Browse Items (142 total)
- Collection: Ogrodnik Collection
USS Witter (DE 636), starboard bowA black and white image of the ship USS Witter (DE 636), looking at the starboard bow where "636" is clearly painted in white. The ship is at sea, but…
USS Witter (DE 636), starboard sideA black and white image of the starboard side of the USS Witter (DE 636). The ship is at sea, but there are land masses in the background. There are…
USS Witter (DE 636), port sideA black and white image of the port side of the USS Witter (DE 636). The ship is at sea, but there is a land mass visible behind the ship's bow. The…
USS Witter (DE 636), anchored off OkinawaA black and white image of a ship anchored near a land mass. The photo is labeled in white. The first label is pointing towards the middle of the ship…
USS Witter (DE 636), Engineering Officer Bruno Naczkowski inspects damageA black and white image of the hole caused by a kamikaze pilot striking the plane near the waterline. Above the damage, and man in a white naval…
USS Witter (DE 636), forward starboard damageA black and white image showing the damage to the ship from the plane and bomb attack. Labeled in white in the lower right corner: "U.S.S. Witter (DE…
USS Witter (DE 636), starboard hullA black and white image clearly showing the damage to the hull of the USS Witter. The white text in the lower right corner of the image reads "U.S.S.…
USS Witter (DE 636), starboard shell damageA black and white image of the shrapnel damage from the plane and bomb attack on the ship. Clockwise from the upper left corner, the labels read: "'F…
USS Witter (DE 636), starboard looking aft & upA black and white image of the repair progress on the USS Witter. The white labeling in the upper right corner reads: "U.S.S. Witter (DE 636) stbd.,…
USS Witter (DE 636), starboard bottomA black and white image of the repair progress on the USS Witter. The white label in the lower right corner reads: "U.S.S. Witter )DE 636), showing…
USS Witter (DE 636), looking to portA black and white image of the internal damage done to the ship during the plane and bomb attack. Clockwise from the upper left corner, the labels…
USS Witter (DE 636), looking aftA black and white image of some of the internal damage done to the ship during the plane and bomb attack. Counter-clockwise from the lower left…
USS Witter (DE 636), view of starboard shellA black and white image of repair work done on the USS Witter. Clockwise from upper right, the labels read: "Main dk.; fwd. face of boiler; new shell…
USS Witter (DE 636), I.C. & Gyro RoomA black and white image of the damage done to the gyro (compass) room aboard the USS Witter. Clockwise from the lower left, the labels read: "U.S.S.…
USS Witter (DE 636), forward fireroomA black and white image of the damage done to the forward fireroom of the USS Witter. Clockwise from upper left, labels read: "Main dk.; Temp.…
USS Witter (DE 636), fwd fireroom, lower levelA black and white image of the damage done to the lower level of the forward fireroom of the USS Witter. From top to bottom, labels read: "Smoke…
USS Witter (DE 636), I.C. & Gyro room, beam bent & twistedA black and white image of the damage done in the I.C. & Gyro room. Clockwise from upper left, labels read: "Main wireway; Beam bent & twisted; Feeder…
USS Witter (DE 636), I.C. & Gyro room A-310ACA black and white image of the damage done in the I.C. & Gyro room. Clockwise from upper right: "Cable insulation damaged by oil; Pitometer log speed…
USS Witter (DE 636), Fwd engine room, lower levelA black and white image of the damage done to the lower-level forward engine rrom. From top to bottom, labels read: "Propulsion switchboard…
USS Witter (DE 636), View of BHD. 43A black and white image of repairs in progress on the USS Witter. The labels read left to right: "U.S.S. Witter (DE 636), view of BHD 43 looking aft.…
USS Witter (DE 636), Engine crewA rerprinted photograph of 49 crewmen aboard the USS Witter, identified by donor as "Engine." An uppercase "E" is in the lower left corner, and the…
USS Witter (DE 636), SupplyA reprinted photograph of 13 crewmen aboard the USS Witter, identified by donor as "supply." There is a handwritten "s" in the lower left corner of…
