After graduating from Mater Dolorsa Parochial School in 1927, Ignatius Maternowski attended Saint Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York, where he was a member of that school’s first graduating class in 1931. He entered the Order of the Franciscan Friars Conventual, and professed his first vows as a friar in 1932. After further studies, he was ordained a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Springfield in the Chapels of Saint Hyacinth College and Seminary in Granby, Massachusetts, on July 3, 1938. He then began service as a parish priest until the outbreak of World War II. He entered military service in 1942, and was commissioned a U.S. Army chaplain. He later volunteered for airborne training, and was assigned to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82d Airborne Division. Early on D-Day, June 6, 1944, he parachuted with his regiment behind enemy lines in France, where he was killed in action. He was the first Polish-American priest to be killed in World War II, and the only U.S. military chaplain killed in action on D-Day.
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Cemetery:
Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)Regiment:
508th Parachute Infantry RegimentDivision:
82d Airborne DivisionAction Date:
June 6, 1944
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain (Chaplain’s Corps) Ignatius Maternowski (ASN: 0-480972), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with , 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action at Normandy, France, on 6 June 1944. Chaplain Maternowski parachuted behind enemy lines with his regiment. Soon after landing, he discovered a crashed American glider near the town with multiple wounded troopers. Along with a medic, Chaplain Maternowski gathered all the wounded they could find and brought them to the hamlet’s caf-grocery store owned by Jules Thouroude. Amidst the still-raging battle, however, the small aid station was quickly overwhelmed. Chaplain Maternowski came up with a heroic and dangerous plan: to cross into German territory and suggest that the enemy forces create a combined aid station in a house at the end of the village to minister to wounded soldiers from both sides. Despite protestations against his idea, Chaplain Maternowski, walked to the German positions with his helmet attached to his belt. Surprisingly, a German medical officer listened to his plan and agreed to walk back with the priest to assess the situation. Verifying the accuracy of Chaplain Maternowski’s report, the German medic indicated he needed to return to his own lines. Chaplain Maternowski decided to escort the German officer. After seeing the medic safely back to German positions, the priest began his walk back to American positions and was shot and killed by an enemy sniper. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Maternowski, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.