Kengal
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Replies: 17
Location: The Rock NSW AustraliaBack to top |
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ZenonPolishOrigins Team Leader
Joined: 28 Apr 2007
Replies: 1519
Location: PolandBack to top |
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NancyMPolishOrigins Matka Chrzestna
Joined: 14 Dec 2007
Replies: 185
Location: Massachusetts, USABack to top |
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:09 pm
Post subject:
Hi Ted,
I read Part 8 a few days ago when Zenon posted it. I forgot to reply here, because I got into a conversation with Zenon about what a great job he had done for you. I was so impressed by his tenacity in tracking down your family, it took 2 or 3 years of detective work, as I recall.
I was also thinking about how we usually never know how something we might say or do will ripple out and affect someone else. I felt like I was tossing a stone into a huge pond in 2004 when I posted my story, which Linda saw, and I am truly thrilled to learn about your own success.
Now you have told your story (OK, 8 of how many parts), and we can expect another "butterfly effect" as Zenon calls it.
Please tell Linda "Hello" from me 
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Kengal
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Replies: 17
Location: The Rock NSW AustraliaBack to top |
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Kengal
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Replies: 17
Location: The Rock NSW AustraliaBack to top |
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:49 am
Post subject: Re: Ted's Story in Sydney
Thanks Mate!
Australia Day was a bloody ripper (translation - a great day). We are walking around in shorts and t-shirts, it's hot hot hot. It's bloody beautiful weather. We better go and boil the billy 
See ya round like a rissole (translation - 'see' you later)
_________________
The character from Downunder!
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ZenonPolishOrigins Team Leader
Joined: 28 Apr 2007
Replies: 1519
Location: PolandBack to top |
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ZenonPolishOrigins Team Leader
Joined: 28 Apr 2007
Replies: 1519
Location: PolandBack to top |
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:23 pm
Post subject:
We prepared eBook version of the whole Ted's Story. You can open or download it directly from here: http://polishorigins.com/pdfs/tad_strojwas.pdf.
If you need Adobe software to open the pdf document you can download free Acrobat Reader from here: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
We also, together with Ted, decided to change the title of his biography, to be more unique, to:
I am Australian. Of Polish Descent.
As always, any comments are welcomed  .
Last edited by Zenon on Fri Feb 16, 2018 5:34 am; edited 2 times in total
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ZenonPolishOrigins Team Leader
Joined: 28 Apr 2007
Replies: 1519
Location: PolandBack to top |
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Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:11 pm
Post subject: I am australian, Polish Decent
Ted
Great article I just stumbled on this site and found this very interesting read.
My history is very similar to yours even to the situation that I am my parents came to Australia in July 1950 on the same ship "Anna Salen"
The ship Anna Salen left Bremerhaven on 24 June 1950 and arrived in Melbourne Australia 29 July 1950. The name Tadeusz Strojwas passenger number 1245 appears on the passenger list.
I have a complete passenger list for anyone who may be interested.
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Kengal
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Replies: 17
Location: The Rock NSW AustraliaBack to top |
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:17 pm
Post subject:
Hello Kruse,
Many thanks for the information. I've just sent you an personal email
I would like to know more about you and your life story. Sounds like we have some things in common.
Keep smiling, Ted
_________________
The character from Downunder!
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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:08 pm
Post subject:
Hi Ted,
I have just read your story this morning and was amazed by it. Zenon asked me to read it as your story and my Uncle's is very similar. I am Australian, born and bred here, but my entire family is Polish. My uncle, Jan Pola, like you was also sent to Germany from Poland and worked on two farms under "forced labor". Like you, he worked in the US Army in Germany after the war and then applied to resettle in Australia. He arrived here in Sydney, Australia in 1950. Just this weekend I have contacted the ITS in Bad Arolsen, Germany to see if I can obtain his records. Zenon mentioned that you had also applied a few months back and I was wondering if you have received a reply or any information.