USS Witter (DE 636), Ord.A reprinted photograph of 21 crewmen aboard the USS Witter, identified by the donor as "Ord.," presumably the ordnance crew. In the center of the back…
USS Witter (DE 636), Comm.A reprinted photograph of 25 crewmen aboard the USS Witter, identified by the donor as "Comm.," presumably the communications crew. The men are…
USS Witter (DE 636), 2nd Div. DeckA reprinted photograph of 23 crewmen aboard the USS Witter, identified by the donor as "2nd Div. deck." The men are arranged in three rows, with all…
USS Witter (DE 636), 1st Div. DeckA reprinted photograph of 28 crewmen aboard the USS Witter, identified by the donor as "1st Div. deck." The men are arranged in roughly 3 rows, and…
USS Witter (DE 636), Undated articleA copy of an article about the airplane strikes on the USS Witter. The article has no date or indication of what publication it was from, and is…
USS Witter (DE 636), Post-damageA black and white image of the entire side of the USS Witter after the plane strike. There are several crewmen aboard the ship, and just above the…
USS Witter (DE 636) Reunuion Association articleA newspaper clipping that has been mounted on gold paper and laminated. The article is from 2004, and details the October 2004 meeting of the USS…
USS Witter (DE 636) Tribute BookA spiral-bound booklet of approximately 160 pages about the history of the Witter and her crew. Printed by Tony Scala and edited by Joan Ogrodnik, the…
World War II scrapbook; copied and boundA spiral-bound reproduction of a World War II-era scrapbook featuring newspaper clippings related to local people who served and their families, and…
Portrait photograph of Francis OgrodnikA hand-colored portrait photograph of Francis Ogrodnik in his Navy blues. Ogrodnik is looking directly at the camera; there is some blue staining…
"Always, Francis"A black and white headshot of Francis Ogrodnik in his Navy blues, signed on the front in pen "Always Francis." The back has a written note, in…
Unsigned photograph of Francis OgrodnikA black and white headshot of Francis Ogrodnik in his Navy blues. The back has a stick-on address label for Joseph Ogrodnik, a piece of double-sided…
Reprinted portrait of Francis OgrodnikA black and white headshot of Francis Ogrodnik dressed in his Navy blues, printed on glossy paper. Written in blue ink on the reverse of the photo is…
At the kitchen tableA black and white photograph of four people sitting around a kitchen table with drinks. One person is likely Francis Ogrodnik; they are wearing a Navy…
Francis and dogA black and white snapshot of Francis Ogrodnik with his arm around an unnamed dog. Ogrodnik is wearing a striped shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and…
Francis at outside tableA black and white snapshot of Francis Ogrodnik sitting at an outside table with an unknown second. He is wearing Navy whites without a cap, and she…
Francis with American flagA black and white snapshot of Francis outside with two unidentified boys, likely his siblings. Francis is kneeling in the forground with one of the…
Francis saluting the flagA black and white snapshot of Francis saluting the American flag, in the company of a man and a young boy, possibly his father and brother. The three…
Francis saluting the flag with familyA black and white snapshot of Francis standing outside saluting an American flag, with several people around him, likely his family. A man holds the…
Francis with womanA black and white snapshot of Francis and a woman sitting on a wooden bench outside. Francis is wearing his Navy blues with cap, with his arm around…
Francis & friends at a wellA black and white snapshot of Francis with several other people around a stone well. Francis is in khakis with a dixie-cup style cap, and is leaning…
Francis & co on the front stepA black and white snapshot of Francis standing with three women on the front steps of a house. Francis is in khakis with a dixie-cup style cap, and…
Co. II Mach. Mates, 1943A black and white group portrait of 13 men in Navy blues with caps. The front row is seated, the back row is standing, and there is a brick building…
