Name: John Stephen Pocsaji, Corporal, USMCR
Local address: 41 Beechwood Terrace, Matawan, NJ (1961-2007)
John was born May 11, 1921 in Woodbridge, NJ, the youngest of four children of Michael and Mary Hudak Pocsaji. A 1938 graduate of Middlesex Vocational School, he subsequently worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and was employed by American Cyanamid Chemical in Woodbridge when he registered for the draft in February of 1942.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps in August of 1942 and received his basic training at New River, NC. In October of that year he was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 21st Regiment, 3rd Division of the Marines and was shortly thereafter deployed to the Pacific Theater.
Wounded during the assault on Bougainville, he returned to the Naval Hospital in San Diego for treatment and rehabilitation, avoiding the invasions of Guam and Iwo Jima, in which the 21st Regiment suffered significant casualties. He was honorably discharged from the Marines in October 1945.
John died September 11, 2007. According to his obituary, he was a member and past commander of the Woodbridge Memorial Chapter 56 of the Disabled American Veterans. John was employed as a civilian by the United States Army for 33 years and retired in 1978 from his final assignment at Fort Monmouth. A communicant of St. Clement R.C. Church, Matawan, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus St. Joseph’s Chapter and worked Thursday night bingo at the church. John was an active member of the Maroon and Steel Parents Club of Matawan Regional High School and as a result of his community service to the school he was inducted into the MRHS Hall of Fame in 2002.
He was the father of MHS member Patricia Pocsaji Martucci.
Family Remembrances
From his daughter, Patricia Pocsaji Martucci:
“John Pocsaji was a quiet patriot whose actions spoke for him. He never talked about the war and his family learned most of his involvement after he passed.”
NO COMMENTS