I started a page for military service. I know I’m missing folks. Also some I don’t have the information about their service. Also don’t know who all has had related service on the home front. So please send information.
The earliest military service located was Adam Langiewicz. He lied about his age to join and serve under the first General MacArthur in the Spanish American War & the Philippine Campaign. Later he reenlisted and served under the second General MacArthur in WW I. (See news article below)
Matt Rogers served in the army in World War I, stationed in France. He was part of the 32nd Engineers and completed his engineering degree after the war.
Bob Davidson was drafted into WWII in 1943 when he completed his engineering degree and served in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. He was in Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s engineering headquarters in the Philippines and mainland Japan. He was awarded a bronze star.
Ed R. Malinowski served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater in WWII aboard a transport, the U.S. Grant.
John White served in the Navy in WW II in the engine room of a destroyer (The Intrepid) The engines were loud and his hearing was somewhat damaged. Em remembers, “he had worked on hot pipes so much that he could pick up a HOT cast iron pan without a potholder and never even feel it.”
Dave Vogeler entered the Navy January 15th 1945, was trained in basic engineering and off the island of Yap when the war ended. He served on the Destroyer, Cowell, to maintain the peace off Okinawa, to Wakayama, Japan then back to Okinawa.
Len Airhart served in the Navy. He was part of the first drone program. It was run by hydraulics which was his specialty (see his biography.) When that program failed he was sent to Hawaii where he primarily maintained the hydraulic landing gear on the planes.
Don Davidson served in WW II in Air Force Engineers in the Pacific theater. He wanted to be a pilot but just couldn’t get his large frame into the little cockpits.
Alice Johnson Malinowski received her nursing degree in 1941, and enlisted in the Army. She served as a Lieutenant in the 103rd Evacuation Hospital in Europe. Her unit arrived at Omaha Beach in Normandy a few days after D-Day, and followed the troops up the cliffs to set up their canvas field hospital. They moved through France, Belgium, and Germany from July 1944 to April 1945.
John Malinowski joined the United States Army Air Corps and served during World War II.
John Erak
In WW II those on the home front helped, too. Grays Harbor had a factory to build B52 gunner compartments. Soph, Em & Doris Davidson all worked there. One story was that the first thing Boeing taught the women was how to tie the required head scarf so it covered all hair. (The men didn’t have to wear them even if they had long bushy hair.) The scarf was to assure that no hair caught in the machinery.
Dick Malin graduated from West Point. Stationed….Germany.
John Carossino joined the United States Army in 1967 and was stationed with the 3rd Infantry Division Artillery in West Germany, where he rose to the rank of sergeant.
Ken White – Army. Viet Nam War
Roger White – Navy
Aberdeen World News Article –
HUSBAND SERVED BOTH MAC ARTHURS
Source: Aberdeen Daily World, Aberdeen, Wash. – 1964
The death of Gen. Douglas MacArthur started some fond memories for Rose Langiewicz, 1309 N. Washington St. Mrs. Langiewicz is the widow of Adam J. Langiewicz who served under both the late General MacArthur and his father, Gen. Arthur MacArthur. Mr. Langiewicz was only 14 years old when he enlisted in the Spanish-American War from Wisconsin.
“He was a big, husky farm boy,” his widow related, “and looked older than his years. He wanted to enlist, and his father signed the papers for him.”
Serving in the Philippines turned out to be an unforgettable experience for the young Wisconsin farm lad, as he became Gen. Arthur’s orderly.
When World War I broke out, Langiewicz enlisted in the Army from Aberdeen and served under Gen. Douglas MacArthur, The Aberdeen man fought in France and served in the Army for five years, remaining in the government. He was discharged a lieutenant. Mr. Langiewicz had known young Douglas at the time he was serving as the father’s orderly.
STAYED YEAR EXTRA
“He used to say,” his widow recalled, “that the MacArthurs treated him like one of the family.”
A jetty builder by occupation, Mr. Langiewicz worked on both South Beach and Crescent City jetties. He and his wife lived in California for a number of years, and Mr. Langiewicz died in Los Angeles in 1944. His widow moved back to Aberdeen shortly thereafter.
VISIT AGED GENERAL
While they were living in California the couple read in the paper that Gen. Arthur Mac Arthur had retired (Transcriber’s note: 1909) and was living in La Jolla.
“My husband, ” Mrs. Langiewicz remembered, “was determined to pay a visit to the general. I was not in favor of it. So many years had gone by, and the general had known so many people that I was afraid he wouldn’t remember my husband. But we drove to La Jolla. I waited in the car while my husband went up to the house. General MacArthur came to the door and said immediately, “Why, how are you, Adam?”
“We were invited to come into the house and had lunch and a very good visit. They were wonderful people. In my husband’s opinion, both of the MacArthurs were the finest of men.
“And I,” she added, “am very proud of my husband’s war record
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