Corpus Christi Church "Service Men's Club"A black and white group photo of a large group of men, mostly in military dress, in front of the Corpus Christi Church of Saint Paul, Minnesota. The…
Letter home, March 14, 1944A three-page letter home from Francis, dated March 14, 1944. The letter included a flower (possibly a carnation) that has stained the pages. The paper…
Dear Mother, August 15, 1943A two-leaf (four page) letter from Francis to his mother, dated August 15, 1943. This letter is written on both sides of each sheet; paper has a…
Dear Mom and familyAn undated letter (postmarked November 14, 1944) written by Francis to his mother & family. The letter is two pages, single-sided, and written on Air…
Hello everyone, December 15, 1944A letter written in pencil on thin paper with a United States Navy letterhead. Dated December 15, 1944, the letter is from Francis to "everyone," and…
Telegram & ClippingsA sheet of paper with a telegram, the envelope, and two newspaper clippings attached to it with double-sided tape. All items relate to Francis…
Letter from Lt George Herrmann, 18 April 1945A single-sheet typed letter addressed to Mrs. Caroline Julia Ogrodnik from the Commanding Officer of the Witter regarding Francis's death. Lieutenant…
Copy of memorial service programA copy of the typed on-ship memorial service program for Francis Ogrodnik and the other men who were killed when the ship was struck, dated April 24,…
Copy of death certificateA copy of the death certificate for Francis Ogrodnik, printed on two sheets. Across the top of the original was handwritten "26056-A-6-5 03." There…
Letter from Paul H. Kleinman, April 16, 1945A letter written to Mrs. Ogrodnik from Paul Kleinman (1926-2007) a shipmate of Francis's who had been transferred home. The letter is dated April 16,…
Copy of September 5, 1945 news article RE the WitterA copy of a newspaper article, newspaper not named, dated September 5, 1945 regarding the plane attack on the USS Witter. It reports that the Witter…
Letter awarding posthumous campaign medalsA typewritten letter to Mr. Joseph Ogrodnik, dated September 24, 1948, posthumously awarding Francis the American Campaign Medal and the…
Set of copies of Francis's service recordsA set of 25 sheets, each approximately 5" x 9", that are copies of Francis Ogrodnik's service records. Set includes his enlistment information,…
Letter from Richard Speer, Naval Historical CenterA letter to Mr. Ogrodnik (Joseph Ogrodnik Jr.), dated November 17, 1983, from Richard T. Speer of the Ships' Histories Branch of the Naval Historical…
Bullens Park Veterans MemorialA color photograph of the brick walkway leading up to the Veterans Memorial in Bullens Park, with the Post Office beyond. Located at the intersections…
Veterans Memorial with flagA color photograph of the "front" of the Veterans Memorial in Bullens park, surrounded by flowers and with a small flag in the ground in front of it.…
Veterans Memorial with homeA color photograph of the Veterans Memorial in Bullens Park with brick homes in the background. There are two cars parked on the street, and a person…
Veterans Memorial close-upA color photograph of the Veterans Memorial in Bullens Park, featuring a close-up of the side that includes Francis Ogrodnik's name. The names on the…
Letter from Allan G. Schwartz, November 5, 1983A handwritten letter to Joseph Ogrodnik Jr. from Allan G Schwartz [someone noted his name on the upper left corner of the letter, misspelling it as…
Letter from Paul T. Silance, December 7, 1983A handwritten letter to Joseph Ogrodnik Jr from Paul T. Silance, dated December 7, 1983. Silance wrote "after I got over the shock of reliving a…
Letter from Paul T. Silance, June 7, 1987A brief handwritten letter from Paul T. Silance to Joseph Ogrodnik Jr, responding to an unspecified request regarding a Witter reunion. Silance writes…
Letter from Paul T. Silance, November 15, 1988A typewritten letter from Paul T. Silance to Joseph Ogrodnik Jr, thanking him for sending photos of the first Witter reunion. He writes that he is…
Christmas card from Paul T. Silance, 1988A Christmas card from Paul T. and Mary Silance to Joseph Ogrodnik Jr., thanking him for the pictures and wishing him a blessed and happy Christmas.…
