By JOANN SELTZER

    Courier-Express Staff Writer

    ST. MARYS, PA. It didn't matter that PFC John M. Horvatin wasn’t fighting in World War II by choice. When duty called, he answered by giving all he had including his life for his comrades. Today, he is recognized by family and friends as one of America's heroes.

    Horvatin, a St. Marys resident, and Staff Sgt. Arthur F. Kueker of Colorado, both members of the 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry division, became heroes during World War II. They sacrificed their own lives trying to disarm a machine gun and a mortar with their bayonets to help their fellow soldiers when they ran out of hand grenades. Both of the men died on the battlefield in France on June 14, 1944.

    Last year, Brian Kueker, who had always been interested in military history, was reading about his family history around the same time he was avidly reading books about the personal stories of soldiers. While looking at some family history he had been given, Kueker discovered that his grandfather’s cousin, Arthur Kueker, had been killed while serving in World War II.

    Little did he know that his search to learn more about his relative would lead him to St. Marys to help another family learn more about their loved one.

    While researching Arthur Kueker’s death, Brian Kueker learned that Arthur had two surviving sisters, Clara and Esther Kueker. Brian Kueker had written to the American Battle Monuments Commission to get a picture of the grave of a U.S. servicemen buried overseas.

    Once he received the two copies he requested, Brian Kueker was so impressed with them he thought one of Arthur Kueker’s sisters may like the second copy. While corresponding with Clara Kueker, Brian Kueker learned that she had sent money to have a floral wreath placed on her brother’s grave.

    “Then she said something that was stunning to say the least. She said that she and Esther almost fell off their chairs when they saw the American Battle Monuments Commission print out showing that Arthur had received the Silver Star for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while involved in a military operation, 58 years later,” Brian Kueker said.

    She said no one in her family had ever mentioned a Silver Star. Surprised by the news, Brian Kueker looked further into the event that lead to the death of Arthur Kueker and learned he had died with Horvatin, and he began to wonder if the Horvatin family had been left in the dark about their loved one receiving a Silver Star.

    “I thought it was so nice that he was concerned about the Horvatin family,” Mary Seeyle, Hovatin’s sister said. “We had found out right away about the Silver Star.”

    A half a century later, Seeyle still remembers the day her family found out about her brother’s fate as if it was yesterday.

    “I was working at the Market Basket when my cousin, who was staying with us at the time, called and said I had to come home right away,” Seeyle said. “I wanted to know why, but she wouldn’t tell me.”

    After explaining to her boss that she had to leave, Seeyle walked to the A&P to ask a friend for a ride home.

    “Right away, I knew what happened. I could hear them wailing and I knew something had happened to Johnny,” she said. “It was quite an experience I’ll never forget the cries coming out of the house.”

    The relatives of those lost may never know if their loved ones had volunteered to for the dangerous mission, but both carried it out with all they had.

    “I would think they probably asked for volunteers,” Seeyle said. “Although John was never a dare devil or anything like that he was just a nice kid. And I think his friends looked up to him.”

    “I have to wonder what makes men do extraordinary things at times like these,” Brian Kueker said.

    Seeyle will always remember her brother, who was just two years older than her, as still being the boy teasing her a few months before the mission while on furlough. She said she'll remember him for his bravery during a time when his country needed him the most and that, although he was young, he had become a man.

    Both Horvatin and Kueker also received the Purple Heart. The Silver Star was awarded to the two men for gallantry and aggressiveness and making the continued success of their unit possible.