Gladys Jirikowic and Leo Conrad

Gladys Jirikowic traveled to California to marry Leo Conrad on September 17, 1943. Leo had left Gladys in Kaukauna the year before to train as a driver for Company A of the 728 Amphibious Tractor Battalion. The couple had dated for several years before the war and had intended to marry. Leo interrupted the marriage plans because he wanted to serve his country.

Gladys returned to Kaukauna and worked at Thilmany bag mill to help support her family. She traveled again to California to see her husband before he went to the Pacific in 1944. The couple reunited in 1946 when Leo returned from service. Leo worked as a machinist for Thilmany until he retired in 1975. He died at the age of 85 on March 31, 1998. Gladys became a mother of three and grandmother of four, and still lives in Kaukauna.