On September ninth, nineteen forty three,
the struggle to defeat fascism and
tyranny in Europe led Dwight Eisenhower
and allied forces to the shores of Italy
with American troops landing at Salerno.
Just days after this invasion
began aboard the USS Savannah,
a young man from Dickson City, Pennsylvania,
gave his life trying to save others
amidst the smoke and flames of battle.
Scripture tells us quote greater
love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.
No better words can describe the
life and death of George Pilewski
George was born on February twenty
second of nineteen twenty two.
His parents, George and Marion Pilewski
were both immigrants from
Poland before World War Two.
George worked for the United States Army
at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey.
In nineteen forty two at the age of twenty,
he enlisted in the United
States Navy before leaving home.
Pilewski was one of over one
hundred naval enlistees who was
given a grand send off in Scranton,
Pennsylvania,
at the soldiers and Sailors Monument
in Courthouse Square on September
Twenty fifth of nineteen forty two.
A crowd of over two thousand well
wishers came out to see the men off
before they left for Philadelphia
to officially begin their service.
The send off was a grand occasion with
speeches from several dignitaries.
Scranton Mayor Howard J.
Snowdon told the recruits quote the
hearts of your parents, sweethearts,
relatives and friends are going with you.
Chief Petty Officer E E Jones,
who ran the local recruiting station,
told the men quote if you have
something the Navy needs,
you will get recognition for it before
their departure.
That day,
the USO handed out candy and cigarettes
and local concert band played the men off.
After his grand send off Pilewski began
his training in the United States Navy.
By December,
he had graduated from the hospital
corps school at the Great Lakes
Naval Training Center in Chicago,
Illinois.
He served as a hospital apprentice
first class.
By nineteen forty three Pilewski
was serving aboard the USS Savannah,
a Brooklyn class light cruiser,
in nineteen forty two.
The Savannah had supported Operation
Torch in North Africa,
and in nineteen forty three it was
involved in the invasions of Sicily
and Salerno as the Allies eroded the
German hold on the Mediterranean.
On the morning of September eleventh,
nineteen, forty three at nine,
forty four AM a German bombers glide
bomb struck the USS Savannah and
tore through turret number three,
setting off a massive blaze.
The bomb then hit the ships
magazine and detonated.
The Savannah began to list and
take on water as explosions
continued for the next half hour.
Amidst this carnage,
George Pilewski was one of many who
sprang into action in the turrets.
The losses were heavy as they filled
with flames and smoke and toxic gases.
Pilewski and others worked to pull
as many men out of the turrets as
possible before they were overcome
themselves with smoke gases and
flames with danger all around him.
Pilewski showed only concern
for his fellow sailors,
pulling them to safety and administering CPR.
He was in the process of resuscitating,
a crew member,
when he himself was overcome by smoke.
Pilewski died that day,
attempting to save his fellow sailors.
He was one of one hundred and
ninety seven crew members lost
aboard the Savannah that day.
He was twenty one years old.
For his actions that day,
Pilewski was posthumously
awarded a Navy Cross,
the second highest honor a Navy
serviceman can receive second only
to the Medal of Honor itself.
The citation accompanying the Navy Cross
noted quote Pilewski unhesitatingly
risked his life to enter one of
the turrets and unmindful of the
imminent danger cooly evacuated
personnel who had been overcome
continuing his unselfish service
until he himself was overcome while
administering artificial respiration
to one of the men he had rescued.
As a result of his heroic devotion to duty,
Pilewski eventually succumbed,
gallantly sacrificing his own life,
in order that others might be saved.
In addition to the Navy Cross,
Pilewski was also posthumously
awarded a Purple Heart.
Pilewski's sacrifice would not
be forgotten by his friends,
his family or his community.
In November of nineteen forty five,
he was among those who were
remembered at a memorial funeral
mass held in his hometown.
For all those who have given
their lives during the war.
While he was initially interred
overseas in Italy,
Pilewski's family chose to have his
body brought back to the United States.
Five years after his death.
The US Army Transport Carol Victory
brought Pilewski back along with
four hundred and seventy three others
and docked in New York Harbor on July
seventh of nineteen forty eight.
Local newspapers ran notices
that Pilewski's body had been
brought back home for burial.
The Scranton Times Tribune reminded
its readers that Pilewski had
quote sacrificed his life in
order that others might be saved.
Pilewski was reinterred in the
Gettysburg National Cemetery on Wednesday,
July twenty eighth,
nineteen forty eight on the
day of his funeral,
a mass was held for Pilewski
at Saint Francis Xavier Church
on High Street in Gettysburg.