Edwin M. Kowalski was born in New York in 1919. His parents were both born in Poland. His mother was Rozalia 'Rose' (Ziemba) Kowalski (6 Jun 1883 – 15 Dec 1972). In 1930 the family lived at 179 Detroit Street, Buffalo, Erie County, New York, and his mother was head of the household. He completed one year of high school, and worked in a semiskilled occupation in the production of rubber goods. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at Buffalo, New York on June 12, 1942.

After training, he was assigned as an aerial gunner on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Arthur P. Webb in the 836th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. This Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Sgt Kowalski was killed in action on April 10, 1945, when flak struck him in the head during a mission to bomb the German airfield at Briest, near Brandenburg, Germany. He was 25 years old. His body was returned to Lavenham, and was buried at Cambridge American Cemetery near Madingley, England.

His remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Saint Stanislaus Cemetery in Buffalo, Erie County, New York on July 21, 1948.

Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com