S/Sgt. Kowalski was born in 1918 in Greenfield Massachusetts. Because his parents who emigrated from Poland died at an ealry age, Kowalski was raised by his older borther Vincent. After S/Sgt. Kowalski graduated from Greenfield High School in 1937 he enlisted in the U.S. Army on November 8, 1940 at Springfield, Massachusetts. Kowalski fought in North Africa Tunisia and Sicily as a member of the 1st Infantry Division prior to D Day. After he developed and maintianed a field artillery batillion instrument section, he was awarded the Legion of Merit in 1944. Then on June 18, of the same year S/Sgt. Kowalski along with five members of the 7th Field Artillery Battalion were moving forward to the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Division Regiment to establish observation points. After a wrong turn the S Sgt. and five other members were captured by the Germans and Kowalski was reported injured.