Joseph J. Piotrowski
Machinist’s Mate First Class Joseph J. Piotrowski, USS Helena CL-50, U.S. Navy. Serial: 02436401. He lived at 1167 Chase Street, Camden NJ. Memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.
Machinist’s Mate First Class Joseph Piotrowski, son of John S. and Jessie Piotrowski, was born in Camden NJ on May 3rd, 1921.
John Piotrowski had served with the Polish army during World War I, leaving Camden to join the volunteer Polish Army formed in Canada. He was active in veterans affairs, and was a past commander of the Wojtkowiak-Laskowski Post of the American Legion in Camden. He passed away in 1935.
As a youth Joseph Piotrowski attended Bonsall Grammar School and Hatch Jr. High School, and Camden High School, in Camden NJ. Before entering the U.S. Navy he took great interest in Boy Scout activities at St. Joseph Parish in Camden, where he and his family attended Catholic services. He also had worked for his brother Henry in the interior decorating business.
On June 1, 1938, Joseph Piotrowski and a group of friends took a rowboat into the Delaware River with the intent of rowing around Petty’s Island. Joseph Piotrowski and a friend, Pasquale Barbalace, of 1551 Norris Street, decided to swim to Petty’s Island when 100 yards away. Barbalace apparently was seized with cramps, and was drowned. This event was front page news in the Camden Courier-Post on June 2, 1938.
Joseph Piotrowski enlisted in the United States Navy in 1939. On December 7, 1941 he was serving aboard the cruiser USS Helena at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. He survived the attack and was granted a furlough, during which time he returned home to visit his mother, Mrs. Jessie Piotrowski of 1167 Chase Street, Camden NJ.
Joseph Piotrowski was killed in action while serving aboard the USS Helena in July of 1943. He was survived by his mother, sister Irene, and brothers Henry and Edward. Lost at sea, in his honor his family engraved his name on his father’s tombstone at New St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bellmawr NJ.
Jessie Piotrowski, mother of Joseph J. Piotrowski.
3 Friends Fail To Save Youth Drowned Here
Camden Courier-Post —
Swim Costs Life of Boy In Delaware Near Pettys Island
While three companions sought unsuccessfully to save him, a Whitman Park youth drowned yesterday in the Delaware river, near Pettys Island.
The victim was Pasquale Barbalace, 18, of 1551 Norris street. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore Barbalace. His body had not been recovered at a late hour last night.
Barbalace and the other three youths entered a row boat at the foot of Jasper street for a ride around the island. They had no oars, using short planks instead.
Decides to Swim
Joseph Peotrowski, 17, of 1167 Chase street, one of the boys, told police when they were about 100 yards from the island, he and Barbalace decided to swim the rest of the way.
Stripping off their clothing, they dived in the river. A few seconds later, Peotrowski said, they heard Barbalace cry out. They saw him threshing in the water and then sink. It is believed he was seized with the cramps.
The other two boys, Edward Rhoades, 17, of 1179 Morton street, and Frank Fillham, 19, of 1544 Mt. Ephraim avenue, tried to reach Barbalace with the boat but the current carried them wide.
Grapple for Body
Cries of the youths attracted workmen on Petty’s Island. They secured a boat and grappled unsuccessfully for his body for half an hour.
Notified by a tugboat crew of the accident, Philadelphia harbor police reached the scene shortly after 4 o’clock and began grappling operations.
In the meantime, the three survivors were taken to a Philadelphia police station and later to Pennsauken township police headquarters, where they made statements to Police Chief Thomas Thorpe.
In addition to his parents, Barbalace is survived by two brothers, Dominick, 22, and Sebastian, 20, and a sister, Lucy, 4.
Friends Fete Sailor From Pearl Harbor
Camden Courier-Post —
Back from Pearl Harbor where he was with the U.S. naval forces which were attacked by the Japanese on December 7, Joseph Piotrowski was given a welcome home party last night at the home of his mother, Mrs. Jessie Piotrowski, 1167 Chase Street.
Reticent to discuss the “sneak attack” beyond saying it caught the American defenders completely by surprise, Piotrowski said morale on the islands was high and that every American sailor who he has come in contact with is anxious to get a “crack at those Japs.”
New St. Mary's Cemetery, Bellmawr NJ
New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr NJ — Joseph Piotrowski’s name was engraved on his father’s tombstone here.
St. Joseph's Church Keeps in Touch with Men and Women in Armed Forces
Camden Courier-Post — 1944
Four Sons Killed and Two Missing
By Frank Sheridan
With many of their loved ones and relatives either killed, starved or reduced to slavery by the Nazi invaders of Poland four years ago, 1154 mothers of this city have given sons and daughters to fight for defense of the United States.
