Benny Joseph Kubiak
Benny Joseph Kubiak was born 29-Jul 1918 Ramsey Town, Clearfield, Pennsylvania. His parents were Leo Kubiak (1891-1973) and Victoria Kalinowiz Kubiak (1882-1982). Benny and his siblings were the first generation born in the United States. His parents were born in Poland. Benny had three brothers: Leo, Walter, and Joseph and one sister: Victoria. His enlistment records state he had completed grammar school. According to the Federal Census, in 1930 the family lived at 1131 Jennings Street in Gary IN. At the time, Benny was 12 years old.
Benny registered for the draft 16-Oct 1940 in Indiana. His listed employer was Carnegie Steel Corp. When he registered, he was 22 years old and living in Gary IN at 1137 Henricks Street. Benny enlisted 9-Nov 1942 at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana. His service number was 35710907. The Army listed his Civilian Occupation as: Semiskilled occupations in mechanical treatment of metals (rolling, stamping, forging, pressing, etc.).
All four brothers served during World War II. Additionally Benny, along with his brothers Leo and Joseph and friend Clyde Barnes, sang in a local quartet. A newspaper article at the time noted that the members of the quartet were going to “Plague Adolf”.
Benny would serve in Alaska and in the Pacific Theater. In Alaska Benny served in the U.S. Army Alaska Defense Command (Patch on right shoulder) and the 6th Army Division (Patch on right shoulder).
In May 1942, the Japanese began near-simultaneous campaigns against Midway and the Aleutians, thus beginning the Aleutian Islands campaign. The Japanese invaded Alaska on 3-Jun 1942 when Japanese carrier-based planes bombed Dutch Harbor, a U.S. Naval Air Station and Then on June 6th Japanese forces landed on Kiska Island and the next day on Attu Island. It was the first time that the continental United States was invaded and occupied by a foreign power.
A force consisting of 1,140 infantry soldiers took control of the island and captured Attu’s population, which consisted of 45 Aleuts (Indigenous people). The 42 Aleut inhabitants who survived the Japanese invasion were taken to a prison camp near Otaru, Hokkaido. Sixteen of them died while they were imprisoned. Benny was inducted into the Army in November 1942.
On 11-May 1943 U.S. forces landed on Attu and began an uphill battle to retake the island. After nineteen days of fighting, the beleaguered Japanese soldiers launched a final banzai charge in an attempt to break through the American line.
After serving in Alaska, Benny was sent to the South Pacific.
For the rest of his story, click on the pdf below:
