James A. Sawicki

SAWICKI JAMES ALBERT SAWICKI RET 1st Lt., U.S. Army James Albert Sawicki, RET. 1st Lt., U.S. Army 90, of Dale City, Virginia passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, February 7, 2012. Born March 6, 1921 in Ft. Dix, New Jersey, he was the son of Meczyslaw Sawicki and the former Harriet Whitehurst. On August 25, 1955 he married his "blue eyed sweetheart", the former Mary Isabelle Osborne, who survives him. Mr. Sawicki proudly served his country in World War II, stationed in Africa, Germany, and Anzio, Italy where he was severely wounded and awarded both The Purple Heart and The Bronze Star. After World War II he worked for the Army as a special investigator in Germany and Austria. He also worked with the State Department during that time. Eventually, he was ready to come back to the U.S. However, the government called him back into the Army in 1952 where he was with the 2nd Infantry Division. He was sent to Japan and later fought in The Korean War. In 1955, he was discharged from the Army and reenlisted as a Sergeant 1st Class and assigned to Western Maryland College, West- minster, MD, as an ROTC Instructor. It was there that he was as he called it "swept off his feet by a young girl", Mary Osbourne, who he married after a short courtship. He worked in Frederick, MD at the Army Reserve Center from 1956 to 1964, when he retired. He worked as a civilian at The Institute of Heraldry in Northern Virginia and his work in documenting Army insignia resulted in a lifelong hobby, which eventually led to his authoring 9 books, most of which are in The Library of Congress and in Army museums across the United States. He was a long time member of the Woodbridge First Church of the Nazarene, where he loved to challenge the Sunday School teachers with his questions. Surviving besides his loving wife of 56 years, Mary O. Sawicki; are two daughters, Linda M. Wince and her husband Louis, of Dumfries, VA and Debra A. Kenser and her husband Brad, of Cuba, ILL., and a son, John M. Sawicki and his wife, Kimberly, of Lake Ridge, VA. Mr. Sawicki, "Poppy", is also survived by seven grandchildren ranging in age from 30 years to one month: Brandon and Kevin Wince, Kellie and Kari Kenser, and Hunter, Mason, and Austin Sawicki. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 10, 2012 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m .at the Mountcastle Turch Funeral Home at 4143 Dale Blvd., Dale City, VA. A celebration of his life will be on Saturday, February 11 at 11 a.m. at The First Church of the Nazarene, 14001 Smoketown Road, Woodbridge, VA with the Reverend Athan W. Burch officiating. Graveside and interment services will take place on March 28, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. Memorial contributions may take the form of a donation to: American Wartime Museum, PO Box 30, Nokesville, VA 20182. Mr. Sawicki was interviewed and will be featured in a video presentation describing his experiences in World War II.Memorial contributions may take the form of a donation to: American Wartime Museum, PO Box 30, Nokesville, VA 20182. Mr. Sawicki was interviewed and will be featured in a video presentation describing his experiences in World War II.