THE WALL OF FACES

Army Sergeant From Tacony Dies in Vietnam

A 20-year-old Army sergeant who as a baby kept his father out of the service during the Korean war, died last week in Vietnam of a head wound.
"He kept me out of Korea," said Ernest N. Zackowski, 39, of 4840 Unruh st., Tuesday night in his Tacony home.
His son, Sgt. Edward F. Zackowski, died November 28 of grenade fragments received in combat the day before.
"He had been wounded twice before, but hadn't told us because he didn't want his mother to worry," the father said. He said the youth kept his letters light and cheery, and he jokingly remarked he had "five months and 22 malaria pills to go" recently.
"We were married young," Zackowski said, "and they would have drafted me if it weren't for him and my other child (a sister, Mrs. Antoinette Klein). They were drafting men with one child at the time," he said.
In a recent letter to his 10-year-old brother, Ernest, the soldier wrote, in verse:

I came to this place because
there was a job to be done.
It didn't take long to find out it wouldn't be fun,
I'm here for a year and a year I'll stay.
I'll fight like hell and pray each day,
That my being here will keep my brother away.

Edward Zackowski had attended St Leo's Catholic School, Unruh and Keystone sts., and was graduated from Father Judge High School in 1965.
He pitched for the Tacony PAL team, and worked for a year for the Sone Container Corp. before being drafted in October, 1966. He went overseas last March.
Before entering the service, he became engaged to Charlene Aarason, of Columbus, O., formerly of Philadelphia. Another sister, Wanda, 14 and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Antoinette Gallo, survive.

Edward is buried at Beverly Nat Cem.

Although we never met personally, I want to thank you Edward Francis Zackowski, for your courageous and valiant service, faithful contribution, and your most holy sacrifice given to this great country of ours!

Your Spirit is alive--and strong, therefore Soldier, you shall never be forgotten, nor has your death been in vain!

Again, thank you Sergeant Edward F. Zackowski, for a job exceptionally well done!

REST IN ETERNAL PEACE MY FRIEND

SERGEANT


EDWARD FRANCIS ZACKOWSKI


served with


COMPANY 'D'

2nd BATTALION

14th INFANTRY REGIMENT

25th INFANTRY DIVISION


and was a recipient of the following

military decorations and service medals


SILVER STAR

BRONZE STAR with 'V' for VALOR device

PURPLE HEART with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL

VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL

VIETNAM CAMPAIGN SERVICE MEDAL


and, also, was entitled to wear the


COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE


above his military decorations





YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE





" ... who shall speak for the unseen dead ... "

We often sit and think of him, and then of how he died, and to think he could not say good-bye before he closed his eyes. no one knows our longing, And no one sees us weep We shed our tears from an aching heart While others are fast asleep. sadly missed,always loved by Aunt Dolly and Uncle Ralph