DIED IN ACTION
J. BAKER MIERZYJEWSKI
Joseph T. Baker (b. January 26, 1897, d. July 16, 1918)
Killed in action at the age of 23, resting place is Sacred Heart Cemetery, Geddes, NY
The son of Franciszek and Anna (nee Milewska) Mierzyjewski [Polish spelling is Mierzejewski] was killed in action at Chateau Thierry, France; also known as Józef Mierzyjewski.
WWI Military Service Card at NYS Archives found for "Joseph T. Baker," Army Ser. No. 540,849:
Resided at 50 W. Towpath, Syracuse, NY.
Inducted at Syracuse, NY on Nov. 21, 1917.
Born in Troy, NY and was 22 years of age upon induction.
Units of assignment:
Co. 7, 153 Depot Brigade Nov. 23, 1917 to Dec. 3, 1917;
Co. E, 310th Infantry to Dec. 14, 1917;
Co. B, 7th Infantry to death [3rd Division].
He attained the rank of Pvt and had "Belleau Wood" listed under "Engagements."
Overseas service was from Apr. 6, 1918 to July 15, 1918, the date listed as killed in action.
Notification of his death was recorded as being made to his sister, Josephine Burgett [Brzezinski], of 608 Richmond Ave, Syracuse.
Remains were repatriated to the United States, written about in an article “Body of Hero, Killed in War, to Be Brought Here,” Syracuse Journal, July 11, 1921:
The body of Pvt. Joseph T. Baker, who was killed in the battle of Chateau-Thierry July 16, arrived in Hoboken Monday morning and will be brought to Syracuse either Monday or Tuesday for burial. Private Baker was killed July 16 and his brother Anthony, was gassed the following day at Chateau-Thierry. Anthony Baker is now at his home, 50 West Towpath, recuperating. Private Baker is survived by his mother, Mrs. Anna Baker; five brothers, Steve, Frank, John, Lawrence, and Anthony; two sisters, Misses Josephine and Cecelia Baker. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Father Francis Rusin of the Sacred Heart Church will officiate.
According to the 1910 U.S. Census, Joseph lived with his parents, Frank and Anna Baker at 106 Wall Street in Syracuse, New York. His father Frank was 48 years old and born in "Russian Poland" in about 1862. His mother, Anna, was 44 years old and also born in "Russian-Poland" in about 1866. His father's occupation is listed as "moulder" in a foundry. They had been married for 30 years, marrying about 1880. They undoubtedly married in Poland, since they both emigrated to the U.S. in 1886. Frank is shown as speaking Polish, while his wife Anna is has English listed. At the time, six children lived with them. All of the children are listed as being born in New York. They were: John, who was 22 years old (born about 1888) and worked as a "core-maker" in a foundry; Josephine, 17 years old (born about 1893); Joseph, 15 (born about 1895) and worked as a "laborer" in a foundry; Bennie, 11; Cecilia, 6; and Lawrence, 4. They also had two boarders living with them: Walter Glowatczki, 22 years old, and Anna Korra [or Kowa?], 20.
Find A Grave Memorial (# 93993239)
J. SWIECH
John Swick (b. about 1893, d. October 2, 1918)
Killed in action at the age of 25, resting place is Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, France
WWI Military Service Card at NYS Archives found for “John Swick,” Army Ser. No. 2,300,440:
Resided at Pleasant View Ave, Syracuse, NY.
Enlisted in the Regular Army at Camp Syracuse on July 4, 1917.
Born in “Kiltz Russian Poland,” age upon enlistment was 24.
Units of assignment:
Co. G, 38th Infantry to Sep. 14, 1917;
Co. G, 49th Infantry to Sep. 10, 1918;
Headquarters, 83rd Division to Sep. 12, 1918;
Co. H, 112th Infantry [28th Division] to his death.
He attained the rank of Pvt and had “Argonne” listed under “Engagements.”
Overseas service: July 26, 1918 to his death when he was killed in action on Oct. 2, 1918.
