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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf

ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: LAST PT 109 CREWMEN GONE
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2492

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.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 8:31am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

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

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 10:22am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

. . . LEST WE FORGET . . .

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 10:25am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

My mistake guys. We met in 2006, not 2008.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 11:03am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

GOD BLESS THEM ALL. B.J.

B.J.

Posted By: pappy bj | Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 12:40pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

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

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 7:32pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Wishing you fair weather and following seas, Mr. Kowal.

Rest in peace.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Feb 15, 2012 - 8:16pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

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).

Posted By: robtmelvin | Posted on: Feb 16, 2012 - 9:49am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered