From the Omaha World Herald Newspaper 1-8-2019
Omaha native Leo Dulacki had quite a year in 1942. And quite a life ever since.

Assigned to the carrier USS Hornet, the young Marine lieutenant was aboard when James Doolittle's raiders took off for their impossible attack on the Japanese mainland on April 18, 1942. A few weeks later, he lived through the pivotal Battle of Midway, which turned the naval war in the Pacific in favor of the United States. And he survived the sinking of the Hornet near Guadalcanal that fall.
Dulacki served in three wars, including a combat tour during the Korean War and two more during the Vietnam War. He was a lieutenant general and deputy chief of staff for manpower for the Marines when he retired in 1974.
Leo Dulacki served in the Marine Corps from 1941 to 1974.
"We didn't realize until we got older where he had been, what he had done," said Paul Magiera, 63, of Omaha, Dulacki's nephew. "People like that, there are not many of them left."
Now there is one fewer. Dulacki died Jan. 4 at his retirement home in Sun City West, Arizona, near Phoenix. He was 100 years old.
Dulacki was the eighth of 10 children of Polish immigrant parents who moved to South Omaha. He graduated from South High in 1936. He was named to the high school's hall of fame in 2013.
A combination of patriotism and financial need prompted him to seek an ROTC scholarship at Creighton, where he became president of the Polish Club and served on the Students Union board of governors. He graduated in 1941.
Dulacki completed officer's training shortly before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and was assigned to the Hornet, which was rushed from its base in Norfolk, Virginia, to the Pacific. The ship and its crew had an eventful year before it was sunk on Oct. 26, 1942.
The crew of the destroyer USS Mustin rescued him and other Hornet crew members from the sea. Dulacki volunteered his Marines to relieve the Mustin's anti-aircraft gunners.
He later commanded the Marine detachment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Belleau Wood through a series of campaigns in 1943 and 1944, until the ship was severely damaged in a kamikaze attack in October 1944.
Dulacki established, and then commanded, the Marine Recruiters School at Parris Island, South Carolina, until 1948. He then studied Russian at the Army Language School and was assigned as an attaché in Helsinki. He commanded a Marine battalion during the Korean War and participated in the truce negotiations at Panmunjom as a translator.
A career intelligence officer, Dulacki served as a Naval attaché in Moscow from 1958 to 1961, an eventful period that included the Soviet downing of the U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers.
In Vietnam, he served in senior command positions in 1965-66 and 1969-70.
As a major general, Dulacki commanded the 4th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton in California. During that tour, he was honored at a dinner at Creighton in May 1971.
The Marine Corps officer's sword and medals of retired Lt. Gen. Leo Dulacki are displayed at Creighton University's Reserve Officer's Training Corps building. Dulacki was a 1941 Creighton graduate and a decorated veteran of three wars.
By the time he retired in January 1974, Dulacki had earned a long list of awards, headlined by a Distinguished Service Medal with a gold star and a Legion of Merit with a Combat "V" with three gold stars.
Years later, he donated those medals to Creighton, along with his Marine Corps officer's sword. They are on display, along with his portrait, in the ROTC building.
Dulacki retired in Carlsbad, California, and later moved to Sun City West.
He never married because, he told relatives, he didn't want to subject his wife to the rigors of Marine Corps life. But he had a close-knit group of friends, and he made memorable visits to his two dozen nieces and nephews across the country.
"He treated all of us like we were the most special," said his niece Karen Magiera, 59, of Omaha.
In retirement, Dulacki kept busy with genealogy and golf. He visited almost 40 countries, keeping extensive journals of his travels.
"He played golf with presidents," including Nixon and Ford, Karen Magiera said.
He lived independently until last summer. Many of his relatives traveled to Arizona late last month for a party in honor of his 100th birthday, which was Dec. 29.
"We said, 'You just look great!' " Karen Magiera said. "It was his day, and he shone."
Two days after his birthday, he suffered a fall while getting dressed for bed. His condition slipped quickly after that, and he died four days later.
Dulacki will be buried later this year at Arlington National Cemetery.
