August 15, 1913 (Allentown, PA) – July 23, 1970 (Norwalk, CT); 56 years old
Married to Rose Ann Cserny (1919-1999) on June 7, 1947 in Lehigh County, PA.
Two sons, Edwin Jr. (unk DOB), and Robert (1951-).
Local address: 218 West Rocks Road
Enlisted on February 23, 1942
Serial number 13054226 then O-1113336 after commissioning
Unit: 1115 Engineer Group, 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion, Company B
Born to Sebastian (1888-1971), born in Poland, and Angela Poeltl Malesky (1891-1972), born in Hungary. Edwin was their only child.
Awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal twice. He had seven battle stars on his European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.
Wounded by mortar fire on November 17, 1944 and wounded again in April 1945 along the Elbe River.
For an excellent detailed account of the 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion assembled by son, Bob Malesky, click the link HERE.
From The Morning Call (Allentown, PA) May 1, 1943
Edwin S. Malesky, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Malesky of 330 N. 5th Street, was commissioned a second lieutenant after completing the Engineer Officer Candidate School there. He is a graduate of Allentown High School, Muhlenberg College, attended Kutztown State Teachers College, and received his master’s degree in education at Temple University. Lieutenant Salesky entered military service in February 1942 and had been a school teacher in Hopewell.
From The Morning Call (Allentown PA) May 5, 1945
Lt E.S. Malesky Is Wounded 2nd Time
First Lieutenant Edwin S. Malesky, wounded in action in November 1944, has been wounded for the second time according to a report recently received. After being wounded the first time, he was sent to Paris to convalesce and study post war work in the field of athletics, only to be suddenly called upon to engage in a special mission at the front with his unit. According to the report, he was wounded in April while back on active duty. Lieutenant Malesky, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian Malesky of 530 N. 5th Street, is serving with the 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion in the European theatre. His battalion is a part of the famed 1115 Engineer Group. The brilliant exploits of this group were vividly displayed in a cartoon drawing in true Ripley style which he sent to his parents. It pointed out that the 1115th since D-day had cleared and maintained roadways the total length of which would equal a road from San Francisco to New York., demolished pill-boxes containing enough material to build another Washington monument and removed enemy mines which in one stack would tower higher than the combined height of the Empire State and RCA buildings. Lieutenant Malesky added that “this was before we hit the Rhine — we have done a lot since.” He received the following citation from Major General Raymond S. McLain of the 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion: “First Lieutenant Malesky, during a most important engineer operation, from 23 to 24 February 1945, involving the construction of an infantry foot bridge for assault infantry and the follow-up construction of a treadway bridge for critical vehicular traffic, displayed outstanding initiative and courage. The efficient manner in which he directed the disposition of materials and men, while exposed to heavy enemy mortar fire, greatly facilitated the completion of the operation.” Lieutenant Malesky enlisted on February 23, 1942 and was sent overseas in November 1943. Before going into the service, he taught school at the Hopewell High School, Hopewell, New Jersey. He attended Muhlenberg College and Temple University.
Buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery, 201-299 Fullerton Avenue, Whitehall, PA. Plot number unknown.
END
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