Alvin was born in Baranowicze, Poland
Alvin served in the military in World War II at the Battle of the Bulge and was a German POW captive. He was captured on March 27, 1945 and was liberated on April 13, 1945.
World War II Military Service: Army, Rank,Private, Germany European Theatre, entered action June 7th, 1944 WW II, Company H-137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division. Northern French Campaign over the Rhine River into Germany Fought in Battle of the Bulge. Four other battles for which there is no record
Captured after the battle of the Bulge (The German's last ditch effort defense to stop allies from Berlin) the 137th never gave resistance and held the autobahn highway and over threw three industrial towns and took 500 German soldiers as prisoners. While on patrol with twenty-three men from Company G and H who were killed or captured; by a German tank, March 27, 1945, they unknowingly advanced into enemy territory to establish an OP in a building and were isolated and had no means of escape. Liberated April 13th, 1945 by US forces from a prison stockade inside the Ruhr Valley Encirclement.
Medals: Bronze star, third highest honor Army gives, five battle ribbons, bronze medal of infantry soldier.
____________________
THE ISKOW FAMILY
by Suzy Kaminski
THE TIMES LEADER
Wilkes Barre, PA
July 4, 2015
(reproduced with permission)
My Father, Alvin Jacob Iczowicz, was born in 1921. In 1929, his mother, Esther, and two younger brothers all immigrated together leaving the village of Baronowicz, Poland (now Gadansk) behind, supposedly for the USA. My family traveled in the bowels of the steamer, heading for Ellis Island. Upon arrival they were told the quota for immigrants was filled, they needed to go elsewhere. They landed in Nova Scotia, living there until immigrating to Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
With no funds left, they lived behind a poultry shop, where in exchange for rent, Grandmother plucked all the feathers from the foul.
The conditions and odor were deplorable but they did what they had to do for Freedom. Daddy went to school in Windsor till 8th grade then went to work so his brothers could get an education.
After 10 years, they crossed the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit, Michigan, where Grandma had siblings who arrived there earlier. At the border, officials asked Grandma where her husband was. Complete families were the ones usually allowed to enter the U. S. At that moment, Grandma told the biggest lie of her life. "He died on the ship, and we pushed him over." In fact, Grandpa was MIA in Cuba, leaving before the Russian Army could make him join. Immigration officials asked Esther to write her name in English on forms, but she wrote English in a childish manner, the letters were large. When she ran out of the room on the name line, the officer said, "Congratulations, this is your new name."
Our new name became Iskow. In Detroit, with minor education, Dad becamse a Pepsi Cola delivery man. Dad married Mom. The war came; he immediately joined the Army, as did his two brothers.
When Dad took the oath to join the Army, the words were: I (name) being a citizen of the United States....My Dad said, "Hold on here, I am not a USA citizen yet." The commanding officer said to my Dad, "You come with me."
He marched Dad in front of a judge. The officer told the judge to legalize my dad "now." The judge asked Dad a few questions and said, "OK, you are now a citizen of the USA, congratulations." And that is how Dad became a citizen of our Great Nation.
Daddy was infantry and was sent right back to Germany and Poland.. He was in the Battle of the Bulge, captured, and marched to a Prisoner of War camp. My mother got notice that Dad was killed in action. Months later she found out that he was a prisoner.
Dad's dog tags said Jewish on them. When a gun from a tank blasted in the stone foundation of the basement in which they were hiding, the soldier next to Daddy was killed; his dog tags said Presbyterian on it, so Daddy switched dog tags with the deceased soldier because being Jewish would mean certain death in the hands of the Germans. This why my mother received a notice that her husband was dead.
Upon arriving home, doctors said Dad had "shell shock", an old name for PTSD. It was severe. He was in VA hospitals suffering immensely. We almost never had our daddy home because he was undergoing treatment at the VA.
When he was better, he bought a red truck and used it to deliver fruit and vegetables to poor neighborhoods, becoming a Huckster with a Heart, always giving an apple to each kidthat hung onto Mama's apron. He joined the Disabled American Veterans, and marched in all the parades, a small drum tied to his waist. We were so proud of him.
Daddy was such a talented self-taught sea-scape and ship painter, perhaps from the days of the crossing. Dad never owned a car. We sat proudly in his beloved red truck.
