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Merchant Service
Isbrandtsen Steamship Co.
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5098k |
SS Stetson Victory moored across the pier from USS Rushmore (LSD-14) in a shipyard in the Portland, Oregon area, circa December 1945. |
William Brown for his father J.L. Brown EM3/c USS Rushmore |
USAT Sgt. Sylvester Antolak
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Namesake
Sgt. Sylvester Antolak, Company B, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, was born at St. Clairsville, Ohio, and was killed in action on 24 May 1944. Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, he charged 200 yards over flat, coverless terrain to destroy an enemy machine gun nest during the second day of the offensive which broke through the German cordon of steel around the Anzio beachhead. Fully 30 yards in advance of his squad, he ran into withering enemy machine gun, machine-pistol and rifle fire. Three times he was struck by bullets and knocked to the ground, but each time he struggled to his feet to continue his relentless advance. With one shoulder deeply gashed and his right arm shattered, he continued to rush directly into the enemy fire concentration with his submachine gun wedged under his uninjured arm until within 15 yards of the enemy strong point, where he opened fire at deadly close range, killing 2 Germans and forcing the remaining 10 to surrender. He reorganized his men and, refusing to seek medical attention so badly needed, chose to lead the way toward another strong point 100 yards distant. Utterly disregarding the hail of bullets concentrated upon him, he had stormed ahead nearly three-fourths of the space between strong points when he was instantly killed by hostile enemy fire. Inspired by his example, his squad went on to overwhelm the enemy troops. By his supreme sacrifice, superb fighting courage, and heroic devotion to the attack, Sgt. Antolak was directly responsible for eliminating 20 Germans, capturing an enemy machine gun, and clearing the path for his company to advance.
Photo from the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division thanks to Rich Heller |
Bill Gonyo |
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43k |
USAT Sgt. Sylvester Antolak underway, circa 1947-1949, location unknown. |
Lewis D. Whipple |
USNS Sgt. Sylvester Antolak (T-AP-192)
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263k |
Post card image of USNS Sgt. Sylvester Antolak (T-AP-192) underway, date and location unknown. |
Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret. |
092219205 |
187k |
USNS Sgt. Sylvester Antolak (T-AP-192) underway, date and location unknown.
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NH 59930 |
Robert Hurst |
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146k |
USNS Private Joe P. Martinez (T-AP-187) and USNS Sgt. Sylvester Antolak (T-AP-192), two "Victory" ships laid up
in the the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Olympia, WA. being prepared to for towing to to the scrappers yard.
US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo # NH 89321 |
Mike Green |
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87k |
Ex-USNS Sgt. Sylvester Antolak (T-AP-192) and ex-USNS Pvt. Joe P. Martinez (T-AP-187) in the last stages of be scrapped at West Waterway Lumber Co., Seattle, WA., 19 September 1974. Both have lost their propellers and the Martinez has been cut down below the main deck level, Photos taken from Warship Boneyards, by Kit and Carolyn Bonner, courtesy L.Cote. |
Robert Hurst |
