Schirack, Joseph P.

JOSEPH PHILLIP SCHIRACK

STAFF SERGEANT
U.S. ARMY

Joseph Phillip Schirack was born on the 26th of October 1912, to Andrew William Schirack and Josephine (Eiting) Schirack in Decatur Indiana. He had two siblings, Cornelius Schirack who was born the 2nd of May 1914 and Leo Schirack who was born 1917 but passed away the same year. He was married to Virginia Schirack (Drake) of Dayton Ohio. He lived in Elyria Lorain, Ohio in 1920 and Kirkland Township in 1930. Joseph graduated from Decatur Catholic High School.

Joseph was drafted into the U.S. Army on March 24th, 1941, at Fort Thomas, Newport Kentucky. Upon completion of his basic training, he was assigned first to the 63rd Surgical Hospital in Gadsden, Alabama and then to the 101st Evacuation Hospital, a medical division attached to General Patton’s 3rd Army when they deployed in support of Operation Overlord. As a Staff Sergeant, Joseph was the non-commissioned officer in charge of the surgical section. In this capacity, SSgt. Schirack supervised approximately 40 enlisted men and oversaw the erection of ward tents, and the establishment of supply sections and operating rooms. Often moving without hesitation and setting up quickly and efficiently in order to support the advancing army.

The 101st Evacuation Hospital followed Patton's 3rd Army in their advance across Europe beginning with their arrival on Utah Beach in France in July of 1944. They then moved on to Belgium in December of 1944, Luxembourg by the 7th of Feb 1945 and, finally by the 13th of March 1945, Germany.

While in Europe, SSgt. Schirack earned a Bronze Star Medal for "meritorious service in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States". His citation reads "During the period July 12, 1944, to December 4, 1944, Sgt. Schirack displayed great initiative and worked tirelessly to maintain a high standard of efficiency in the operating rooms and to keep a constant flow of sterile supplies available for the great number of operations performed. Sgt. Schirack's outstanding accomplishments merit high commendation".

On April 3, 1945, while the 101st Evacuation Hospital was supporting advancing forces in Germany, SSgt. Schirack was killed in a vehicle accident near Herzfeld Germany. According to the Catholic Chaplain assigned to the 101st who wrote his wife with details, "His death occurred as the result of an accident when the jeep in which he was riding, collided with another army vehicle. His death was not instantaneous but occurred later the same day. He died on the way to one of our hospitals".

The Chaplain, William Flatley, went on to explain "Everyone here was very much shocked with this news. Joseph has been with the unit since its activation and has done much to help the unit achieve the good reputation that it enjoys. His work has always been of the highest standard and he enjoyed the respect and high regard of all his fellow workers".

A memorial mass was held in Decatur on June 18, 1945. His brother, SSgt. Cornelius Schirack was able to return from his service in the Philippines with the army to attend the service at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Cornelius spent three years overseas with the 32nd Infantry "Red Arrow" Division. A funeral with full military rites was held November 3, 1948, when his remains were returned to the United States at the conclusion of the war. He is interred at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Decatur Indiana.

For his service and sacrifice, SSgt. Schirack earned the Bronze Star, American Defense Medal, American Theatre Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal. 

Information researched and collected by Hayden Huss, 2023. 

SOURCES

Adams County Indiana ~ St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery (S-Z) - Root Twp, ingenweb.org/inadams/Cemeteries/RootTwnshp/StJoseph/Pt4.html. Accessed 20 Dec. 2023.

           “Decatur Daily Democrat 1 May 1945 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Historic Newspaper Program.” Newspapers.library.in.gov, newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=DCDD19450501.1.3&srpos=4&e=------194-en-20-DCDD-1--txt-txIN-Schirack------. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

           “Decatur Daily Democrat 9 May 1945 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Historic Newspaper Program.” Newspapers.library.in.gov, newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=DCDD19450509.1.3&srpos=5&e=------194-en-20-DCDD-1--txt-txIN-Schirack------. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

           “Decatur Daily Democrat 14 April 1945 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Historic Newspaper Program.” Newspapers.library.in.gov, newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=DCDD19450414.1.1&srpos=1&e=------194-en-20-DCDD-1--txt-txIN-Schirack------. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

           “Decatur Daily Democrat 19 January 1945 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Historic Newspaper Program.” Newspapers.library.in.gov, newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=DCDD19450119.1.3&srpos=3&e=------194-en-20-DCDD-1--txt-txIN-Schirack------. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

           “Decatur Daily Democrat 30 October 1948 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Historic Newspaper Program.” Newspapers.library.in.gov, newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=DCDD19481030.1.1&srpos=7&e=------194-en-20-DCDD-1--txt-txIN-Schirack------. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

“Empowering the next Generation of History Makers.” Ancestry Education | Our Resources Will Bring Your Classroom to Life, www.ancestryclassroom.com/discoveryui-content/view/118114338:6224. Accessed 20 Dec. 2023.

“Empowering the next Generation of History Makers.” Ancestry Education | Our Resources Will Bring Your Classroom to Life, www.ancestryclassroom.com/family-tree/person/tree/1986260/person/190974674/facts?_phsrc=HVD1&_phstart=successSource. Accessed 20 Dec. 2023.

FamilySearch.Org, ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LRXZ-YBW/andrew-william-schirack-1886-1973. Accessed 20 Dec. 2023.

“Photos of Joseph Phillip Schirack - Find a Grave...” Find a Grave, www.findagrave.com/memorial/68521837/joseph-phillip-schirack/photo. Accessed 20 Dec. 2023. 

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