General Samuel Jaskilka, a combat veteran who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, died Jan. 15. He was 92.
General Jaskilka was born in Ansonia in 1919. He graduated high school here and received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Connecticut in 1942, shortly before leaving for World War II, where he served aboard the USS Princeton and participated in the Tarawa Island raid, the Gilbert Islands Operation, the Marshall Islands Operation, Palau, Yap, Ulithi, Wolei raids, Marianas Operation, Western Caroline Islands Operation and the Leyte Operation, according to the Marine Corps History Division.
Click here for General Jaskilka’s bio from the Marine Corps.
For heroism in combat in Korea, he received two awards of the Silver Star Medal and a Bronze Star Medal.
Click here to read a story on Jaskilka’s life published in the Washington Post.
According to the Marine Corps, General Jaskilka received the following medals during his distinguished military career: General Jaskilka holds the following personal decorations; the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star Medal with one gold star in lieu of a second award, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the National Order of Vietnam, and the Army Distinguished Service Order, 1st Class.
According to the Washington Post, his wife of 57 years, Norma Blick Jaskilka, died in 2000. Their daughter Anne Stalker died in 2008.
Survivors include three children, Michael Jaskilka of Eugene, Ore., Diane Jaskilka of Arlington and Mark Jaskilka of Colorado Springs, Colo.; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.