DOB/DOD: June 1, 1925 (Wallingford, CT) – February 21, 1945; 19 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 34 Washington Street, Wallingford
ENLISTMENT: May 1, 1942, in New Haven, Connecticut
SERVICE NUMBER: 6433116
SHIP ASSIGNED TO: Assigned to the USS Saratoga (CV-3)
STATUS: MISSING IN ACTION
FAMILY: Born to Leon Rafal (1886-1980) and Zofia “Sophie” Fafara [Blazejowski] Blaski (1894-1977). Both parents were born in Poland. Third born of four children. Siblings are Phyllis Blaski Kwasniewski (1917-1998), Edwin (1919-2007), and Alice (1930-1974). 1, 2 He was going to night school at Yale to be a chemist while working at the American Cyanamid Company before enlisting. 6
CIRCUMSTANCES: A kamikaze attack devastated the carrier Saratoga (CV-3) operating off Iwo Jima, leaving 123 members of her crew killed in action or missing in action, including S2c Blaski.
Lyman Hall High School, Class of 1942
The telegram announcing Henry as Missing In Action. Contributed by Russell Blaski.
Letter from the Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal, confirming Henry was Killed in Action. Contributed by Russell Blaski.
Purple Heart Medal certificate and medal photos contributed by Russell Blaski.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) lists him as “Non Recoverable.” 7
From The Record-Journal (Meriden, CT) March 30, 1945
Tribute Is Paid Henry Blaski, Killed in Action
Mr. and Mrs. Leon Blaski of 34 Washington Street have received the following letter from Lieutenant George S. Heller, U.S. Naval Reserve, as follows:
“It is with deep personal regret that I must confirm the report that your son, Henry, was killed in action at sea on 21 February 1945. Henry was one of the best-liked and hardest-working men in the division. He liked his work, and he did it well. Though it is difficult to ease the hurt of so great a loss, some consolation may be found in knowing that Henry died carrying out his duties in battle, in the highest tradition of the Naval Service, in defense of his country and his ship. As his division officer, on behalf of myself, my division, and Henry’s many friends on board, I want to express our heartfelt sympathy to you at this time. Very sincerely yours, Lieutenant George S. Heller, U.S. Naval Reserve.
Henry Joseph Blaski, Seaman Second Class, was reported early in March as missing following action while in the service of his country. Besides his parents, he is survived by one brother, Sergeant Edwin Blaski, who is in the service in the South Pacific, and two sisters, Mrs. Phyllis Kwasnuski of New Milford and Alice, a student at Lyman Hall High School. Born in this town on June 1, 1925, Henry J. Blaski, Seaman Second Class, graduated from Lyman Hall High School. He had been employed at the American Cyanamid Company and attended night sessions at Yale with a view to becoming a chemist. Enlisting in the Navy on June 1, two years ago, he received his basic training at Sampson, New York. He was later assigned to a fire control school at Great Lakes, Illinois, after which he went overseas in the South Pacific area. His last time home was in September. He was a fire controlman stationed on a naval aircraft carrier.
Honored at the Honolulu Memorial, Courts of the Missing, Court 5, 2177 Puowaina Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii. Photo from FindAGrave.com. 4
Also memorialized with a footstone in the family plot in Island Pond Cemetery, 15 Island Pond Road, Harwich Center, Massachusetts; Lot 4N. Photo from FindAGrave.com. 5
1 – 1930 census https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/
2 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
3 – https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/2463764/person/1638428958/media/2fda857e-2882-4d61-b6a0-4f96c43f6fc3
4 – https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56115651/henry-joseph-blaski
5 – https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41449030/henry-joseph-blaski
6 – E-mail from nephew Russell Blaski, January 21, 2022.
7 – https://www.dpaa.mil/portals/85/Documents/WWIIAccounting/connecticut.html