Dad passed away in a VA hospital in 1987, still proud of his adopted country. END
Alvin served in the military in World War II at the Battle of the Bulge and was a German POW captive. He was captured on March 27, 1945 and was liberated on April 13, 1945.
World War II Military Service: Army, Rank,Private, Germany European Theatre, entered action June 7th, 1944 WW II, Company H-137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division. Northern French Campaign over the Rhine River into Germany Fought in Battle of the Bulge. Four other battles for which there is no record
Captured after the battle of the Bulge (The German's last ditch effort defense to stop allies from Berlin) the 137th never gave resistance and held the autobahn highway and over threw three industrial towns and took 500 German soldiers as prisoners. While on patrol with twenty-three men from Company G and H who were killed or captured; by a German tank, March 27, 1945, they unknowingly advanced into enemy territory to establish an OP in a building and were isolated and had no means of escape. Liberated April 13th, 1945 by US forces from a prison stockade inside the Ruhr Valley Encirclement.
Medals: Bronze star, third highest honor Army gives, five battle ribbons, bronze medal of infantry soldier.
____________________
THE ISKOW FAMILY
by Suzy Kaminski
THE TIMES LEADER
Wilkes Barre, PA
July 4, 2015
(reproduced with permission)
My Father, Alvin Jacob Iczowicz, was born in 1921. In 1929, his mother, Esther, and two younger brothers all immigrated together leaving the village of Baronowicz, Poland (now Gadansk) behind, supposedly for the USA. My family traveled in the bowels of the steamer, heading for Ellis Island. Upon arrival they were told the quota for immigrants was filled, they needed to go elsewhere. They landed in Nova Scotia, living there until immigrating to Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
With no funds left, they lived behind a poultry shop, where in exchange for rent, Grandmother plucked all the feathers from the foul.
The conditions and odor were deplorable but they did what they had to do for Freedom. Daddy went to school in Windsor till 8th grade then went to work so his brothers could get an education.
After 10 years, they crossed the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit, Michigan, where Grandma had siblings who arrived there earlier. At the border, officials asked Grandma where her husband was. Complete families were the ones usually allowed to enter the U. S. At that moment, Grandma told the biggest lie of her life. "He died on the ship, and we pushed him over." In fact, Grandpa was MIA in Cuba, leaving before the Russian Army could make him join. Immigration officials asked Esther to write her name in English on forms, but she wrote English in a childish manner, the letters were large. When she ran out of the room on the name line, the officer said, "Congratulations, this is your new name."
Our new name became Iskow. In Detroit, with minor education, Dad becamse a Pepsi Cola delivery man. Dad married Mom. The war came; he immediately joined the Army, as did his two brothers.
When Dad took the oath to join the Army, the words were: I (name) being a citizen of the United States....My Dad said, "Hold on here, I am not a USA citizen yet." The commanding officer said to my Dad, "You come with me."
He marched Dad in front of a judge. The officer told the judge to legalize my dad "now." The judge asked Dad a few questions and said, "OK, you are now a citizen of the USA, congratulations." And that is how Dad became a citizen of our Great Nation.
Daddy was infantry and was sent right back to Germany and Poland.. He was in the Battle of the Bulge, captured, and marched to a Prisoner of War camp. My mother got notice that Dad was killed in action. Months later she found out that he was a prisoner.
Dad's dog tags said Jewish on them. When a gun from a tank blasted in the stone foundation of the basement in which they were hiding, the soldier next to Daddy was killed; his dog tags said Presbyterian on it, so Daddy switched dog tags with the deceased soldier because being Jewish would mean certain death in the hands of the Germans. This why my mother received a notice that her husband was dead.
Upon arriving home, doctors said Dad had "shell shock", an old name for PTSD. It was severe. He was in VA hospitals suffering immensely. We almost never had our daddy home because he was undergoing treatment at the VA.
When he was better, he bought a red truck and used it to deliver fruit and vegetables to poor neighborhoods, becoming a Huckster with a Heart, always giving an apple to each kidthat hung onto Mama's apron. He joined the Disabled American Veterans, and marched in all the parades, a small drum tied to his waist. We were so proud of him.
Daddy was such a talented self-taught sea-scape and ship painter, perhaps from the days of the crossing. Dad never owned a car. We sat proudly in his beloved red truck.
