Edmund G. Banasikowski
Former military officer, Polish community leader
Born Apr. 3, 1914, Siedlce, Poland; came to U.S., 1951; son of Wladyslaw and Leokadia (Zarybacka); married Sophie (Brzozowska); children: Barbara, Richard.
Education: Military College., Ostrow Mazowiecki (Poland), 1935; Technical College, Chicago (IL), 1958.
Career: World Council member of Polish Veterans of WW II - Stowarzyszenie Polskich Kombatantow (S.P.K.), Head Council member of Polish Home Army Veterans Association, Sweden and United Kingdom, 1947-50; president, Polish Veterans of WW II - S.P.K. Post No 3, Milwaukee (WI), 1952-54, 1981-93; chairman, Polish Committee, 1956-60, president, Wisconsin State Division, 1960-77, honorary president, 1977 -, national director, 1960-92, Polish American Congress (P.A.C.), Milwaukee.
Author: co-editor, Na Zew Ziemi Ojczystej (underground bulletin), 1944; Na zew Ziemi Wilenskiej (book), 1988; articles in Orzel Bialy (U.K.); numerous correspondences on Polish affairs for Radio Free Europe, Munich (Germany), and Polish combatants radio Echa z Polski, Milwaukee, 1953-93.
Member of: Polish Independence Movement "Niepodleglosc i Demokracja", Sweden and U.S., 1947-60; foundation, Committee for Enslaved Nations, 1960s'; organizer, Millennium Committee, 1966, erection of Chopin bust in the Performing Art Center, 1970, and reconstruction of the statue of N. Copernicus on 500 anniversary of his birth, 1973, Milwaukee; Studium - North American Study Center for Polish Affairs.
Honors: Cross of Virtuti Militari, Commander of Polish Home Army, 1943; Cross of Gallantry, Polish Home Army Cross; Cross with Star of Fighting Poland, Polish Veterans of WW II - S.P.K., 1976; honorary diploma, Pope John Paul II, 1988; Chivalry Cross - Polonia Restituta, Polish Government in Exile, London (U.K.), 1989; Polish Writer of the Year, Union of Polish Writers Abroad, 1989; Commander Cross - Polonia Restituta, L. Walesa, President of Poland, 1993.
Served with: Polish Army, 1935-39; Sept. '39 Campaign, lieutenant; Polish Home Army - A.K, "Wachlarz" Operation, Wilno district, 1939-44; Polish anti-bolshevik underground, captain, 1944-45; promoted to lieutenant colonel, 1990.
Languages: Polish, English, Russian, French.
Home: 5217 S Allenwood Ln, Hales Corners WI 53130
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation, New York, NY, 1996