George Ivan Rock served in the United States Marine Corps, earning a Purple Heart (he received a shrapnel wound) and a Silver Star at Saipan. After his enlistment in the Marines was up, he reenlisted in the U.S. Army, starting over as a buck private and earning promotion to Sgt 1st Class.
Ivan -- no one ever called him "George" -- met his future wife, Danila Fior, in Trieste, Italy, married her in 1949, and brought her home in 1950 to Kansas with him, and they remained husband and wife for 61 years. They had barely a year together when his unit was reactivated and sent to Korea in 1950, and he was critically wounded in September 1950 in a friendly fire accident.
He survived his wounds, but was left partially paralyzed for the rest of his life. He had been a bit of an athlete in high school and had shown artistic talent as well, but was robbed of those activities by his paralysis. He never let that destroy his basic optimism. He simply found a job and supported his family. His family loved him for his gentle and generous nature and treasured his sense of humor. He is missed.
He did not complain about his fate, nor did he brag about his heroism. He was proud of his service. We all were proud of him, and we miss him.
US MARINE CORPS
WORLD WAR 2, PACIFIC THEATRE
US ARMY
WORLD WAR 2/POST-VE, ITALY
KOREAN WAR
Ivan -- no one ever called him "George" -- met his future wife, Danila Fior, in Trieste, Italy, married her in 1949, and brought her home in 1950 to Kansas with him, and they remained husband and wife for 61 years. They had barely a year together when his unit was reactivated and sent to Korea in 1950, and he was critically wounded in September 1950 in a friendly fire accident.
He survived his wounds, but was left partially paralyzed for the rest of his life. He had been a bit of an athlete in high school and had shown artistic talent as well, but was robbed of those activities by his paralysis. He never let that destroy his basic optimism. He simply found a job and supported his family. His family loved him for his gentle and generous nature and treasured his sense of humor. He is missed.
He did not complain about his fate, nor did he brag about his heroism. He was proud of his service. We all were proud of him, and we miss him.
US MARINE CORPS
WORLD WAR 2, PACIFIC THEATRE
US ARMY
WORLD WAR 2/POST-VE, ITALY
KOREAN WAR
George Ivan Rock served in the United States Marine Corps, earning a Purple Heart (he received a shrapnel wound) and a Silver Star at Saipan. After his enlistment in the Marines was up, he reenlisted in the U.S. Army, starting over as a buck private and earning promotion to Sgt 1st Class.
Ivan -- no one ever called him "George" -- met his future wife, Danila Fior, in Trieste, Italy, married her in 1949, and brought her home in 1950 to Kansas with him, and they remained husband and wife for 61 years. They had barely a year together when his unit was reactivated and sent to Korea in 1950, and he was critically wounded in September 1950 in a friendly fire accident.
He survived his wounds, but was left partially paralyzed for the rest of his life. He had been a bit of an athlete in high school and had shown artistic talent as well, but was robbed of those activities by his paralysis. He never let that destroy his basic optimism. He simply found a job and supported his family. His family loved him for his gentle and generous nature and treasured his sense of humor. He is missed.
He did not complain about his fate, nor did he brag about his heroism. He was proud of his service. We all were proud of him, and we miss him.
US MARINE CORPS
WORLD WAR 2, PACIFIC THEATRE
US ARMY
WORLD WAR 2/POST-VE, ITALY
KOREAN WAR
Ivan -- no one ever called him "George" -- met his future wife, Danila Fior, in Trieste, Italy, married her in 1949, and brought her home in 1950 to Kansas with him, and they remained husband and wife for 61 years. They had barely a year together when his unit was reactivated and sent to Korea in 1950, and he was critically wounded in September 1950 in a friendly fire accident.
He survived his wounds, but was left partially paralyzed for the rest of his life. He had been a bit of an athlete in high school and had shown artistic talent as well, but was robbed of those activities by his paralysis. He never let that destroy his basic optimism. He simply found a job and supported his family. His family loved him for his gentle and generous nature and treasured his sense of humor. He is missed.
He did not complain about his fate, nor did he brag about his heroism. He was proud of his service. We all were proud of him, and we miss him.
US MARINE CORPS
WORLD WAR 2, PACIFIC THEATRE
US ARMY
WORLD WAR 2/POST-VE, ITALY
KOREAN WAR
