree was struck by an 88-mm German shell which burst, killing T/5 KOPECKY instantly. Burial was in Alsace-Lorraine, France.
He was awarded the purple heart decoration posthumously and a memorial certificate signed by President Roosevelt was sent to his parents.
Besides his parents, T/5 KOPECKY is survived by 2 brothers, John KOPECKY, Jr., Sioux City, and S/Sgt. Cyril KOPECKY, in the service, and 4 sisters, Mrs. Donald SCHMIDT, Cedar Rapids, and Mrs. Keith McCOURT and the Misses Rosalyn and Mildred KOPECKY, Clear Lake.
Page 10 ~ Mrs. O. J. PIERCE, commander, request members of the navy Mothers club to meet at Legion hall Sunday at 1:30 o'clock to attend Memorial services for T/5 Richard E. KOPECKY at the Methodist church in a body.
Page 19 ~ Members of the American Legion are requested to meet at Legion hall Sunday at 1:30 o'clock to attend memorial services for T/5 Richard E. KOPECKY at the Methodist church at 3 o'clock.
Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2013
Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen