Maj. General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, presents the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross to the niece (Donna Cramer of Albany, N.Y., at left) and grand-niece (Cheri Gagliardi of Rotterdam, N.Y.) of Pvt. John Greschiak during a ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, N.Y., on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Stephanie Butler/U.S. Army National Guard)

The family of a WWII soldier who was killed in action in September 1944 in Germany received the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross in his honor at New York National Guard headquarters on Monday, 80 years after his death.

Purple Heart recipient (posthumous) Pvt. John Greschiak was 19 when he was killed during a rescue mission conducted outside Niedersgegan, Germany. Greschiak’s niece, Donna Cramer of Albany, N.Y., and grand-niece, Cheri Gagliardi of Rotterdam, N.Y., were presented the medal on his behalf by Maj. General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, during a ceremony recognizing his military service as a New York resident.

“Being at the ‘tip of the spear’ in ground combat is the very essence of serving one’s nation and fighting for the welfare of their fellow soldiers,” Shields said. “That’s what Private Greschiak was doing when he was killed by enemy fire.”

Army Pvt. John Greschiak, a member of the 5th Armored Division, was killed in action on Sept. 16, 1944. (Donna Cramer)

Maj. General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, displays a photograph of Pvt. John Greschiak during a ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham N.Y., on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Stephanie Butler/U.S. Army National Guard)

Greschiak’s family members did not know much about their relative since he died at a young age until they met Peter Clouse and his son, Zachary, according to a New York National Guard news release about Monday’s ceremony. The Clouses were trying to find more details about the military career of Peter Clouse’s uncle, James Scalzo — who was also involved in the fight in Niedersgegen.

According to Clouse’s findings, on Sept. 16, 1944, Tech Sgt. John Scalzo was assigned to the 245th Engineer Combat Battalion. Whle on patrol at Niedersgegen, his unit was ambushed by 50 German soldiers. Two officers and two enlisted men were wounded, and one jeep was destroyed. Scalzo reported what happened, and the commander of the division’s Combat Command Reserve sent a rescue mission.

The division sent a “married platoon” from the 47th Armored Infantry Battalion — a combined arms team of one M-4 Sherman tank and two M-3 halftracks with about 17 soldiers — to assault the farm and rescue the Americans. The Clouses learned that Greschiak was one of those soldiers. The rescue mission was a success, but Greschiak was killed during the fight.

The Clouses were compelled to get in touch with Greschiak’s family, who coincidentally lived nearby. Their meeting helped lead to the application for the Conspicuous Service Cross.

“It’s good to know that he was saving people and he did not die in vain,” a grateful Donna Cramer said.