David John Swierczynski, son of John and Irene (Wolf) Swierczynski, was born 25 June 1955 in Michigan. He died 21 July 1986 Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan and was interred East Lawn Memory Gardens, Okemos, Ingham County.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 23 July 1986
SWIERCZYNSKI, DAVID JOHN
403 E. GRAND RIVER
Age 31, born June 25, 1955 in Lansing. Mr. Swierczynski was a graduate of Okemos High School (1973). Surviving are his parents, John and Irene Swierczynski of Okemos; 2 brothers, Kevin (Wendy) of Brooklyn, Daniel (Teresa) of Bloomfield Hills and Christopher of Melrose, MA; grandmother Mrs. Amy Wolfe of DeWitt; nephew Adam of Bloomfield Hills; several aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services will be held Friday 10 a.m. at the Gorsline-Runciman East Chapel, East Lansing.
New items about David's family: his father, John Swierczynski
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 31 July 1953
DOUBLE AMPUTATION MARS VET'S WAITED HOMECOMING
Joy turned to sadness of a local family Friday.
The Swierczynski's of 1121 Cleveland ave., Sunday rejoiced that a son and husband would be coming home from Korea.
Friday they heard both his legs had been amputated below the knee as the result of wounds suffered July 15.
The victim is Pvt. John Swierczynski, 20, former State Journal mailing department employee. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Swierczynski, and the husband of Mrs. Irene Swierczynski, all of the Cleveland ave. address.
John was one of five sons who had seen service during World War II and the Korean conflict. The other four had already been discharged.
To Mrs. John Swierczynski, the former Irene Wolfe, it was to have meant a happy reunion with her husband, who left for overseas less than three months after their marriage.
But their happiness was tragically marred when a telegram from the department of defense notified them of John's double amputation.
Pvt. Swierczynski, who had been overseas since late April, was a member of Company C, 140th tank battalion, 30th Infantry Division.
Mrs. Swierczynski said that although the telegram stated that her husband had been wounded on July 15, she believed it to be more recent. She had received a letter from him dated July 22 and postmarked the 24th in which he said his unit was preparing to go back into battle. She said she planned to contact the American Red Cross for an inquiry to the department of defense.
A graduate of Lansing Eastern high school with the class of 1950, Pvt. Swierczynski entered service last November and received his training at Ft. Knox, Ky. He worked part time for The State Journal from 1948 until his graduation, and was then employed full time prior to induction.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Saturday 26 December 1953
VISITS OLD PALS AT JOURNAL
DOUBLE AMPUTEE CHEERFUL ON CHRISTMAS
JOHNNY THANKFUL; HE'S ALIVE, HAPPILY MARRIED
You'd think a fellow who lost both his legs during the past year could not have much of a Christmas.
If you think so you haven't reckoned with Pvt. John Swierczynski. John didn't have by any means "a gay old time" - but he did have a happy and extremely thankful Christmas.
Even when he lost both legs John figured he was lucky. The same shell that mangled his feel and ankles so badly they had to be taken off killed two men with him.
JUST BEFORE ARMISTICE
All of that happened in that blood soaked section of the world called Korea. And it happened just about 48 hours before they signed the armistice last July.
John was on detached service from his 40th Infantry division when his tank battalion was assigned to support a R. O. K. division.
They were using his tank as an artillery piece when it broke down. The crew had gotten out of the tank to help a recovery unit drag it back to the rear.
John's war with guns and shells ended a few minutes later in a blast of mortar fire. His war to lead a fairly normal life was declared at the same time.
A fast navy hospital plane got him back to the states in a matter of hours after he had been treated in Japan. Then it whisked him across the continent to Walter Reed hospital where he has made his "home" since September.
WIFE IN WASHINGTON
His wife, Irene, lives with him in a small apartment near the hospital.
He drove back to Lansing last Monday with his wife to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Swierczynski, at 1121 Cleveland st.
Thursday he came back to The State Journal to visit some of his old cronies in the mailing room where he worked after he graduated from Eastern high school and before he went into the army.
Paul A. Martin, publisher, stopped in to tell John as he was talking with some of his friends "come back when you're ready; your job is waiting."
Hel'' leave Lansing on Jan. 2 to return to have a few more inches of his right leg removed and then he'll be ready for his "new feet."
THE BIG DAY
Then maybe around April or May he may get out for good.
It won't be right to say John is doing it all alone. Much of his outlook is credited to his wife. Her courage is best noted in what she told a reporter after being informed of his wound.
"I love Johnny and will continue to with or without legs."
There's one thing you have to admit.
It's going to be pretty hard trying to stop a combination like that.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 28 March 1955
FIRST BONUS CHECK
Lansing, March 28 - A 22-year-old Lansing printer who lost both legs in the Korean war will get the first Michigan Korean veterans' bonus payment tomorrow - a check for $170. John Swierczynski, an apprentice printer for the Lansing State Journal, said he probably will use the money to pay hospital expenses for the baby his wife, Irene, is expecting in June. (The Baby was David John!)