The Kwiecinski Couple and Corregidor
Nov 15, 2016 15:01:39 GMT 8
EXO, chadhill, and 4 more like this
Post by Karl Welteke on Nov 15, 2016 15:01:39 GMT 8
The Kwiecinski Couple and Corregidor
V368. (01 161107 Corregidor Isl. 4, Steve & Marcia). On my visit to Corregidor, the 7th Nov. 2016 with some Marine Friends, we noticed the Kwiecinski Couple was honored by three organizations; the couple had intimate relations with. The Kwiecinski couple resided on Corregidor approximately from 2008 to 2015. The Corregidor Foundation INC. (CFI); Filipino-American Memorial Endowment (AMSHAM PHILS.); Sun Cruises INC (SCI). A plaque was placed under the plaque that honored Steve Kwiecinski’ father who manned the last firing mortar at Battery Way on the 6th of May 1942.
They retired in their mid-50's and moved to Corregidor, a WWII Battlesite in the Philippines. Steve's father Walter fought and was captured there by the Japanese, but survived the war. Steve wrote a book about his father, "HONOR, COURAGE, FAITH: A Corregidor Story," which is available in paperback in the Philippines, and on Amazon Kindle worldwide. Steve and Marcia loved to entertain guests on Corregidor and take them to out-of-the-way places on the island. They also host tours for Valor Tours, LTD of San Francisco.
I uploaded 14 images about the Kwiecinski Couple on Corregidor into this album with my Flickr account: www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157660752442508
The same 14 images are also presented here but the images are much smaller!
V369. (02 140215-17 Corregidor, Flag w. H.Klose.05). This picture was shot on the 15th of Feb. 2014 at Battery Way on Corregidor, the former Fort Mills. Right is Marcia Kwiecinski telling my friend Harald Klose the connection of her family with this historical battery. Near Harald’s left shoulder, on the wall, is the plaque that honors Steve Kwiecinski’ father who manned the last firing mortar at Battery Way on the 6th of May 1942. The plaque in the previous picture was placed below it in 2016.
V370. (03 161107 Corregidor Isl. 3, Steve Marcia). This picture shows the new plaque, honoring the Kwiecinski couple and as you can see it was placed under the plaque honoring his father, Walter Kwiecinski, who manned the last firing 12 inch mortar at Battery Way on the 6th of May 1942. I do not have a readable copy of this plaque; I hope someone will send me one!
V374. (04 070730 Battery Way 009). This plaque gives you the history of this Battery Way. Notice the organizations that made it possible. The plaque is posted near the entrance of the battery.
V375. (05 070731 Battery Way 002). This plaque is posted outside the battery command/control station, on the wall facing the 4 mortars. This history of this battery, its crew and its commander is inspiring and makes me proud to be a serviceman.
V371. (06 Capture book cover 1). Steve and Marcia Kwiecinski wrote a book about their father and his service on the last firing large caliber artillery piece in May 1943, in defense of the Philippines and the USA. This is the front cover of the book.
V372. (07 Capture book cover 2). Steve and Marcia Kwiecinski wrote a book about their father and his service on the last firing large caliber artillery piece in May 1943, in defense of the Philippines and the USA. This is the back cover of the book.
V373. (08 Capture 1). This picture is from the blog of the Kwiecinski couple. When they lived on Corregidor Island, the ex Fort Mills, they published a new page every two weeks or so. Now that they returned to the USA no new pages have been published but all the previous pages are available at this URL:
steveandmarciaontherock.blogspot.com/
V376. (09 090110g Malinta Hill South Rd., 06). On my many visits to Corregidor, alone or with friends, we teamed up with the Kwiecinski couple and explored Corregidor Island, the ex Fort Mills. In this picture, of 10th Jan. 2009, we are walking around Malinta Hill on the South Road. The other people in this picture are Paul Whitman and his family members. Paul Whitman is the webmaster of Corregidor.org.
V377. (010 081107c S-Parallel to QM, 10). On my many visits to Corregidor, alone or with friends, we teamed up with the Kwiecinski couple and explored Corregidor Island, the ex Fort Mills. In this picture, of 7th Nov. 2008, we explored the Malinta Hill Tunnel. In this picture we are standing at the entrance to Quartermaster Tunnels. The people are the Kwiecinski couple and Paul Whitman who is the webmaster of Corregidor.org.
V378. (011 081107d fm QM to USN, 07). On my many visits to Corregidor, alone or with friends, we teamed up with the Kwiecinski couple and explored Corregidor Island, the ex Fort Mills. In this picture, of 7th Nov. 2008, we explored the Malinta Hill Tunnel. In this picture Steve Kwiecinski climbed over a collapsed section of the tunnel that connected the Quartermaster Tunnels to the Navy Tunnels. It is NOT PASSABLE ANYMORE!
V379. (012 081107i S-Wtr-Hole,6). On my many visits to Corregidor, alone or with friends, we teamed up with the Kwiecinski couple; we not only explored Corregidor Island, the ex Fort Mills, we also associated at the various watering holes on Corregidor and exchanged our views about history and current affairs. Here we are at the beach bar on the south shore of Bottomside. This used to be the area of the largest Filipino community called San Jose. Marcia was ahead of us and ordered the refreshments.
V380. (013 090218r Expats. 1). I think I have some nice pictures of Steve and Marcia, the way they looked and the way I will remember them. This is Steve and the picture is from the 18th Feb 2009; we often shared the Red Horse Grande. That is a San Miguel one liter beer with about 6 or 7 % alcohol.
V381. (014 090218r Expats. 3). That is Maria Kwiecinski, a true friend and a most friendly person; it was always a pleasure to speak with her.