Article RE first Witter reunionA copy of an article about the first reunion of the USS Witter (DE 636). It states general plans for the upcoming reunion in October of "this year";…
Reunion photosTwo color photographs printed on a single sheet of photographic paper, likely of the 1988 reunion attendees. Given the way the two images are laid…
Reunion group photo, ladiesA color photograph of 22 women standing in rows and looking at the camera. They are dressed up and wearing name tags, and while there is no…
Reunion group photo, menA color photograph of ~30 men wearing suits and name tags, arranged in rows and looking at the camera. There are people on both sides of the image who…
"The Witters' Wail"A typewritten poem by P. Silance, Y2c, dated 1945. The poem is a comical request for six month's leave from the crew, citing all that they'd been…
"Navy Buddies"A small newspaper clipping with a photograph of three young men in Navy uniforms, standing behind a bar. The caption identifies them as (left to…
Photo with bar backdropA black and white photo of three men in Navy uniforms, standing behind a bar with a painted background behind them. The background appears to be the…
Letter from Howard Metz, November 1, 1988A brief handwritten letter, dated November 1, 1988, from Howard Metz to Joseph Ogrodnik Jr. The letter states that Metz has sent a photograph and the…
Letter from Paul [Silance], April 23, 1990A brief typed letter from Paul Silance [he did not sign a last name, but the return address matches his other letters] to Joe [Joseph Ogrodnik Jr]…
Letter from Paul Kleinman, May 28, 1990A handwritten letter on lined paper from Paul H. Kleinman to Joseph Ogrodnik Jr, dated May 28, 1990. Kleinman is replying to a letter from Ogrodnik,…
USS Witter (DE 636) Fwd. end of fireroomA black and white photograph of the progress of repairs on the USS Witter. Outer labels read (counterclockwise from lower right): "U.S.S. Witter (DE…
USS Witter (DE 636), view looking up from fuel oil tankA black and white photograph of some of the damage done during the plane attack. Clockwise from the upper right corner, the labels read: " U.S.S.…
USS Witter (De 636), looking down to fwd.A black and white photograph of the hole left in the hull by the plane strike. The label in the lower right corner reads: "U.S.S. Witter (DE 636),…
USS Witter (DE 636), view of stbd. shell frs. 47-50)A black and white photograph of some of the internal repairs being done to the USS Witter following the plane attack. The label in the lower left…
USS Witter (DE 636), stbd. looking to port + slightly fwdA black and white photograph of the damage done to the Witter during the plane attack. There are two uniformed men standing amid the damage.…
"Transmittal of and/or Entitlement to Awards"A form authorizing several awards for issuance to Joseph Ogrodnik in the name of Francis Ogrodnik for his WWII service. The awards authorized for…
Letter to Charles "Bud" Goodwin from Paul T. Silance, February 10, 1993A typed letter from Paul T. Silance in his role as USS Witter Secretary, to Charles "Bud" Goodwin, Chairman of the DESA Roll of Honor Committee. Dated…
50th Anniversary "in memoriams"A typed note to Joe and Joan Ogrodnik from Paul Silance, regarding the enclosed "in memoriam" card from the Los Angeles Times that details what was…
Paul Silance memorial materialsTwo cards for the funeral & burial of Paul T. Silance (9/21/1924 - 2/4/1996), and a thank-you card from his family to the Ogrodniks. The funerial…
Clippings, DESA News 1994A series of clippings from the 1994 DESA News, that have been adhered into a sleeve protector with double-sided tape. The large clipping is an brief…
Clipping, "Eighteen DEs Named for San Francisco Heroes"A brief news article from the September-October DESA newsletter listing the 18 ships named after men killed from the USS San Francisco, including the…
Returned checkA check made out from the Ogrodniks to Malcolm Witter for $18, dated April 30th, 1993; together with a handwritten note from Malcolm Witter returning…
Clipping, DESA News May-June 1995A clipping from the May-June DESA News with a list of upcoming reunions. The USS Witter's listing is one up from the bottom in the leftmost column.
