Marion "Eddie" Edward Bjelajac

Leona Litchke2025-02-14T21:23:00-06:00

Name: Marion "Eddie" Edward Bjelajac
Location of Birth: Calumet, Minnesota
Date of Birth: January 27, 1926
Date of Death: October 23, 1999 (73 years old)
Parents: Mike Bjelajac & Dorothy (Safar) Bjelajac
High School and Class: 1944 - Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
College:
Highest Rank: PFC (Private First Class)
Branch: Army
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In: July 22, 1944
Place Sworn In: Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date of Discharge: August 11, 1945
Place of Discharge:
Military Awards:
Purple Heart
ETO (European Theatre Offensive) Ribbon
2 Battle Stars

Military Highlights:
He served in the Army and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.

WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
State: Minnesota
Name: Marion Edward Bjelajac
Gender: Male
Race: White
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Age: 18
Birth Date: January 27 [1926]
Birth Place: Calumet, Minnesota, USA
Residence Place: Calumet, Minnesota, Itasca, USA
Registration Date: January 27, 1944
Employer: Not employed
Weight: 135
Height: 5-7
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown
Next of Kin: Mike Bjelajac, Calumet, Minnesota

WW II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Name: Marion E. Bjelajac
Birth Year: 1926
Race: White
Nativity State or Country: Minnesota
State of Residence: Minnesota
County or City: Itasca
Enlistment Date: July 22, 1944
Enlistment State: Minnesota
Enlistment City: Fort Snelling
Branch: No branch assignment
Branch Code: No branch assignment
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted men)
Source: Civil life
Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: _____
Marital status: Single without dependents
Height: 00
Weight: 000

Newspaper article - Dec 1944 – Pvt. Edward Bjelajac, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Bjelajac, is home on a 12-day furlough. He is stationed at Camp Hood, Texas.

Newspaper article - Aug 1945 – Pfc. Marion Bjelajac, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Bjelajac of Calumet, was recently honorably discharged from the Army following 13 months of service. He was in England, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany with the 11th Armored Division. He suffered shrapnel wounds while in central Germany, and wears the Purple Heart, the E.T.O. Ribbon and two Battle Stars. Pfc. Bjelajac was a student of Greenway high school before he entered the service.

Wars Involved:
World War II

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
Marion Edward Bjelajac was born and raised in Calumet, Minnesota.

Marion Edward Bjelajac married Irene Price in 1951 and the couple lived in Edina, Minnesota. He was a barber most of his life, then later worked at Control Data Co. until his retirement.

He was a lifetime member of the VFW.

He is survived by his wife, Irene; daughter Terry; grandson Erik; and brother George (Beverly). He was preceded in death by his parents.

Marion Bjelajac died in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Section 6-A, Site 822)

Tribal Affiliation(s):