PVT Nick Junior Mihalic (WWII)


Remembering PVT Nick Mihalic, Jr (Montana)

April 17, 1916 - December 13, 1944

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Note: PVT Nick Mihalic, Jr is the great uncle of legendary Alabama football coach, Nick Saban

Nick's name is listed on his draft card as "Nick Junior Mihalic," instead of as "Nick Mihalic, Jr"

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PVT Nick Junior Mihalic (Service #35739885) was born in Montana, West Virginia (near Rivesville) on April 17, 1916, the son of Nick and Mary (Ynshgnski) Mihalic.

Nick, Sr was a coal miner (1920, 1930 Census, 1938 City Directory), while their large family lived in Monongalia County (1920 Census), Ida May (1930 Census), Fairmont (1935 City Directory), and "Meredith Springs" (1938 City Directory). Unfortunately, he died in Barbour County in 1942. 

Nick Jr. attended four years of high school (Enlistment Record), likely graduating around 1933, but it's unclear which Marion County high school he would have attended. 

Military Service:

24-year-old Nick Mihalic registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. Working as a coal miner for the Consolidated Coal Company in Carolina at the time (but living in Rivesville), Nick listed his brother-in-law, Stanley Saban, as his contact. Nick was 5'11" and 168 lbs with brown eyes, red hair, and ruddy skin.

Nick enlisted on October 12, 1942 in Clarksburg, WV, and became a member of the 329th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, Company I. According to a January 7, 1945 article in The Times-West Virginian, Nick underwent training at Camp Atterbury (Indiana) and Camp Breckenridge (Kentucky). He then traveled to England before participating in the 83rd's landing on Omaha Beach on June 18, and being wounded in action by a bayonet in France in July of 1944 (article says August, hospital admission records say July).

The 329th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, Company I's morning report dated December 19, 1944, reports that Nick was declared MIA on December 13, 1944 in Germany. On December 20, 1944, they moved his status from MIA to KIA. His death was initially estimated as taking place from shrapnel to the chest on December 16, 1944, but final government paperwork recorded his death as the same date he was declared missing- December 13, 1944 (IDPF). 

Battle of the Hürtgen Forest

At the time of his death, the 83rd Infantry Division was engaged in The Battle of Hürtgen Forest. On December 13th, their morning report gave Company C's location as 3 miles east of Schevenhütte, Germany. The Battle of Hürtgen Forest lasted from September 19 - December 16, 1944.

"329 "Buckshot" Infantry Regiment: a history" states (emphasis mine): 

"The 329th Infantry Regiment jumped off to the attack at 1000, December 12th, in an attempt to reach the edge of the Hurtgen Forest and close up on the Roer River."

"The following days of the 13th and 14th saw a series of brilliant attacks against the towns of Gurzenich and Birgel. On the 13th our attack toward the Roer River was continued with the 1st and 2nd Battalions jumping off at 0800, and the 3rd Battalion at 0830. Major Sharpe's Battalion, still on the left, attacked with F and G Companies, the men from G making the main effort on the right. The terrain to the front of G Company was still partly wooded all the way up to Gurzenich, but the men moved rapidly, overcame all the resistance and entered the town. F Company swung to the right and followed G, E Company followed F; and everything the 2nd ·Battalion had, just poured into that little part of Gurzenich. By 1700 they were half way through the town; settled down and prepared to hold these positions for the night. The 1st Battalion attacked in their densely wooded sector on the right; this, plus the encountering of strong resistance, made movement slow,· but by 1710, both Companies A and B had fought their way through the woods and to the edge of Gurzenich, slightly to the right of the point where Sharpe's men had entered the town. They also held these positions for the night. The 3rd Battalion was immediately held up by stiff resistance. L Company was held in place while I Company swept around it. Both companies then advanced several hundred yards fighting against some of the strongest enemy positions encountered during the day."

Survivors and Legacy:

PVT Nick Junior Mihalic was initially interred at the Henri-Chappelle Cemetery in Belgium on December 19, 1944, before being relocated to the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Fairmont, WV in 1949.

Nick was preceded in death by his father, Nick, Sr. He was survived by his mother, Mary, and numerous brothers and sisters. Two of Nick's brothers also served in WWII- SGT John Mihalic (Army Infantry) and SGT Joseph Mihalic (Signal Corps).

He is honored on the "Marion County Veterans Killed in Action" Memorial at Veterans Square in Fairmont, WV, and at the  West Virginia Veterans Memorial in Charleston, WV. 

Sources and More Information:



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