On this and every Memorial day, I remember and miss one of the people who had a profound effect on my life - My Grandfather.
Nicholas Polasik was born on September 9, 1893 in the township of Eaton, Wisconsin. He was the tenth child of eleven children born to Nikolas and Anna (Tobalska) Polasik. He attended primary school until the third grade. He took to the woods as a lumber jack at the age of 12. After his father died January 21 , 1910 he ran the farm for his mother at the age of 16.
On November 19, 1917 he joined the United States Army to fight the Kaiser in World War One as an infantryman in Company B 47th US Infantry, 7th Division. He served in France, May 10, 1918 to November 23rd, 1918 at Chateu Thierry. During his active service he was injured in action on July 30th 1918 when a shell fragment injured his foot. The injury became gangrenous and he was later told he would need to have his leg removed. Refusing to have that done, as a one legged farmer would be useless at that time he opted not to have the surgery. Miraculously the gangrene subsided and he was left with just the lost of a little toe on his left foot. He was Honorably discharged from the service on June 30, 1919.
He returned to Eaton, Wisconsin to help run his mothers farm, in the 1920 U.S. census he is listed as the 26 year old head of household with an occupation of farmer. Farming did not occupy all his attention though. Nicholas met Mary Genevieve Nowicki the daughter of Stanley and Elizabeth (Krupa) Nowicki also of the town of Eaton. They were married on September 6, 1920 at SS Cyril and Methodius Church by Reverend Peter Kurzejka. His best man was his brother Michael and the maid of honor was her sister Rose Nowicki. From that marriage came four children, one of which is my mother.
Had my Grandfather given up and died, I would not be here today. He taught me the importance of family and hard work. He was a respectful man and when I talked with him about politics and the presidency in my idealist youth, he would always say, "You may not like the man, but you must respect the office".
He may not be the last living vet of World War One but he will always be the man I remember on Memorial Day, each and every year.
Nicholas Polasik 1893 - 1976
