Born 10 Apr 1924 in Belle Plaine, Benton, Iowa, to parents Frank Louis and Kathryn Bessie (Sevcik) Haloupek. He was the fifth of six children. Jack and his four brothers all served in the military; the youngest in Korea, and the rest in WWII.
Jack & his brother, George Haloupek
Jack Haloupek enlisted in the U.S. Army on 21 Mar 1943, just before his 19th birthday. He was honorably discharged on 26 Nov 1946, with the rank of Tech Sgt, having served three years, eight months and five days. He joined the 10th Mountain Division (Ski Troops) because, being from Iowa, he had never skied, and wanted to try it. The 10th Mountain Division operated in the Italian Alps. After the war, he never wanted to ski again!
Decorations: three Battle Stars, one Bronze Star, Expert Infantryman's Badge. One of the stars was awarded for a heroic effort in ferrying troops across the Po River, in a rowboat. He made many trips, with mortar shells landing in the water all around the small boat.
After the war, Jack Haloupek married Lois Posekany, and they had three children. Lois was a nurse, and Jack was a personnel manager. They both loved the Ozarks, and Jack enjoyed wood carving and crocheting. Jack passed away on 3 Feb 1994, in Springfield, MO.
Source: The above article about Jack Louis Haloupek was written by his son, Bill Haloupek. Permission to repost on this website given by Bill Haloupek.
