Srecko Radich

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS SRECKO F. RADICH was born in what is now Slovenia in 1920. This was at that time the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. His parents, Thomas and Mary Radich, had settled in New York City in 1927. At the time of the 1930 census the family included sisters Johanna, Helen, and Anna, and brothers Rosario and Joseph. The family lived at 1751 First Avenue in Manhattan. Thomas Radich then worked as a building laborer. 

Srecko Radich had married and moved to Camden's 8th Ward by the early 1940s. There were many other families of Croatian and Slovenian origin in this neighborhood, many affiliated with the Church of the Sacred Heart at Broadway and Ferry Avenue. He worked as a cook prior to being drafted.

Srecko Radich was inducted into the United States Army on May 12, 1944 at Fort Dix NJ. He was assigned to the 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division as a replacement, this unit having suffered many casualties on D-Day and in the fighting in Normandy and at Aachen.

Private First Class Srecko Radich was killed in action on February 23, 1945, when the 175th Infantry Regiment attacked across the Roer River at Juelich. He is one of only 40 who served with the 29th Infantry Division in World War II to have been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Srecko F. Radich is remembered on the 8th Ward WWII War Memorial at American Memorial Post 274 in Camden NJ. The organizers of the monument knew he had served, but did not know his fate when the monument was commissioned.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS CITATION

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Srecko F. Radich (42140374), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 23 February 1945. Private First Class Radich's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 29th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, Ninth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 117 (1945)
Home Town: Camden County, New Jersey.