Krakowski, Meyer (0582821): Difference between revisions

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|arm_or_service=Air Corps

|rank_final=First Lieutenant

|awards=Army Commendation ~~Ribbon~~

|awards=Army Commendation

|awards_grid=Army Commendation ~~Ribbon~~

|awards_grid=Army Commendation

|awards_extra=

|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Army_Commendation_Medal_ribbon.png

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== Biography ==

Meyer Krakowski ~~(1901-1978)~~ was ~~a Polish-~~born ~~Jewish Ritchie Boy who trained at Camp Ritchie~~ in ~~the 21st class and graduated on 18 September 1944~~. ~~He was a~~ language teacher at Los Angeles City College ~~when~~ he enlisted in the U.S. Army~~. After~~ an initial discharge, he reenlisted as an officer for ~~the Camp Ritchie~~ intelligence training ~~program~~.

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.

~~During the war~~ Krakowski followed Patton's forces into Germany~~. He~~ was attached to a forward P-47 fighter squadron in France, ~~where he interrogated~~ Luftwaffe pilots and other German officers. After Germany surrendered ~~in May 1945~~, he ~~was sent to Germany to help~~ place German orphans in homes. West German officials commended ~~his service, and he received the civilian version of the Iron Cross~~. ~~After the war he~~ returned to Los Angeles City College and eventually retired as head of its language department.

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 ==

* 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 ==

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| row_source || both

|}

== Timeline ==

* 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 ==

* [[:File:5707496525938888.jpg|Commendation certificate for First Lieutenant Meyer Krakowski]]

* [[:File:5707496572605550.jpg|Camp Ritchie certificate for Meyer Krakowski, 18 September 1944]]

* 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

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 |arm_or_service=Air Corps
 |rank_final=First Lieutenant
-|awards=Army Commendation Ribbon
+|awards=Army Commendation
-|awards_grid=Army Commendation Ribbon
+|awards_grid=Army Commendation
 |awards_extra=
 |awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Army_Commendation_Medal_ribbon.png
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 == Biography ==
-Meyer Krakowski (1901-1978) was a Polish-born Jewish Ritchie Boy who trained at Camp Ritchie in the 21st class and graduated on 18 September 1944. He was a language teacher at Los Angeles City College when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. After an initial discharge, he reenlisted as an officer for the Camp Ritchie intelligence training program.
+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.
-During the war Krakowski followed Patton's forces into Germany. He was attached to a forward P-47 fighter squadron in France, where he interrogated Luftwaffe pilots and other German officers. After Germany surrendered in May 1945, he was sent to Germany to help place German orphans in homes. West German officials commended his service, and he received the civilian version of the Iron Cross. After the war he returned to Los Angeles City College and eventually retired as head of its language department.
+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 ==
 * 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 ==
@@ Line 63: / Line 66: @@
 | 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 ==
+* [[:File:5707496525938888.jpg|Commendation certificate for First Lieutenant Meyer Krakowski]]
+* [[:File:5707496572605550.jpg|Camp Ritchie certificate for Meyer Krakowski, 18 September 1944]]
+* 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