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From Wikipedia;
Dulacki was born on December 29, 1918 in Omaha, Nebraska as the son of Stanley and Anna Dulacki, a first generation of polish imigrants. He graduated from Omaha South High School in summer 1936 and subsequently enrolled the Creighton University. During his time at the University, Dulacki was active in Golf and Chemistry Clubs and also served as President of the Polish Club and Student Union Board of Governors. He graduated with Bachelor of Science degree in June 1941 and was commissioned reserve second lieutenant within ROTC unit.
He resigned his reserve commission in order to accept appointment as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on September 2, 1941. Dulacki was subsequently ordered to the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard for basic officer training which he completed in November of that year. He was subsequently attached to the Marine Detachment aboard the newly commissioned aircraft carrier USS Hornet under Captain Marc Mitscher. At the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hornet trained out of Norfolk.
Dulacki served aboard the Hornet during the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in April 1942 and was promoted to the rank of First lieutenant in September of that year. He was aboard when carrier participated in the Battle of Midway in June 1942 and later when it was sunk during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on October 26, 1942. He was rescued by escorting destroyers and sent to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where he was promoted to the rank of Captain in March 1943. Dulacki assumed command of the Marine Detachment aboard the newly commissioned light aircraft career USS Belleau Wood and took part in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands and Mariana and Palau Islands campaigns during 1944. He was promoted to the rank of Major in January 1944. Dulacki subsequently took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea during which Belleau Wood was severly damaged by kamikaze in October 1944.
The Belleau Wood sailed for Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, California for repairs in November of that year and Dulacki was detached from the ship in early 1945. He was then ordered to Kansas City, Missouri as Officer in Charge of local Marine Corps Recruiting Office.
Dulacki served in Kansas City until summer of 1947, when he was ordered to the Junior Course at the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. He completed the course in August 1947 and was transferred to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, where he was tasked by Major general Franklin A. Hart with the organization of Marine Recruiters School. Dulacki then served as Officer in charge of the school until June 1948, when he was ordered to Guam and joined 1st Marine Provisional Brigade as Assistant Operations Officer under Brigadier general Edward A. Craig. He returned to the United States in November of that year and attended Army Language School in Monterey, California where he studied russian language.
Upon graduation in October 1949, Dulacki was ordered to Washington, D.C. and attended the Strategic Intelligence School. He was then ordered to Finland and served as Assistant Naval Attache at the American Embassy in Helsinki. During his service there, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in January 1951 and received Commander's Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland by the Government of Finland.
Dulacki was ordered to Korea in August 1952 and assumed command of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. His battalion was deployed on the main line of resistance, Jamestown Line, which consisted of series of defensive positions, bunkers, outposts etc. During October of that year, Chinese People's Volunteer Army, launched serier of attacks on U.N. positions and Dulacki was wounded by enemy artillery fire, when he was knocked to the ground by the concussion of an enemy artillery round exploding nearby. He led his battalion during the defense of the Hook and successfully defended his objectives. Dulacki remained in that capacity until November 22, 1952 and received Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for his service on the Jamestown Line and Purple Heart for his wounds.
He reliquished his command and joined the Korean Truce negotiations team under Rear admiral John C. Daniel. Dulacki then participated in the Truce talks at Panmunjom on July 27, 1953 and repatriation of disabled prisoners-of-war. He distinguished himself in this capacity and received second Bronze Star Medal.
Dulacki returned to the United States in August 1953 and attended Senior Course at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. He graduated in June 1954 and assumed duty as Instructor, Intelligence section at the Schools under lieutenant general Gerald C. Thomas. He departed Quantico in July 1956 and joined 1st Marine Division under Major general Robert O. Bare at Camp Pendleton, California. Dulacki served as Executive officer, 1st Marine Regiment and subsequently joined divisional staff as Assistant logistics officer.
During the tough years of Cold War, Dulacki left for Moscow in June 1958 and joined American Embassy in Moscow as Assistant Naval Attache and then as Naval Attache. While in Moscow, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel in November 1959 and received Legion of Merit for his service in that country.
Upon his return to the United States in June 1961, Dulacki was attached to the Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff under General Lyman Lemnitzer and then transferred to the Defense Intelligence Agency in January 1962. He remained in this capacity until May 1964 and received newly established Joint Service Commendation Medal for service in that capacity. He then attended Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and graduated in June 1965. During this period, Dulacki also earned Master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University.