They are members of St. Joseph’s church, Tenth and Mechanic streets. Four sons were killed in line of duty, two others are missing and another is reported a prisoner of the Japs.
The mother of Staff Sgt. Roman Drapinski, 1468 South Tenth street, killed by a dynamite blast, is somewhere in Poland, but her name is honored equally with other mothers by the parish.
Names on Honor Roll
Others on the honor roll are Mrs. Stella Dziengowski, 1476 Louis street, mother of Sgt. Gustave Dziengowski; Mrs. Antonia Koscianski, 966 Bulson street, mother of Pvt. Walter J. Koscianski; and Mrs. George Lozowski, 1143 Sheridan street. Mother of Pvt. John Lozowski, killed in line of duty; Mrs. Jessie Piotrowski, 1343 Chase street, mother of Machinist Mate Joseph S. Piotrowski; and Mrs. Boleslau Poduszczak, 1105 Lowell street, mother of Second Lieut. Leopold Poduszczak, missing in action; and Mrs. Frank Ulak, 914 Atlantic avenue, mother of Lieut. Bruno Ulak, prisoner of the Japs.
A service bureau set up by the church keeps in contact with those in the armed forces. Letters and gifts keep flowing, and those in the service reply. An index system shows the thoroughness of the records directed by Rt. Rev. Msgr. Arthur B. Strenski and his assistants, Rev. Leon S. Winowicz, Rev. Lawrence Faber and Rev. Henry Blaszczynski. They are aided by members of the parish in keeping the records.
Sergeant Dziengowski was the first member of the parish to give his life. He was killed in an airplane crash near White City, Kan., on Jan. 12, last. Ten others were killed. They were on a trial trip in a flying fortress. He was buried at St. Joseph's cemetery, Chews Landing, with military honors after a Solemn Requiem High Mass at the church.
Brother Seized in Poland
Drapinski entered the service in September, 1941, and was attached to the Twelfth Armored Division. He came to this country from Poland five years ago and worked with his brother, Adam. Another brother, Stanislau, is a prisoner of the Germans. He was captured during the invasion of Poland. His father died in Poland two years ago and the whereabouts of his mother in Poland is not known.
Private Lozowski died in an airplane accident near a Marine base at Atlantic Field, N.C. The plane was on a trial trip and fell into a bay. Four days after the accident on April 4, the body was recovered and sent back to his parents. It was buried with military honors after a Solemn Requiem Mass at the church.
Lozowski was 20 and was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High school. He was employed by the Radio Condensor Company before his enlistment last November.
Piotrowski, who was 22, survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, but was reported lost when the cruiser Helena was sunk in the battle of Kula Gulf early in July. Admiral Jacobs, chief of Navy personnel, notified the mother of the young seaman of his apparent death.
Father Served in Army
Piotrowski was a graduate of Camden High school. He worked with his brother, Henry, in the interior decorating business before joining the Navy four years ago. He was last home on leave in April, 1942. He has another brother, Edward, and a sister, Irene. His father, John, who died several years ago, served in the Polish Army in World War I, joining a volunteer force organized in Canada. He also served as a commander of Laskowski-Wojtkowiak Post, American Legion.
Lieutenant Poduszczak was reported missing in action since July 26, when he participated in an air raid over Hanover, Germany. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941.
Enlisted in Air Corps
The sergeant was a graduate of Camden High school and starred in both basketball and football. He was employed 12 years by Public Service and enlisted in the Army Air Corps on April 7, 1942.
Private Koscianski died in action in the African campaign. Several letters sent him by the service bureau were returned unclaimed. The War Department notified his mother he was killed in Algeria on Feb. 6, last. His body was buried between two sergeants and white crosses were erected over their graves.
He worked for the Camden City Parks Department as a truck driver for five years before he was inducted June 4, 1942. He was in the Signal Corps and was driving a truck when killed. He was sent overseas two months after his induction.
Sergeant Drapinski, brother of Adam Drapinski, died July 18, last, from injuries received in the premature explosion of dynamite at Camp Campbell, Kan. Drapinski, who was 23, was giving instructions to a group of recruits when the explosion occurred.
He received his wings on Nov. 21, 1942. He was home for two days last May before going overseas. He attended Camden schools and also studied in Poland from 1932 to 1936. His brother, Richard, is a corporal in the Army Air Corps.
Lieutenant Ulak was taken prisoner at Corregidor by the Japs. He was a reserve Army officer when the war broke out and was called into active service. Ulak was born in Camden and attended St. Joseph’s school, Camden High school and was graduated from Lehigh University. He has three brothers and two sisters, besides his parents. A brother, Alfonse, is an Army sergeant in California. Other brothers are Adolph and Rudolph. The sisters are Mrs. Wanda Romanowski and Adella.