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- [S5] Obituary.
PVT Wilfred Lafayette Gonia
BIRTH 20 Apr 1890
River Rouge, Wayne County, Michigan, USA
DEATH 27 Feb 1943 (aged 52)
USA
BURIAL
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA
MEMORIAL ID 195305988 · View Source
MEMORIAL
PHOTOS 1
FLOWERS 1
Pvt. Wilfred L. Gonia, 2052562, Company K, 339th Infantry Regiment., "Polar Bears." Wounded in Action on 3 November 1918 near Kodish, Russia. Born on 20 April 1890, he entered the service on 29 May 1918 from River Rouge, Michigan.
Pvt. Gonia served in North Russia during the Russian Civil War. Following the Russian Revolution, and Russia leaving World War I, the United States sent 5,000 American soldiers to Northern Russia and 8,000 to Vladivostok in the east, in an effort to overthrow the Bolsheviks and reopen the eastern front against Germany. Following the Armistice, U.S. troops remained in Russia and fought on the side of the White Army in the Russian Civil War. They remained until 1920.
While in Russia, Pvt. Gonia participated in the Seletsku Defensive and the First Battle of Kodish. In November 1918, Company K was positioned along the road from Kodish to Avda, located about 20 miles to the southwest. On 3 November, the Bolsheviks heavily shelled American positions at a strongpoint at Verst 17. Four Americans were wounded in the bombardment of which Pvt. Gonia almost certainly was one.
According to his discharge paperwork, Pvt. Gonia served in Russia from 22 July 1918 to 12 July 1919. He was discharged from the Army on 19 July 1919.
Following his service, Pvt. Gonia married on 21 April 1932 at the age of 41. He never had children.
He received his Purple Heart on 6 October 1932 and died on 27 February 1943 at the age of 52. He is buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in River Rouge, Michigan.
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