Notification of his death was recorded as being made to his brother Andrew Swick, of 150 Pleasant View Ave, Syracuse.
American Battle Monuments Commission has an entry for Pvt. John Swick:
John Swick
Private, U.S. Army
112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division
Entered the Service From: New York
Date of Death: October 02, 1918
Wars or Conflicts: World War I
Buried: Plot H Row 28 Grave 22
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France
Find A Grave Memorial (# 55997308)
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Z. BARANSKI
Zygmunt Baranski (b. about 1894, d. June 7, 1918)
Killed in action at the age of 24, resting place is Somme American Cemetery, France
WWI Military Service Card at NYS Archives found for "Zygmunt Baranski," Army Ser. No. 105,333:
Resided at 51 Perrin St, Auburn, NY.
Enlisted in the Regular Army at Camp Syracuse, NY on June 26, 1917
Born in "Garbor, Poland," age upon enlistment was 23.
Units of assignment:
Co. A, 38th Infantry, June 27, 1917 to Aug. 13, 1917;
4th Tng. Co. Battalion, 16 Infantry, Dec. 16, 1917;
Co. A, Machine Gun Battalion, 1st Brigade to --- [dashes on record];
Co. A, 2nd Machine Gun Battalion [1st Division] to death.
He attained the rank of Pvt on enlistment; promoted to Pvt 1st Class on Nov 1, 1917.
Was killed in action on June 7, 1918.
Notification of his death was recorded as being made to his brother, Joseph Baranski, of 1627 Hawley Ave, Syracuse, NY.
Baranski is featured in an article in The Auburn Citizen on November 11, 1919, entitled "Those Who Fell":
From the reports of many in the city, Zygmunt Baranski, who was member of the First Machine Gun Company, A.E.F. was among the first of the Auburn men to be killed in action. The date of his death June 7, 1918.
Baranski, who formerly lived at 51[?] Perrine Street, Auburn and was a member of the Polish Falcons, enlisted in Syracuse, so the exact date and regiment is unknown. He has no relatives living in the city, but
has a brother residing in Syracuse.
Additionally, a profile of Baranski was included in Auburn, New York’s World War 1 Memorial Booklet, May 26, 2003:
ZYGMUNT BARANSKI, 24, Single. Native of Garbow, Poland. Immigrated in 1911. He is survived by a brother Joseph in Syracuse. His occupation was shoemaker with Thompson-Whitmore. He was a member of the Polish Falcons. He had told his brother that the wished to avenge his father’s death (a Major in the Polish Army) who was killed by the Austrians earlier in the war on the eastern (Russian) front. Buried in the Somme Cemetery, France.
American Battle Monuments Commission entry for Pvt. Zygmunt Baranski:
Zygmunt Baranski
Private, U.S. Army
1st Brigade Machine Gun Battalion, 1st Division
Entered the Service From: New York,
Date of Death: June 07, 1918
Conflicts: World War I,
Buried: Plot C Row 24 Grave 9,
Somme American Cemetery, Bony, France
G. JABLONOWSKI
Eugeniusz Jablonowski (b. May 23, 1897, d. July 18, 1918)
Killed in action at the age of 22, resting place is Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, France
Ellis Island information shows "Genislaw Jablonowski" from "Bagenec, Plock, Russia" arriving to the United States on April 21, 1913 at the age of 17 on the ship "Kleist" from Bremen. Five years later he was killed in action as one of the first Syracuseans and the first Polish-Americans from Syracuse killed in action during World War I. The Syracuse Polish Legion of American Veterans (PLAV) Post 14 is named “E. Jablonowski” in his honor.
WWI Military Service Card at NYS Archives found for Eugeniusz (or Gene") Jablonowski under name of "Jenon Janski," Army Ser. No. 39,302:
Resided at 315 Grand Ave, Syracuse, NY.
Enlisted Regular Army at Fort Slocum, NY on Mar. 31, 1917.
Born "Bagnul Russia," age upon enlistment was 21.
