Pvt J. A. Tomaseski
   Killed In Belgium

Young Paratrooper Gives Life For
     County In Battle On
          January 7

    Mr. and Mrs. Harry Tomaseski, of 1108 South Jefferson street, received a telegram fro the War Department, stating that their son, Pvt John A. Tomaseski, aged 21 years, had been killed in action, January 7, somewhere in Belgium.
   Pvt Tomaseski was attached to the paratroops and had previously been transferred from the signal corps.
  He has been in the service of the armed forces since April 2, 1943 and received his basic training in Camp Crowder, Mo. In September 1943 he arrived home on furlough and went overseas where he had been for over a year.
   A step-brother, Pvt Chester Sowinski, is stationed in Belgium.

[New Castle News, New Castle, PA, Feb 7, 1945 Pg 5]  [PDF]

Pvt J. A. Tomaseski
   Funeral Saturday

Body Will Reach New Castle From
Overseas On Thursday
Morning

   Rapidly following the return of other servicemen who have paid with their lives in World War II, the body of Pvt John A. Tomaseski, killed in the Battle of The Bulge, January 11, 1944 [sic],  is enroute home for its final burial.
   Pvt Tomaseski was buried in the U.S. Military Cemetery, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, and was sent to this country on the ship Joseph Connelly.  The body is expected to arrive here on Thursday morning, December 18, at 11:25 a.m. at the B&O railroad and will be taken to the John R. Noga funeral home, East Long avenue.
   Military funeral services will be conducted Saturday Morning, December 20, from the funeral home at 9 o'clock, and a requiem mass will be offered at 9:30 am in SS Philip and James' church of which he was a member.  Rev V. V. Stancelewski will be in charge.
   Friends may call at the funeral home, anytime after 2 pm, Thursday afternoon. (continued)

   Burial will be in the church cemetery and the V.F.W, Post 3154 will conduct military services at the grave.
   Pvt John Tomaseski was born on September 3, 1923, son of Mr. and Mrs.. Harry Tomaseski, 1108 Jefferson street.  He resided in New Castle all his life and was employed b the Shenango Pottery company until his enlistment.
   His parents survive and a brother, Leo, of Altoona, a sister, Mrs. Helen Richards, this city; and four step-brothers, Stanley, Frank, Edward Sowinski, all of Gary, Ind. and Chester Sowinski of this city.
   Pvt Tomaseski enlisted in the army in March 1943 and after his basic training was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Company K, 518 Bn. and was sent to New York and then to England.  He saw action in the invasion of Normandy, France at the beach head landings.  In the battle of the Bulge he was wounded and died from the wounds on January 11, 1945, at Bastogne Belgium.  The youth was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously and received other service honors from his outstanding services toi this country.

[New Castle News, New Castle, PA, Dec 17, 1947 Pg 2]  [PDF]

Tomaseski Services
   Military funeral services for Pvt John A. Tomaseski who was killed in Luxemburg, Germany, January 11, 1945, were held Saturday, at 9 a.m. in the Noga funeral home, followed by a requiem mass at 9:30 a.m. in SS Philip and James church, Rev V. V. Stancelewski in charge.
   Burial was in SS Philip and James' cemetery with Stephen Shish, Water Henzel, Stanley Sisco,  Christo Davis, Adolph Stojak and John Joseph as pall bearers.
   Military services at the grave were in charge of V.F.W Post 315, with commander and officer of the day , Joseph Watzer, vice-commander and chaplain; Al B. Haine; color bearers, R. Klaber and Cecil Smock, color guards; H. Latshaw and George Hunt, Jr. buglers: Ted Jenkins and R. Krueger, Jr.; firing squad; T. Clark, Al Pilshaw, J. Duda, E. Zollinger and D. Baetlinau.

[New Castle News, New Castle, PA, Dec 22, 1947 Pg 2]  [PDF]