Pfc Alex M. Penkala was born Aug 30, 1924, in South Bend, Indiana. His parents, Mary and John, moved to the U.S from Poland in 1907. He was the 10th of 13 children. Sadly his mother died in 1928 giving birth to her 13th child, and Alex was raised by his older siblings
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Alex became especially close to his sister Irene, who he wrote to during his military service and who's cookies he had a fondness for, and often requested she sent some to him. Some of his letters can be read in "A Company of Heroes" by Marcus Brotherton.
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Alex left school in 1939 and worked as a cook. He enlisted in the Army February 27, 1942, in Ohio. On completing basic training he was assigned as a cook. He later heard about the paratroopers and volunteered with 2 friends.
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Alex joined Easy Comp, 506th PIR, in 1943 at Fort Bragg, a d was placed in 1st platoon mortar squad. He became good friends with Skip Muck (pictured with Penkala in 1943) who took him under his wing and helped him settle into his new unit.
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Skip was later transferred to 1st platoon mortar squad just before DDay & the two friends made their 1st combat jump together into Normandy.
Alex also jumped into The Netherlands in Sep 1944, & headed to the Ardennes with the 101st Airborne in Dec, 1944, to defend Bastogne.
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On Jan 10, 1945, Alex and Skip were Killed in Action when a shell made a direct hit on their foxhole. Alex was just 20 years old.
He is buried in the Luxembourg American Cemetery.
Penkala was portrayed by Tim Matthews in #BandofBrothers
Currahee, Penky
#alexpenkala
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