Andrew Francis Czubiak
T/5 in Signal Co, Special : Radio A
Military occupational specialty: 776 (radio operator, low speed)
ASN#33394212
Born 1922 in PA, Died 1991
County of residence at enlistment: Allegheny County, PA
Other residence(s): New Kensington, PA
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Occupation before the war: semiskilled miners, and mining-machine operators
College education after the war: Univ. of Pittsburgh
Andrew Czubiak was born in Harwick, PA on May 17, 1922. He was one of three children; his parents were both immigrants from Poland.
He graduated from Plum Township High School in 1941; a year later, on June 30, 1942, he registered for the draft. He was inducted into the Army on November 17, 1942.
Andy served in the Ghost Army through October 22, 1945; like other GA veterans, he served overseas from May 3, 1944-July 2, 1945. He left the service with the rank of T/5.
After the war, Andy went to bricklaying school on the GI Bill, and, on June 29, 1946, married Cecelia Deda. They lived in New Kensington, PA, and they would go on to have two daughters: Lynda and Lisa.
Andy worked as a bricklayer for six years, and then got a job as a lineman for West Penn Power. He spent 12 years there, the last seven of them also taking night courses at the University of Pittsburgh. After graduating with a BS in Education in 1963, he became a school teacher, teaching both math and civics/world cultures. He also was the coach of the cross country team at Valley High School in New Kensington, served as equipment manager for the football team, and was the Key Club academic sponsor.
Andy was a member of several fraternal organizations in New Kensington—the Moose, the Elks, the VFW, and the Arnold, PA Volunteer Fire Department. As the son of immigrants, he was active in teaching English as a second language in the Valley High School night school program. He was a parishioner at St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Kensington, and active in the Holy Name Society.
He enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, fishing, traveling the country by car, and watching football and basketball games. And every year, on Veteran's Day, he drank a shot in General Patton's honor.
Andy died on January 16, 1991 in New Kensington, and is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell, PA.
Sources:
1940 census
1941 high school yearbook (includes photo)
1942 draft card
1942 enlistment record
1950 Pennsylvania veterans compensation application
1991 VA death record
1991 Find a Grave record
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62758510/andrew-f.-czubiak
2021 (January 18) GALP Veteran Biography Worksheet from daughter Lisa Czubiak Klukaszewski.