August 24, 1924 (Portage, PA) – November 27, 1944; 20 years old
Unmarried
Last local address: 19 Webster Street, South Norwalk
Enlisted March 12, 1943
Service number 31326882
Unit: 150th Combat Engineering Battalion, Company C
Born to James Sr. (1892-1993) [born in Hungary] and Margaret Evagash Kazmer (1902-1969). Two sisters, Olga M. Kazmer Misek (1926-1979), Eleanor D. Kazmer Mikailonis (1931-1999).
Sgt Kazmer’s uncle, PFC Paul Daniel Evagash, 29th Infantry Division, 115th Infantry Regiment, Company F, was killed at St. Lo France on July 11, 1944, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
From The Norwalk Hour December 14, 1944
Details are being awaited from the War Department by Mr. and Mrs. James Kazmer of North Main Street, whose son, PFC James Kazmer, has been killed in action in Germany. He joined the Army about a year ago. The family — newcomers to Norwalk — include besides the parents, three sisters, two of whom reside with the parents and the third, Mrs. Margaret Orban, lives on Flax Hill Road. Mr. Kazmer was employed by the Norwalk Lock Company.
From The Norwalk Hour March 27, 1945
The death of Sergeant James Kazmer Jr., 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Kazmer, 23 North Main Street, is mourned by a host of friends. Sergeant Kazmer was killed in action in Lorraine, France on November 27 of last year. He was with the 130th Engineers. Sergeant Kazmer was inducted on March 12, 1943, and was sent to Camp Devens, Massachusetts. He remained there for six months and was then sent to West Virginia on maneuvers. He remained in West Virginia for two months. He was next sent to Fort Dix where he was stationed for five weeks. In December 1943, he was sent overseas to England. He remained there for five months and then participated in the D-Day invasion of France on June 6. Sergeant Kazmer received the Purple Heart Medal posthumously. The parents of Sergeant Kazmer received letters of condolence from President Roosevelt, Governor Raymond Baldwin, Mayor Robert B. Oliver, and General Marshall. The deceased had an uncle, Paul Evagash, who was killed in action in France in July of last year, and another uncle, Julius Evagash of the United States Marine Corps who is overseas. Before entering the service, Sergeant Kazmer was employed at the Norwalk Lock Company. Besides his parents, he is survived by three sisters, Eleanor, Olga Kazmer, and Mrs. Ethel Evagash of this city.
From The Norwalk Hour September 14, 1948
Funeral services for Sgt. James Kazmer Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. James Kazmer Sr., 23 North Main Street, who was among the war dead returned to the United States recently from France, will be held at 2:30 P.M. Wednesday at the Long Island National Cemetery. He was 20 years of age when killed in action. Attending the services will be his parents; his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Misek, his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William Orban, and his sister, Miss Eleanor Kazmer, all of this city; his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Prato and his aunt, Mrs. Ethel Carroll, also all of this city, and two aunts and uncles in Pennsylvania. Sgt Kazmer entered the U.S. Army in March 1943 and received training at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and other installations in this country before shipping overseas in late 1943. He was in the Combat Engineers. He spent some time in England before moving out with the original invasion forces for the continent. Sgt Kazmer is believed to have lost his life while clearing a minefield in November 1944, while serving near Lorraine, France. His mother received the award of the Purple Heart Medal made to Sgt Kazmer posthumously. Sgt Kazmer was one of the youngest non-commissioned officers in his battalion. Sgt Kazmer was a native of Portage, Pennsylvania, and moved to Norwalk with his family in 1942. He attended schools in Portage. Sgt Kazmer was employed by the Norwalk Lock Company here prior to entering the service.
As told by Arthur Boucher on 150th.com: “August 19, 1943, two men drowned while we were making a practice assault crossing of the Merrimack River in New Hampshire. We marched to the river from Fort Devens on maneuvers. Several assault-crossing boats were overloaded with men and equipment. The men were weighed down with full field packs, gas masks, steel helmets, cartridge belts, and rifles. The front end of the boats submerged and the force of the motors pushed the boats completely under. The river was very deep and the current strong. I remember jumping into the river and pulling out several men, one of the men that I pulled out was Jimmy Kazmer.”
Returned from Limey-Toul, France, and buried in Long Island National Cemetery, 2040 Wellwood Avenue Farmingdale, NY 11735, Section H, Lot 8322. Photo by webmaster.
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