DOB/DOD: July 18, 1924 (Stamford, CT) – February 24, 1945; 20 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 686 Pacific Street, Stamford (1930)
ENLISTMENT: August 26, 1942, in New York City
SERVICE NUMBER: 450157
UNIT: Company K, 3rd Battalion, 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0745, Rifleman
FAMILY: Born to William Malizewski [WW I veteran] (1894-1970) and Veronica “Vera” Dombrosky Malizewski (1900-1978). Both parents were born in Poland. William was their only child. 1
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in the Fall of 1942. Assigned to the 3rd Division, 21st Marines, 3rd Battalion, Company K from October 1942 through the Battle of Iwo Jima. 5 Died from a gunshot wound to the head. 4 PFC Malizewski and Corporal Robert Moone of Plantsville, CT, were in the same company and died on the same day.
Photo from The Quarterly, June 1941, Stamford High School. Contributed by Deb Gerber, School Library Media Specialist, Stamford High School. 3
From The Stamford Advocate, March 16, 1945; contributed by Ellen Sullivan, Senior Reader Services Librarian, The Ferguson Library, One Public Library Plaza, Stamford
Private Malizewski Is Reported Killed In Iwo Jima Fighting
Private First Class William A. Malizewski, USMC, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Malizewski, 120 Henry Street, was killed in action in Iwo Jima, it was reported today. A veteran of the battle for Guam and Bougainville, Malizewski enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 1942 and has been overseas since 1943. He graduated from Stamford High School in 1941 and was later employed at Conde Nast.
Citation to accompany the award of the Silver Star Medal
For action during World War II, U.S. Marine Corps, 3rd Marine Division, Commander in Chief, Pacific, order number 34072, August 23, 1945.
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class William A. Malizewski (MCSN: 450157), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Rifleman with the Third Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, Third Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima, in the Volcano Islands, on 24 February 1945. Severely wounded during the advance across Motoyama Airfield Number Two, Private First Class Malizewski was under treatment by a medical corpsman when he observed an automatic rifleman struck down and instantly killed while rendering effective support to the advance of his platoon. Fearlessly disregarding the tremendous volume of enemy fire blanketing the area, he immediately ran to his fallen comrade’s position, took over his rifle, and continued to provide urgently needed supporting fire for the desperately fighting, relentlessly advancing platoon. Resolute and determined, he maintained a steady stream of deadly bullets and succeeded in killing the crew of an enemy machine gun, thereby neutralizing the heavy weapon before he himself fell mortally wounded by a vicious burst of fire from another hostile machine gun. Stouthearted and courageous, Private First Class Malizewski rendered heroic service during the critical phase of the bitter conflict, and his prompt initiative, indomitable fighting spirit, and great personal valor in the face of savage opposition upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. 2
Memorialized on the Stamford Veterans Memorial, 138 Atlantic Street, Stamford, Connecticut.
Initially buried in the 3rd Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Row 8, Grave 179. At his father’s request, his remains were repatriated in 1948 and buried in St. John’s Cemetery, 191 Hoyt Street, Darien, Connecticut; Block 54, Lot 49 (2 lots from Robert Rotunno). Photo by Jeff DeWitt. The headstone is inscribed “OUR BILLY.”
Only one grave separates PFC Malizewski from PFC Rotunno, who was also killed in the Battle of Iwo Jima on March 2, 1945.
1 – 1930 census at https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/
2 – https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/42163
3 – E-mail from Deb Gerber, School Library Media Specialist, Stamford High School; e-mail on January 24, 2022
4 – USMC Casualty Card received via FOIA request
5 – USMC Muster Rolls: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/