SGT EDWARD FRANCIS ZACKOWSKI SGT EDWARD FRANCIS ZACKOWSKI SGT EDWARD FRANCIS ZACKOWSKI SGT EDWARD FRANCIS ZACKOWSKI

 

16 Mar 2005 I lived next door to Eddie, nicknamed, "ZEKE". Zeke went to Father Judge High School in Philadelphia. His name is etched on the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and of course in Washington. He received the Silver Star, Bronze Star for valor, 3 Purple Hearts, the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and more. He wrote this poem to his 10-year-old brother 3 months before he died: I came to this place because there was a job to be done. Right from the beginning I knew it wouldn't be fun. I'm here for a year and a year I will stay. I'll fight like hell and I'll hope and pray My being here will keep my brother away. Your brother, Ed Vietnam, 1967 From a next door neighbor and USMC Vietnam Vet 65/66-67/68, Tom Murtha reconrelay@comcast.net

 

11 May 2005 Remember a man's name and he will never die, read his writing and you will have his thoughts and and his memories and he will live forever. I'll remember my Brother Ed forever. I was only 10 when he gave his life for his Country. Right or wrong he believed it was his call. Thank you, Brother, and you did fight like hell to keep me away just like you wrote in your poem. And we are all proud of you. God Bless You and rest in peace. Love you forever, your little brother Ernie. PS - Say "hi" to Dad for me. From his brother, Ernie Zackowski erniezack@cs.com

 

29 Mar 2007 I'm Eddie's cousin, Diane Civitello (Zackowski). I really don't remember too much about him, I was only 9 when he was killed. The day he was killed it just happened to be my birthday, I remember how sad my parents were and I didn't want that birthday any more! The two things I remember about Eddie are falling down his basement steps and losing my front tooth. He and his friends were playing pool and boy did I feel stupid! I also remember him coming to visit my parents, with his girlfriend. I can still see him sitting in the chair by the front window. I think he had just become engaged and wanted to let my parents know. I wish I could've had the time to know him, I'm so proud to call him my cousin. May you rest in peace, always. Love, Diane Diane Civitello dede32953@yahoo.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The following article is taken from The Philadelphia Daily News, special supplement entitled 'SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY,' October 26, 1987. "Zeek" Zackowski was quiet, but possessed an engaging wit and deep affection for family and friends. He wrote home from Vietnam frequently. "Five months and 22 malaria pills to go," he jokingly wrote his brother, Ernest. Another letter concluded with a few lines of poetry: "I came to this place because there was a job to be done It didn't take long to find out it wouldn't be fun I'm here for a year and a year I'll stay I'll fight like hell and pray each day That my being here will keep my brother away" The 20-year-old Father Judge High School graduate had pitched for the Tacony PAL baseball team and worked for Sone Container Corporation before being drafted into the Army in October 1966. The rifleman saw extensive combat with Company D of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Zackowski was wounded twice before he was killed on November 28, 1967, while on a search and destroy mission near the Cambodian border. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Zackowski, one of seven men from Tacony to die in Vietnam, had been a childhood friend of two of them, William H. 'Billy" Carpenter Jr. and Donald J. Hertrich. Six of the seven, including Zackowski, had attended St. Leo's Elementary School at Keystone and Unruh streets. He was engaged to be married. In addition to his brother, he was survived by his parents and three sisters. © The Philadelphia Daily News Reproduced under 17 USC ï¿ 1/2 107

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