Camden Courier-Post, July 20, 1943View transcription
Blast Injuries Kill Soldier From Camden
Staff Sgt. Drapinski Is Victim of Premature Explosion
Premature explosion of dynamite while he was giving instructions in handling caused the death of Staff Sgt. Roman Drapinski, 23, of 1468 South Tenth street, at Camp Campbell, Kan., according to word received last night.
Sergeant Drapinski was injured Saturday and died Sunday night in the station hospital. A brother, Adam, with whom he lived before entering the service, and a sister, Mrs. Helen W. Moskalski, of Walnut avenue, West Collingswood, flew by airplane to the camp Saturday after learning of the accident.
Sergeant Drapinski's brother, Stanislaw, is a prisoner of the Nazis. He was captured while fighting with the Polish Army during the Axis invasion. His mother, Victoria, was in Poland the last the family here heard from her. Stanislaw, Sr., father of the sergeant, died in Poland two years ago.
Sergeant Drapinski came to this country five years ago from Poland and worked for his brother, Adam, in the wholesale meat business. He tried to enlist in the Army three years ago but because he could not speak English fluently he was turned down.
He was inducted in September, 1941, advanced to corporal, then to technical sergeant and next staff sergeant. Two weeks ago in a letter to his brother he said he had received two medals and the "next time he came home he would be all decorated up like a Polish general."
Sergeant Drapinski was in the Twelfth Armored Division. Gen. Carlos Brewer, commanding officer, sent a letter to the family praising the sergeant for his efficiency.
Blast Injuries Kill Camden Sergeant (Continued from Page One)
Staff Sgt. Drapinski Is Victim of Premature Explosion
Premature explosion of dynamite while he was giving instructions in handling caused the death of Staff Sgt. Roman Drapinski, 23, of 1468 South Tenth street, at Camp Campbell, Kan., according to word received last night.
Sergeant Drapinski was injured Saturday and died Sunday night in the station hospital. A brother, Adam, with whom he lived before entering the service, and a sister, Mrs. Helen W. Moskalski, of Walnut avenue, West Collingswood, flew by airplane to the camp Saturday after learning of the accident.
Sergeant Drapinski's brother, Stanislaw, is a prisoner of the Nazis. He was captured while fighting with the Polish Army during the Axis invasion. His mother, Victoria, was in Poland the last the family here heard from her. Stanislaw, Sr., father of the sergeant, died in Poland two years ago.
Sergeant Drapinski came to this country five years ago from Poland and worked for his brother, Adam, in the wholesale meat business. He tried to enlist in the Army three years ago but because he could not speak English fluently he was turned down.
He was inducted in September, 1941, advanced to corporal, then to technical sergeant and next staff sergeant. Two weeks ago in a letter to his brother he said he had received two medals and the “next time he came home he would be all decorated up like a Polish general.”
Sergeant Drapinski was in the Twelfth Armored Division. Gen. Carlos Brewer, commanding officer, sent a letter to the family praising the sergeant for his efficiency.
