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Cpl. Matthew Bialock

The son of Polish immigrants, Matthew Bialock grew up in the rural farm country of Neuville, New York. Every day, he had to hitch a ride to school with the local milk truck. Then after class let out, he and the other kids met at a shop in town, each trying to thumb a ride home from cars passing by.

When he heard the news of Pearl Harbor, Matthew Bialock went in to sign up with the Army Air Corps, hoping to be a pilot. Under eighteen at the time, he needed his parent’s approval to enlist, but he found out this was a disqualifier for flight training. Disappointed, he walked out of the recruiting office with his head down. A Marine recruiter happened to be standing there, who took one look at him and sized up what had happened. “We’ll take ya,” the recruiter told him. A short time later, Bialock walked out having enlisted in the Marines.