Lt. Col. James Antink

James Antink, born January 20, 1920 and died May 30, 2007, grew up in Chicago. He attended the University of New Mexico where he met his beloved wife, Josephine Granito Antink and later graduated from the University of Omaha. He joined the Marine Corps as an enlisted man before WWII broke out. He fought as an infantryman in numerous WWII Pacific campaigns to include Saipan, Truk and Iwo Jima. He received a battlefield commission on Iow Jima. He also fought in the Korean War as an infantry officer and after the war, assisted the Korean Government in establishing the Korean Marine Corps. He earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart during WWII. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1964 as a LTCOL. His last duty station was Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachment at the Sangley Naval Air Station, Cavite City, Republic of the Philippines. It was his favorite duty station of his entire career and gave him an opportunity to learn about the culture and people of the Republic of the Philippines. After retirement he became a law enforcement agent with the Office of Naval Intelligence (now known as NCIS). He is surved by his daughter, Adrienne Antink, Lakewood and his grandson, Joseph A. Bendel, New York City.