Military Veterans

“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country's cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.” – Abraham Lincoln

This Military Veterans page is dedicated to the deceased members of our family who have provided military service. This page is updated as new research on the family progresses.  Please feel free to share offer additional and corrections. 

To view photographs of of military veterans visit the The Military Collection  at the family photo website. This digital gallery features over 50 photographs of family members who served in the military. Many of the photographs are from the WWII era. The photographs range from portraits with family members to photos taken where the men were stationed and sent home to loved ones. Many of the photos are from the Helen Tillie Bukowski Collection.

Unknown Military Service

Antoine Loll, was born November 17, 1798 in Marcholsheim, Alsace, France. He is said to have served in the Served in the German Calvary or the French Army for seven years. Antoine Loll is featured in the blog post Antonine Loll: German Cavalryman

War of the Sixth Coalition

Hermann Selker, my 4th great grandfather, is said to have a soldier, serving under Napoleon Bonaparte in the Prussian Army during the retreat from Moscow, Russia in 1812.

American Civil War

Andrew Haggerty, my 4th great uncle, was the son of Robert Haggerty and Rebecca Easly. He was born in 1839 and he may have served in the Civil War. Historical records show that an Andrew Haggerty died at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863.

John Lauer, was the husband of my 4th great aunt Francisca Loll. Francisca was the sister of John Loll above and the daughter of Antoine Loll and Mary Ann Jehl, my 4th great grandparents. John was born 15 May 1841 in Baveria, Germany the son of George Lauer and Ursula Bendorfer. John is said to have arrived with his parents to the United States in 1846. John would have been around 20 at the start of the war. A Proud People A Proud Heritage, compiled by the compiled by the History Committee of St. Joseph Parish, Lucinda, Pa. indicates that John was taken as a prisoner of war on April 25, 1864. He later re-joined his regiment on December 16, 1864.

John Loll, my 4th great uncle, was born in Marcholsheim, Alsace, France on 08 Oct 1843. He is the son of Antoine Loll and Mary Ann Jehl, my 4th great grandparents. He arrived in the United States on 07 Oct 1852 at the Port of New York when he was 9 years old with his family. At the age of 18 he would serve in the Union Army. In February of 1862 he would be wounded in battle and would die as a casualty of war on June 10, 1862 in a hospital in Washington, D.C.

Joseph Loll, my 4th great uncle, served between 1861 and 1863 Company F, 63rd Regiment. 

James McDonald, my 4th great uncle, fought in the Civil War. In August 1,1861 he was enlisted in Company F, 63rd regiment at approximately age 33.  James was in a Confederate Prison camp from May 31 to September 13, 1862. He was promoted to corporal May, 1863; discharged August 28, 1863, for wounds received at Chancellorsville, Va., May 31, 1862. He was shot in the right arm. His grave marker at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Crown, Clarion County, Pennsylvania  indicates his rank of Corporal.  James would have been about 32 at the time of the civil war. James is estimated to be born around 1829 in Ireland, the son of David McDonald and Bridget, my 4th great grandparents.

John McDonald, my 4th great uncle and brother of James McDonald, also served in the civil war. He enlisted as a private on February 25, 1864 at approximately age 28 with Company F, 63rd Regiment.  He was transferred to Company H, the 105th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. He died October 16, 1864 in Beverly, New Jersey. He is buried in Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, Burlington County, New Jersey. His grave marker references Company H, 105 PA. Inf. To view his grave marker visit this link.

Andrew McDonald, my 4th great uncle and brother of James and John also served in the civil war. He enlisted as a private on March 14, 1862 at approximately age 22 for three years. Andrew was in a Confederate Prison camp from May 31 to September 13, 1862 with his brother James. He was then transferred to Company G., Second U.S. Calvary, on November 5, 1862 were he served as a sergeant.

To view the original post highlighting the service of Civil War veterans visit the Civil War Veterans. 

Spanish American War

Leopold M. Loll, my 1st cousin 4x removed, was born 18 Nov 1875. He was the son of Joseph Loll, my 3rd great grand uncle, and Helen Eisenman. According to William Loll, who wrote the Loll Family History books, Leopold served in the Spanish American War.  Leopold died in 1918 at the age of 42.

World War I

Gabriel Augustine Haggerty, my 1st cousin 4x removed,  born 1891 and served in WWI.

Vincent Charles Lynam, my 2nd cousin 4x removed, born July 6, 1888 in Fryburg, Clarion, Pennsylvania served in WWI.

Robert Edwin McDonald, my great grand uncle. Robert was born in Clarion Clarion County Pennsylvania Feb 1, 1899 the third child born to Robert Alphonsus McDonald Winifred Agnes O'Neill. Robert served in the 9th Balloon Company. 

