Obituary of Louis Lazarko

GySgt. LAZARKO, USMC, Ret. - Gunnery Sergeant Louis H. Lazarko, USMC, Ret., age 85 of Indian Harbor Beach, FL (formerly of Ansonia), died November 28, 2009 at the Holmes Regional Medical Center, Melbourne, FL. Born in Ansonia on November 12, 1924, he was the son of the late Aksenty and Elizabeth Gyba Lazarko. GySgt. Lazarko graduated from Ansonia High School in 1942 and enlisted in the USMC.He was a highly decorated U.S. Veteran of WWII, the Korean and Viet Nam Wars. He fought in several major battles throughout the Pacific Campaign, including Guadalcanal, Bougainville and Okinawa. He was awarded a multitude of decorations and awards, including the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat during the Battle of Bougainville, The Navy & Marine Corp.Commendation Medal (with Valor), the Combat Action Ribbon (with gold star), the WWII Victory Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and various other Presidential Unit Citations, service ribbons and campaign medals. He finished his active duty career in June of 1965 with the title of Intelligence Chief, attached to the Staff Command, US Military Liaison to the ASEAN Treaty Organization, in addition to completing a variety of other temporary assigned duties throughout South East Asia.A noteworthy highlight of his career was starring in the 1957 film "The D.I." opposite Jack Webb. While serving as an actual D.I. at Camp Pendleton in California, GySgt. Lazarko was assigned to portray himself, in the roll of "Joey" a tough, leatherneck drill instructor. Following his 20 years of active duty in the Marine Corps, GySgt. Lazarko remained in Reserve Duty for several additional terms of service. He also worked as a civilian employee for the Dept. of Defense, U.S. Navy, for 25 years. He was the General Manager of overseas PX operations working in Naples, Italy; Rota, Spain; Guam, Hawaii and finally retiring in Albuquerque, NM. He was a lifetime member of the VFW. GySgt. Lazarko is survived by 18 nieces and nephews and a multitude of great-nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by brothers, Paul, Peter and Stephen Lazarko; sisters, Helen L. Brock, Julia Berenda, Mary Jecusco, Sophie L. Tchir, Lillian L. Matthews and Virginia E. Page. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 10:45 AM from the Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, 167 Wakelee Ave., Ansonia. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM in the Three Saints Russian Orthodox Church, 26 Howard Ave., Ansonia. Interment with Full Military Honors will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Ansonia. Family and friends may call on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM. On line condolences may be made at www.wakeleememorial.com.