North Olean World War II Casualties

The Sowinski Brothers
Pvt. Joseph Sowinski & Sgt. William F. Sowinski
WORLD WAR II CASUALTIES OF NORTH OLEAN
A remembrance of those brave men of North Olean who paid the Supreme Sacrifice in World War II
Sergeant Chester Suda, the twenty-two year old son of John Suda, 1619 North Union Street, was killed as the result of a automobile accident on January 8, 1942. Sgt. Suda, a member of Company I, 174th Infantry, was one of the two soldiers killed when an army truck crashed through a guard rail near Fort George G. Meade, Md. He was drowned when the truck upset in a marsh and he became trapped in the cab.

Private Albert J. Jonak, age thirty-five, of the U. S. Army died of gunshot wounds on February 9, 1943 in North Africa. Pvt. Jonak was the first serviceman from the Transfiguration Church to be killed in action. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Florian Jonak and the brother of Adolph Jonak, 1316 River St.

Private Joseph Sowinski, twenty-eight years old, was killed in action in Africa on March 27, 1943. Inducted into the Army in the early summer of 1942, after training at Fort Bragg, N.C., he was sent to England. He had been in Africa since August 1942. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sowinski, 1214 River St.

Aviation Cadet John H. Kubiak, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kubiak, 215 E. Oak St., was instantly killed January 6, 1944 in a bus accident at Kingman, AZ. The Army bus on which he was riding with other cadets was halted outside the camp�s main gate as a train was approaching. Suddenly the vehicle rolled forward in front of the train killing at least twenty-six of the airmen.

Pvt. John F. Fusiara, was reported missing in action Since January 30, 1944, and later officially reported as being killed in action that day, his twenty-first birthday. He was sent overseas in June of 1943, arriving in Africa, participated in the Sicilian campaign and killed in action in Italy. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Fusiara, 1611 Martin St.

Pvt. First Class Leo Butinski, age thirty-eight, of the U. S. Infantry was killed in action in France on July 12, 1944. He had been in the U.S. Army since 1930. He entered France the first day of the invasion and participated in the battle of Cherbourg. He was the son of Mrs. Rose Butinski, 1522 N. Union St.

Corporal Leonard C. Skala, age thirty, was killed in action in Italy on August 2, 1944. He was sent overseas in 1942 and was stationed in Ireland, Africa and Italy. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Skala, 1213 Maple St.

Pvt. Robert E. Lynch who was reported missing in action on August 14, 1944, was killed on that date according to word received by his wife, Mrs. Alta B. Lynch, 301 W. Oak St. He had left for overseas duty on June 20, 1944. He was survived by a daughter Mary Katherine and his mother Mrs. Julia Lynch.

Technician Fifth Grade George E. Chapus was killed in action September 19, 1944 in Italy. He entered service on February 2, 1942 and was sent overseas to North Africa for ten month. He saw action in Italy for three months. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Chapus of 1640 Avenue B.

Technician Fifth Grade Robert Nolder, age thirty, was killed in action on October 23, 1944 in Germany. He went overseas in July 1942 and took part in the African campaign and Sicilian invasion where he received a slight injury. After a two-month hospital stay in England, he participated in the French invasion, and then went on to Belgium and into Germany. His wife Gertrude and a daughter Nancy Ann survived him.

Sgt. William F. Sowinski was reported missing in action on November 5, 1944 in Germany. He went overseas in October 1943 and was wounded in the invasion of Normandy. After returning to his unit he took part in the fighting in Germany. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sowinski, 1214 River Street. He was their second son to be killed in WWII.

Private Norman B. Willover was reported killed in action in France according to word received by his wife, Mrs. Evelyn Willover of River Street, as reported in the newspaper November 16, 1944. He was the son of Mrs. Eugene Hadley and survived by three children, Donna Mae, Norman Jr. and Darold Willover.

Sgt. John J. Rogosienski, who was reported missing in action on December 16, 1944, was killed in action in the European theatre of war on March 12, 1945. He was the husband of Mrs. Josephine Hamed Rogosienski and son of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Rogosienski, 1614 Walnut St.

Pvt. 1st Class Charles Malcolm Weed, age twenty, died from wounds received in action in France on January 18, 1945. He entered the service in March 1943, and had been overseas with the infantry for about a month when he was wounded. He was the son of Mrs. Bessie Weed of 1024 N. Union St.

Pvt. 1st Class Stephen P. Mikolajczyk was killed in action March 8, 1945, with the U.S. Marine Corp at Iwo Jima. He enlisted in the Marine Corps April 28, 1944 and sent to Guam in September 1944. He was the son of Mrs. Antonina Mikolajczyk.

Technical Sgt Chester E. Sokolowski, twenty-seven years old, was killed in action in France on January 23, 1945. He had previously been reported missing in action. He left Olean with Company I, 174th Infantry in September 1940. In November 1944 he went overseas to England and seen action in Belgium and France. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George (Rose Kwiatkowski) Sokolowski, 1529 River St. Chester Sokolowski is buried at Plot B, Row 33, Grave 41 in Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal, France. Thanks for burial info from Chuck Kwiatkowski.

Tectnical Sergeant Bernard T. Kwiatkowski, age twenty-one, was first reported missing in action. In February of 1946, he was officially reported as being killed in action February 12, 1943, over Wewak, New Guinea. He was assigned with the 400 Bomber Squadron, Port Moresby, New Guinea. He was the son of John and Mary Kwiatkowski of 408 E. Pine St. (Thanks to Bob Livingston for sending me the correct date of Bernie's death)

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By: Eileen McCartan Smith, Olean, NY All rights reserved.

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