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Personal info

Full name
OKONOWSKI, Casimir S
Date of birth
4 November 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
New York
Hometown
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
36471527
Rank
Private First Class
Function
unknown
Unit
C Company,
1st Battalion,
18th Infantry Regiment,
1st Infantry Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
18 March 1945
Place of death
In the vicinity of Orscheid, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Plot Row Grave
C 4 50

Immediate family

Members
Stanley Okonowski (father)
Jennie Okonowski (mother)
Sophie Okonowski (sister)
Tessie Okonowski (sister)
Helen Okonowski (sister)
Joseph Okonowski (brother)

More information

Pfc Casimir S. Okonowski attended college for two years. He enlisted at Fort Sheridan, Illinois on 26 July 1944.

'He owned, at a young age, his own tool & die shop in Detroit. As with most shops at the time, all his work was directed to the war effort. Detroit was the major defense contracting city in the USA at that time. His business was very profitable. Part of what weighed on his mind was that he was doing so well financially, while other were enlisting to serve in active military duty. He joined the army and told his wife after he enlisted. She and the entire family weren't happy with his decision.'
Story told by his nephew Mr. Joe McBride.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Joe McBride, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / WWII Enlistment Record, National Archives, ABMC, www.findagrave.com, IDPF

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Witkowski Family