Dad passed away in a VA hospital in 1987, still proud of his adopted country. END
Alvin was born in Baranowicze, Poland
Alvin served in the military in World War II at the Battle of the Bulge and was a German POW captive. He was captured on March 27, 1945 and was liberated on April 13, 1945.
World War II Military Service: Army, Rank,Private, Germany European Theatre, entered action June 7th, 1944 WW II, Company H-137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division. Northern French Campaign over the Rhine River into Germany Fought in Battle of the Bulge. Four other battles for which there is no record
Captured after the battle of the Bulge (The German's last ditch effort defense to stop allies from Berlin) the 137th never gave resistance and held the autobahn highway and over threw three industrial towns and took 500 German soldiers as prisoners. While on patrol with twenty-three men from Company G and H who were killed or captured; by a German tank, March 27, 1945, they unknowingly advanced into enemy territory to establish an OP in a building and were isolated and had no means of escape. Liberated April 13th, 1945 by US forces from a prison stockade inside the Ruhr Valley Encirclement.
Medals: Bronze star, third highest honor Army gives, five battle ribbons, bronze medal of infantry soldier.
____________________
THE ISKOW FAMILY
by Suzy Kaminski
THE TIMES LEADER
Wilkes Barre, PA
July 4, 2015
(reproduced with permission)
My Father, Alvin Jacob Iczowicz, was born in 1921. In 1929, his mother, Esther, and two younger brothers all immigrated together leaving the village of Baronowicz, Poland (now Gadansk) behind, supposedly for the USA. My family traveled in the bowels of the steamer, heading for Ellis Island. Upon arrival they were told the quota for immigrants was filled, they needed to go elsewhere. They landed in Nova Scotia, living there until immigrating to Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
With no funds left, they lived behind a poultry shop, where in exchange for rent, Grandmother plucked all the feathers from the foul.
The conditions and odor were deplorable but they did what they had to do for Freedom. Daddy went to school in Windsor till 8th grade then went to work so his brothers could get an education.
After 10 years, they crossed the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit, Michigan, where Grandma had siblings who arrived there earlier. At the border, officials asked Grandma where her husband was. Complete families were the ones usually allowed to enter the U. S. At that moment, Grandma told the biggest lie of her life. "He died on the ship, and we pushed him over." In fact, Grandpa was MIA in Cuba, leaving before the Russian Army could make him join. Immigration officials asked Esther to write her name in English on forms, but she wrote English in a childish manner, the letters were large. When she ran out of the room on the name line, the officer said, "Congratulations, this is your new name."
Our new name became Iskow. In Detroit, with minor education, Dad becamse a Pepsi Cola delivery man. Dad married Mom. The war came; he immediately joined the Army, as did his two brothers.
When Dad took the oath to join the Army, the words were: I (name) being a citizen of the United States....My Dad said, "Hold on here, I am not a USA citizen yet." The commanding officer said to my Dad, "You come with me."
He marched Dad in front of a judge. The officer told the judge to legalize my dad "now." The judge asked Dad a few questions and said, "OK, you are now a citizen of the USA, congratulations." And that is how Dad became a citizen of our Great Nation.
Daddy was infantry and was sent right back to Germany and Poland.. He was in the Battle of the Bulge, captured, and marched to a Prisoner of War camp. My mother got notice that Dad was killed in action. Months later she found out that he was a prisoner.
Dad's dog tags said Jewish on them. When a gun from a tank blasted in the stone foundation of the basement in which they were hiding, the soldier next to Daddy was killed; his dog tags said Presbyterian on it, so Daddy switched dog tags with the deceased soldier because being Jewish would mean certain death in the hands of the Germans. This why my mother received a notice that her husband was dead.
Upon arriving home, doctors said Dad had "shell shock", an old name for PTSD. It was severe. He was in VA hospitals suffering immensely. We almost never had our daddy home because he was undergoing treatment at the VA.
When he was better, he bought a red truck and used it to deliver fruit and vegetables to poor neighborhoods, becoming a Huckster with a Heart, always giving an apple to each kidthat hung onto Mama's apron. He joined the Disabled American Veterans, and marched in all the parades, a small drum tied to his waist. We were so proud of him.
Daddy was such a talented self-taught sea-scape and ship painter, perhaps from the days of the crossing. Dad never owned a car. We sat proudly in his beloved red truck.
