Thomas Andrew Ontko was born in HERBERT, Pennsylvania United States. Thomas Ontko was married to Irene Helen (Strauch) Ontko, and died on September 11, 2019 in Garden City, Wayne County, MI. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Thomas Andrew Ontko.
A photo of Tom "Tommy" Ontko, U.S. Army in Hawaii during WWII, 1943, in the door of the "Dog House", the barracks where the commo team lived. This picture taken especially for his girlfriend, Irene Strauch, then at home in Detroit, Michigan.
He was assigned to the 198th Field Artillery Battalion, 24 Corps and besides Hawaii, he also served in New Guniea, Leyte & Lauzon in the Philippines, and Okinawa, Japan, finally separating from the Army as an E-5 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana
Date & Place:
at Oahu THE DOG HOUSE - Helemano #2, in Ewa, Honolulu County, Hawaii United States
A photo of Corporal Tom Ontko, Hawaii, 1943 "Horse Patrol"
Duties on Oahu, Hawaii included defense, patrol, and training with the 198th Field Artillery Battalion where Tom served as a radioman in a commo unit, transmitting- receiving and relaying messages, both voice and KW (telegraph key).
The commo unit was quartered at a barracks affectionately called 'The Dog House' (separate photos appear on Ancient Faces showing that building).
After duties in Hawaii, the unit was sent to combat duty in Luzon & Leyte in the Philippines, New Guinea, and finally in Okinawa, Japan.
Tom separated as an E-5 and returned to Cleveland, Ohio where he married his sweetheart, Irene Strauch.
Date & Place:
at Oahu Helemano #2, in Ewa, Honolulu County, Hawaii United States
A photo of Tom Ontko, donating blood on Hawaii in WW II at a Red Cross station on Oahu at Helemano #2, near the small town of Ewa.
Tom served in the 198th Field Artillery Battalion, 24 Corps. Besides Hawaii, he also served in New Guinea, Leyte & Luzon in the Philippines, and Okinawa, Japan, separating from the Army in 1946.
Returning to Cleveland, Ohio, he married his sweetheart, Irene Strauch, the two of them moving to Detroit, Michigan when he secured employment with the U.S. Post Office.
Tom was a Life Member of the VFW post in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, a member and contributor to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana where he had a memorial brick laid on a walkway. He was also a member of the 198th/138th Field Artillery Association, attending several reunions after his retirement.
Tom also traveled to the National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Livonia, Michigan.
Date & Place:
at Oahu Helemano #2, in Ewa, Honolulu County, Hawaii United States