Joseph Murosky, Sr., my great grand uncle. Joseph was born July 4, 1900 in Forest City, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Anthony Murosky, Sr. and Eva Zielinski.  He served in the United States Army as a Private First Class (PFC).  He enlisted on May 2, 1917 at age 16 and was discharged on October 2, 1919 at age 19.

To view the original post highlighting the service of  WWI veterans visit the post In Memory of WWI Veterans. 

World War II

There are numerous World War II veterans in the family.

Daniel L. Bukowski, my 1st cousin 2x removed, was born September 19, 1921. He served as a Sargent in the Army from October 24, 1942 through December 17, 1945. He was recognized in World War II Young American Patriots, 1941-1945 for his service. He was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.

Daniel L. Bukowski

Joseph R. Bukowski, my great grand uncle, was born July 4, 1906 in Erie, Pennsylvania.  He served in the Army between June 15, 1943 and June 24, 1944 as a Private in the Army.

Norbert Bukowski, my 1st cousin 2x removed, was born July 13, 1920 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Coast Guard from June 17, 1942 through November 7, 1945.

Norbert Bukowski with his daughter Judy

Raymond H. Bukowski, my 1st cousin 2x removed, was born February 28, 1920 in Erie, Pennsylvania   He served in the US Navy.

Raymond H. Bukowski

John E. Chanis, Jr., my 1st cousin 2x removed, was born February 12, 1916 in Forest City, Pennsylvania He served in WWII - PFC between July 27, 1944 and September 1945.

Anthony Aloysius Fromknecht, my great uncle, was born January 23, 1925 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Joseph J. Fromknecht and Mary Loesch. Anthony enlisted in the United States Army on February 21, 1941 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He served as a 1st Lieutenant. He was discharged from service on December 22, 1945.

Anthony Aloysius Fromknecht

Raymond Loll, my 2nd cousin 3x removed, was born in 1922 the son of Francis G. Loll, my 2nd cousin 3x removed, and Elizabeth Hartle. On February 20, 1943, at age 21, Raymond enlisted with the Air Corps in Miami Beach, Florida. Raymond was trained as a B-29 pilot and assigned to the 43rd Bomber Squadron and the 29th Bomber Group designated 'Very Heavy'. On April 14, 1945 Raymond's plane was lost and the crew perished on a Mission to Tokyo. Raymond was recorded as Missing in Action or Buried at Sea. Raymond was 23 years old at the time of his death. He was awarded a Purple Heart and an Air Medal for his service. He is also honored in the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Memorial Wall, Honolulu, HI 

Barbara Lynam, my 2nd cousin 3x removed, was born June 24, 1912 in Oil City, Pennsylvania. She served in the PFC WAC WWII.

Barbara Lynam

Robert Aloysius Haggerty, my 2nd cousin 3x removed, was born July 24, 1927. He served as a SSGT in the US Marine Corps in WWII. 

Ambrose Aloysius McDonald, Jr., my 1st cousin 3x removed, was born 02 Oct 1919 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Ambrose Aloysius McDonald, my 2nd great grand uncle and Gertrude Anna O'Neill, my 2nd great grand aunt. Ambrose Aloysius was also the brother of Virginia McDonald Geary and is a double cousin to me as we are related by the McDonald and O'Neill lines. Ambrose volunteered for military service and joined the Marine Corps. He was killed by enemy fire in Tarawa in November of 1943, at age 24, upon landing on the beach. He earned a Purple Heart for his service. In addition to being remembered at the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii he also has a memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. He now has a memorial in Arlington National Cemetery,  thanks to his sister Virginia McDonald Geary. Ambrose is featured in the blog post A Letter from Tarawa

Ambrose Aloysius McDonald, Jr.

The gravemarker for Ambrose in Arlington National Cemetery

James Aloysius McDonald, my 2nd great uncle, was born 02 Jan 1912 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Robert Alphonsus McDonald, my 2nd great grandfather and Winifred Agnes O'Neill, my 2nd great grandmother. James served in the US Army. He enlisted in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on 17 July 1942. He was discharged from service 1 November 1945. James died 18 June 1982 at age 70.   

James Aloysius McDonald

Back: Loraine Anthony McDonald, Frances Philomena Selker, Winifred Agnes O'Neill, James Aloysius McDonald. Front: Robert Alphonsus McDonald holding May Helen Murosky

Edward V. Murosky, my grand uncle, was born 03 Mar 1925 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Anthony Harry Murosky Jr., my great grandfather and Helen Tillie Bukowski, my great grand mother. Edward was stationed along the Alaskan Highway in WWII. Edward died on 11 Dec 1996, at age 71, in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania.