Dad passed away in a VA hospital in 1987, still proud of his adopted country. END
Alvin served in the military in World War II at the Battle of the Bulge and was a German POW captive. He was captured on March 27, 1945 and was liberated on April 13, 1945.
World War II Military Service: Army, Rank,Private, Germany European Theatre, entered action June 7th, 1944 WW II, Company H-137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division. Northern French Campaign over the Rhine River into Germany Fought in Battle of the Bulge. Four other battles for which there is no record
Captured after the battle of the Bulge (The German's last ditch effort defense to stop allies from Berlin) the 137th never gave resistance and held the autobahn highway and over threw three industrial towns and took 500 German soldiers as prisoners. While on patrol with twenty-three men from Company G and H who were killed or captured; by a German tank, March 27, 1945, they unknowingly advanced into enemy territory to establish an OP in a building and were isolated and had no means of escape. Liberated April 13th, 1945 by US forces from a prison stockade inside the Ruhr Valley Encirclement.
Medals: Bronze star, third highest honor Army gives, five battle ribbons, bronze medal of infantry soldier.
____________________
THE ISKOW FAMILY
by Suzy Kaminski
THE TIMES LEADER
Wilkes Barre, PA
July 4, 2015
(reproduced with permission)
My Father, Alvin Jacob Iczowicz, was born in 1921. In 1929, his mother, Esther, and two younger brothers all immigrated together leaving the village of Baronowicz, Poland (now Gadansk) behind, supposedly for the USA. My family traveled in the bowels of the steamer, heading for Ellis Island. Upon arrival they were told the quota for immigrants was filled, they needed to go elsewhere. They landed in Nova Scotia, living there until immigrating to Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
With no funds left, they lived behind a poultry shop, where in exchange for rent, Grandmother plucked all the feathers from the foul.
The conditions and odor were deplorable but they did what they had to do for Freedom. Daddy went to school in Windsor till 8th grade then went to work so his brothers could get an education.
After 10 years, they crossed the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit, Michigan, where Grandma had siblings who arrived there earlier. At the border, officials asked Grandma where her husband was. Complete families were the ones usually allowed to enter the U. S. At that moment, Grandma told the biggest lie of her life. "He died on the ship, and we pushed him over." In fact, Grandpa was MIA in Cuba, leaving before the Russian Army could make him join. Immigration officials asked Esther to write her name in English on forms, but she wrote English in a childish manner, the letters were large. When she ran out of the room on the name line, the officer said, "Congratulations, this is your new name."
Our new name became Iskow. In Detroit, with minor education, Dad becamse a Pepsi Cola delivery man. Dad married Mom. The war came; he immediately joined the Army, as did his two brothers.
When Dad took the oath to join the Army, the words were: I (name) being a citizen of the United States....My Dad said, "Hold on here, I am not a USA citizen yet." The commanding officer said to my Dad, "You come with me."
He marched Dad in front of a judge. The officer told the judge to legalize my dad "now." The judge asked Dad a few questions and said, "OK, you are now a citizen of the USA, congratulations." And that is how Dad became a citizen of our Great Nation.
Daddy was infantry and was sent right back to Germany and Poland.. He was in the Battle of the Bulge, captured, and marched to a Prisoner of War camp. My mother got notice that Dad was killed in action. Months later she found out that he was a prisoner.
Dad's dog tags said Jewish on them. When a gun from a tank blasted in the stone foundation of the basement in which they were hiding, the soldier next to Daddy was killed; his dog tags said Presbyterian on it, so Daddy switched dog tags with the deceased soldier because being Jewish would mean certain death in the hands of the Germans. This why my mother received a notice that her husband was dead.
Upon arriving home, doctors said Dad had "shell shock", an old name for PTSD. It was severe. He was in VA hospitals suffering immensely. We almost never had our daddy home because he was undergoing treatment at the VA.
When he was better, he bought a red truck and used it to deliver fruit and vegetables to poor neighborhoods, becoming a Huckster with a Heart, always giving an apple to each kidthat hung onto Mama's apron. He joined the Disabled American Veterans, and marched in all the parades, a small drum tied to his waist. We were so proud of him.
Daddy was such a talented self-taught sea-scape and ship painter, perhaps from the days of the crossing. Dad never owned a car. We sat proudly in his beloved red truck.
Dad passed away in a VA hospital in 1987, still proud of his adopted country. END
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