NEVILLE ISLAND WORLD WAR II VETERANS
Jack Yuknavich, 96
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Jack Yuknavich enlisted in the Navy in April 1941 at age 20. He served in the Navy for six years and 32 years in the Reserves (recruitment). He completed basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois and attended the Naval Mine Warfare School.
Jack served on the USS Rutland #192 in the North Atlantic and Pacific Theaters. He was at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, Japan. Jack's rank was Master Chief Boatswain Mate when he left the Navy. Jack has been married to his wife, Peg, for 72 years (1942) and moved to Neville Island in 1947 where they raised four children. |
Guido Batista, 90
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Guido Batista was drafted in 1943. While being processed, a Marine recruiter asked for three volunteers for the Marine Corps, Guido being one. Guido wanted to enlist before he was drafted but his mother would not give her consent. He completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina.
Guido served as a Ground Defense in the Pacific Theater in the Marshall Islands and Okinawa. At times, Guido was assigned to clean up after napalm attacks and was greatly affected by his experiences. Guido's rank was Corporal when he left the Marine Corps. Guido moved to Neville Island in 1950 where he raised five children. |
Bob Barnes, 87
Bob Barnes joined the Navy in 1944 and served 11 months until the war ended. He was in the reserves for 3 years and was called to serve again for the Korean war. Bob was station on the USS Tarawa CV40 aircraft carrier and served in the Mediterranean theater in Italy and Istanbul.
Bob was married to Virginia and has lived on Neville Island most of his life where they raised their three sons.
Bob was married to Virginia and has lived on Neville Island most of his life where they raised their three sons.
Steve Korba, 91
Steve Korba joined the Army in 1942 and completed basic training at Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania. He also completed additional training in Miami and Las Vegas for Gunnery school and Tow Target. Steve was trained as an airplane mechanic and was assigned to fly on the B-17 in search for German submarines.
While flying on assignment in December of 1943, his plane was shot down. Survivors of the crash were in freezing waters for five hours before they were picked up by the Germans where they were transported to a German submarine base. Many individuals, including Steve, suffered from frost bite. In Enden Germany, they were interrogated for days and transported in box cars for 20 days. Survivors ended up in the Prisoner of War Camp Staglag 17-B located in the Austrian wilderness. Steve was there for 17 months. Steve is a lifelong resident of Neville Island.
While flying on assignment in December of 1943, his plane was shot down. Survivors of the crash were in freezing waters for five hours before they were picked up by the Germans where they were transported to a German submarine base. Many individuals, including Steve, suffered from frost bite. In Enden Germany, they were interrogated for days and transported in box cars for 20 days. Survivors ended up in the Prisoner of War Camp Staglag 17-B located in the Austrian wilderness. Steve was there for 17 months. Steve is a lifelong resident of Neville Island.
'Red' Martin, 87
Red Martin joined the Navy in 1944 and completed his basic training at Bainbridge, Massachusetts. He was assigned to the USS Whitley cargo ship and served under General Patton in Braham, Germany. Redd had land duty where he marched through Auschwitz and was also at Normandy. He served three years and was First Class Petty Officer when he resigned.
Redd was born in West Virginia in 1927 and moved to Neville Island in 1950. He has been married to his wife, Elizabeth, for 54 years and raised three children together. Redd retired from Shenango after 40 years.
Redd was born in West Virginia in 1927 and moved to Neville Island in 1950. He has been married to his wife, Elizabeth, for 54 years and raised three children together. Redd retired from Shenango after 40 years.