Bronislaw Shicker (Szykier)Civil engineer
Born Parnu, Estonia, July 30, 1918; son of Zygmunt (born Kiszyniew, Russia) and Hilda Margaryta S. (born Viljandi, Estonia); married Halina Szykier; child: Andrew Anthony (born Feb. 25, 1944), Jaffa (Palestine).
Education: Officers School, Army Engineers, Poland, 1936-39, Associate of Science (A.Sc.); diploma, Senior Staff College, Scotland, 1944-45; Bachelor of Science (B.S.), engineering, London University, England, 1948-53.
Languages: Polish, English, French, Estonian, Russian, Italian.
Career: Structural engineer, W.S. Atkins and Partners, London, England, 3 years; civil engineer, supervisor, Vector Design Corporation, Newark, NJ, 1 year; project engineer, manager, nuclear power plants, Bechtel Power Corporation, San Francisco, CA, 28 years; consulting engineer and expert witness, self-employed, San Francisco, CA, 5 years.
Author: military, social, political articles in Polish press: Gwiazda Polarna, Wl; Nowy Dziennik, NY; Kombatant, NY; Saper, London, England; Nasze Wiadomosci, CA; organizer, shipments of medical equipment and materials to Poland; initiator, international civil suit against Soviet Union / Russian Federation for war crimes (Katyn massacre).
Military: Cadet Officers School, Warsaw, Poland, 1936-39; Polish Campaign, 1939; USSR, Mid East and Italian Campaign, 1942-44,1946; 2nd Lieutenant to Captain; rank at retirement, Lieutenant Colonel (General Staff), 1990. Prisoner of War (POW), Starobielsk, USSR, 1939; forced labor camp, Kotlas, USSR, 1941-42; deported with wife to Siberia, USSR, 1940-42.
Awards: Commander's Gold Cross of Merit, Republic of Poland (CIass III); Order of "Polonia Resituta" (CIass V); Gold Cross of Merit (twice); Cross of Valor; Cross of Monte Cassino; Poland Defense Medal; Medal of War, 1939; Cross of Fighting Poland; British War Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defense Medal; 2 Oak leaves (twice wounded); Man of the Year, Oakland, CA; Outstanding 5 years. Man of East Bay Association.
Member of: American Society of Civil Engineers (20 years); founder, director, Polish American Congress of North California, 5 years; founder, commander, Polish Veterans of World War II, 21 years; founder, director, East Bay Polish American Association, 5 years; secretary, vice president, International Institute of East Bay, 5 years; founder, secretary, vice president, Academic Association, "Veritas," 3 years; member, Polish Literary Society, 15 years.
Resident: Poland, 1920-40; Estonia, 1940-41; USSR, 1939,1941-42; Mid East, 1942-43,1946; Italy, 1944,1946; Scotland, 1944-45; England, 1947-1956; USA, 1956-; Walnut Creek, CA.
From: "Polish Americans in California, Vol. II," National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association, California 1995.