Clipping, DESA News March-April 1995A clipping from the March-April DESA News about the sixth reunion of the USS Witter, held in the fall of 1994. The article includes a photograph of 17…
Clipping, DESA News July-August 1995A clipping from the July-August DESA News titled "TAPS Non-Members," with a list of names divided by ship. Given the names listed under the USS…
"Memories"A single printed page by Joseph Ogrodnik Jr., remembering his brother Francis. It's unclear if this was an article or perhaps a speech, but a line…
Letter to Chicopee Veteran's Service Department, April 9, 1998A sheet of paper containing a letter to the Chicopee Veterans' Services Department on one side, and a response letter from Mayor Richard Kos on the…
Copy of newspaper clipping, "Committee Formed to Honor War Heroes"A copy of a newspaper clipping, undated, regarding the renaming of three roads within Szot Park after local veterans. While the article has no date,…
Copy of newspaper clippings regarding the naming of roads in Szot ParkCopies of two articles, one on each side of the sheet, regarding the naming of streets in Szot Park after Chicopee veterans. One article is…
Chicopee Street Naming Dedication ProgramProgram for the Chicopee Street Naming Dedication ceremony in Szot Park, July 5, 1998. Program is printed in black on light blue paper folded into a…
Joseph Ogrodnik's SpeechA typed speech prepared and given by Joseph Ogrodnik for the dedication of the Szot Park street named after Francis Ogrodnik. Joseph recalls memories…
Dedication Ceremony, photo 1A color photograph of part of the ceremony to dedicate WT2c Ogrodnik Drive in Szot Park. A man wearing sunglasses stands at a podium with a…
Dedication Ceremony, photo 2A color photograph of part of the ceremony to dedicate WT2c Ogrodnik Drive in Szot Park. What looks like two different color guards are standing along…
Dedication Ceremony, photo 3A color photograph of part of the ceremony dedicating WT2c Ogrodnik Drive in Szot Park. Three people are standing with their back to the camera,…
Dedication Ceremony, photo 4A color photograph of part of the ceremony dedicating WT2c Ogrodnik Drive in Szot Park. Two men stand in front of a stage, next to two wreaths on…
Dedication Ceremony, photo 5A color photograph of part of the ceremony dedicating WT2c Ogrodnik Drive in Szot Park. The photo shows Joseph Ogrodnik placing the wreath on a stand…
Ogrodnik Drive, photo 1A color photograph of Joseph Ogrodnik standing beneath the sign marking WT2c Ogrodnik Drive in Szot Park. There is a second white sign beneath the…
Ogrodnik Drive, photo 2A color photograph of Joseph Ogrodnik standing beneath the sign marking WT2c Ogrodnik Drive in Szot Park. There is a white sign below the green street…
Ogrodnik Drive, photo 3A color photograph of Joseph Ogrodnik holding a framed certificate, on which the words "Official Citation" are just visible near the top. He is…
Ogrodnik Drive, photo 4A color close-up of the certificate from item Ogrodnik-108. Joseph Ogrodnik is holding a wooden frame with an Official Citation from the Massachusetts…
Ogrodnik Drive, photo 5A color close-up of the street sign identifying WT2c Ogrodnik Drive in Szot Park, and the sign below it detailing his service in World War II and…
Ogrodnik Drive, photo 6A color photograph of a shaded road, presumably Ogrodnik Drive in Szot Park. The road curves strongly to the left, where it meets a parking lot with a…
Diploma of Merit, 1935A Diploma of Merit, dated June 23rd, 1935, for Francis Joseph Ogrodnik. Awarded from St. Patrick's Parochial School in Chicopee Falls, this marked his…
Chicopee Trade School diploma, 1938A diploma from the Chicopee Trade School, dated June 22nd, 1938, stating that Francis Joseph Ogrodnik successfully completed the three-year course in…
Reunion clipping, Nov/Dec 1999A clipping from DESA News, hand-dated Nov/Dec 1999, regarding the 11th reunion of the USS Witter in Sea-Tac, WA. There is also a clipping attached…
Reunion clipping, Jan/Feb 1999A clipping from DESA News, hand-labelled "Jan/Feb DESA," describing the ninth reunion of the USS Witter that was held in September of 1998 in San…
Photo of Joseph & Jean Ogrodnik with other coupleA color photograph of Joseph and Jean Ogrodnik (striped shirt and pink shirt, respectively), with an unnamed couple. Joseph and Jean are standing on…
Memorial service program for Aaron M. "Mickey" OlemA small memorial service program for Aaron M. "Mickey" Olem (1922-2000). The front has an image of a burning bush and the words "In Memoriam"; the…