Units of assignment:
Co. F, 9th Infantry [2nd Division] to death.
Attained the rank of Pvt and had "Veaux; Chateau Thierry Sector; 2nd Battle of Marne" listed under "Engagements."
Served overseas from Sep. 7, 1917 to death.
Killed in action on July 18, 1918.
Notification of his death was recorded as being made to his brother, "Brunie Janski," 315 Grand Ave, Syracuse.
The earliest mention of Jablonowski's death was published in the Syracuse Journal on Aug. 19, 1918, but had listed Jablonowski's name as "Ganski" and then in another place as "Janski," and reported that authorities could not not locate any family in the area. Another article on Aug. 30 correctly showed his name as "Jablonowski" and in addition to reporting his death in action, also ran an article with a photo and provided details about his life. The article stated that “ten to one is the price the men of the "Fighting Ninth" exacted against the enemy. The article wrote that "Pvt. Eugeniusz Jablonowski ‘got’ his ten before they got him" based is evidenced by his letter to his brother shortly before he again went into action and was killed.” The paper attributed a lengthy segment in a letter that Eugeniusz wrote to his brother Bronislaw:
"'God help me, I'll go after them Huns until they got me,' wrote Pvt. Eugeniusz Jablonowski, of the Ninth Regiment to his brother, Bronislaw Jablonowski, of 315 Greenway av., before going into action for the sixth time on July 18, when he was killed by a Hun bullet. 'I have been in the thick of it five times. The trenches were my abode for 10 to 20 days at a time. We attacked the Huns five times and each time they got more than their share. Our boys fell also, but for every one of ours,10 of their number paid. I had my bayonet in action during every attack and I am proud to say I have accounted for a few Huns myself. I'm going into action for the sixth time, and if God helps mo I'll come out again, and will write you more.'
Eugene Jablonowski enlisted in the United States Army a year ago last May and was assigned to a company in the Ninth Regiment, then stationed at Camp Syracuse. Early last fall he went overseas. He enlisted with nine other boys of the East Side, all members of the Polish Falcon Society, Nest No. 33. Born in Bagience, Poland, 21 years ago, he came to Syracuse six years ago, and lived in this city until his enlistment.
He was a communicant of the Church of the Transfiguration, and a member of St. Stanislaus Kostka Society of that church. Besides his brother, he is survived by his sister, Mrs. Vincent Czaplicki of 1417 Burnet av. "
American Battle Monuments Commission entry for Pvt. Jablonowski:
Eugenius Jablonowski
Private, U.S. Army
9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division
Entered the Service From: New York
Date of Death: July 18, 1918
Buried: Plot C Row 8 Grave 11
Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Fere-en-Tardenois, France
R. WARREN
Robert F. Warren (b. about 1896, d. November 5, 1918)
Killed in action at the age of 22, resting place is Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, France.
WWI Military Service Card at NYS Archives found for Robert F. Warren, Army Ser. No. 2,383,468:
Resided at 303 Lake View [sic] Ave, Syracuse, NY.
Inducted at Syracuse, NY on Nov. 21, 1917.
Born in Solvay, NY, 21 years old upon induction.
Units of assignment:
Co. 7, 153rd Depot Brigade to Dec 3, 1917;
Co. G, 310th Infantry to Feb. 21, 1918;
Co. E, 60th Infantry [5th Division] to death
Attained the rank of Pvt on Nov. 21, 1917; Pvt 1st Class on June 10, 1918; "Mech" on Sep. 23, 1918; Corp [no date given]
Served overseas from Apr. 16, 1918 to his death.
Killed in action Nov. 5, 1918.
Notification of his death was recorded as being made to his mother, Mrs. Rose Warren, of 303 Lake View [sic] Ave, Syracuse.
Based on cemetery information and census records, Robert's mother Rose Warren (1873-1957) was a widow by the time he had enlisted in the Army. His mother was born in Poland 1873. Robert's father was Charles Warren (1868-date of death unknown). Robert also had one brother, Charles, born approximately 1902. In the 1930 United States Census, Rose was listed as a 55 year old widow who resided as a renter at 334 Liberty St. She was listed as the "head of the household." Living with her where her son Charles and two boarders: Benjamin Szczur, 22, and Benjamin Dietz, 27.
