HOME FAMILY YESTERDAY SOLVAY STARSTRUCK MIXED BAG
 
Most of the information below was gleaned from War Department announcements that appeared in the Syracuse Herald-Journal. Some servicemen and women listed on these pages did not live in Solvay or the town of Geddes, but in neighborhoods associated more with the village than with the city of Syracuse where their homes were located. I've corrected what I believe were spelling errors, particularly in regard to names. However, I'm sure errors remain. To correct them or to add people I inadvertently overlooked, contact me at the email address at the bottom of the page. — JACK MAJOR
 
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Pvt. Andrew S. Jablonski is passing a 14-day furlough at the home of a sister, Mrs. Helen Band, 735 State Fair Boulevard, Lakeland. Pvt. Jablonski entered the Army in April and after basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, was transferred to Camp Polk, Georgia. (12/6/42)
 
Clark A. Jackson, RD-1, Solvay, was inducted into the Army in April, 1942. After the war he worked at Crucible Steel, becoming chief engineer until her retired in 1974. In 1961 he moved to the town of Conquest, north of Port Byron, where he died in 2008 at the age of 99.
 
Following completion of a course in the Naval Mine Warfare School at Yorktown, Virginia, Henry Jasinski, son of Mrs. Frances Jasinski of 310 Belle Isle Road, has been transferred to Algiers, Louisiana, to be assigned to a mine sweeper. With one “hitch” in the Navy to his credit, he reenlisted on February 20 last. (8/16/42)
 

Seaman 2/c Frank Jerome of 414 Abell Avenue, Solvay, served aboard the USS Alabama in the Pacific Theater of Operations. (9/8/45)

Jerome was present aboard the USS Alabama in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese officially surrendered to end World War 2.

Frank J. Jerome Jr., a lifetime resident of Solvay, died in 2008 at the age of 82. He was the owner and president of Frank Jerome & Sons Plumbing and Heating for 49 years, retiring in 1996. He was survived by his wife of 61 years, the former Arlene Forger, and five children and their families.
Corp. and Mrs. Van Ryder Jerome of Tampa, Florida, have been visiting their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin S. Jerome, 3208 West Genesee Street, and Mr. and Mrs. Shirley R. Templar of 104 Bronson Road. Corp. Jerome, USA, is with the medical corps. (2/12/44)
Van Ryder Jerome served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 until 1946. He was stationed in the Phhilippines and then occupied Japan. He graduated from Solvay High School in 1940 and worked at Onondaga Pottery before the war. Afterward he owned and operated Jerome Dairy for many years. He lived in Westvale all his life and was an active member of the Solvay Masonic Order and Robinson Memorial Church. He died in 2004, survived by his wife, the former Betty Templar, who passed away in December, 2012. (Thanks to his daughter, Patricia Musengo, for providing the information.)
 
Pvt./ Anthony John, son of Mrs. Julia John Dattellas, is in advanced training at Camp Sibert, Alabama. He formerly was a student at Solvay High School and a Halcomb Steel Company employe. He entered service in November, 1942. (4/25/43)
Anthony John worked for Central City Roofing until he retired in 1978. He died in 2009 at the age of 94.
 
Capt. Clarence B. Johnson, who formerly resided at 405 First Street, Solvay, and now of Glendale, Long Island, is stationed at Camp Davis, North Carolina, with the Coast Artillery. He was formerly a member of the National Guard. (6/21/43)
 

The Air Medal was recently awarded to First Lieut. George H. Johnson of 701 Cogswell Avenue, Solvay, who is stationed with the 314th Troop Carrier Group of the Ninth Air Force in France. He also holds the Distinguished Army Unit Citation Badge and the European, African and Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Battle participation stars. (8/13/45)

Pfc. Stuart E. Johnson, Solvay, was discharged from Fort Dix, New Jersey. (12/28/45)

Brothers George and Stuart Johnson were inducted into the Army on the same day, September 8, 1942. They were sons of Mildred and Howard H. Johnson, their father having been involved in one of Solvay's biggest controversies in the 1920s. As was often the case, the matter was political. Democrats had control of the village board in 1926 and chose to fire Police Chief Harry J. Hunt and replace him with Johnson. After a long court battle, Hunt was given his job back a year later when Republicans had regained power. Johnson resigned, though there was a very brief period in the spring of 1927 when Solvay actually had two police chiefs on the payroll.