Edward V. Murosky

Harry A. Murosky, my grand uncle, was born 21 Mar 1921 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Anthony Harry Murosky Jr., my great grandfather and Helen Tillie Bukowski, my great grand mother. Harry died on 29 Mar 2002, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Harry A. Murosky

William Murosky, my great grand uncle, was born July 11, 1902 in Forest City, Pennsylvania. He served in the Army, WWII Air Corps from August 12, 1942 through January 1943. 

William Murosky

Benjamin Ragan Norris, the husband of my 2nd cousin 3x removed, was born December 30, 1916. He served as a waist gunner on a B17. Four days after his wedding to Barbara Lynam he was shipped abroad. His plane the War Eagle crash landed on May 28, 1944 90 miles east of Treves, Germany after engine trouble. All of the crew were taken prisoners by the Germans. except for Benjamin and the other waist gunner Daniel Dunbar. They walked 300 miles to Allied France. They were picked up by the French Resistance and fought with them until the area was liberated by the US 4th armored division. At that point Benjamin was sent back to the United States were he served an instructor for future recruits.

Benjamin Ragan Norris

Christopher D. O'Neill, my 1st cousin 3x removed, was born in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania in 1919. He was the son of Owen James O'Neill and Nellie Boyles. Christopher was was a member of the 579th Bomber Squadron, 392nd Bomber Group, Heavy. He served as s a Right Waist Gunner/Assistant Engineer on the B-24 aircraft. He died on November 6, 1943 in a German Hospital in Middelburg, the Netherland after suffering injuries from jumping out his aircraft the day before. He was buried in the Ardennes American War Cemetery in Belgium. He was awarded a Purple Heart and an Air Medal for his service. To view his  his grave marker visit this link.

Edward Charles Selker, Jr., my 1st Cousin 2x removed, was born 26 January 1926. He is the son of Edward C. Selker Sr. and Eva Theresa Margaret Zacherl. Edward enlisted with the United States Navy on 12 April 1944. He was discharged on 18 June 1946.

Edward Charles Selker, Jr.

Leopold George Selker, Jr., my 1st cousin 2x removed, was born 21 July 1918. He as the the son of Leopold George Selker, Sr. and Katherine V. Hartle. Leopold enlisted with the United States Army on 3 January 1944. He was discharged on 31 January 1945.

Leopold George Selker, Jr. 

Philip Franz Selker, my 1st cousin 3x removed, was born 25 Apr 1907 in Montabaur, Westerwald,  Germany. He was the son of Karl Friedrich Selker, my 2nd great grand uncle. His mother has been listed as Margarita Wolf, but on a personal visit to him in 2001 he indicated that Margarita Wolf was not his mother and that his father had re-married after her death. Philip arrived in the United States in 1929, he came to avoid the growing military establishment in Germany. During World War II, Philip served in the Infantry in the United States Army.  He landed at Omaha Beach on the second day of the invasion of Europe.  He saw Action in France, Belgium, and Germany.  He was injured during the Bulge. He later participated in the war in the Pacific.

I had the opportunity to meet Philip in 2001 in Chicago to learn more about my German Heritage. When my husband and I got off the Metra train in Morton Grove, Philip said that he knew who we were because my face had the look of the German family. We had a wonderful visit with Philip, his wife and his daughter.  Philip was in his early 90's when we met him and he was full of life and energy. Philip died on 24 Sep 2006 at age 99 in Glenview, Illinois. Philip is featured in the blog post Philip Selker - Battle of Normandy Veteran

Robert V. Pietrzak, my first cousin 2x removed, was born October 25, 1925 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Navy.

Robert V. Pietrzak, Leona Pietrzak and Stanley Pietrzak

Edward W. Zelazny, my first cousin 2x removed, was born September 11, 1915 in Erie, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Joseph Stanislaus Zelazny and Catherine M. Bukowski. He served as a Navy Corpsman from 1944 to 1945. He served as a medic in the Philippines.

Edward W. Zelazny

Korean War 

John Bukowski, Jr, my 1st cousin 2x removed, was born April 23, 1932 in Erie PA. He served in the Army as a Corporal from December 2, 1952 to November 6, 1954.

Vietnam War

There are several Vietnam veterans in the family, some are still living and are not listed below to protect their privacy.

James Arthur Murosky, my uncle, was born 08 Oct 1942 in Erie, Erie, County Pennsylvania, the son of Arthur Murosky, my grandfather, and Mary Eugenia McDonald, my grandmother. James served in Vietnam. He died 23 Nov 1993 at the age of 51, in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania.

James Arthur Murosky

Thomas S. Hazlett, the husband of my 1st cousin 1x, was born 02 Mar 1942 in Brookfield, Noble County, Ohio. He was the son of Leland M. Hazlett and Hazel Jones. Thomas served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.