Kind Regards,
Barbara (Basia)
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Kengal
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Replies: 17
Location: The Rock NSW AustraliaBack to top |
Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 4:13 am
Post subject: ITS in Bad Arolsen, Germany
| Basiak wrote: | Hi Ted,
I have just read your story this morning and was amazed by it. Zenon asked me to read it as your story and my Uncle's is very similar. I am Australian, born and bred here, but my entire family is Polish. My uncle, Jan Pola, like you was also sent to Germany from Poland and worked on two farms under "forced labor". Like you, he worked in the US Army in Germany after the war and then applied to resettle in Australia. He arrived here in Sydney, Australia in 1950. Just this weekend I have contacted the ITS in Bad Arolsen, Germany to see if I can obtain his records. Zenon mentioned that you had also applied a few months back and I was wondering if you have received a reply or any information.
Kind Regards,
Barbara (Basia) |
Hi Barbara,
I was interested to hear about your uncle and how many similarities there were to my own story. Is your uncle still alive?
Yes, I did receive a reply from the ITS in Bad Arolsen, Germany.
Initially, I sent three formal request forms by email and indicated that I was seeking information about myself, my Aunty Helena and half-sister Walerja. They sent me a letter and attached copies of records from their archives. The information they sent me related my time spent in Germany. Documents included my 'work history', the names/dates spent in displaced persons' camps, interviews with UNRRA etc. Unfortunately, there was no information available concerning my Aunty Helena and Walerja. From memory, I think I waited 3-4 months for a reply so they take a while to make contact.
Hope you get a reply soon. Good luck.
_________________
The character from Downunder!
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 3:46 pm
Post subject:
Hi Ted,
Thank you for your reply. Great news that you did receive information from ITS on yourself. The documents sound like they might give me more information about my uncle and I don't minding waiting 3-4 months. Unfortunately he died 4 years ago. I only found all this information from documents I obtained from the National Archives of Australia recently. I had no idea that all of this had happened to him, as I was told he worked as a guard in Germany after the war, but during the war was never mentioned. His date of birth seems to also be a mystery as there seem to be 2 different years that he used on documents. I am going to Poland in September and I am hoping to answer this question and obviously a few others about my family. Ted, one more question have you obtained records from the US Army during the time you worked for them after the war in Germany? I was hoping to do this but am finding it difficult to find out where to obtain the records. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Barbara
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Kengal
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Replies: 17
Location: The Rock NSW AustraliaBack to top |
Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 2:54 am
Post subject: US Army Records
| Basiak wrote: | Hi Ted,
Thank you for your reply. Great news that you did receive information from ITS on yourself. The documents sound like they might give me more information about my uncle and I don't minding waiting 3-4 months. Unfortunately he died 4 years ago. I only found all this information from documents I obtained from the National Archives of Australia recently. I had no idea that all of this had happened to him, as I was told he worked as a guard in Germany after the war, but during the war was never mentioned. His date of birth seems to also be a mystery as there seem to be 2 different years that he used on documents. I am going to Poland in September and I am hoping to answer this question and obviously a few others about my family. Ted, one more question have you obtained records from the US Army during the time you worked for them after the war in Germany? I was hoping to do this but am finding it difficult to find out where to obtain the records. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Barbara |
Hi again Barbara,
I do have some original documents that I kept from the US Army but I haven't sought any additional records since that time. The documents I have are my Motor Vehicle Operator's Permits (Truck Driving licence), Statement of Competency - Sheetmetal work and Army Discharge Certificate.
My suggestion would be to contact The National Archives and Records Administration as they are responsible for the storage of all US military records. The website is http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs
At least this may be a starting point
Regards, Ted
_________________
The character from Downunder!
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Kengal
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Replies: 17
Location: The Rock NSW AustraliaBack to top |
Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 4:32 pm
Post subject: Email from www.archives.gov
Hi Barbara,
I emailed www.archives.gov and asked how to access records relating to my service in the US Army.
I just received this email response from them.
May 11, 2010
Dear Mr. Strojwas:
Polish citizens who served with the U.S. Army during World War II and
during the occupation of Germany and who were not officially inducted
into the American Army were considered civilian employees by the U.S.
Government. Personnel and medical information for individuals who
worked for the U.S. government in a civilian capacity is in the custody
of the Civilian Personnel Records, National Personnel Records Center,
111 Winnebago Street, St. Louis, MO 63118-4126.
Sincerely,
Archives II Reference Section
National Archives at College Park, MD
NWCT2R 10-08709
Hope this information is a help to you,
Regards, Ted
_________________
The character from Downunder!
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