Here's a few pages from a printed booklet from my dad's 2833rd Battalion, 540th Eng C Regiment. This was sent to me by Dave Stirpe. One page show his dad's name (mispelled) and a page with my dad's name. Very cool. Thanks Dave!
(CAMDEN, NJ) John J. Matheussen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Home Port Alliance for the USS New Jersey, Inc. announced the hiring of Philip P. Rowan as the new President & Chief Executive Officer of the organization, which operates the Battleship USS New Jersey Museum and Memorial. Phil Rowan replaces Jim Schuck, who has resigned to pursue other opportunities.
Mr. Rowan was a Founding Member of the Home Port Alliance and served as Treasurer. He worked with the team that prepared the application to the US Navy that requested the location of the USS New Jersey on the Camden Waterfront. Phil was a member of the delegation that met with Navy officials on the application and escorted them to the proposed site on the Camden Waterfront. He also traveled to Panama to accompany The Battleship as it passed through the Panama Canal in October of 2009. “Phil was a key player in the Home Port Alliance’s formation and arranged for early-stage funding for the payment of consultants which prepared the winning application to the Navy”, said State Senator Donald Norcross, Trustee.
“The Battleship is very fortunate to have attracted someone of Phil’s caliber to this position. He has extensive financial, administrative and marketing expertise,” said Pat Jones, a Trustee and immediate past Co-Chair of the Home Port Alliance.”
Rowan was born and raised in the City of Camden and graduated from the City’s Woodrow Wilson High School. He has been an active member of the community having served on the Board of the St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society, the Cooper River Rowing Association and is currently serving as the Treasurer of the South Jersey Aquatics Center, which is planning to develop a new swimming complex in Camden County.
Mr. Rowan has had a distinguished 34-year career in public administration and economic development. He served the as the CEO of the New Jersey Urban Development Corporation and Executive Director of the Camden County Improvement Authority. He was economic development director for Bridgeton and Cape May early in his career. Phil has been involved in securing grants and arranging financing for over $1 billion in community and economic development projects.
The following is a series of email and photos sent to me by Piotr (Peter). Thanks for your comments and your commitment to honor our veterans.
Hi,
Thanks for your website. Nice and unforgotable music. The world and people were so different at that time. The music was so different.
We are the group of history funs and reenact Poles in US Army during WW II> There are so many Polish names in the us army roosters. Regards.
Peter
Hi Peter:
Great photo, I love it. Which one is you?
How long have you been doing this? I have a deep respect for living history groups who pay homage to our dear WWII vets.
Yes, it was a different time. People were much warmer, kinder and respectful. Sometimes I think I would have made a great 40's gal, had I lived back then.
Do you have a website?
Do you realize my dad was Polish. Our last name? Poniedzialek. My grandparents came over from Poland at the turn of the 19th century. Dad was born here, along with his other brothers and one sister.
Warmly,
Marion
HI,
I am the guy with .30 cal light machine gun on my shoulder and cpt markings on my helmet. We have our website but it is now under rebuilding - will start again in March.
It's unbelievable about your Polish ancestors. Can you speak a little in Polish ( it's interesting which generation looses the original language ). For example a daughter of my dad's brother (she was born in USA) - doesn't speak Polish at all. So do her children.
My dad's brother ( war generation ) who was a soldier of regular army ( 1939) and then a member of Polish underground army ( AK) was captured by Germans in 1943 and sent to Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany. He never came back to Poland after war, never met his family again ( just letters). That was because he was hard anti communist and was afraid to come back to Poland which was controled by Soviets till 1989 !!! He stayed in the west ( Sweden, USA, Australia) till his death on heart attack in 1981, Queensland, Australia. His Swedish wife, Brita visited Poland in 90's. I was her guide showing her the house where her husband spent his childhood. There are Polish, complex paths.
PIOTR GODZINA
Hello Peter:
Thanks for your wonderful letter. I enjoyed reading about your family.
I don't remember much Polish at all. It's been WAY too long. Haven't heard it spoken since I was in grade school. ha-ha! My dad used to call me "moja ma?a lalka". That's all I remember.... It was so sweet.
Let me know when your website comes back on line. I will post a link.
May I place the photo you sent on my forum in the re-enactors section?
Hello Marion,
Yes you may place all pictures I sent you in this reco section. Another one. Please mention that we reenact Poles in US ARMY !
:happybirthday2: 
