Andrew Hornyak

ASN:36238635

Andrew Joseph Hornyak registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. Born November 26, 1910 in Racine, Wisconsin, he was employed at Speers Bowling Alleys in Racine at the time of his registration.

This twenty-nine-year-old enlisted in the US Army on March 23, 1942. He was 5’-8”, 171 pounds with a ruddy complexion, gray eyes, and brown hair. No identifying physical characteristics were listed at the time of his registration.

World War II Draft Card (front)

World War II Draft Card (reverse)

PVT Hornyak became a member of C- Battery, 319th Field Artillery, while training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. While stationed at Camp Claiborne he was a member of the 82nd Division Artillery baseball team. (see photo below)

In August 1942, the 319th transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, now a glider airborne battalion. In September 1942, his family leave to get married was cancelled. But the following month his leave was granted and married Miss Dorthy Maier. (see photo below)

Andrew Hornyak, Earl Lytle, unknown (L-R)

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Hornyak

Photos courtesy of the Bernard Tansky and Hornyak families

While stationed at Fort Bragg he was promoted to the rank of Private First Class in April 1943.

As a member of the 319th Glider Field Artillery, A-Battery of the 82nd Airborne Division, Andrew Hornyak sailed with the battalion from Staten Island, New York, aboard the SS Santa Rosa to North Africa arriving in Casablanca May 10, 1943.

Company Morning Reports

Company Morning Reports were produced every morning by the individual Army units to record personnel matters. The following events for Andrew Hornyak were reported:

February 8, 1944, appointed Tech 5 from Private First Class. Station: Camp Ballyscullion, Northern Ireland.
July 18, 1944, duty to furlough 5 days to Swindon, England at 0600. Station: Papillon Hall, 4 miles west of Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England WF 1406.
July 23, 1944, from furlough 5 days in Swindon, England to duty at 2200. Station: Papillon Hall, 4 miles west of Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England WF 1406.

Tech 5 SGT Hornyak fought in the major campaigns of Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Normandy, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. See a map of the 82nd Airborne Mediterranean-European Theater of Operations.

During the 82nd Airborne campaigns in Central Europe, the 319th’s combat echelons were fighting in Normandy, Holland, Belgium and Germany.

Soldier photos (when permitted) were often taken near their gun sections. The photographs below were taken near Wereth, Belgium in early 1945.

Andrew Hornyak, Ted Covais, Mahlon Sebring, Felix Ferrante (L-R)

Andrew Hornyak (L) and Ted Covais
*Photos courtesy of the Mahlon Sebring family*

Thurman King, Andrew Hornyak, unknown (L-R)
*photo courtesy of the Sartain family*

The Adjusted Service Rating Score (ASR) was a system the U.S. Army used at the end of the war to determine when soldiers were eligible for discharge.

Tech 5 SGT Andrew Hornyak was one of many “High Point” soldiers with a score over 85 points who returned to the USA arriving in Boston, Massachusetts on September 14, 1945. He returned to civilian life and honorably discharged September 21, 1945.

His service was awarded with the Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Merit Badge with Oak Leaf Cluster, European/African Middle Eastern Service Medal Ribbon with 6 Bronze Battle Star, 4 overseas Service Bars, one bronze service arrowhead.

Andrew Hornyak, 62, died November 7, 1972.

God Bless this hero.