There were three Johnson brothers, all of whom graduated from Syracuse University. Charles H. Johnson did it in 1939, George Johnson in 1942. After the war Stuart Johnson earned a degree in engineering.

Staff Sgt. Paulette S. Johnston of 206 Barkley Avenue, Solvay, has been awarded the Good Conduct Medal at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, where she is a member of a WAC unit. She has been a member of the Women’s Army Corps more than a year. (2/22/44)
A news item published on July 27, 1945 said T/Sgt. Pauline S. Johnston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan M. Johnston of Camillus, had arrived in Paris, one of the first WACs to be assigned to occupational forces in Europe, according to a report from the Paris bureau of the Associated Press. I believe the report was in error about her first name, and that this was Paulette Johnston. The Paris assignment particularly suited her because that's where her parents had met while her father was an Army Corporal during World War I. Mrs. Johnson grew up in the village of Semur, France.
Arthur "Nels" Johnson Jr., 81, of 302 Scarboro Drive, Solvay, died in December, 1998. He was born in Syracuse and was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the South Pacific. He retired as owner of the Syracuse Lumber Company.
 

Pvt. Leroy V. Johnston, 19, of 105 Trump Street, Solvay, was wounded in action in France July 19 and is recuperating in a hospital in England, according to a telegram received from the War Department by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy V. Johnston.

Pvt. Johnston was graduated from Solvay High School in June, 1943, when he was 17 years old, and entered the Army November 23, 1943. He received his basic training at Camp Croft, South Carolina, and went overseas in April, 1944. (8/9/44)

Johnston died in December, 1993. He retired in 1989 after 15 years with Niagara Mohawk Power Company; previously had worked with his father’s dealership, Johnston Motor Sales in Solvay.
 
Seaman Second Class Charles G. Julian Jr., 507 Cogswell Avenue, Solvay, completed basic training and was granted a furlough before returning there for assignment. (1/11/44)
Charles G. Julian Jr. returned to Solvay and remained there until his death in 2001. He had retired in 1991 as an electrical engineer for the Syracuse Developmental Center. Survivors included his wife of 52 years, the former Mary Femano, and two sons, David of Minnesota and Jerry of East Syracuse.
 
Inducted into the armed services:
Matthew R. Johnson, Pleasant Beach Road, Lakeland (Army, 5/11/44)
Franklin E. Jutton, 202 William Street, Solvay (Navy, 7/8/43)
 
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Sgt. Edward J. Kaczmarek, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Kaczmarek, 122 Gere's Lock, Solvay, is a propeller specialist with an AAF squadron in the Southwest Pacific. He recently received a commendation for outstanding performance. (8/14/44)
Edward J. Kaczmarek died in 2011 at the age of 90. He was employed by Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation for 35 years, retiring in 1981. Survivors included his wife of 63 years, Petronella; their son, Edward of Solvay; daughters Carol Lovell of Skaneateles, Anne Kaczmarek of Texas, Mary Kay Kaczmarek of Solvay, and Denise Sieklucki of Solvay, and his brother, Arthur Kaczmarek of Syracuse.
 

Pfc. Peter P. Kaleta, reported missing in action since November 8, has written a card to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Kaleta of 110 Second Street, Solvay, informing them he is a prisoner of war in Germany.

He has been in service since March, 1942, and before that was employed in the Halcomb plant of the Crucible Steel Company of America. He went overseas with an infantry unit in October, 1943. (3/7/45)

Pfc. Peter P. Kaleta was freed from Stalag 11-A on May 3 and will be home some time in June, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Kaleta of 110 Second Street, Solvay. (5/27/45)

Pfc. Kaleta went overseas in October, 1943, and was captured 13 months later, on November 7, 1944.

Peter P. Kaleta returned to Solvay, living at 110 Second Street until shortly before his death in 1977 at the age of 65. He was a retired employe of the Town of Geddes Highway Department and a member of the Syracuse Disabled Army Veterans Post 8.
 
