Remembering PFC Nicholas Alapack, a 101st Screaming Eagle

Nicholas Domonic Alapack was one of the oldest serving 101st Screaming Eagle in Fox Company, 502nd PIR. He was born in Luzerne, Pennsylvania, on October 17, 1912. He registered for the draft in his hometown on October 1, 1940. Nicholas Alapack enlisted for the paratroopers at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, on March 11, 1942, when he was already almost 30 years old.  

Featured image: PFC Nicholas Alapack, the oldest serving 101st Screaming Eagle in Fox Company, 502nd PIR(Source: The Wilkes Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, Tuesday, November 16, 1943).

Severely injured 

PFC Nicholas Alapack had run into a serious head wound while in a foxhole next to PFC Dan McBride in the Netherlands on September 19, 1944. PFC McBride remembered that moment:

“We were maybe four feet apart, and we were talking back and forth when all of a sudden, his helmet flew off his head. He dropped down in his foxhole, but when he came up, his head was all covered in blood. Alapack started a sort of mantra, repeating the words over and over again: ‘Where is my helmet, where is my helmet, where is my helmet,’ at the same time reaching around for his helmet. I could see a white line on the side of his head, but I did not know if it was bone or a part of his brain. I was not sure which one it was. He was a big husky guy, but I went over to Alapack, trying to hold him and calm him down. I finally calmed him down and reassured him he was all right. I tried putting a bandage around his head, but he kept insisting that all he wanted was to get his helmet back on his head.” 

Alapack received six months’ hospital treatment in England and six more months of hospitalization in the United States before being discharged from Camp Atterbury, Indiana, on June 5, 1945. Nicholas Alapack arrived home in Luzern, Pennsylvania, two days later. 

A fatal accident 

Nicholas Alapack had the dubious honor of being the first Fox Company paratrooper to lose his life after WW2. On Saturday night, January 26, 1946, Nicholas crossed Union Street, not far from his home at 300 Union Street when he was struck by an automobile. The driver was 24-year-old James Lundy. According to police officials, Lundy attempted to avoid striking Alapack and in doing so, crashed his car into a service pole. 

Nicholas Alapack was instantly killed at the age of 33. He left behind his pregnant wife Bertha, and a son Richard, born on July 26, 1942. His second son, Nicholas was born on April 18, 1946. Nicholas Alapack was buried at Saint Nicholas Cemetery, Shaver Town, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. PFC Alapack was one of those courageous 101st Screaming Eagles who died much too young. Rest in peace, trooper!