Made Supreme Sacrifice
Alton places of business will be closed Saturday morning during the Memorial Service for Pfc. Milo Zenk.
Pfc. Milo J. Zenk, eldest son of Mr. Mike Zenk, of Alton was killed in action on Luzon island in the Philippines Feb. 8th. The sad tidings reached the family here Sunday morning, March 18, in a telegram from the War Department, which stated that further details will follow.
Memorial services at St. Mary’s church at first announced for Friday, were later postponed to Saturday morning March 24, while arrangements were being made for Milo’s twin brothers to get leave from Great Lakes Training Station. Alfred has finished his boot training and was expected this week, but Alvin on Sunday was still in the hospital after recovering from scarlet fever. Through the Red Cross leave was arranged for Alvin and the twins arrived together Wednesday afternoon.
Milo was born on the Zenk farm east of Alton, March 2, 1922, and had nearly reached his 23rd birthday. He was inducted into the Army on July 8, 1943, and had his basic training at Camp Fannin, Texas. He went overseas the first of January, 1944. After a month in New Zealand, he was sent with his outfit, the 35th Infantry, to New Calendonia where he had his first combat duty.
He arrived in the Philippines early in January of this year. In a letter written Feb. 1st, he told the family that he was in combat.
Surviving are his father, two sisters and five brothers, namely, Mildred, Alvin and Alfred, Richard, Donald, Cyril and Mary Ann. The mother of the family passed on eight years ago, on June 25, 1937.
Milo attended the local St. Mary’s school, where he was a favorite with all and developed into a remarkably fine young man. Exemplary in morals and conduct, none could have been better prepared than he to make the supreme sacrifice for home and country. The community was greatly shocked by the news and will forever honor his memory, along with the seven other young men from this vicinity whose names are marked with gold stars. He is the first casualty in the Philippines from this vicinity since Leo Mack was killed at Clark Field in December, 1941.
Source: The Alton Democrat, Thursday, March 22, 1945 (photo included)
