JOHN KURES, DECORATED FOR VALOR DURING WWII

   John Kures served in the Army's predecessor to the Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets.
   During World War II, he was a sergeant in the Fourth Company's Second Regiment of the First Special Service Force. The unit was the first to enter Rome in the June 4, 1944, liberation.
   He earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge following the unit's first action: the liberation of Monte La Difensa. The site south of Cassino, Italy, had held up the Fifth Army for more than a month and defied two divisions before its being captured by the Force.
   Mr. Kures participated in Operation Anvil-Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France, from Aug. 15 through Sept. 11, 1944. "He was there from the first action to the last of the force," said Bill Story of Moneta, Va.
   Story was Mr. Kures' lieutenant in the force. "He was a very good soldier - the kind of person you could depend on to protect your flank. "After the war, we forgot about the ranks we had and became good friends," Story said.
   Story and Mr. Kures were active in the First Special Service Force Association.
   Mr. Kures, 76, of Maple Heights, died Sunday at his home after enjoying the broadcast of the American League Championship Series game Saturday.
  . He was born in Cleveland and was a lifelong Indians fan. He and his wife attended the playoffs in 1954.

   In the Army, Mr. Kures was called "The Mad Russian" in part because of his heritage. His parents were born in the Ukraine.
   While he was known as a valiant soldier, Mr. Kures was also known for his compassion. In southern France, he shielded two boys and brought them out of the line of fire. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his overall valor. The story of the force was made into a movie called "The Devil's Brigade." When it premiered at the State Theatre in Cleveland in April 1968, the film's producers sent 25 tickets to Mr. Kures so he could take his friends to see it. He was one of the soldiers interviewed in preparation for the movie.
   Mr. Kures was a carpenter. He built two family homes - for himself and for his daughter. He also helped in the construction of the Maple Heights Masonic Temple. He worked as a carpenter at American Steel and Wire Co. until he retired in 1981. The company is part of U.S. Steel.
   He was a past master and member of Maple Heights Masonic Lodge 737. Mr. Kures was active in Maple Heights Methodist Church and served as a youth group adviser at the church. He enjoyed camping and golfing.
   Mr. Kures will be buried wearing an Indians championship T-shirt.
   He is survived by his wife of nearly 47 years, Janet; daughter, Judy Treacy of Sagamore Hills Township; a granddaughter; and two sisters.
   Services will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Ferfolia Funeral Home, 5386 Lee Rd., Maple Heights.

[The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH, Wed, Oct 18, 1995]

[courtesy of Beth Bush]

Grave marker for John Kures in Section 30, Lot 322, Grave 1, Crown Hill Cemetery and Mausoleum, Twinsburg (Summit county), Ohio.

John registered for the draft in Cleveland, OH on 16 October 1940 and was inducted into the Army in that same city on 25 April 1942.

T/4 Kures was transferred from Hq 92nd Replacement Battalion, 3d Replacement  Depot on 16 January 1945 to Company D, 508th PIR.

He was evacuated to a field hospital on 28 December 1945 as a non-battle casualty on 28 December 1944.

T4 Kures was transferred to the hospital's detachment of patients on 12 April 1945 and did not return to the regiment.

He was discharged from the Army on 24 October 1945.

His military decorations include the the Bronze Service Arrowhead device awarded for the Southern France Campaign and Airborne operations and the Combat Infantryman Badge for action during the campaign, 18 December 1944 to 20 February 1945.