My walk this morning was dedicated in honor of:
Army Corporal Teddy Thomas Szidlowski, Age 24
KIA Sept. 10, 1944 in France during WWII
He was assigned to 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Company B
He entered the Army on October 8, 1941, in Houston. On January 15, 1942, Teddy arrived at the 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion, then located in Sunnyvale, California, and was assigned to Company B as a Private. Thus began several years of training at various locations, including Fort Ord, Hunter Liggett Military Reservation, Lost Hills, Camp San Luis Obispo, the Desert Training Center, near Goffs, and Camp Cooke, all in CA. They also trained at Camp Hood, Texas. He was promoted to Corporal on May 12, 1942, and became a Sergeant on June 20, 1943.
On April 13, 1944, the unit sailed from the Port of Boston and arrived at Liverpool, England, on April 21. Following additional training in England, Company B disembarked at Utah Beach, Normandy, France, on June 24. They supported the advance on Cherbourg and fought along the Seves River in July. Next, they participated in the drive to Le Mans and envelopment of the Falaise Pocket in August. In September, attached to the 90th Infantry Division, they were advancing to the Moselle River and the area west of Metz, France.
On Sept. 10th, Company B moved its three gun platoons to Fontoy, Angeviller and Algrange, France. Although we don’t have details of the incident, on September 10, 1944, Sergeant Teddy T. Szidlowski was killed in action at Fontoy. He was initially buried in Europe but was brought home for reburial in the Forest Park Cemetery, Houston, Texas, on November 22, 1948.
Had a great walk. I was able to honor this hero with a 6.79 mile walk. As I was walking threw town I had a couple people stop me and thank me for walking for their family member. It was an honor to meet them. I am glad that I can do what I do.
I want to thank everyone who honked and waved this morning in helping me honor this hero. You all are amazing and I can’t thank you enough. With your help, we will keep their memories alive.
