Making a Difference

Alumnus Earned Silver Star on Iwo Jima

Walter Josefiak Jr. and and the snipers. The his siblings Robert (DLS Japanese began to ‘44), Harry (DLS ‘51), throw hand grenades; John, and Geraldine Rusty was hit full force. were raised as eastside Seriously wounded, Detroiters on Fairport Rusty crawled to Street. Walter graduated Josefiak’s side to from De La Salle in 1942 protect him while greand enlisted in the U.S. nades continued to blast Marines for the World around the pair. War II effort. In the meantime, He was assigned to Marines in the unit Camp Lejeune, home to the War Dog Training Walter is pictured here as a freshman at DLS. Walter played in the high school band and graduated in June 1942. threw a rope to Josefiak and pulled him to Center in North safety. Regardless of his Carolina. Here he trained as a soldier and dog hanwounds, Josefiak refused to be immediately evacuated dler with the Marine 3rd War Dog Platoon. Rusty, a and ordered others to remain under cover until the faithful Doberman Pinscher, would become his proenemy soldiers were annihilated. He was later taken tector and best friend during his days on Guam and to a battalion hospital where he died. Lt. William Iwo Jima. They shipped out for the fight in the Asiatic Taylor, the commanding officer of the unit, noted that Campaign from Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA. Corporal Rusty died as well, on the scene without a War dogs were used by both the Allies and the whimper. Japanese in WWII. The dogs varied by breed and were Walter Josefiak Jr. earned the Silver Star posthuspecifically trained to scout, guard, attack, carry mesmously for his assertive nature in combat and courage. sages, detect underground land mines, and trip wires. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery with a full They were an important part of the Asiatic campaign Marine military salute. and a contributing factor to the liberation of Guam in A small playground honoring him is stocked with 1944. Additionally, they had their own cemetery and newer equipment. It is located on Grenier St. near were assigned rank. Rusty was a Corporal. Fairport - around the block from the Josefiak’s childOn March 22, 1945, Walter and Rusty were leading hood home. In 2014, it was adopted by volunteers and a patrol on Iwo Jima searching for snipers. Scouting was well tended during the summer. about 15 feet ahead of the unit, they were first to sniff out two hidden Japanese soldiers. Josefiak shot the first soldier; his rifle then jammed, and he won the Thanks to Andrea Gallucci for submitting this fight in hand-to-hand combat with the second soldier. story. The Josefiak story is one of many about the A short time later, the duo continued up along a ledge dedicated, creative and courageous people honored to the mouth of a cave where several enemy snipers with a memorial park within the City of Detroit. were holed up. Josefiak began firing but was downed Read more at Telling the Stories of Detroit Parks and wounded from return fire. Fulfilling his duty, found at www.cityliterate.com Rusty guarded his master, staying between Josefiak

You are invited to the 2015 Pilot Golf Outing benefitting De La Salle Athletics and the DLS Alumni Association Monday, June 15th • $150.00 per person

at Scalawag Golf Club (Formerly Boulder Lake ) 52100 Fairchild Road • North of 23 Mile Road • Chesterfield, MI 48051 www.boulderlakesgolf.com

Tee off time at 1:00 p.m.

Additional Donation Opportunities Tee/Green Sponsorship..................$100 Driving Range Sponsorship ........$250

11:30 a.m. Registration Lunch Driving Range Open 1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start

Call John Monigold at 586-541-6212 or email jmonigold@delasallehs.com for more information.

Registration is limited, please sign up by June 6th!

Golf Outing Registration Form Prepayment of $150.00 per person required by June 5, 2015 Fill out this form and mail to the DLS Advancement Department at 14600 Common Road, Warren, MI 48088 Call us at 586-778-3356 to pay by credit card OR go to www.ThePilotHangar.com to order online Contact Name_________________________________________________________________________________________ Address, City, State, Zip _________________________________________________________________________________ Contact Phone _____________________________ Email __________________________________________________

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*Each golfer can designate up to 3 of these programs to benefit from his/her registration. DLS Alumni Association • Bowling • Baseball • Basketball • Cross Country/Track Football • Golf • Hockey • Lacrosse • Soccer • Swim • Tennis • Wrestling