Stanley Konish, 20, Among First Paratroops To Land in Sicily; Water Is at a Premium

Stanley's seen a lot of service. That is, he's seen intensive of not extensive action.

Stanley Konish, 20, Sturges, was among the first paratroopers to land in Sicily in July, according to letters received by his parent, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Konish, 355 Irving St., Sturges.

He sent his picture taken in Sicily, on a postcard to his parents. He wrote the following on the back of the card:

"I haven't had a bath in 17 days. My beard is two and a half days old. I believe I washed my face the day before yesterday. My clothes have never seen water on this island and my boots are pretty well gone. Beside it all, it's still me -- Stan."

not only did he send his picture home, but he sent a silk swastika emblem taken from an enemy in Sicily and a torn bit of his parachute - "the only piece left" - but he didn't explain why it was the only piece left. The cloth is the relic of his first combat jump at 10:41 p. m. on July 11, 1943 from Plane No. 3. Stanley's name and the names of his friends are written on the cloth.

Before going to Sicily, he was sent to North Africa in April. He also sent a handkerchief from Africa with the names of the places he'd marked on it in ink.He was in Sousse, Krawan, Casablanca, Tunis, Oran, Algiers, Oudua, and Kasserine Pass.

Stanley was a sergeant in the 109th Infantry of the Pennsylvania State Guard in 1940, and he volunteered for the paratroops in 1942. He received his training at Fort Bragg, N. C.

He has three brothers in service: Walter, overseas; Joseph, Iran; and John, Denver, Colo. Another brother, Frank, Newark, N. J., expects to leave next month for service.

According to a letter Stanley sent his parents last week, he is still in Sicily.