Corporal Robert Warren was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism on the battlefield:
WARREN, ROBERT F.
Corporal, U.S. Army
Company E, 60th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division, A.E.F.
Date of Action: November 4, 1918
Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert F. Warren, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Clery-le-Petit, France, November 4, 1918. Corporal Warren voluntarily left a place of comparative safety and went over open and bullet-swept ground to the assistance of a comrade who had been wounded in the advance. While administering first aid he was a continual prey for enemy snipers, but he bravely continued with his mission until killed.
General Orders No. 20, W.D., 1919
American Battle Monuments Commission entry for Corp. Warren:
Robert F. Warren
Corporal, U.S. Army
60th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division
Entered the Service From: New York
Date of Death: November 05, 1918
Buried: Plot D Row 43 Grave 28
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France
Photo from "Soldiers of the Great War," Soldiers Record Pub. Assoc., Wash. DC, W.M. Haulsee,, ed., 1920; thanks to Eric Baker.
J. KAMINSKI
Wicyntz Kaminski (b. about 1888, d. October 3, 1918)
Killed in action at the age of 30, resting place is Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, France
There was no WWI Military Service Card found at the NYS Archives for a Kaminski from Syracuse with a first name beginning with the letter “J.” However, there is a card for “Wicyntz Kaminski,” killed in action October 3, 1918. Wicyntz Kaminski, Army Ser. No. 107,341:
Resided at 107 Wall St., Syracuse, NY.
Enlisted in the Regular Army at Camp Syracuse, NY on June 27, 1917 and was killed in action on October 3, 1918.
Born in “Pizdre, Russian Poland” at age of “29 6/12 years” athe the time of enlistment.
Attained the rank of Pvt.
Units of assignment:
Co. E, 38th Infantry;
Co. A, 5 MG Battalion;
Co. D, 9th Infantry [2nd Division] upon his death.
Served overseas from Sep. 18, 1917 to his death.
Killed in action on October 3, 1918.
Notification of his death was recorded as being made to his sister, “Miss Mary Kaminski,” who resided at 117 Wall St. in Syracuse.
American Battle Monuments Commission has an entry for Pvt. Wicyntz Kaminski:
Wicyntz Kaminski
Private, U.S. Army
9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division
Entered the Service From: New York
Date of Death: October 03, 1918
Buried: Plot E Row 32 Grave 5
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France
W. CIBORSKI
Wladyslaw Cyborosky (b. about 1894, d. November 14, 1918)
Died of wounds at the age of 23, resting place is Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery France
WWI Military Service Card at NYS Archives finds a card for “Cyboroskiy, Wladyslaw,” Army Ser. No. 1,750,307:
Residing at 320 Greenway Ave, Syr, NY.
Inducted at Syr, NY April 2, 1918.
Born in "Krsyseyo-Loniza [Kruszewo-Lomza], Russia" and "22 8/12" years old at time of induction.
Units of assignment:
16th Co., 4 Bn., 153rd Dep. Brig. Apr. 3, 1918 to May 12, 1918;
Co. D, 312th Infantry [78th Division] to Nov 14, 1918.
Attained the rank of Pvt.
Served overseas from May 20, 1918 to his death.
Died Nov. 14, 1918 of wounds received in action.
Notification of his death was recorded as being made to his brother, John Ciboroskiy, 320 Greenway Ave in Syracuse.
NYS DMNA Roll Of Honor : Citizens Of The State Of New York Who Died While In The Service Of The United States During The World War shows an entry for “Cyborosiy, Wladyslaw,” 320 Greenway Ave, Syracuse, NY, PVT, D Company, 312th Infantry, died of wounds on November 14, 1918.
