World War II Honoree

Edward M. Czechowski

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Reading, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Bonnie Schaeffer

Relationship

Family friend

He joined the U.S. Navy during WWII when he was 17 years old. He turned 18 at Guadalcanal. He was a (20 mm gunner) on the USS Saufley (DD-465) a fletcher Class destroyer. He is the last living crew member from the ship as of 2026. Edward earned 16 battle Stars for fighting in16 different battles across the Pacific, including Two Jima, Guma, Leyta Gulf, and Okinawa his highest award was the silver star, earned for shooting down a Kamikaze with a 20mm gunner just before it would have struck the ship. Tragic league three quarters of the crew were killed during the war from Kamikaze attacks. Edward has amazing war stories from his service in the U.S. Navy.