Paul Devich

Era: World War II

Military Branch: Army

Paul Devich and Peter P. Devich were twin brothers who were inducted into the Army on March 8, 1945 at Fort Snelling, Minn.

Both served as Corporals and infantrymen with the 3292nd Base Maintenance Company in Leyte, Philippines; Mariannas (Saipan and Guam); and the 56th Air Engineer Squadron.

They also served aboard the Admiral Eberly, USS Osage and John W. Weeks.

Paul said: "We took a 20-man inboard boat through channels near small (Philippine) islands. The water was very turbulent. We found two men stranded on 10-acre island (who had) lived on coconuts and seaweed for over a year. Their boat had capsized. We took them down 25 miles to another island, hailed a passing PT boat and they came in. The stranded men got on board. The last we saw of them was them waving and dancing on the stern. They went out in style with help from the U.S. Navy."

Paul and Peter were awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal.

Paul was honorably discharged on Dec. 7, 1946 at Camp Beale, Calif. and Peter separated on Dec. 12, 1946 at Fort Sheridan, Ill.

Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 68.

__________________________________________________________________ Peter's Oral History is available on his profile: Peter P. Devich