Seamen Joseph and Stanley Karpinski are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Karpinski, 102 Gere's Lock, the former overseas in a hospital after an operation and the latter, husband of Mrs. Betty Nitzke Karpinski, 2402 Lodi Street, is at Sampson. (11/10/43)

Joseph Karpinski died in 2001 at the age of 84. A graduate of Mount Saint Mary's College, he lived in Fairmount and worked 30 years at Allied Chemical Corporation (Solvay Process). A fine athlete, he played two years of minor league baseball before the war. He is in the Mount Saint Mary's College Hall of Fame.

After the war Stanley Karpinski and his wife lived in Bridgeport, New York, where he died in 1986. There are two places in New York called Bridgeport, by the way. The Karpinskis lived in the one near the south shore of Oneida Lake. His obituary in the Chittenango-Bridgeport Times (July 23, 1986) said he was well known locally as an accordion player who performed with the Ozark Mountain Boys, Duke Dixon's Swingbillies and Mickey Dopkowski's Polka Notes.

The Karpinski brothers had five sisters — Mary Julia Zalewski, Stephanie Jasinski, Lottie Lenweaver, Catherine Czyz and Joanna Komuda — and the 1986 obituary mentioned above listed all five sisters as residents of Solvay.

(If you check out Joseph Karpinski's baseball statistics, you might stumble upon a Stanley Karpinski who was a pitcher who had a long career in the minor leagues. These two Karpinskis were not related, so far as I know.)

 
Pfc. Edward D. Kazel of the Army Air Corps has arrived safely overseas on the Atlantic side, according to word received by his wife, the former Helene Darlington of Camillus. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Kazel of 111 Boyd Avenue, Solvay. (11/23/43)
 
Robert D. "Pat" Kazel, a brother of Edward D. Kazel, was an Army Air Force veteran of World War 2. He was a graduate of Solvay High School and Syracuse University. He retired as a shop foreman at the Sam Dell Automotive Group and previously worked at Crucible Specialty Metals. He moved to Cicero, where he died in 2000 at the age of 78, predeceased by his wife, the former Beverly E. Fenner. He was survived by eight children, 22 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
 
Casmer Kazel, a native of Solvay, was an Army veteran of World War 2. He died at Auburn Memorial Hospital in 1999 at the age of 74, survived by two daughters, Lori Drake of Texas and Diane Crane of Cleveland, Ohio, and a son, James Kassel of Syracuse.
 

Four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kelly, 501 Montrose Avenue, Solvay, are serving with the Army:

• Sgt. Louis Kelly has been in the Medical Corps three years and is now at Hawaii.

• Pfc. James Kelly has been in the armored force 16 months, and is now at an undisclosed point.

• Pfc. Fred Kelly Jr. has been with the Air Corps 15 months and is now stationed at Reno, Nevada.

• Pvt. Robert Kelly has beeen with the Paratroopers a year and is now overseas on the Atlantic side.

Pfc. James Kelly recently enjoyed a furlough with his wife and two sons at the Montrose Avenue address. Pfc. Fred Kelly also was home at the time. (3/5/44)

T/t James F. Kelly of 501 Montrose Avenue, Solvay, a veteran of 17 months overseas duty with 100 points and holder of the Purple Heart, is en route to the United States from the European Theater of Operations to be discharged under the redeployment program. (8/13/45)

Fred Kelly, a resident of Westvale, died in 2002 at the age of 79. He was a member of Coonley-Nojaim Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 30. He was survived by brothers Louis, of Pittsburg, California, and James F. Kelly of Solvay.

 

Edmund Kieszkowski and his brother, Stanley J. Kieszkowski, who lived at 1208 Cogswell Avenue, Solvay, both served in World War 2. Stanley Kieszkowski passed away in 2007 while Edmund Kieszkowski passed in 2015. 

Stanley served in the 112th RCT of the 28th Infantry Division and fought and was subsequently wounded in Normandy in the hedgerow country surrounding St. Lo.

