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On November 9th, 1918, John Tumas and Catherine Yasavicz gave birth to their fourth child, Casimir J. Tumas. His parents and other 10 siblings were residents of Vandergrift, Pennsylvania. When Casimir was 23 years old, he enlisted in the US Army. For his first six months in the service, he held the rank of Private, and for the rest of his time in the service (38 months) he held the rank of T-5 or Technician Fifth Grade. Those who held this rank were addressed as Corporal. He was a member of the 805th T.D. BN. His job was driving half track mounted tanks with 75mm cannons. He drove days and nights over all types of terrain, fired 75mm cannon into enemy installations and positions, and also made minor repairs on vehicles. This battalion was a part of Operation Torch, which was the invasion of Africa. Casimir was captured during actions at Kasserine Pass in Tunisia, North Africa in 1943. He was a prisoner of war for 27 months. On a very rare occasion, Casimir used to tell our family stories about his time in the prisoner camp. He would complain how it was his Captain’s mistake that put them behind enemy lines, causing them to get captured. On the plane ride over to Germany, he could see the Mediterranean Sea through the bottom of the plane because it was full of holes from being shot at. He would also say the Germans would make him carry rocks up and down the hill, and they would feed them fly soup with potatoes. Casimir and the other prisoners were liberated from Stalag 3B in Furstenberg, Germany in the spring of 1945. He was discharged from the service on October 16, 1945, and earned the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star. After his years in the service, he came back to his hometown of Vandergrift and married Annette Johnston. He started working at Allegheny Ludlum, West Leechburg and retired in 1980. Casimir was also a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace in East Vandergrift. On April 10, 2009, at the age of 90, Casimir passed away at West Haven Nursing Home in Washington Township. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers (John, Frank, and Edward), and two sisters (Anne and Ruth). He is laid at rest at Greenwood Memorial in Lower Burrell.
On November 9th, 1918, John Tumas and Catherine Yasavicz gave birth to their fourth child, Casimir J. Tumas. His parents and other 10 siblings were residents of Vandergrift, Pennsylvania. When Casimir was 23 years old, he enlisted in the US Army. For his first six months in the service, he held the rank of Private, and for the rest of his time in the service (38 months) he held the rank of T-5 or Technician Fifth Grade. Those who held this rank were addressed as Corporal. He was a member of the 805th T.D. BN. His job was driving half track mounted tanks with 75mm cannons. He drove days and nights over all types of terrain, fired 75mm cannon into enemy installations and positions, and also made minor repairs on vehicles. This battalion was a part of Operation Torch, which was the invasion of Africa. Casimir was captured during actions at Kasserine Pass in Tunisia, North Africa in 1943. He was a prisoner of war for 27 months. On a very rare occasion, Casimir used to tell our family stories about his time in the prisoner camp. He would complain how it was his Captain’s mistake that put them behind enemy lines, causing them to get captured. On the plane ride over to Germany, he could see the Mediterranean Sea through the bottom of the plane because it was full of holes from being shot at. He would also say the Germans would make him carry rocks up and down the hill, and they would feed them fly soup with potatoes. Casimir and the other prisoners were liberated from Stalag 3B in Furstenberg, Germany in the spring of 1945. He was discharged from the service on October 16, 1945, and earned the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star. After his years in the service, he came back to his hometown of Vandergrift and married Annette Johnston. He started working at Allegheny Ludlum, West Leechburg and retired in 1980. Casimir was also a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace in East Vandergrift. On April 10, 2009, at the age of 90, Casimir passed away at West Haven Nursing Home in Washington Township. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers (John, Frank, and Edward), and two sisters (Anne and Ruth). He is laid at rest at Greenwood Memorial in Lower Burrell.
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