Chosen Families #4: Group of Soldiers

To begin with, as found alongside the previous recovered photograph in Chosen Families #3, I also found this photograph of a group that was largely identified. Likewise to previous, I decided to research these men in order to positively identify them and return them to their families. Additionally, my goal is to correlate the records between them in order to see if any commonalities exist between them. In comparison to previous, I knew this photograph would be slightly more difficult to research because these men are out in the field, not at a central barracks location, and thus could put piecing them together to be more difficult. 

This photograph is of a group of military men in uniforms. Some of the men are holding clipboards. At the time the photograph was taken, it was likely cold weather, judging by the jackets and hats the men were wearing when the photograph was taken. There is also another group of men in the background working.  In the photograph itself on the front, there are 14 men, but only 13 are identified. 

The names listed on the back are:

1. Stan Ciepiela

2. Walt Trygar

3. Lester Sielski

4. Art Tarchala

5. Walt Du (Dmuchowski)

6. Ed Wsowski

7. Walt Doodz[?]

8. Ed Cepuch

9. Walt Roszkowski

10. Teddy Buzak

11. Al Golankiewicz

12. Walt Dobrowolski

13. Tony Kowizowski
    
    
    

Likewise, following a similar analysis process as last time, I wanted to put their names into a spreadsheet to see if I could find some commonalities between them.

I linked the copy of the spreadsheet here. I was able to provide a background for 6 out of the 13 that are listed. As to note, this research may not be definite. The men are Stanley Chester Ciepiela, Frank Walter Trygar, Lester Michael Sielski, Arthur F Tarchala, Theodore Peter Buzak, and Alvin F Golankiewicz. Of the men I did find, as what I had predicted, they come from different places across the United States. Most of them had enlisted the North East. Trying to piece them together as a unit was difficult, and unfortunately, I could not find a specific unit of origin. Also Walt Dobrowolski & Walt Roszkowski had multiple people that could come as possibilities for them. Due to the fact that they used generic nicknames, which could stand for their middle names, or first names, I didn’t correlate any specific records for them (to note their are 5 men with the names “Walt” listed.

From the information I did find, Stanley Chester Ciepiela (Stan Ciepiela) identified as a Radio Officer, Infantry Unit Commander and Aerial Photo Interpreter. I could only find other information for Theodore P Buzak (Teddy Buzak), who identified as a Sergeant in the Army Med Corps. Regardless, at some point, these men had crossed paths, captured in this group photograph. Additionally the photograph was taken between 1942-1946, based on the dates of the men I found who had been enlisted/discharged.

Fortunately, in this session of research, I did find two possible photographs to compare the men too from the photograph based on the people I researched. These where for Arthur F Tarchala (Art Tarchala) and Theodore P Buzak (Teddy Buzak) . For Arthur, the photograph is from his 1938 De Paul University (Chicago) yearbook, and for Theodore, his is one that posted to a family tree connected to his records, with Theodore in uniform. The comparisons of the faces are shown down below:

Yearbook Picture of Arthur F. Tarchala (1938) in comparison to the group picture (1942-1946)

Photograph of Theodore Peter Buzak (taken in his uniform, date unknown) in comparison to the group picture (1942-1946)

One big takeaway I’ve noticed from doing these past two research sessions is that Pennsylvania has an extensive collection of records for veterans, so if one has family members from their, there is a strong likelihood one can find records for that particular family member.

If you have any information or know of any of these individuals please leave a comment below or contact me at my email, jrebelogenealogy@gmail.com.