Pvt. Paul Harold Georgandas was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 7, 1923, to Paul J. Georgandas and Edna Lenou-Georgandas, and had one sister. The family resided at 7442 West Harvard Street, in Forest Park, Illinois. He graduated from the Field Stevenson School in Forest Park, and then from Proviso Township High School in 1941. After high school, he worked in a grocery store. On June 29, 1942, he registered with Selective Service and indicated he was unemployed. He named his mother as his contact person.
Paul was inducted into the US Army on February 29, 1943, and received the serial number 36, 653, 221. Not much is known about his training, but it is known that at some point he was sent to Camp Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas. After he completed his training, he was sent to Italy, as a replacement, and joined Company B, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division. He appears to have arrived as the division was preparing for combat at Salerno, Italy. The first American troops landed on September 9, 1943, but the 34th did not land onto September 25th.
As part of the 5h Army, the division was involved in the Anzio which started with landings, on January 22, 1944, which was a disaster when the Americans failed to advance while unopposed allowing the Germans to organize their defenses. Instead of a quick rush to Rome it took until June 4th for the city to be liberated. The 34th joined the battle in March 1944. The Allies finally broke out of Anzio on May 23rd and fought their way to Rome.
According to military records. Pvt. Paul H. Georgandas was fighting near Vic Pastina, Italy when hit by shrapnel in the upper third of his right thigh and he also had wounds around his right femur. His date of death was reported as July 3, 1944. Three days later, on July 6th, Paul was buried at US Military Cemetery Follomica, Italy, in Plot B, Row 20, Grave 239. His grave was marked with a temporary marker. One of his identification tags was attached to the marker and the other was buried with him.
His parents had notified the Army that they had moved to 6214 North Napier Avenue in Chicago. They received this telegram.
EDNA GEORGANDAS 6214 NORTH NAPER AVENUE CHICAGO ILL
THE SECREATRY OF WAR DESIRES ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEPEST REGREAT THAT YOUR SON PRIVATE PAUL H GEORGANDAS WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON THREE JULY IN ITALY LETTER FOLLOWS
ULIO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
The contents of the letter is not known, but in a letter dated June 3, 1946, his parents were informed that at some point in the near future they would receive a letter containing information on their options for Paul’s final burial. His parents did not hear from the Office of the Quartermaster General a letter was sent, dated January 5, 1948, providing them with information on where Paul could be buried. They were asked to fill-out an enclosed form and return it to the Quartermaster General’s office in Washington DC. The letter was sent to their old address, so another copy of the same letter was sent to them on February 6th. The form that they were asked to return was received by the OQMG on February 17th, and indicated they wanted Paul buried in the United States and buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park.
Paul’s remains were disinterred and sent to the Leghorn, Italy, port morgue where they were casketed on September 30, 1948. His casket was stored at the morgue until January 9, 1949, when they were put on the USAT Eric Gibson which sailed the same day. The ship arrived in the New York Port of Entry on February 10, 1949. and Paul’s casket – with a military escort – was sent to the Quartermaster Corps’ Distribution Center #13, in Chicago, arriving on the 14th. By a military hearse, with an escort, Paul’s casket was sent to the Koop Funeral Home in Chicago on March 2nd. Pvt. Paul H. Georgandas was buried in the Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, Illinois, in Section 75, Lot 82.
