John Humenyk is the son of Alexander and Rose Humenyk, of Toronto, Ontario. He sacrificed his life on August 25, 1944, his name is printed on page 340 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. John Humenyk’s cemetery is located in BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY; Calvados, France, the grave reference is XXI. G. 6. He was a Rifleman who served as an army force in World War II. His military service number is B/65906.
John Humenyk was part of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, R. C. I. C. unit. The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada are the only Primary Reserve unit in Canada with a parachute tasking. The unit has qualified parachute instructors and jumpmasters. Soldiers also take courses in helicopter operations, aerial delivery, and as landing zone/drop zone controllers. They were called the Rifleman.
The first major combat operations were during the Invasion of Normandy. D-Day launched the Battle of Normandy. The Queen's Own Rifles landed on NAN sector of Juno Beach during D-day and captured the strategic seaside resort town of Bernières-sur-Mer. John Humenyk was one of the “Fallen Heroes of Normandy”. Despite the machine guns fire coming from the German, he headed up a dory ramp to mount the seawall. Mortar and artillery rounds were exploding all over the beach and the seawall, the explosion left John Humenyk untouched, although the breech of his rifle had been shattered by a piece of shrapnel.
Through it all, the bodies of Canadian soldiers in the Queen's Own Rifles and other regiments were found with bullet holes in their temples. The invasion left 463 riflemen dead, while over 900 were wounded. The sacrifices of these riflemen, alongside the other Allies on the other beach sections, allowed over 150,000 Allied soldiers to come ashore on June 6, as well as 6,000 vehicles.
The contribution of John Humenyk and the unit he was a part of was important to Canada's pursuit of a successful conclusion to World War II. The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, R. C. I. C. unit was an important unit for the World War II, it was in the centre at Bernières (Nan White beach). The North Shore Regiment captured St.Aubin while the Queen’s Own Rifles took the town of Bernières. Tanks and infantry struck inland all that day and pressed on through villages, fields and groves of trees defended by determined Germans. Without the help of Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, R.C.I.C. and the riflemen, Canada would not beat the German and gain freedom.
Bibliography
1. Veterans Affairs Canada. "Canadian Virtual War Memorial". "In memory of Rifleman John Humenyk". Government of Canada. Accessed on July 23rd 2014. http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2333481?John%20Humenyk
2. Juno Beach: Canada's D-Day Victory June 6, 1944 Book. Accessed July 23rd 2014. http://books.google.ca/books?id=cf-lbLrZvQEC&pg=PA213&lpg=PA213&dq=john+humenyk&source=bl&ots=nd0E3_UD1W&sig=4TreP48xgX4NJMGA1YbmmNMh428&hl=zh-TW&sa=X&ei=XK7OU43RGcO3uAThloHADw&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=john%20humenyk&f=false
3. Juno beach. " Juno Beach - The Canadian Landings On D-Day" Accessed July 23rd 2014. http://www.members.shaw.ca/junobeach/juno-4-0.htm