Edmund served in the 397th Regt. of the 100th Infantry Division immediately before VE Day and served the rest of his enlistment on Occupation Duty with the 29th Infantry Regiment at SHAEF.

Both were lifelong residents of Solvay and retired employees of Crucible Steel. 

 
John Kishman, younger brother of Stanley Kishman, below, joined the Navy after graduating from Solvay High School in 1941 and remained in the service until 1963. In 1945 he became one of the first persons in the Navy qualified to service jet engines. After retiring from the service he worked for 20 years at GE Aircrafts Engines. He was a rsesident of Virginia Beach for 50 years before moving to Woodbridge, Virginia, where he died in 2011 at the age of 91.
Lieut. Stanley J. Kishman, Solvay, discharged from New York Naval Separation Center. (11/10/45)
Stanley Kishman was well known in Solvay for his work in the school system, particularly as the high school football coach. He died in 2007 at the age of 93. His wife, Ursula Tarolli Kishman, died four years later, at 97.
 
Clarence W. Klaben, 1115 Avery Avenue, Syracuse, a few blocks from the Solvay village line, was inducted into the Navy in May, 1944. He was a life resident of the Syracuse area and an installer of fire protection systems. He died in 1990 at the age of 78 and was buried in Belle Isle Cemetery, Camillus.
 
Seaman First Class Walter Klock was granted a five-day furlough with his family at 209 Gertrude Street, upon the expiration of which he returned to his temporary base at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (7/6/44)
 
Corp. Martin M. Klik, 1302 Willis Avenue, was discharged from Fort Dix, NJ. (12/19/45)
 
T/5 Chester J. Kolakowski, 1122 Willis Avenue, separated from Fort Knox, Kentucky. (12/26/45)
Chester J. Kolakowski retired as a toolmaker from Carrier Corporation. He died in 1989 at the age of 72, survived by his wife, Mary; a son, David, of Syracuse, and a daughter, Sharon Zeck, of New York City.
 

Lieut. Joseph P. Kolceski was the co-pilot of a bomber that was shot down over Germany on May 28, 1944. Kolceski and five other crew members were killed, three others survived, but became prisoners of war.

Lieut. Kolceski was survived by his wife, Mrs. Inez St. Denis Kolceski; their two-year-old daughter; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kolceski of Lakelandi; two sisters, Julia and Mary, and six brothers, Alphonse, Edward, Thomas, George (“Bill”), Raymond and Stanley, all of whom served in the Army or Navy during World War II.

 
Alphonse C. Kolceski was the oldest of nine children. He was an Army veteran of World War 2, serving in France and Germany. Afterward he worked for the sheet metal division of General Motors Corporation for 33 years. He died in 1990 at the age of 73. His wife, Virginia, had passed away in 1988. He was survived by his daughter, Andrea Livignale of North Syracuse, five of his brothers, and his sister, Julia Ranucci of East Syracuse.
 
Stanley F. Kolceski, an Army veteran of the war, worked 38 years for Crucible Specialty Metals of Crucible Materials Corporation. He died in 1999, at the age of 74, survived by his wife, the former Genevieve Perowitz; a daughter, Jeanne Gabris of Camillus; two sons, Michael and Mark, both of Baldwinsville; his sister, Julia Ranucci of East Syracuse, and four brothers.
 
Thomas Edward Kolceski of Lakeland also went to Solvay High School. He was an Army veteran of World War 2 and later founded Tech Cleaners in Lakeland and Solvay, owning the business for 55 years. He died in 2002 at the age of 82, survived by his wife, the former Margaret Archer, and two sons, Thomas Jr. of Solvay and Theodore Kolceski of Lakeland.
 
S 1/c Raymond J. Kolceski of 852 State Fair Boulevard Lakeland is serving aboard the USS Essex somewhere in the Pacific. (9/7/45)

When Raymond J. Kolceski died in 2004, at age 81, his obituary said he was nicknamed "Peanuts." He and his wife, the former Mary Sabene, lived in Solvay until 2001 when they moved to Canastota to live with the family of his son, Daniel. Raymond Kolceski received the Purple Heart during the war. Afterward he went to work for the Onondaga County Department of Drainage and Sanitation. He was an avid bowler and golfer and raised beagles. His wife, Mary, died in 2009. Besides Daniel, they had another son, David, of Solvay, and several grandchildren.

