Wednesday, March 11, 2009

PLAV POST 13 Color Guard Honoring First Sgt. Robert J. Dowdy

Fleet Avenue Patriots

St. John Nepomece Catholic Church, Cleveland, Ohio


Post 13 Honors First Sgt. Robert J. Dowdy

Eddie Laskowski, 11th Armored Div., WWII

Highlighting Ed Laskowski, Post 13 Member


Edward Laskowski



Edward Laskowski was born on October 16, 1918, to Andrew and Agnes Laskowski. Ed was raised on Polonia Avenue with four sisters and two brothers. Only one sister, Sister M Florentine, is living. Ed attended Sacred Heart of Jesus School for eight years and graduated from South High School in 1937. He played double A softball for the Comrade Club, which played throughout Cleveland and against out of town teams including the famous Chicago Hottentots. He also enjoyed bowling and golf.

In 1940 Ed enlisted in the United States Army. His basic training was with the Fifth Infantry Division at Camp Custer, Michigan. He was than transferred to the Quartermaster Corp. at Fort Hayes, Ohio, where he was promoted to Technical Sergeant. In 1P42 he was in the original cadre to open Camp Atterbury, Indiana where he was promoted to Master Sergeant. He was transferred to the Armored Division and trained at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas and Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was sent to Europe to join the Eleventh Armored Division. He saw action in France, Belgium, Germany and Austria. He was awarded the Purple Heart and two bronze stars. He also received the Croix de Guerre medal from the country of Belgium. Ed was discharged from the Army in 1945.

Ed worked for the United States Post Office for thirty one years, retiring in 1980. Ed and his wife Esther exchanged wedding vows in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in 1942. They are the parents of three daughters.

Ed has been a volunteer at the Brecksville V.A. Medical Center for seventeen years and he serves mass at the chapel hospital on Sunday morning. He is a member of St. Michael Holy Name Society, Knight of Columbus, Catholic War Veterans, Life member Disabled American Veterans, Purple Heart Veterans, Life member of Veterans of Foreign War and Life member of American Legion, where he was Commander for six years.

Since he joined Lincoln Post #13 he became very active. He became chairman of the fund-raising committee which holds reverse benefits and also serves on the 250 Club committee. He started the Post #13 newsletter and became editor. Occasionally he assists the audit committee.

In 2003, Lincoln Post #13 and Department of Ohio were honored to name Ed Lasowski E"Veteran of the Year".