PT Boat Forum


Moderated by: Dick, Jeff D

The PT Boat Forum ª PT Boats of WWII ª  PT Boats - General

Page: 1 of 1

« Back to Topic Index Page 123 | Replies: 7

 Author  Topic: LAST PT 109 CREWMEN GONE
Frank J Andruss Sr

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 8:31am
I am very saddened today to report to you guys that Maurice Kowal, has passed away. Mr. Kowal was the last survivor who served with John F Kennedy on PT 109 and again on PT 59. Kowal was not present when the 109 was destroyed, because he was injured prior to the sinking. I was so blessed to have met him during the summer of 2008, having been invited to his home. I take pleasure in knowing that I was granted the very last interview he would ever do for the public. I found him to be a wonderful man, and kept in touch with him over the years. I was not aware of his death until today. I knew he was in a rehab place, but could not reach his wife Sadie for the past 6 months or so. I finally spoke with her today, and she told me she had been staying with her daughter. Mr. Kowal passed away in October 2011.

It is so very sad to think that no one is left from that Historic boat. I consider myself to be blessed to have known him and Mr. Gerard Zinser from the 109. I had Mr. Zinser flown up from Florida to my Exhibit in 1998, to met guest's and sign autographs. At that time, he was being billed as the last survivor of PT-109. In 2008, I found this to be untrue, and met Mr,. Kowal. This was a huge surprise for me, and the meeting we had I will never forget. Mr, Kowal invited me into his home like he knew me for years. His Wife told me there was no write up in the papers about his death. Rest in peace Mr. Kowal, you are truly the last survivor of PT-109 & PT-59, and you are now reunited with those crews in Heaven.



Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am | IP Logged

  TED WALTHER

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 10:22am
Frank;
We were all blessed to have known men like Kowal, Zinser, and Bryant Larson. They all are once again young men and once again they are riding their boat on the golden lit seas of Heaven.
TED


Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am | IP Logged

Will Day

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Will Day   Send Email To Will Day Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 10:25am
. . . LEST WE FORGET . . .

Will

Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm | IP Logged

Frank J Andruss Sr

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 11:03am
My mistake guys. We met in 2006, not 2008.


Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am | IP Logged

pappy bj

New Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 12:40pm
GOD BLESS THEM ALL. B.J.

B.J.

Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered | IP Logged

David Waples

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of David Waples  Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 7:32pm
If you haven't seen this interview with PT Boat veterans, watch this. It's terrific.
Dave

http://forum-network.org/lecture/conversation-world-war-ii-pt-boat-veterans

David Waples

Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm | IP Logged

Drew Cook

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Drew Cook  Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 8:16pm
Wishing you fair weather and following seas, Mr. Kowal.

Rest in peace.


Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am | IP Logged

robtmelvin

New Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Feb 16, 2012 - 9:49am
My thoughts exactly. Fair winds and following seas to Mr. Kowal and to all who served and have passed. It is a sad truth that before too many more years those who served our country during the greatest conflict the world has ever known, and who then came home to build a nation after the war was over will be gone. Even the youngest of them would be in their 80s by now. When the last of these men and women are gone World War II will truly pass into history just as the Civil War has, the last living connections to this great event being gone.

If you meet or know a vet who served in that war, or in any other, be sure to thank them and if they are prepared to talk about their service, take time to listen. Each of the men and women are walking history books and the things they know will all be lost when they are gone. We owe it to those who served this nation, whether in P.T.s, on battleships, or in foxholes, to honor their memory, to say thank you while there is still time, and to do our best to preserve their memories. If you can, sit down with a vet and a tape recorder or a video camera and let them tell their story. Each one has a unique perspective on the war as they knew it and the more of these stories that can be preserved the better.

May you rest in the arms of God, Maurice Kowal.

Bob Melvin

Currently building: P.T. 596 (Italieri 1/35); and U.S.S. Laffey (Dragon 1/350).

Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered | IP Logged


Lock Topic

 

Forum Legend

New Member

Reply to topic

More than 25 posts | Full Member

Reply to topic with quoted message

More than 50 posts | Advanced Member

Edit Message

More than 150 posts | MASTER

View profile

More than 300 posts | TOP BOSS

Email member