Edward J. Kolceski Sr., of Lakeland, was a Navy veteran on World War 2. After the war he went to work at General Motors as a set-up man; he retired 33 years later. He then owned and operated Geddes Contracting for several years. He died in 2005 at the age of 86.
 
George T. "Bill" Kolceski was a graduate of Solvay High School and grew up in Lakeland, moving to Warners in 1956. He worked for Crucible Steel for 37 years, retiring in 1983. He served in the Army during World War 2. He died in 2007, at the age of 85.
 
Mr. and Mrs. August C. Komrowski of 212 Scott Avenue, Fairmount, have been notified that their son, Pfc. George A. Komrowski, Marine Corps, has died of wounds in the South Pacific area. Pfc. Komrowski attended Solvay High School. He was 27 and had been in service with the Marines about a year and six months. (3/30/44)
 

Joseph T. Komuda Sr., 87, of Solvay, died in August, 2011. He was an aircraft assembler and flight instructor during World War 2, stationed at Perrin Field in Sherman, Texas. After the war he owned his own masonry company and also was employed as a boiler operator at Allied Chemical. He was survived by his wife of 67 years, Joanna, and 13 children.

 
Sgt. Louis Konkol, 125 Caroline Avenue, Solvay, returned to NYC aboard the SS John Erickson. (8/8/45)
 
Corp. Paul Korrigan of Solvay has reported for duty to the Armored Force School Communications Office at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Corporal Korrigan will undergo a 14-week course which will include learning how to send accurate code messages from inside a bouncing tank with a sending key strapped to his leg. (3/12/43)
 
Paul J. Kosakowski, a life resident of Solvay, was a Navy veteran of World War 2. He worked for 17 years at Carrier Corporation, then began a long career as supervisor of maintenance with the Solvay School District. He died in 1993 at the age of 77. He was the older brother of Richard Kosakowski (below).
Pfc. Richard Kosakowski, 502 Gertrude Avenue, Solvay, returned to Hampton Roads, Virginia, aboard the SS Mount Vernon. (8/17/45)
Richard "Klondike" Kosakowski, a native of Solvay, died in 1998 at Mercy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Auburn. He was 75. After the war he was a grinder at Crucible Specialty Metals in Geddes. He is buried at Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Onondaga Hill.
 
Petty Officer Third Class Steven R. Kotanich, son of Peter Kotanich, 325 First Street, Solvay, is now serving with the Pacific Fleet. He received his basic training at Sampson. (11/16/43)
Navy veteran Steven Kotanich was described as a Pearl Harbor survivor in his 2008 obituary. He was a buyer for Dunk & Bright Furniture for many years. He was 83 years old when he died, predeceased by his wife, Alicia, and his three sons, Gary, Gregory and Peter. He was survived by his daughter, Lorraine Clarke of Camillus.
 
Pfc. John Kotas, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kotas, 119 Alice Avenue, Solvay, was killed in action during the African campaign. A brother, Raymond C. Kotas, is an Air Cadet in training with the Army at Courtland, Alabama. (9/8/43)
Second Lieut. Raymond C. Kotas, son of Anthony Kotas, 119 Alice Avenue, Solvay, is flying with the AAF B-26 Maurauder bomber group in the Mediterranean theater. A 22-year-old pilot, he fought through the Tunisian, Sicilian and Italian campaigns. (8/20/44)
 

Pfc. John Kotash, 35, was killed in action at the Anzio beachhead in Italy on March 18, according to War Department information received by his sisters, Mrs. Howard Kranz, 346 Belle Isle Road, Solvay. A graduate of Solvay schools, Kotash was an active athlete in high school.

