Harry Mieczkowskt was born on February 23, 1920. He served in the 33rd Chemical Decontamination Company as a Technician 5th Grade during World War II. He was aboard the USS LST 507 and was killed during the Exercise Tiger--one of the large-scale rehearsals for the D-Day invasion of Normandy. This took place in April 1944 in Slapton Sands, Devon in the UK. An Allied naval convoy involved in the exercise was attacked by German submarines, and coordination and communication problems resulted in friendly fire deaths. At least 749 American servicemen were killed. Because of the impending invasion of Normandy, the incident was highly classified and the full story did not come out until years later after the war. T5 Mieczkowski is now buried in the Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, USA.