Steve Prokopovich was born on September 4, 1914 in the town of Ronald, Kittitas County, Washington to John Prokopovich and Helen Prokopovich, nee Mandel. John and Helen were immigrants from Czechoslovakia. Steve’s siblings were Annie, John, George, Mary, Michael, Andrew, and Julia Prokopovich. The family lived in the town of Cle Elum, Kittitas County, where John was a coal miner.

Steve Prokopovich registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. He was 26 years old, 5’10” tall, and weighed 150 pounds. He had brown hair, blue eyes, and a light complexion. He volunteered for the army and was inducted on May 20, 1941 in Tacoma, Washington. He was single, without dependents, and had a high school education.

Pfc Steve Prokopovich served in Company B, 6th Ranger Battalion. The 6th Rangers led the American campaign to liberate the Philippines when they secured three small islands in the Gulf of Leyte on October 17, 1944. The 6th Rangers landed at Tacloban on the island of Leyte on October 20th before moving inland into the island’s mountainous interior where they encountered fierce Japanese resistance.

Pfc. Steve Prokopovich died of wounds inflicted in battle on November 2, 1944. He was the second son of John and Helen Prokopovich to die in the war. His brother, Private Michael Prokopovich, was killed in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. In 1948, the Army arranged for the remains of both brothers to be returned to the States at the same time for a joint service. Both brothers are buried in the Laurel Hill Memorial Park, Cle Elum, Kittitas County, Washington. Steve Prokopovich was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project

(see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to

write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We

Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be

accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me at clock902@aol.com.

SBTSProject/Washington/Kittitas County

Sources:

WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualty List, https://www.fold3.com/image/310763535?rec=299424410

WWII Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954, https://www.fold3.com/record/706683506/prokopovich-steve-us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954

Findagrave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15033074/steve-prokopovich

WWII Army Enlistment Records, https://www.fold3.com/record/90962095/steve-prokopovich-wwii-army-enlistment-records

The Spokesman-Review, 16 May 1941, Fri · Page 53, https://www.newspapers.com/image/567726454?utm_source=fold3.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Fold3

The Spokesman-Review, 17 Dec 1944, Sun · Page 22, https://www.newspapers.com/image/569365175?utm_source=fold3.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Fold3https://www.newspapers.com/image/569365175?utm_source=fold3.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Fold3

The Spokesman-Review, 18 Jul 1948, Sun · Page 51, https://www.newspapers.com/image/567900802?utm_source=fold3.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Fold3

1920 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/13679654:6061

1930 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/112234680:6224

1940 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/63670762:2442

Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/548553:2375?tid=&pid=&queryId=27d38906be5113a6521755759ca5f7e6&_phsrc=xOR60321&_phstart=successSource

World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/37179441:2238

Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_Ranger_Battalion