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Krakowski, Meyer (0582821): Difference between revisions

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{{Soldier
{{Soldier
|lede_on_page=1
|asn=0582821
|asn=0582821
|surname=Krakowski
|surname=Krakowski
Line 5: Line 6:
|class_section=5D
|class_section=5D
|class_rank=2nd Lt
|class_rank=2nd Lt
|class_branch=AC
|birth_year=1901
|birth_year=1901
|death_year=1978
|death_year=1978
|nativity=Po
|nativity=Poland
|religion=J
|religion=Jewish
|assignment=VII-1008
|overseas=Y
|overseas=Y
|certificate=8221
|certificate=8221
Line 16: Line 15:
|class_number=21
|class_number=21
|class_display=21
|class_display=21
|photo=5707496572605550.jpg
|arm_or_service=Air Corps
|rank_final=First Lieutenant
|awards=Army Commendation
|awards_grid=Army Commendation
|awards_extra=
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Army_Commendation_Medal_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Army_Commendation_Medal_ribbon.png
|birth_place=Poland
}}
}}
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Krakowski, Meyer (0582821)|Meyer Krakowski]]''' (1901–1978) was a Ritchie Boy (from Poland; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 21. The record lists a final rank of First Lieutenant.
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
''Add a biography, family details, and sources. Click Edit to change this page; no account is required.''
Meyer Krakowski was born in Poland in 1901. A Jewish language teacher at Los Angeles City College, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and, after an initial discharge, reenlisted as an officer for military-intelligence training.
 
Krakowski graduated from Camp Ritchie (Class 21) on 18 September 1944. He followed Patton's forces into Germany and was attached to a forward P-47 fighter squadron in France, interrogating captured Luftwaffe pilots and other German officers. After Germany surrendered, he helped place German orphans in homes so that they would not be raised under Nazi influence. West German officials later commended that work.
 
Krakowski returned to Los Angeles City College and eventually retired as head of its language department. He died in 1978.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
''No notes were in the source row. Add what you know.''
* OCR (100%) of `5707496559272218.jpg` (CAMP RITCHIE, MILITARY INTELLIGENCE TRAINING CENTER, Camp Ritchie) — dated 18 Sept 1944.
* OCR (83%) of `5707496525938888.jpg` (gallery document).
* The packet calls the West German recognition a civilian Iron Cross, an unusual and insufficiently documented label; the biography says only that officials commended his work. The existing Army Commendation display is retained from its certificate.


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
''After you are autoconfirmed, [[Special:Upload|upload a photo]] and add <code><nowiki>[[File:Example.jpg|thumb|caption]]</nowiki></code> here, or set <code>|photo=Example.jpg</code> in the infobox.''
<div class="soldier-gallery">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
5707496572605550.jpg|Meyer Krakowski in Third Army service uniform (RB Archive)
5707496559272218.jpg|Camp Ritchie MITC certificate for Meyer Krakowski, Class 21, 18 September 1944 (RB Archive)
5707496525938888.jpg|Army Commendation certificate for First Lieutenant Meyer Krakowski (RB Archive)
</gallery>
</div>


== Technical record ==
== Technical record ==
Line 42: Line 66:
| row_source || both
| row_source || both
|}
|}
== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 1901 — Born in Poland.
* World War II — Reenlisted as an officer for military-intelligence training.
* 18 September 1944 — Graduated from Camp Ritchie (Class 21).
* 1944–1945 — Interrogated Luftwaffe pilots and German officers while attached to a forward P-47 squadron.
* 1945 — Helped place German orphans in homes after the German surrender.
* Postwar — Returned to Los Angeles City College and later headed its language department.
* 1978 — Died.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
* [[:File:5707496525938888.jpg|Army Commendation certificate for First Lieutenant Meyer Krakowski]]
* [[:File:5707496572605550.jpg|Meyer Krakowski in Third Army service uniform]]
* RB Archive biographical account for Meyer Krakowski
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
 
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-09-24 (1 post)
 
* [[:File:5707496559272218.jpg|Camp Ritchie MITC certificate for Meyer Krakowski, 18 September 1944]]
* [[:File:5707496525938888.jpg|OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 5707496525938888.jpg]]
* [[:File:5707496572605550.jpg|Camp Ritchie Military Intelligence Training Center certificate for Meyer Krakowski, class 21, 18 September 1944]]
* [[:File:5707496559272218.jpg|Camp Ritchie class certificate, associated gallery scan]]
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 24 September 2022 (biographical account and gallery documents)
* [[:File:5707496572605550.jpg|Photograph of Meyer Krakowski in uniform]]
* [[:File:5707496525938888.jpg|Commendation certificate identifying Krakowski as a first lieutenant, associated gallery scan]]

Latest revision as of 22:36, 16 September 2026

Meyer Krakowski
Meyer Krakowski
Personal details
Born1901
Poland
Died1978
NativityPoland
ReligionJewish
AwardsArmy Commendation
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
Arm / serviceAir Corps
ASN0582821
RankFirst Lieutenant
Rank at RitchieSecond Lieutenant
Camp RitchieClass 21 (21 July – 18 September 1944)
Section5D
Awards and honors
Army Commendation
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with {{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.


Meyer Krakowski (1901–1978) was a Ritchie Boy (from Poland; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 21. The record lists a final rank of First Lieutenant.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Meyer Krakowski was born in Poland in 1901. A Jewish language teacher at Los Angeles City College, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and, after an initial discharge, reenlisted as an officer for military-intelligence training.

Krakowski graduated from Camp Ritchie (Class 21) on 18 September 1944. He followed Patton's forces into Germany and was attached to a forward P-47 fighter squadron in France, interrogating captured Luftwaffe pilots and other German officers. After Germany surrendered, he helped place German orphans in homes so that they would not be raised under Nazi influence. West German officials later commended that work.

Krakowski returned to Los Angeles City College and eventually retired as head of its language department. He died in 1978.

Research notes[edit | edit source]

  • OCR (100%) of `5707496559272218.jpg` (CAMP RITCHIE, MILITARY INTELLIGENCE TRAINING CENTER, Camp Ritchie) — dated 18 Sept 1944.
  • OCR (83%) of `5707496525938888.jpg` (gallery document).
  • The packet calls the West German recognition a civilian Iron Cross, an unusual and insufficiently documented label; the biography says only that officials commended his work. The existing Army Commendation display is retained from its certificate.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Meyer Krakowski in Third Army service uniform (RB Archive)
    Meyer Krakowski in Third Army service uniform (RB Archive)
  • Camp Ritchie MITC certificate for Meyer Krakowski, Class 21, 18 September 1944 (RB Archive)
    Camp Ritchie MITC certificate for Meyer Krakowski, Class 21, 18 September 1944 (RB Archive)
  • Army Commendation certificate for First Lieutenant Meyer Krakowski (RB Archive)
    Army Commendation certificate for First Lieutenant Meyer Krakowski (RB Archive)

Technical record[edit | edit source]

Field Imported value
Approx Age at Death 77
Class_ASN 582821
Class_Name KRAKOWSKI, Meyer
match_method asn_exact_name_exact
row_source both

Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • 1901 — Born in Poland.
  • World War II — Reenlisted as an officer for military-intelligence training.
  • 18 September 1944 — Graduated from Camp Ritchie (Class 21).
  • 1944–1945 — Interrogated Luftwaffe pilots and German officers while attached to a forward P-47 squadron.
  • 1945 — Helped place German orphans in homes after the German surrender.
  • Postwar — Returned to Los Angeles City College and later headed its language department.
  • 1978 — Died.

Sources[edit | edit source]

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