Guest Post: Captain Walter Sidlowski

Written by MCPO USN NYC (ret)

Many neighborhoods, villages, towns and cities has at least one … a man who was there, a man who speaks little of the horror of war, yet carries it with him in a manner that inspires others.

Walter Sidlowski was such man. I met him years ago at our local watering hole, while I was returning from an event. I was wearing my CPO khakis and he enthusiastically introduced himself as an US Army veteran who served in WWII. Minutes later I was pulled aside by his proud and loving son Ken and given a more complete story of this man.

I was immediately drawn and fascinated by the elder statesman of our neighborhood and grew to respect him like a father figure. Each time we met his face would light up and we would chat about something related to the Army or Navy … he knew me as the “Navy Chief”.

When I retired from the US Navy on November 10, 2011, Walter was a special guest at my ceremony and he was immediately announced with the first few paragraphs of my final address to the ships company:
“Before I begin my final address, and in keeping my responsibility as a Chief Petty Officer to be a sincere and true custodian of military history, naval heritage, and tradition, I wish to introduce two very special guests on this eve of Veteran’s Day.

The first was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 1920 and set foot on Normandy Beach on June 6th, 1944. As young first lieutenant in the 348th Combat Battalion, 5th Engineers Special Brigade, supporting the 1st Infantry Division on Omaha Beach, he was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for rescuing scores of men from a floundering landing craft and others who were in the grip of a churning sea. The rescues were captured in a sequence of photos taken by famed photographer Walter Rosenblum which were published in various books and media including: The Longest Day; Victory at Sea; World at War; and video and narrative transcript that have been displayed in the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. In addition, this Soldier participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the French Cross of War and 1st Order of Merit medals. He left the Army after war’s end as a Captain in 1st Infantry Division – The Big Red One. After the Army he served NYC as member of NYPD for 22 years from 1947 to 1969 and retired as a detective in the 23rd Precinct in East Harlem. He served as Assistant Head of Security of Columbia University for 10 years from 1972 to 1982. He was recently awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal. A true New Yorker and perfect example of the “Greatest Generation”. Ladies and gentlemen, Walter Sidlowski. Walter please stand. Walter is escorted by his devoted son Kenneth. Thank you sir for being here today.”

Note: The second special guest on my final day was Dan Murphy, the father of LT Michael Murphy, USN, Medal of Honor recipient. Dan went on to announce publicly for the first time that the USS Michael Murphy would be commissioned in New York City.

From the National WWII Museum website;

“There was a landing craft breached, either due to fire or to being grounded, and quite a few men on it were not getting off and the craft was going down. We swam out and took a few…back to shore. Somebody else got a long rope which we swam out with, tied onto the landing craft, and had them hold onto…and walk themselves in…. At that time I had no idea there was a photographer in the vicinity.”
–2nd Lt. Walter Sidlowski, 348th Combat Battalion, 5th Engineer Special Brigade
“I saw this magnificent man swim out and bring some people off the sinking ship and bring them back in to shore and to me he was the picture of heroic beauty.”
–Pfc. Walter Rosenblum, describing the rescue efforts of Lieutenant Walter Sidlowski

Above: 1St LT Walter Sidlowski on Omaha Beach rescues scores of drowning fellow Soldiers on June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion of France. Photo by Walter Rosenblum.

Above: 1st LT Walter Sidlowski on Omaha Beach recovers the dead after the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion of France. This photo appears on the cover of the book “Normandy”. Photo by Walter Rosenblum.
Walter died over seventy years after his heroic actions at Normandy. I suppose he was very tired after such a long and successful life … a life that he certainly deserved to live.
Today at 1100 there will by a mass for Walter Sidlowski and later this man of the “Greatest Generation” will laid to rest at Calverton National Cemetery with LT Michael Murphy, USN and many others who sacrificed so much for their country.
http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/calverton.asp

Category: Real Soldiers