![[Targosz Picture]](Targosz_01.JPG)
Targosz, Rev. Stanislaw
(1911-1944)
Priest of the Krakow diocese, chaplain of the 3rd Division Carpathian Rifles
Born on April 13, 1911 in Krakow. Son of Franciszek and Karolina Wroblewska.
He received his maturation diploma from the High-School No. 3, named for King Jan III Sobieski in Krakow and entered the Seminary in Krakow. At the same time studied in the Theological Department of Jagiellonian University. On April 3, 1936 was ordained by Archbishop Adam Stefan Sapiecha, the Krakow Metropolitan bishop. He started his pastoral work as assistant pastor in Zebrzydowice. In 1938 he became assistant-pastor at St. Jozef's parish in Krakow-Podgorze. He taught religion at the supplementary school attached to Grammar School no. 1 in Krakow. He was involved in societies for youth working in the trades.
In August 1939 he attended the International Congress of Pax Romana Students in Washington. After the outbreak of hostilities in WWII he remained in the United states and worked as an assistant-pastor at the parish of St. Hyacinth in Detroit. In 1943 he became chaplain at the training camp in Owen Sound, Canada. In October of that year he arrived in Palestine and entered the Polish Army. He was the chaplain for the 3rd Battalion Carpathian Rifles in the 3rd Division of the Carpathian Rifles [as written]. As the Chaplain of this Division he took part in the Italian Campaign. During the Battle at Monte Cassino, in battle conditions, he said mass in the so-called "Large Bowl", in which the soldiers participated but remained in their shelters.
He was killed on June 30, 1944 on the Chienti River. After the battle near Elvienti he was bringing in the dead from the field. His automobile struck a mine, and he was killed instantaneously.
He was buried at the cemetery at Monte San Giusto. After the war his remains were taken to the Polish Cemetery at Loreto.
In the Battle of Monte Cassino: During the entire time the battalion was in action, often under heavy fire by the enemy, he personally was bandaging the wounded and carrying them from the field of battle. Several times, due to shortage of medics, he goes to the firing positions to aid the wounded. He remains with the soldiers at the position despite very heavy enemy fire. He remains at the position taken by the battalion commander for 3 days and despite complete exhaustion does not want to leave, working tirelessly as a messenger.
For these deeds he was decorated with the Virtuti Militari Order V class No. 10102, bestowed posthumously by the Virtuti Militari Order Commission in London on July 20, 1944.
Posthumously he was advanced to the rank of major. He was also awarded the Medal of Valor, The Military Medal and the British Star 1939-45, War Medal 1939-45.
He was the author of the book: Polonia Katolicka w Stanach Zjednoczonych w prekroju [Catholic Polonia in the United States in Cross-section] and the memoir Dziennik kapelana spod Monte Cassino [A chaplain's journal from Monte Cassino] published in "Tygodnik Powszechny" in 1975.
His name is on a tablet at the Field Cathedral of the Polish Army in Warsaw, dedicated to military chaplains who were killed in the years 1939-1945; Fr. Targosz's epitaph in at the Mariacki [Marian] Church in Krakow.
Sources: Archives at the Metropolitan Curia in Krakow, personnel folder A 846; IPiMs, resolution for granting the Virtuti Militari Order A.XII.85/51/7; Biegun, Arcypasterz [Archpastor], per index; Jan Bielatowicz, 3 Battalion strzelcow karpackich [3rd battalion of the Carpathian Rifles], London 1949, Kolo zolnierzy 3 baon S.K., p. 125, 213; Fr. Maciej Gawlik, Fr. Jan Szczepaniak, Ksiedza archidecezji krakowskiej 1880-1939 [Priests of the Krakow Archdiocese 1880-1939] Slownik biograficzny. [Biographical dictionary] Wydawnictwo Sw. Stanislawa Archdecezji Krakowskiej, Krakow 2000, p. 303; Humenski, Duszpasterstwo wojskowe [Military pastorship] p. 265, 269; Jacewicz, Wos, Martyrologium [Martyrology] part I, part III, p. 90. 92, 112, 113; Fr. Jan Kracik Qui venerun ex magma tribulatione. Kaplani archdecezji krakowskiej przesladowani podczas II wojny swiatowej [Priests of the Krakow Archdiocese persecuted during WWII] (in:) "Notificationes e Curia Metropolitana Cracoviensi", no. 7-8. 1989. p. 198; Ksiega pochowanych zolnierzy [Book of buried soldiers] p. 293; Kryska-Karski, Straty Korpusu Oficerskiego [Losses among the Officer Corps] p. 437, per index; Lukomski, Polak, Sucheitz Kawalerowie Virtuti Militari [Cavaliers of the Virtuti Militari Order] p. 520; Adam Majewski, Wojenne opowiesci porucznika Szemraja [Wartime stories of Lt. Szemraj] , Lublin 1987, per index; Adam Majewski, Wojna, ludzie i medycyna [War, people and medicine] Lublin, 1977, per index; Odziemkowski, Sluzba duszpasterska [Pastoral service] per index; Podlewski Wierni Bogu i Ojczyznie [Faithful to God and Country] per index; ; Schematyzm Krakowski, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939, per index; Studzinski, Przewodnik po cmentarzach [Cemetery guide] p. 92; Studzinski Wspomnienia [Recollections] per index; Stanislaw Targosz, Dziennik kapelana spod Monte Cassino [A chaplain journal from Monte Cassino] published in "Tygodnik Powszechny" no. 19, 20, 21, 22, 1975; Trzecia Dywizja Strzelcow Karpackich 1942-1984 [Third Division of the Carpathian Rifles 1942-1984], editor Wladyslaw Maciejczyk, Zarzad Glowny Karpatczyka, London 1991, p. 619; Wankowicz, Bitwa o Monte Cassino [Battle for Monte Cassino] per index; Wankowicz, Kapelani wojskjowi [Military chaplains], p. 6-8; Wawer, 3 Dywzja Strzelcow Karpackich [3rd Division of the Carpathian Rifles] p. 47; Wesolowski, Order Virtuti Militari, p. 624, 674; Tomasz Wroblewski, Ks. Kapelan Stanislaw Targosz [Rev. Chaplain Stanislaw Targosz] TP, no. 19, 1975, p. 4; Wspomnienia wojenne kapelanow wojskowych [Reminiscences of military chaplains], p. 59, 554; Wykaz osob odznaczonych [Listing of medal recipients], information given by Fr. Andrzej Sapeta at the Archive of the Krakow Curia and Adam Studzinski of Krakow.
From: Boguslaw Szwedo, Zawsze w Pierwszej Lini. Kaplani Odznaczeni Orderem Virtuti Militari 1914-1921,1939-1945 [Always in the Front Rank. Priests decorated with the Virtuti Militari Order 1914-1921,1939-1945] RYTM, Warsaw, 2004
Translation by: Peter Obst (2009) for Poles in America Foundation Inc.