Joseph Ogrodnik with vanity plate, photo 1A color photograph of Joseph Ogrodnik standing in front of a white minivan with his hand on the hood of the car. The van's license plate is…
Joseph Ogrodnik with vanity plate, photo 2A color photograph of Joseph Ogrodnik standing at the rear of a white minivan with the license plate Massachusetts "DE 636." Joseph is wearing a…
Joseph Ogrodnik and friend with vanity platesA color photograph of Joseph Ogrodnik and an unknown friend standing at the rear of two vehicles, both with vanity plates reading "DE 636." The…
Oct. 28, 2000 article "Shipmates forever connected by World War II attack"An article clipped from an unspecified newspaper from Wilmington, NC, regarding USS San Francisco's service in WWII and the annual reunion of sailors…
DESA Clipping, November/December 2000A clipping from the November/December issue of DESA News, detailing the 12th reunion of the USS Witter, held in September 2000 in St Louis, MO. It…
DESA Clipping, January/February 2002A clipping from the January/February issue of DESA News, detailing the 13th reunion of the USS Witter, held in Rosemont, IL, in September 2001. It…
DESA Clipping, circa 2003A clipping from likely an early 2003 issue of DESA News, detailing the 14th reunion of the USS Witter, held in September 2002 in Asheville, NC. The…
Collage photo of USS WitterA collaged photo featuring different images of the USS Witter. The top has a text overlay in a blue stencil-style font, reading "USS Witter DE-636;…
"Brother preserves memory of fallen hero"A laminated newspaper clipping mounted on pink paper, with a note "Compliments of Senator Mike Knapik." The article is about Joseph Ogrodnik's work to…
DESA Clipping, May/June 2007A clipping from the May/June 2007 issue of DESA News, regarding the 18th reunion of the USS Witter, held in June 2006. The article includes a black…
DESA Clipping, circa 2004A clipping in two pieces from DESA News, undated. The clipping details the 15th reunion of the USS Witter held in Septermber 2003, which had 45 people…
Looking at photographsA color photograph of a man in a red jacket and dark hat looking at a board of several black and white photos, possibly crew photos from the USS…
Group photo, circa 2001A color photograph, possibly at one of the reunions, stamped on the reverse "Oct 2001." Joseph and Joan Ogrodnik are the two rightmost people in the…
Group photo 2, circa 2001A color photo of the same group from item Ogrodnik-130, taken in the process of the group posing. Joan Ogrodnik is centered; Joseph Ogrodnik is the…
Women group photo, circa 2001A color photograph of seventeen women posing for a group photo. Joan Ogrodnik is standing in the back row, second from the left. The other women are…
Women group photo 2, circa 2001A color photograph of fifteen women posing for a group photo, standing in two rows. This image was taken in the same setting as item Ogrodnik-132,…
Women group photo 3, circa 2001A color photograph of seventeen women posing for a group photo. Joan Ogrodnik is standing in the back row, second from the left. The other women are…
Candid photo, circa 2001A color photograph of several people around a large table that is scattered with beverages, bowls, amd what appear to be binders and photographs. The…
Men group photo, circa 2001A color photograph of fourteen men arranged in two rows for a group photograph. Joseph Ogrodnik is seated in the center of the front row; none of the…
Anonymous, circa 1999A color photograph of three women and a man standing together and smiling at the camera. There are some red, white, and blue balloons in the…
Signed photograph of Laura & George W. BushA color photograph of Laura and George W. Bush, with printing reading "Mrs. Ogrodnik, thank you for your support and friendship as a Charter Member…
CortDiv40 Okinawa ReportA twelve-page action report (with additional cover sheet) for Commander Escort Division 40, Assault on Okinawa, 20 March 1945 - 27 May 1945. Dated 7…
CortDiv40 War DiaryA daily operational journal for Commander Escort Division 40, which included the USS Witter. Running from December 1944 through October 1945, this…
Commander Escort Division 40, "Report of Kamikaze Attack on USS Witter"A report from Commander Escort Division 40 to the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Fleet, dated 25 May 1945, detailing the plane attack on the USS…
Harry Johnson, Interviewed 19 Nov. 1999Interview with Harry Johnson (1918 - 2013), dated 19 Nov. 1999. A storekeeper from the USS Witter, Johnson recalled the events of April 6, 1945
There…
CONTENT WARNING: The image contained on this page is graphic and may be upsetting to viewers. The photo is of a man squatting on the ground, holding…