Walter J. Koscianski
Rank: Private, U.S. Army
Serial: 32268862
Unit: 63rd Signal Battalion
Entered service from: New Jersey
Died: February 6, 1943
Buried at: North Africa American Cemetery, Carthage, Tunisia (Plot G, Row 8, Grave 12)
Private Walter J. Koscianski was the oldest son of Polish immigrant parents. Walter Koscianski was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 2, 1905. It is likely that he received his early education at St. Philip's Catholic School in Philadelphia. By 1933 the family, which included brothers Stephen and Anthony, and sister Tillie, had moved to a house at 966 Bulson Street in Camden, NJ, where they were members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church at 10th & Liberty Streets. Walter Koscianski worked for the City of Camden's Highway & Parks Departments as a truck driver for five years. He was inducted into the United States Army on June 4, 1942 at Fort Dix, NJ.
After joining the Army he was assigned to the 63rd Signal Battalion. After his basic training, he served in Ireland, England, and in November of 1942 his company arrived in North Africa.
On February 6th, Walter died, in non-battle circumstances, while driving a truck in the city of Algiers. He is buried at the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia. News of his death was reported in the June 19, 1943 edition of the Camden Courier-Post. He was survived by his mother, Antonia Koscianski, a sister, and two brothers Anthony and Stephen V. Koscianski.
Walter Koscianski's brother Stephen V. Koscianski was killed 9 months later when the troop transport HMTS Rohna was sunk by a German air-to-surface guided missile.
History of the 63rd Signal Battalion
The 63rd Signal Battalion was activated 1 June 1941, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. On 1 August 1941, the strength was 24 officers and 456 enlisted men. Training was conducted until 22 October 1941, when the entire Battalion left Camp Claiborne by motor convoy for Chester, South Carolina, to participate in the Carolina Maneuvers with IV Corps, returning to Camp Claiborne on 26 December 1941.
On 31 December 1941, the Battalion was alerted for movement to an unknown overseas station. The Battalion landed in North Ireland on 15 January 1942, and operated communications for V Corps; however, training was the main objective. On 10 August 1942, the T/O was changed and the strength was increased from 23 officers and 503 enlisted men to 33 officers and 898 enlisted men. In addition, Company "C" was activated at this time. The Battalion now consisted of Headquarters, "A," "B," and "C" Companies.
On 26 September 1942, the Battalion moved in three echelons to Shrivenham, England. While at Shrivenham emphasis was again placed on training and at the same time the Battalion was packing for an unknown area.
Detachments of the Battalion left Shrivenham to prepare for the invasion of North Africa at Algiers on 9 November 1942. The remainder of the Battalion, minus Company "C," left Shrivenham and arrived in Algiers on 26 November 1942. While in Algiers the 63rd Signal Battalion installed, operated, and maintained signal communications for Allied Forces Headquarters in Algiers; while the detachments, operating in the forward areas, maintained open wire lines, radio stations, and message centers.
Two companies were credited with battle participation: Company "A" — Algeria-French Morocco Campaign (WD GO #59, 1945); Company "C" — Tunisia Campaign (WD GO #59, 1945).
From 15 December 1942, the first time a member of the Battalion was wounded, until 10 February 1945, there had been 56 officers and enlisted men who were wounded and received the Purple Heart, and 5 killed by enemy action during the same period. The Battalion also received three Legion of Merits, one Soldiers Medal and one Bronze Star.
Source: "History of the 63rd Signal Operations Battalion" and "Battalion History," supplied by Wilbert G. Shipe, Jr..
Photos
Tag: walter-j-koscianski
Stephen V. Koscianski
Technician 5th Class Stephen V. Koscianski of 966 Bulson Street, Camden, served with the 31st Signal Construction Company. Born in Philadelphia in 1907 to Polish immigrant parents, he ran an auto salvage and used car business beside the family home before his induction in October 1942, and was lost on November 27, 1943 when the troopship HMT Rohna was sunk in the Mediterranean.
Polish Heroes War Memorial
The Polish Heroes War Memorial at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, N.J. (Park Drive and Route 130) unites three monuments — to Casimir Pulaski (1936, moved here 1984), Thaddeus Kosciusko (1984), and, since 1995, the members of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church of South Camden who died in World War II.
St. Joseph's Parish WWII War Memorial
A bronze plaque in the vestibule of St. Joseph Church at 10th and Liberty Streets in Camden, presented by the Catholic War Veterans, St. Joseph's Post 418, and dedicated April 3, 1949, honoring the parish's heroic war dead of World War II.
15 Dead, 2 Missing from South Jersey
The War Department's June 13, 1944 casualty list named fifteen South Jersey men killed and two missing, among them Corporal Stephen V. Koscianski of 966 Bulson Street, Camden — one of twelve on the list who had been lost with the troopship HMT Rohna in the Mediterranean seven months earlier.
St. Joseph's Church Keeps in Touch with Men and Women in Armed Forces
A 1944 Camden Courier-Post feature by Frank Sheridan on St. Joseph's Church (the Polish parish at Tenth and Mechanic Streets), whose 1,154 mothers gave sons and daughters to the war — four killed, two missing, one a prisoner — among them Joseph Piotrowski, lost when the cruiser Helena was sunk at Kula Gulf.
1150 Camden Poles In Service Honored
A service flag honoring 1,150 St. Joseph's Parish men and women in the armed forces was unfurled at Tenth and Mechanic Streets, where Mayor Brunner pinned gold stars on the mothers and a brother of parishioners killed or missing in World War II. Courier-Post, August 31, 1943.
Camden Soldier Dies in African Action
The Camden Courier-Post reported that the parents of Pvt. Walter J. Koscianski of Bulson Street had been notified by the War Department that their son was killed in North Africa; confirmation came when a V-mail letter sent to him by John Emmel of 905 Sylvan Street was returned marked "Deceased, return to sender."
Four Men and Woman Admit Dispute Charge
Four men and a woman, among them 28-year-old Walter Koscianski of 966 Bulson Street, were fined $25 each in Camden police court in June 1933 after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct while denying they had been disorderly — a case arising from a motorcycle policeman's arrest of the five at Tenth and Bulson Streets.