https://www.chicopeepubliclibrary.org/archives/files/original/e6ade58219ccc55fcb6896100747a851.jpg 3ac29251e471737b79242fe6ddee98d7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Ogrodnik Collection Subject The topic of the resource USS Witter (DE 636) World War, 1939-1945 United States. Navy World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific area Sailors--Chicopee (Mass.) World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations, American World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, Japanese World War, 1939-1945--Aerial ramming World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations, American Description An account of the resource Francis Joseph “Sonny” Ogrodnik (1921-1945) was born June 9, 1921, to parents Karolina/Caroline Sagan Ogrodnik and Joseph Ogrodnik [Sr.] of Chicopee, MA. Karolina, sometimes known as Cora, emigrated from Poland when she was 8; Joseph Sr. was born in Chicopee Falls and was of Polish descent. Francis was the eldest son, having an older sister (Lillian), a younger sister (Doris), and younger brother Joseph Jr., who assembled the materials in this collection. Francis attended St. Patrick’s School, graduating in 1935; and Chicopee Trade School (part of Chicopee High), graduating in 1938. After graduating, he worked at the Perkins Gear Company in Willimansett. He was a skilled machinist and tool-maker, and was remembered by Joseph Jr. as being very skilled with engine building and repair. Francis enlisted in the U.S. Navy on April 13, 1943, feeling that he should serve despite having a deferment option. On completing boot camp, he was transferred to the University of Minnesota to complete the machinists’ mate course; and then to Norfolk, Virginia for destroyer escort training. He was then assigned to the USS Witter (DE 636) at Mare Island, California, and following shakedown cruises to test the ship’s functionality, the USS Witter was deployed to the Pacific theater in early 1944. Francis was a Water Tender 2nd class, assigned to the engines of the ship. On April 6, 1945, while off the coast of Okinawa as part of the invasion (“Operation Iceberg”), the ship was attacked by two Japanese kamikaze planes. One plane was shot down before impact, but the second struck the Witter, destroying an engine room and killing six people, including Francis. The ship remained partially functional, and was able to get to Kerama Retto for repairs. It returned to the States for further repair in July of 1945. Francis's remains were never recovered. Joseph Ogrodnik Jr. (1931-2010) spent years memorializing his elder brother and the others who served with him. "Joe arranged to have a street [in Szot Park, Chicopee] named after his brother as a memorial and also a testimony, among many others in the city, that her residents served their country proudly in the Armed Forces. Joe became part of the Witter Reunion Association and he and his wife Joan enjoyed many years of driving across the country to attend the annual Witter reunions. They hosted the USS Witter's 15th reunion in Albany, NY during September 2003 and the final reunion, also in Albany, in 2008. The last remaining Destroyer Escort from WWII, the restored USS Slater DE 766, is berthed on the Hudson River in Albany. Joe was elected the Witter historian because of his diligent research in locating photographs and artifacts.” [source: Joseph Ogrodnik Jr.’s obituary.] Joseph was himself a veteran of the Korean War, though nothing in this collection reflects his own military service. Sensitive Content Information: Some content (or its descriptions) found in this collection may be harmful and difficult to view. These materials may be graphic or reflect biases. We provide access to these materials to preserve the historical record, but we do not endorse the attitudes, prejudices, or behaviors found within them. This collection includes a graphic image of wartime violence, as well as outdated and derogatory references to Japanese people. The digitized PDF of the item Ogrodnik-030, USS Witter Tribute Book, has been edited to cover the graphic image, with a description of it and directions to view the redacted image by clicking a hyperlink. The physical item has not been altered in any way. The item “Ogrodnik-031,” World War II Scrapbook, contains several derogatory terms that are used throughout. Abstract A summary of the resource. A collection of photographs, textual records, correspondence, and other material related to Francis Ogrodnik (1921-1945), a Chicopee resident who was killed aboard the USS Witter when it was struck by a plane in the Pacific theater of WWII. The collection also contains material related to the USS Witter (DE 636) and reunions of the crew members, and efforts by Francis’s brother Joseph to memorialize Francis & other crew. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Joseph Ogrodnik, Jr. Arranged & digitized by Kate Ouimette, CPL Archivist Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1943-2004; bulk 1944/45 and 1980s-1990s. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Collection processed & finding aid created by Kate Ouimette, CPL Archivist, August 20, 2026. This finding aid is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, Chicopee Public Library/Chicopee Archives Online. Any use of this collection to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text or images is expressly prohibited. Relation A related resource Related content: <a href="https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/join-give/tributes/uss-witter-de-636" title="National Museum of the Pacific War" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/join-give/tributes/uss-witter-de-636 </a> <a href="https://www.navsource.net/archives/06/636.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive</a>  <a href="https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/witter.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Naval History and Heritage Command: Witter (DE-636)</a> Extent The size or duration of the resource. Approximately 142 items. Language A language of the resource English Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CPL-OGRODNIK Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CPL-OGRODNIK-023 Title A name given to the resource USS Witter (DE 636), Ord. Description An account of the resource 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 row, one man is wearing a peaked-style cap, while the rest are wearing the "dixie cup" style. Along the top of the image is handwritten "USS. Witter," but the top of the writing has been cut off. Other ships are visible along either side of the Witter but are unidentified. Subject The topic of the resource USS Witter (DE 636); World War, 1939-1945--Foreign service; United States. Navy; Sailors--Chicopee (Mass.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Circa 1944-1945 Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Ogrodnik Collection Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Photographic print Extent The size or duration of the resource. 5 x 7" Sailors--Chicopee (Mass.) United States. Navy USS Witter (DE 636) World War, 1939-1945--Foreign service