1st Battalion 22nd Infantry John S. Mical

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

Soldier Profile: John S. Mical

Company B 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

1943-1944

In this undated photo John S. Mical is on the left

John Stanley Mical was born in Franklin Borough, Cambria County, Pennsylvania on September 11, 1918,
the son of Joseph and Victoria Mical. Franklin Borough was part of the overall metropolitan area of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Prior to entering the Army he worked for Inco Beverage Company in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Mical was drafted into the Army on April 25, 1942 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. At the time of induction
he had completed one year of High School and was single, without dependents. He indicated his civilian occupation
as Semiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck, and tractor.

He was sent to Camp Gordon, Georgia, for two months of Radio Operator School. The date of his assignment to the
22nd Infantry could not be found, but it is quite possible he was with the Regiment at Camp Gordon in 1942.
He was certainly with the 22nd Infantry by 1943.

Mical was awarded the Good Conduct Medal as a Private in Company B, in Headquarters 22nd
Infantry Motorized General Orders Number 5, dated 8 June 1943 at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

He went through amphibious training with his Company at Camp Gordon Johnston, Florida, and moved with the Regiment
to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in preparation for deployment overseas. He sailed with the 22nd Infantry to England
aboard the British troopship Capetown Castle on January 18, 1944, and arrived at Liverpool on January 29, 1944.
He and his Company trained in England until they embarked for France in June.

On D-Day, June 6, 1944 Mical landed on Utah Beach in the second assault wave, as a member of Company B, 1st Battalion,
22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Upon landing, he and his Battalion waded inland through the swamps and areas flooded
by the Germans, reaching dry land in the vicinity of St. Martin-de-Varreville and moving on to St. Germain-de-Varreville,
where they bivouacked for the night. Casualties during the day had been light.

The next day, June 7, Mical's Battalion moved through St. Marcouf and began the attack against the powerful German coastal battery
at Crisbecq. Advancing under intense enemy artillery and machine gun fire, the Battalion suffered heavy casualties, and was pushed back
by German counter attacks.

On June 8 the attack against Crisbecq began again. Mical's Company B led the attack, along with Company A. They were unable
to destroy the fortifications, and the assault developed into close fighting with the enemy in the trench system around
the gun emplacements. Once again the Battalion had to pull back to near the village of Dodainville.

On June 9 the decision was made to bypass Crisbecq, and attack toward the Quineville Ridge.
The attack was begun late in the afternoon, and was stalled by heavy German resistance.
The Regiment halted for the night.

On June 10 Mical and 1st Battalion attacked Fontenay sur Mer, but were prevented from entering the town and dug in for the night.
The next day, June 11, they continued the attack against Fontenay sur Mer, and also moved against the German positions at Dangueville.

That same day, the 39th Infantry of the 9th Infantry Division landed on the beach and took up positions to the right of
Mical and 1st Battalion. With the right flank now secure, the 22nd Infantry was free to make a concerted attack against Ozeville,
which began on June 12.

On June 12 all three Battalions of the 22nd Infantry assaulted Ozeville, with Mical and 1st Battalion pressing the attack
on the right side. Advancing under overwhelming firepower, which included naval support, the 22nd Infantry took Ozeville.

During the attack, at about 1600 hours, Mical was struck by German artillery fire, which sent shrapnel into his back, immobilizing him,
leaving him prostrate upon the battlefield, and taking him out of the fight. He was picked up by medics from the 9th Division Clearing
Company, who were operating in close proximity to his unit, and he was eventually sent across the English Channel
to the 96th Evacuation Hospital at Crewkerne, Somerset.

Since his whereabouts were unknown by his Company, he was marked in the Morning Report for Company B
(of July 5) as Missing In Action on June 12, 1944.

By June 24 he was in the 130th Station Hospital at Chisledon, Wiltshire, where his wounds were assessed by the 621st Clearing Company.

He was sent on to several hospitals in England for treatment and recovery. From June 26 to July 30, he was in the
97th General Hospital at Wheatley, Oxfordshire. From July 30 to September 12, he was in the 318th Station Hospital at
Middleton Stoney, Oxfordshire, then at the 4145th USAHP (United States Army Hospital Plant) at Lichfield, Staffordshire.

From September 12 to October 14, Mical was in the 312th Station Hospital, part of the 4186th USAHP at Shugborough P, Staffordshire.

His wounds were sufficient to prevent him from returning to front line service. On October 14, 1944, he was
released from the hospital system and sent to the 10th Replacement Depot in England.

Mical served the rest of the war as a hospital technician, surgeon's assistant, and orderly at several hospital locations
in England and France. From October 21, 1944 to January 16, 1945 he was at the 4185th USAHP at Lichfield, Staffordshire,
then at the 33rd Station Hospital at Leominster, Herefordshire. From January 16, 1945 he was at the 203rd General Hospital
at Broadwell, Gloucestershire, then went to the 4316th USAHP at Paris, France, where he remained until November 22, 1945,
when he departed the European theater.

He arrived in the United States on December 9, 1945 and was discharged from the Army on December 17, 1945 at the
Unit A Separation Center #45 at Fort Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania. Though his final Military
Occupational Specialty was 861 Surgical Technician, his last duty unit marked on his discharge document is
Company B 22nd Infantry 4th Division.

Decorations of John S. Mical

After the war, Mical returned to his job as a driver for the Inco Beverage Company in Johnstown, PA.
Some time around 1953, he began working for the Bethlehem Steel Company in Johnstown,
where he worked until his retirement.

John Mical married Yolanda (nee Mayher) in 1948, and they later had three children, Stephen (who died as an infant),
Patricia, and Janet. John Mical and Yolanda were married for 50 years before she passed away in 1998.
John and Yolanda were the proud grandparents of six grandchildren. He was also an avid gardener and baseball fan.

John Mical passed away on October 18, 2006, at the age of 88.

Burial:
Grandview Cemetery
Johnstown
Cambria County
Pennsylvania

Grave marker for John S. Mical.

Photo by B. Felix from the Find A Grave website

This page prepared with the assistance of Seth Erlinger, the grandson of John S. Mical, who conducted extensive research
at the National Archives and other sources, and graciously shared documents and details, to aid in composing the story of his grandfather.

Top photo courtesy of Seth Erlinger

BACK