World War II Honoree

Ignatius J. Witkowski

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Kingston, New York

Honored By

Walter J. Witkowski

Relationship

Son

SERVED AS COOK WITH COMPANY K 339TH REGIMENT, 85TH DIVISION, 5TH ARMY. SHIPPED TO EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ON USS ANDERSON MAKING LANDFALL IN ALGERIA. FROM THERE, SHIPPED TO NAPLES, ITALY. OBSERVED AT LEAST ONE GERMAN BOMBING RUN OF NAPLES AREA. SERVED WITH THE 5TH ARMY THROUGH THE REST OF THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN. DURING REGIMENT'S FIRST ACTION, COOKS WERE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE LINES TOTING MORTAR SHELLS. DAD RECALLS WATCHING A U.S. OFFICER MOVING DOWN A HILL WITH MORTAR ROUNDS 'WALKING' UP BEHIND HIM. SAYS HE DID NOT GAMBLE, ETC. SO, WHEN THE COOKS WOULD CUT CARDS TO SEE WHO BROUGHT HOT MEALS TO THE FRONT, HE USUALLY LOST THE CUT. WONDERS IF THOSE GUYS WERE TOTALLY HONEST WITH HIM! ON ANOTHER OCCASION, HE INCLUDED A LETTER TO GO HOME WITH A MULE TRAIN MOVING TO THE FRONT AS AN OFFICER HAD TO SIGN OFF ON THE LETTER BEFORE IT COULD BE SENT HOME. IT INCLUDED MONEY. THE MULE TRAIN WAS ATTACKED AND THE LETTER LOST UNTIL ABOUT A WEEK LATER WHEN A G.I. WHO HAD CHECKED OUT THE ATTACK SITE BROUGHT IT BACK TO HIM, WITH THE MONEY STILL INSIDE! FROM THEN ON, DAD SAYS, HE WAITED FOR THE OFFICERS TO BE AROUND BEFORE SENDING LETTERS HOME.