Besides Mrs. Kranz, Pfc. Kotash is survived by two other sisters, Miss Anna Kotash of Solvay and Mrs. Helen Cherry of Boston, Massachusetts; three brothers, Corp. Walter Kotash of Camp Hann, California; Pfc. Joseph Kotash of Kelly Field, Texas, and Louis Kotash of Solvay. (5/2/44)

 
John Kotyra, 124 Gere’s Lock, Solvay; John Nicit, 507 Second Street, Solvay, and William O’Neil, 305 Abell Avenue, Solvay, have been selected for training as specialists in the Navy and are in service schools at Great Lakes, Illinois. (11/28/42)
 
Corp. Joseph Kotyra, USMCR, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph K. Kotyra, 124 Gere’s Lock, Solvay, has been killed in action. (4/24/45)
 

Edward F. Kozuboski, 21, of 716 State Fair Boulevard, Lakeland, has enlisted in the Army Air Corps, and is in training at Pope Field, North Carolina. (8/17/41)

Sgt. Edward F. Kozuboski, 716 State Fair Boulevard, Lakeland, was discharged from Fort Dix, New Jersey. (12/24/45)

Edward F. "Kozy" Kozuboski worked for Syracuse China before and for a few years after the war. Then he and his wife, the former Helen Kalinak, moved to Johnson City. He was an avid fisherman and gardener. Among his survivors were his two daughters, Linda Kozuboski of Johnson City and Michelle Blauvelt of Horseheads, and his brother, Joseph (below).

Pfc. Joseph F. Kozuboski, 716 State Fair Boulevard, Lakeland, was discharged from Rome (NY) Army Air Field. (12/24/45)
 

Syracuse Herald-Journal, June 13, 1942
Just before neighbors and friends started to call her yesterday afternoon with news of the sinking of the Lexington in the battle of the Coral Sea, Mrs. John E. Kranz of 908 Third Street, Solvay, learned of the safety of her son,
Donald E. Kranz, 24, by a telephone call from San Diego, California.

The second class yeoman was on the line when Mrs. Kranz’ phone rang at 2 p.m.

“I’m in California,” he said, “but I’ve lost all of my equipment. That’s all I can say.”

“Is anything wrong?” Mrs. Kranz asked him.

“You’ll hear all about it later,” he said. “How’s everyone at home?”

That’s about all they could say before the call ended, but any fear she might have had over her son’s safety when the Navy Department released the news of the Lexington shortly afterwards, was allayed.

Later Mrs. Kranz received another call from another son, Pvt. William Kranz, stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama. She assured him that Donald was safe when he told her he had just heard of the loss of the Lexington.

 
William Kranz, private, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Kranz, 908 Third Street, Solvay, was home after completing training at Fort McClellen, Alabama, and Cape Code, Massachusetts. His is now stationed somewhere in Scotland, according to word received by his wife. (9/18/42)
His son, Pfc. William F. Kranz Jr., was killed in Vietnam in 1967.
 

Corp. Tech. Howard F. Kremin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Kremin, 128 Franklin Avenue, Solvay, has returned to Drew Field, Florida, after a 15-day furlough. He is attached to the Signal Corps. Corp. Robert L. Kremin, on the same address, has returned to New Orleans, where he is attached to Military Police. He enjoyed a 15-day furlough home. (8/5/43)

Sgt. Howard F. Kremin was discharged from Fort Dix, NJ. (12/21/45)

Sgt. Robert Kremin returned to NYC aboard the ship, Antioch Victory. (10/10/45)

Robert Kremin was recalled to duty in 1951 for the Korean War. He retired as an Army Major. He and his wife, Claire, moved their family to Howlett Hill Road and their allegiance switched from Solvay orange and blue to Marcellus High School green and white.

Besides having a long career in the military, Robert Kremin was a brakeman with the New York Central Railroad, a mail carrier and assistant postmaster of the Camillus Post Office, and a volunteer fireman in Solvay and Howlett Hill.

Robert L. Kremin died in 1987. He was 69. Survivors included his brother, Howard, who had moved to Phoenix, Arizona.

And while this may seem strange, I recommend that anyone who lived in or near Solvay in the 1950s and '60s read the online obituary for Mrs. Claire H. Grabowski Kremin. It'll bring back a lot of memories.

 

Joseph A. Kucharski of Salisbury Road, Geddes, was an Army veteran of World War 2. He retired in 1981 as a packaging machine operator at the Church & Dwight Company. He died in 2001 at the age of 85.

