Page 16 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2018- Online Magazine
P. 16
Stanley Bobrowski, Jr.
Son of a Russian Officer
by Larry A. Williams
in almost every branch of the mass fire in a very short time
service.” period. The mortar proved so
successful that it was mounted
Though he had already begun on boats to cover beach assaults
studies at Purdue University in the Pacific.
on a Math scholarship, Stanley
enlisted in the Army on March
3, 1943. Right after enlistment
and before basic training,
he was assigned to further
education studies in Chemical
Engineering at the University
of Pennsylvania. Having been
a former high school track
star, during his time at Penn,
he was recruited to run in the
prestigious Penn Relays. He Bobrowski was a college student
placed 2nd in the 220 and was when he enlisted. He noted
part of the winning relay team. that “everybody went in (the
service), so I did too.” His major
tanley J. Bobrowski, Jr. His basic training took place in Chemical Engineering tied in
of Lubbock, Texas didn’t at Camp Sibert in Alabama.
Shave the typical family (The camp was named after well with the Chemical Weapons
Service during WWII. After
upbringing that most South Major General William L. Sibert, more training, Stanley’s unit was
Plains WWII veterans had. His a native of nearby Gadsden, sent to Northern California for
father, Stanley Bobrowski, was Alabama. A veteran of WWI, more training and then to a camp
born in Russia in 1881. He Sibert was the first Chief of the north of New Orleans. The unit
served in the Russian Cavalry Chemical Warfare Service.) boarded a troop train at Camp
and came to the United States in Stanley was assigned to the Shelby, Mississippi and headed
1906. His father, who worked newly activated 93rd Chemical for Camp Miles Standish near
in a steel mill, was active in the Mortar Battalion, Company Boston, Massachusetts. The
Holy Rosary Church in North C. The Battalion was equipped battalion left Boston Harbor on
Chicago and was the bell ringer with 4.2-inch mortars. It was a January 18, 1945 on board the
for the church until his death multi-purpose weapon employed Santa Maria. They were escorted
in 1960. Stanley in close support by an English battleship and DE
Jr., one of eight of combat ground (destroyer) boats. En route to La
children, was troops. It had the Havre, France, the convoy was
born on January ability to fire toxic attacked by German U boats.
27, 1923 in North agents, smoke and Once in La Havre, the battalion
Chicago. His high explosives. departed for Camp Lucky Strike
mother, Anna, The Chemical in France. The 93rd joined up
was a housewife. Warfare Service with the Fifteenth Army and
Four of the boys saw the mortar as a headed to Germany with its
served in the mobile and flexible newly motorized equipment.
military during weapon that Attached to the 87th Infantry
WWII. Stanley could be placed in Division, and after crossing
joked that, and out of action the Rhine at Trier, France into
between them, quickly and deliver Germany,
they “served
16 Lubbock Senior Link
