Cyril Vosika of the U.S. army was recently promoted from the rank of sergeant to that of staff sergeant. S. Sgt. Vosika is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Vosika and he is stationed at Fort Dix, N.J.
Source: Pocahontas Record-Democrat, Thursday, 3 Feb 1944, pg.10
Sgt. Cyril Vosika Killed In France
First Reported killed Since Start of Big Invasion
Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Vosika of Sherman Township; Was In Infantry
Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Vosika received a message from the War Department Wednesday, July 5, informing them that their son, S./Sgt. Cyril Vosika, was killed in action in France June 12.
S/Sgt. Vosika entered the armed service in March, 1942, and went overseas in March, 1944.
He was the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Vosika, and a lifelong member of St. Peter's and Paul's parish.
Besides his parents he is survived by two sisters, and two brothers, Mrs. Duncan Grant of Rolfe, Jeanette, Lowell and Richard at home.
Sgt. Vosika is the first boy from Pocahontas county reported killed in action on the France invasion front. He was a member of an infantry division and it was the infantry which did a great deal of the fighting in establishing the beachhead and gaining a firm foothold on the Normandy Pennisula.
Source: Pocahontas Record-Democrat, Thursday, 6 July 1944-One Week Nearer Victory, pg. 1
Plan Memorial Rites for Vosika
POCAHONTAS, IA -- Memorial services will be held Monday at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic church here for Staff Sergeant Cyril J. Vosika, 30. He was killed in action in France, June 12.
Sergeant Vosika entered service in March 1942, and was sent overseas last March. He was in the infantry.
Besides his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Vosiak, he is survived by two sisters and two brothers.
Source: The DesMoines Tribune, July 7, 1944 (photo included)
Memorial Mass For Cyril Vosika Held Tuesday
A Memorial Mass was celebrated at St. Peter's and Paul's church Tuesday morning at 7:30 o'clock for Sgt. Cyril Vosika who was killed in action in France, June 12. Father Wm. P. Hyland was celebrant at the Requiem Mass.
Cyril J. Vosika, the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Vosika, was born May 31, 1914 in Sherman township, where he lived his entire life up to the time he was inducted into the army, in March, 1942. He attended Sacred Heart school and completed the eighth grade and then he enrolled in the public high school from which he graduated in 1931. He resided with his parents and assisted with the farming until he went into the military service.
Following two years of training in various camps in the United States, Sgt. Vosika went overseas in March, 1944. From then until D-day he was stationed in England. The Infantry division of which he was a member took part in the great invasion of France which began on June 6.
Cyril is the first reported from this community to have given his life on the Normandy front. He was one of the fine young men of the county, popular with the young and old. He was ambitious and what he undertook to do he did well. He is another of that group of young men, whose failure to return, will be a severe blow to all.
Besides his parents, Sgt. Vosika is survived by two sisters, and two brothers, Mrs. Duncan Grant of Rolfe, Jeanette, Lowell and Richard at home. Lowell will enter military service this week.
Source: Pocahontas Record-Democrat, Thursday, July 27, 1944-One Week Nearer Victory, pg. 1
First overseas War Dead Return
Remains of Cyril Vosika Are Being Returned Soon
Was Killed In Normandy, France, with Infantry Division, June 12, 1944
The casketed remains of Staff-Sergeant Cyril J. Vosika, first World War II deceased member of the Army from Pocahontas being returned from overseas for final burial, will arrive within the next month, A uniformed Army escort from Chicago Distribution Center of the American Graves Registration division will accompany the casket.
The remains will arrive in the United States aboard the USAT Lawrence Victory ship, scheduled to dock in New York this week.
The body of Staff Sergeant Vosika was interred in the St. Mere Eglise temporary military cemetery in Normandy.
The sergeant, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph W. Vosika, Sherman township residents, was killed in action in Normandy, France, June 12, 1944. He was a member of an infantry division which took part in the Normandy invasion.
He was born May 31, 1914, in Sherman township and spent his entire life, with the exception of over two years in the Army, in this community. He was graduated from Pocahontas High School in 1931. Besides his parents, he is survived by two sisters and two brothers: Mrs. Duncan Grant, Jeanette, Lowell and Richard.
The local American Legion post will furnish an honor guard of veterans furing services to be held here at a date to be announced later.
Source: Pocahontas Record-Democrat, Thursday, May 13, 1948, pg.1
CARD OF THANKS
We are deeply grateful to our friends and neighbors, American Legion Auxiliary, American Legion, Ladies Social Society of St. Peter's and Paul's Parish and to all who were so thoughtful at the time of the service of our son and brother.
Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Vosika, Lowell, Richard and Jeanette, Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Grant and family.
Source: Pocahontas Record-Democrat, Thursday, June 3, 1948, pg.12
Cyril Jerome Vosika was born May 31, 1914 to Adolph W. and Mary F. Hudek Vosika. He died June 12, 1944 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Pocahontas, IA.
Sgt. Vosika served in World War II with the U.S. Army Infantry and was KIA in Normandy, France.
Source: ancestry.com
