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John Bamvakais, Sr.-Family
to remember
Bamvakais, John Robert, Sr., BG USA(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town McKeesport
Last Address St. Louis, MO
Date of Passing Feb 07, 1999
Location of Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (VA) - St. Louis, Missouri
BG Bamvakais enlisted on 17 July 1943, and was discharged on 30 January 1946, as a Sergeant, after serving in the 11th Airborne Division in World War II.
Upon his return to Missouri, he joined the Missouri National Guard.
He served as a civilian police officer from 1954-1957, when he was shot in the line of duty during a robbery in St. Louis, MO.
BG Bamvakais served for 38 years in the Army & National Guard before retiring on 1 September 1981.
His Son, John Robert Bamvakais, Jr. was Killed in Action in Vietnam.
Description (Leyte Campaign 17 October 1944 to 1 July 1945) On 17 October 1944, after preparatory bombardment, the invasion of the Philippines got under way with the seizure of islands guarding Leyte Gulf. The landing on Leyte itself on 20 October was strongly contested by Japanese forces on land and at sea. Organized resistance on the island did not end until after Christmas, and mopping up operations continued for a long time. Meanwhile, at the end of October, the neighboring island of Samar was occupied with little difficulty.
