Steven Cudrak was born on December 20, 1922, in Ford City, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Paul Cudrak. He enlisted in the service on October 28, 1942. He served in the 826th Bomber Squadron, 484th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Radio Operator of B-24J #42-51967 nicknamed ''Strange Cargo'' during World War II.

On March 4, 1945, the B-24 Strange Cargo was hit by flak during a bombing mission over Graz, Austria, tearing off its nose turret and sending it into a spin. Two crew members died in the aircraft, while others bailed out. Of those who parachuted to safety, two were taken as POWs, but four were murdered after capture. When local police refused an SS order to execute the Americans, a German soldier killed four of them.

Sgt Cudrak was interrogated, returned to the crash site, and executed alongside his comrades. He is now buried in the Union Cemetery, Arnold, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Source of information:paulmcguire1.com, aircrewremembered.com, www.findagrave.com