By: Alex

May 2007

Casimir “Cas” Srednicki was born in Akron, Ohio, on March 3, 1923.  His parents had immigrated to the United States from Poland before he was born, thus he was considered an American citizen.  When Cas was four, his parents had decided that they missed their home in Poland.  They returned before World War II had begun. 

          Cas grew up as a normal Polish boy.  He participated in grade school, played with friends, and spent time with his family.  Then the war began.  He was just in high school when chaos erupted in Europe. 

          An example of the chaos that the Nazis caused was how Cas’ dad died.  Cas’ father was taking grain to the local flour mill to be ground into flour.  He ground the grain into flour and two Nazis picked it up.  They told him to give them his flour, but he wouldn’t.  They pulled out a gun and shot him. 

          There is an interesting story to how Cas was taken into the service.  He was walking around the streets of Poland, minding his own business, when two Polish officers noticed him.  The officers asked if they could see his papers.  He handed over his papers and the officers read over them occasionally glancing up at him.  They handed back the papers and told Cas that he was now a Polish officer.  

          From there, Cas was taken for training.  His training lasted no more than a week.  He was specifically trained in armed combat.  That included firing rifles and everything needed to survive during combat.  He set off from Poland after the completion of his training and participated in many armed combat missions around Europe including the takeover of Berlin. 

          In one of the battles he took part in, he was firing at the enemy and they, of course, were mercilessly firing back.  He looked down to reload and noticed that his hand was wounded.  He was taken by a medic and stitch up.  He was unable to fight for a while because it was hard to operate a weapon with a huge bandage wrapped around his hand.

          His hand eventually healed, but, of course, he still has the scar.  He likes to think of it as reminder of his successful years in the service.  After Cas’ hand healed, he fought in many more battles.  By traveling to many European cities and fighting in many battles, he was doing his part to stop the Nazis. 

          Poland was taken back along with many other European countries, but the war on the Pacific was still going on.  After the war had officially ended, Cas had requested a discharged from the Polish Army.  He was given it along with many medals for his accomplishments and Poland’s gratitude for his service, especially under the conditions on which he was taken in.

          After Cas received his discharge, he returned to the United States on a ship known as the Ernie Pyle.  He came into New York cit via Ellis Island.  Cas did not have to go through the immigration processes because he was born in the United States.  From New York City he traveled to Akron, Ohio, to live with his uncle.

          Cas met his wife, Helen, at a German-American club in Akron.  Her father introduced them.  His future wife thought he was a “ninny”.  Cas was drinking orange soda out of a straw, which you can imagine is not very manly.  As she came to know him, she really enjoyed their time together and they decided to get married. 

          Cas took a job at General Tire which only lasted a month.  He continued working at a fishing and tackle box stored called Pfleugers.  He quit his job there to work at B.F. Goodrich in their aerospace department.

          Helen and Cas had boy named Mark.  Mark is now a quantum physics professor with a P.H.D. at Santa Barbara University in California. 

          Cas continued his job at B.F. Goodrich for about twenty-five years before retiring.  He lives happily together with his wife in Mogadore, Ohio.

Cas with a wounded hand.

Cas in uniform.

Where Cas went in Europe.