About
World War II (1939-1945)
Louis Kolakoff was born in Schenectady, New York, on May 12, 1918. He grew up in the city of Schenectady on Jerome Street and graduated from Mont Pleasant High School in 1936. Before entering the military, he worked for the A & P Company.
On September 4, 1940, Louis enlisted in the United States Army. He completed his basic training at Fort McClellan in Alabama. He was a sergeant serving with the 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division. In 1942, he left for overseas duty and was stationed in Hawaii. Louis volunteered to go on a mission into enemy territory to bring back the injured on July 9, 1944, during the Battle of Saipan. He was given the chance to be evacuated but opted to stay with a small number of the rescue team instead. The mission was successful in getting several injured men to safety. He offered to go for assistance after being under enemy fire for two and a half hours so the rescue party wouldn't be trapped behind enemy lines at night, but Louis exposed himself to enemy fire while seeking assistance and was killed. He is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii.
Sources: The Schenectady Gazette, Find A Grave, Ancestry