American Battle Monuments Commission has an entry for Pvt. Wladyslaw Cyborosky:
Wladyslaw Cyborosky
Private, U.S. Army
312th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division
Entered the Service From: New York
Date of Death: August 14, 1918*
Buried: Plot F Row 17 Grave 40
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France
*Note: date of death as given by ABMC is incorrect .
According to the passenger manifest of the S.S. Lutzow, arriving in New York from Bremen on June 26, 1913, Wladislaw Ciborowski was 19 years old and could not read or write. He was from "Kruszewo-Lomza" and his mother was Ludwika Ciborowska. He was born in Kruszewo, a village in the administrative district of Gmina Goworowo, within Ostroleka County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland about 54 miles (87 km) north-east of Warsaw.
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S. GURNIAK
Stanislaw Gurniack (b. about 1894, d. August 14, 1918)
Died in action at the age of 24, resting place is Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, France
WWI Military Service Card found at NYS Archives under “Stanley Gurniack,” Army Ser. No. 2,417,877:
Resided in the Town of Pyrites, in St. Lawrence County, NY.
Inducted in Ogdensburg, NY on Apr. 29, 1918.
Born in “Kulecka [Kieleckie/Kielce], Russia” and was 24 years old at the time of induction.
He served as a Pvt.
Units of assignment:
Co. G, 37th Division (Co D, 148th Infantry) at the time of his death and is credited as being in the “NW Verdun, France” engagement.
Served overseas from June 22, 1918 to his death.
Notification of his death was recorded as being made to his sister, Miss Josephine Gurniack, 108 Tioga St., Syracuse.
Pvt. Gurniak is listed as a resident of St. Lawrence County on the NYS DMNA Roll Of Honor.
American Battle Monuments Commission has an entry for Pvt. Stanley Gurniack:
Stanley Gurniack
Private, U.S. Army
148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division
Entered the Service From: New York
Date of Death: September 28, 1918
Buried: Plot E Row 20 Grave 3
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France
P. KOSTANCZYK
Peter B.Kostine (b. about 1898, d. September 29, 1918)
Died in action at the age of 20, resting place is Somme American Cemetery, France
WWI Military Service Card at NYS Archives finds a card for “Peter B.Kostine,” Army Ser No 1,214,001:
Residing at 1411 W. Genesee St, Syracuse, NY.
Enlisted National Guard, inducted at Syracuse, NY on May 29, 1917.
Born in Syracuse, NY and was 19 11/12 yrears of age at the time of induction.
Units of assignment:
Co. C., 3rd NY Infantry, NG (Co. C, 108th Infantry [27th Division]) to death.
Served at the rank of Pvt.
Fought in engagement at Hindenburg Line near Bony,
Was overseas from May 10, 1918 to his death.
Was killed in action Sept. 29, 1918,
Notification of death was recorded as being made to his mother, Mary Kostine, 1411 W. Genesee St, Syracuse.
NYS DMNA Roll Of Honor: Citizens Of The State Of New York Who Died While In The Service Of The United States During The World War shows an entry for “Kostine, Peter B.” of 1411 W Genesee St., Syracuse, NY who was a PVT in C Company, 108th Infantry, killed in action on September 29, 1918.
American Battle Monuments Commission has an entry for Pvt. Peter B. Kostine:
Peter B. Kostine
Private, U.S. Army
108th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division
Entered the Service From: New York
Date of Death: September 29, 1918
Buried: Plot B Row 26 Grave 5
Somme American Cemetery, Bony, France
Find A Grave Memorial (# 56099154)
Note: photo of Pvt. Peter B. Kostine, Company C, 108th Infantry, is taken from the book "A Short History and Illustrated Roster of the 108th Infantry, United States Army" (no longer in copyright).
P. KANSTANCZYK
NO INFORMATION FOUND
Efforts to research this World War I veteran killed in action have been unsuccessful at this time. We have searched all of the following sources:
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WWI Military Service Records at NYS Archives
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Newspaper accounts
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American Battle Monuments Commission Records
We welcome any assistance in obtaining information about this veteran.