My father was born October 10,1922 in Chicago,Illinois as the eldest of two sons of polish immigrants. Though his family had come to "America" to start a better life they knew little english and my father had a hard time in schools as a child understanding what they were talking about. Once his teacher asked him what color hair he had and he said green. He gradually learned english. Life was not easier at home though,he was of a humble hard working family with little money so he had to work as a teen. Christmas's consisted of a big feast of food the family made but no presents. Restless and outgoing as my father was as a teen..doing all the typical things teen age boys do, made him join the army when he was of age. At that time World War 2 had broken out and Pearl Harbor had been bombed. Men were eager to enlist as he was. In January of 1943 he was sent to England. He served with A.A.F. Station 114, 566th Bomber Squadrom. His job while there was loading bombs onto the bombers.There was one instance where he had just taken a break and another man took over his duty..apparently something went terribly wrong and a bomb went off. Fortunately my father had just left..but was very sad for the other man. On one occasion while there he volunteered to act as a waist-gunman on a bombing mission. The pilot started skimming over the trees. When they returned to base my father mentioned this to one of the other soldiers with him, the soldier told him the pilot was "Jimmy Stewart"!
He then volunteered to transfer to the 3rd army under "General George Patton" during World War II. This was during the "Battle of the Bulge" it was attached to the 11th Armored Division. After he was sent to the 3rd Army he arrive at the Bulge in extremely cold and fierce conditions. Eating little food provisions (spam, sardines) and fighting in the bitter cold with no shelter the men froze. One of the things the other soldiers and he did, was go into deserted towns after the front lines went through them, so sometimes they found shelter and food in the houses left standing. He once decided to make potato pancakes for his fellow troup members as a treat in a house they found abandoned. Instead of using flour he accidently use a baking powder and well..you can guess what a huge treat they had! Others times he had gotten potatos and lard and brought it with him when they had to go back into the bitter cold. Using his helmet he heated the lard over a fire,sliced the potatos and put them in and made french fries for them all. To sleep at night if they couldn't keep moving they digged trenches. Can you imagine? Snow up your legs halfway..the enemy (at that time the enemy) around and having no shelter just a cold trench to sleep in?
He continued to serve under Patton until they reached the outskirts of Berlin. He assisted in the liberation of prisoners in concentration camps. Unfortunately, by the time he got there not too many were left alive. War is cruel.
After the end of his time he went back home to chicago, met my mother,they fell in love married and had us three daughters.
My father learned carpet laying and worked it for over 45 years. He did quite well and was an expertee at it. We lived well..not wealthy but happy and comfortable. My father was NOT a complainer..he worked hard hours ..long,even on weekends, neither sickness or sunday would make him not go to work. He was totally devoted to his family. Always concerned,caring and giving. No matter what the problem was my father was there to help. No matter how tired he was after a hard days work. I love him dearly and miss his strength, wisdom and love he gave us all.
His favorite hobbies in his free time was bowling (which he had trophies for),Fishing was his favorite,and spending only $20.00 at a casino playing keno or the track.
He wanted to retire around the age of 73 and was looking so forward to it, when he became sick .He had always been so strong and it was hard to watch him be in that condition.He lost alot of weight and coughed alot. Brought him to the hospital with Pneumonia. He gradually got worse and the doctors informed us he had no lungs left from emphasema. The xray of his lungs just showed black. There was no hope. He was on life support for awhile..Then decided he wanted off. The catholic father said my dads last rights over the former altar boy and my father must have heard though he was unconscious, for he woke and said.."Thank You Father". He went as galliantly as he fought the war.I'm proud and honored to be his daughter.I know somewhere hes looking down over us all,concerned and guarding us as he always did.

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