East Brunswick’s D-Day Hero Receives NJ’s Distinguished Service Medal

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – Hometown hero, Philip Streczyk, posthumously received the NJ Distinguished Service Medal over the weekend.

One of New Jersey’s most decorated combat veterans of World War II, Streczyk was a technical sergeant who distinguished himself for his role on D-Day. He was one of the first men off Omaha Beach on D-Day.

On Friday, his son Ron Streczyk received the NJ Distinguished Service Medal on behalf of his family at the East Brunswick Memorial VFW Post 133.

For his service to the country, Streczyk was awarded the Purple Heart, four Silver Star medals, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Great Britan’s Military Medal.

During WWII he served in E Company under Lt. John M. Spalding. Streczyk and his men helped make the breakthrough on D-Day possible.

Streczyk led his section across the beach and cut through the enemy wire, leading his platoon through a minefield and attacking an enemy beachhead. For this action, he received the Distinguished Service Cross. It was pinned on him by former president Dwight D. Eisenhower who was a general at the time.

After the war, Streczyk married Sophie Karanewsky and the couple had four children.

Streczyk died on June 25, 1958. He is buried in the cemetery of the former Church of Religious Sciences in East Brunswick, which is now on private property.

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