Served in the United States Army with distinction during World War II. Wounded three times during service.

Inducted 3 Apr 1942 at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Served with Company C, 6th Armored Infantry Battalion, 1st Division.

Saw action in the African, European, and Middle Eastern theaters. Was involved in the following battles and campaigns:

Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, North Apennines-Po Valley.

Received the following awards and citations:

Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart (wounded 3 times), Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Emblem, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campain Medal with Silver Service Star, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Honorable Service Lapel Button.

Steve began his military service with the 8th Armored Infantry Division (the "Iron Snake Division"). The 8th Armored Division was activated on 1 April 1942 at Fort Knox, Kentucky, to serve as a training command for armored infantry personnel who would be eventually reassigned to combat units. In August 1942, Steve went through and completed the Tank Mechanic Courses, earning the Military Occupational Specialty of "Tank Mechanic Minor Maintenance 660 Certification".

The Tank Mechanic Minor Maintenance 660 Technician inspects and performs minor maintenance on tanks, tank destroyers, and other full-track-laying vehicles; examines armor plate for holes, breaks, or loose bolts; checks the condition of the lighting, lubrication, fuel, and ignition systems, as well as other units; operates, services, and adjusts all moving parts including engine, transmission, tracks, torsion bar suspension, steering brakes and other controls, turret traversing mechanism, gun mounts, and cannon; and assists in diagnosing malfunctions. At the supervisory level, he is responsible for control and coordination of maintenance activities of a tank maintenance crew.

Steve was then transferred and assigned to Company C, 6th Armored Infantry Battalion, 1st Division ("Old Ironsides") and departed for the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre of Action on 5 March 1943 to join his unit. He arrived 19 March 1943 in Tunisia, in time for the Battle for Djebel Achtel between 5 and 11 May 1943. The German forces surrendered Tunisia on 13 May 1943.

Following Tunisia, the 1st Division took part in the invasion of Sicily, then was reorganized and assigned to the American Fifth Army and took the point in the invasion of mainland Italy. It took part in the attack on the Winter Line in November 1943. It then flanked the Axis armies in the landngs at Anzio, and then passed through the city of Rome and pursued the retreating enemy northward until mid-July 1944. The division continued in combat to the Po Valley until the German forces in Italy surrendered on 2 May 1945. In June, the division moved to Germany as part of the occupational forces. During the campaign, the Old Ironsides division captured 41 towns and cities and 108,740 prisoners. 722 division soldiers were awarded the Silver Star, 908 received the Bronze Star. The division received 5,478 Purple Hearts. Two division soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II.

Sadly, Steve was not part of the final German surrender or the occupational forces. He was wounded three times during his combat tour of duty and would return to the United States on 30 April 1945. He was first wounded in the left hip on 1 June 1944 in Italy. He was slightly wounded in the right knee on 10 Oct 1944. His third and most serious wounding occurred 9 March 1945 in Italy which caused major damage to the same hip as his first injury. Following many months of surgery and rehabilitation at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center and Hospital in Denver, Colorado, Steve received his honorable discharge with a separation date of 26 May 1947.

Stephen Jancich