 

AC Julius Kulak, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Kulak, 227 Charles Avenue, Solvay, has been promoted to primary flight training after completing coures at the Navy Pre-Flight School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (7/8/43)

Ensign Julius F. Kulak, son of Andrew Kulak, 227 Charles Avenue, Solvay, won his Navy Wings of Gold and was commissioned in the Naval Reserve after completing flight training course at the Naval Air Training Center, Pensacola, Florida. (4/8/44)

Flying two daylight search sweeps over Formosa and Hong Kong, Ens. Julius F. Kulak, USNR, of 227 Charles Avenue, Solvay, was the navigator on an Aircraft Seventh Fleet Liberator, which recently sank a patrol craft and two merchantmen, and damaged a cargo vessel. (6/7/45)

 
George C. Kunz, 1304 Willis Avenue, Syracuse, was inducted into the Navy in May, 1944. After the war he worked inproduction control for Chrysler Corporation, then retired to Inverness, florida, where he died in 1996 at the age of 81.
 
John Kurowski, 25, of 111 Worth Avenue, Solvay, has enlisted in the Army and is in training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. (8/17/41)
Walter Kurowski, 101 Worth Avenue, Solvay, has been inducted into the armed services. (4/23/42)
Walter Kurowski died in 1993 at the age of 81. He was a life resident of Solvay and worked many years at Lipe Rollway Corporation. He was a member of the Coonley-Nojaim Chapter, Disabled American Veterans.
 
Ernest D. Kurtz, 204 Hazard Street, Solvay, completed the course of training in the aviation machinist’s mate school at the Navy Air Technical Training Center, Memphis, Tennessee. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Kurtz. (12/21/43)
Ernest D. "Kish" Kurtz was a service supervisor for 37 yearss with the New York Telephone Company. He was a volunteer fireman in Solvay for 68 years and former chief at the Mountaintop Hose Company. He died in 2009 at the age of 87.
Corp. John I. Kurtz, 204 Hazard Street, Solvay, discharged from Fort Dix, NJ. (8/18/45)
John I. "Bud" Kurtz was awarded the Purple Heart and served in the African and European Theaters of Operation in the war. He, too, was a long-time member of the Solvay Fire Department and chief from 1969-70. He retired as foreman of the Carpenters and Painters Division at Allied Chemical Corporation in 1981. He died in 2003 at the age of 84.

Syracuse Herald-Journal, February 3, 1944
While Seaman Ernest D. Kurtz Jr. enjoyed a reunion with his buddy, Pfc. William Whedon Jr. in Solvay, his brother Corp. John R. Kurtz met his buddy Corp. Tech. Donald Jackson and cousin, Sgt. John C. Friedli Jr., in Italy.

The Kurtz brothers are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Kurtz, 204 Hazard Street, Solvay. Corp. Jackson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Masters, Skaneateles Falls. Sgt. Friedli is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Friedli, 108 Gillis Street, Solvay.

Pfc. Whedon, 245 Trump Street, Solvay, was granted a furlough after 38 months in Panama prior to going to a new assignment at Camp Upton.

Seaman Kurtz was given a furlough from the Naval Air Station, New Orleans, after graduating from aviation machinist mate school at Memphis, Tennessee.

Corp. Kurtz and Friedli were inducted together and their meeting overseas was the first since that time, and Corp. Kurtz previously had met Jackson there.

 
Seaman Leola Kurtz of 906 Third Street, Solvay, a daughter of Mrs. G. J. Kurtz of Phelps, enlisted in the Waves last month and is now in training at Hunter College. She was employed at the Solvay Process Company at the time of her enlistment. (1/13/44)
 
Inducted into the armed services:
William A. Klein, 205 Lionel Avenue, Solvay (Mavy, 4/2/44)
Edward J. Kulakowski, 100 Abell Avenue, Solvay (Navy, 8/10/43)
Stanley Kules, 336 Lakeside Road, Lakeland (Navy, 5/11/44)
 
 
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For more on Solvay way back when, check out
the Solvay-Geddes Historical Society
 
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