Zeigler, Illinois Website

Charles Nicklaus Starasta

Nick Starasta was born January 8, 1923 in Royalton, Illinois. At the age of twenty he gave up a budding big league baseball career to serve his country. On March 11, 1943 he was inducted into the US Army. After boot camp, he was shipped to Europe where he was assigned to Company H of the 122 Infantry. As a result of fighting in many major battles, Starasta rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant in a short period of time. In December 1944, while stationed in Belgium, he was pressed into action in the Battle of the Bulge. During this action, the Germans captured Starasta and a dozen other men. He and many other Americans rode cattle cars and marched across Germany to Stalag IVB, located North of Bresderi near Czechoslovakia, where he remained interned for five months. On April 20, 1945 the Americans liberated the prisoners of Stalag IV&. At the time of his release, Sergeant Staraasta weighed only 100 pounds, 95 pounds less than his weight at the time of his capture. On November 20, 1945 Starasta was discharged from the Army and he returned to his home in Royalton. However, his service to America was not completed. At the outbreak of the Korean Conflict, with a pregnant wife left behind, Starasta returned to the US Army.

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