The Stamford Historical Society Presents

Joseph T. Kulka

Joseph Kulka was drafted from Stamford in March of 1945 and was sent to Leyte in the Philippines. He served as a Technical Corporal in the 54th Quartermaster Salvage Repair Platoon. While in the Philippines he supervised and directed 100 Filipinos and 50 Japanese prisoners and for Army men working in salvage. He instructed people how to repair shoes, typewriters and clothing and oversaw management of the salvage yard. He was overseas for 8 months in the Asian Pacific Theater.

Raymond Kulka

Raymond Kulka was drafted from Stamford in 1936. He was based with the Coast Artillery at Ft. Warren, Boston and served in the Signal Corps. After Pearl Harbor his enlistment was frozen. He became a Technical Sergeant for the 155th Artillery Signal Section. He landed on Utah Beach D-Day + 5 and served in the Central European Campaign. His was the first unit to cross the Elbe River and meet the Russians. His unit was involved in the liberation of Dachau and Bergen Belsen. During his service he earned the European Campaign Medal, the Africa/Middle East Medal, the American Defense Medal, as well as the World War II Victory Medal.

Edmund F. Kulka

Edmund Kulka enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1942 as a Aviation Cadet. In 1944 he accepted an appointment as Ensign, U. S. Naval Reserve. He was designated a Naval Aviator in November of that year and trained at the Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida. After a number of short assignments he joined Bombing Squadron 75 for duty. He was assigned to the aircraft carrier Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He died at sea on 14 March 1946 in a plane crash caused by a mechanical failure. He won the American Area Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

Francis Kulka, Gold Star Mother

Francis Kulka arrived from Zarzyn, Poland, around 1900 with her sisters. Her second marriage was to Frank Kulka, with whom she had four children, three of whom served in the U. S. Armed Forces. Her son Raymond served in Europe with an artillery unit, Joseph served with the Quartermaster Corps, and Edmund as a Naval Aviator. While flying a “Hell Diver,” Edmund was lost at sea off the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt in April of 1946. Francis was made a Gold Star Mother shortly thereafter.

Photos Courtesy Cort Mehl