Remembering PVT Nick Lourick (Rivesville and Jordan)
August 12, 1925 - July 17, 1944
----
PVT Nick Lourick (Service # 35762664) was born August 12, 1925 in Talbott, WV, the son of Pasquale "Patsy" and Lena (Spitto) Lourick. Patsy and Lena, as well as their oldest daughter, Christine, were originally from Salerno, Italy. Salerno is about a half hour away from Pompei. Patsy immigrated in 1909, Lena and Christine in 1911 (1930 census).
No 1920 census data was immediately available, but from 1930-1940, their family lived in the Paw Paw District of Marion County, where Patsy worked as a coal miner and farmer (1930, 1940 census). A 1943 City Directory gave their phone number as being a Rivesville extension, but it's unclear how close they lived to Rivesville.
Military Service:
Nick entered the draft on August 18, 1943-- 6 days after his 18th birthday. At the time, his family was living at Box 13, Jordan. Nick is listed as being 5'8" and 135 lbs, with brown hair, brown eyes, and dark skin. Patsy's "Old Man Draft Card" revealed that he was working for Paul Talbott at Talbott Mines.
Nick enlisted on October 25, 1943 in Clarksburg, WV. His enlistment records show that his highest level of education was grammar school. He joined the 91st Infantry Division, 361st Infantry Regiment.
The Story of the Powder River Let'er Buck pamphlet states of the 91st's time fighting in Italy:
"During the next three days, 16-18 July, the operations of the third phase saw, the achievement of the Division's mission; the occupation of the south bank of the Arno. After reorganizing along the Querceto-San Pietro road, the 3rd Battalion, 361st Infantry, led a column of Battalions northward along the Ponsacco-Pontedera road. At 161800 when a counterattack was observed forming at Le Selve, a tremendous artillery concentration was poured into the assembly area by the 916th, 346th, and 348th Field Artillery Battalions, which broke up the attack before it could be launched and resulted in heavy enemy losses of men and vehicles. The enemy withdrew to Orceto, where they were again shelled.
The next morning the 3rd Battalion, 361st Infantry, supported by two companies of tanks jumped off again. In addition to the customary artillery and automatic weapons fire, the enemy employed armor to halt the advance. It was estimated that 25 enemy tanks, Mark II's IV's and VI's; were operating in the zone of the 361st. All morning there was a constant threat of an armored counterattack developing at Orceto. Stopped once by Cannon Company fire, it developed again, only to be stopped once and for all when the 698th Field Artillery fired 25 rounds of 240mm into the town and its vicinity. The main push continued, and by noon Companies I and K, had reached Ponsacco. The town was enveloped and shelled by tank fire; after this preparation the infantry occupied the town with little resistance."
PVT Nick Lourick was killed in action on July 17, 1944-- the result of a blast or explosion, according to his hospital admission record. He was only 18 years old.
Survivors and Legacy:
Nick was survived by his parents, Patsy and Lena, as well as many brothers and sisters. Lena's obituary listed 12 Lourick children: four boys (including Nick) and eight girls. Mike Lourick also served in the Army during WWII.
Sources and More Information:
Comments
Post a Comment