WW2 Guadalcanal Fallen - DSC hero Edward Krygowski, Americal Division

Cpl. Edward Krygowski served with the Americal Division during the attack on Mt. Austen on Guadalcanal.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92478972/edward-j-krygowski
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mount_Austen,_the_Galloping_Horse,_and_the_Sea_Horse

Edward J. Krygowski never had a chance to reach 100 years old. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

Last year I was not able to write a profile everyday from September to November because I was studying for the Certified Financial Planner test (I passed!). I feel my project to honor one U.S. serviceman for each day of the war would be incomplete if I left them off. As I have time, I am going back and adding profiles for the days I missed.

Edward was born on September 28, 1918 in Illinois. His parents Joseph and Katherine were both born in Austria-Hungary in what later became Poland. They came to America in 1902. His father worked as a car repair shop carpenter and later a car foundry laborer. His mother found work as a char woman and janitress. Edward had four older sisters, three older brothers, and three younger brothers. By 1940 Edward had completed four years of high school and worked as an assistant driver.

He was drafted into the army on April 2, 1941. He became a corporal in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 132nd Infantry Regiment, 23rd Infantry Division, better known at the Americal Division.

The 132nd IR was one of the first army regiments sent overseas. It left New York in January 1942 and arrived in Australia by February. By May it was attached to the Americal Division in New Caledonia which was assigned to augment and then relieve the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal.

Corp. Krygowski and the 132nd Infantry Regiment landed on Guadalcanal on December 8, 1942. By the second week on island the 132nd was ordered to drive the Japanese off of Mt. Austen. This hill was high ground that allowed the Japanese to keep an eye on Henderson Field. The Japanese position was their strongest on the island and it took more than a month to clear them off the hill.

 He was one of 250 troops killed taking Mt. Austen. His death on January 3, 1943 was posthumously recognized as warranting the Distinguished Service Cross. Here is the citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Edward J. Krygowski (ASN: 36015183), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 132d Infantry Regiment, Americal Division, in action against enemy forces at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 2 January 1943. 

On that date the Japanese were pressing too hard for his platoon to hold their forward position and the order was give to pull back to a location that could be more easily defended. Corporal Krygowski and a comrade volunteered to remain behind to cover the withdrawal, despite the chance that they would not be able to escape. As the enemy advanced on the post, the two men separated, trying to take cover from the hail of machine gun bullets and Corporal Krygowski was wounded in the leg. Despite this, he began crawling toward a spot from which he hear a cry for help, thinking it was his comrade. It was a trap but Corporal Krygowski continued to perform his entire task, repulsing the enemy at the cost of his own life. The number of dead found near him revealed his valiant efforts. 

Corporal Krygowski's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army.

His grave is at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleums in Justice, Illinois.

Thank you Corp. Krygoroski for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Edward.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

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WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

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