Community Corner
WWII Purple Heart Recipient Honored On 95th Birthday [VIDEO]
The recipient of Gold and Silver stars from Pacific combat action also recently celebrated his 73rd wedding anniversary with his wife.
ENFIELD, CT — Stanley Kokofski of Enfield saw plenty of action during his tour of duty in the Pacific theatre during World War II, being wounded twice in action and receiving Gold and Silver stars for his heroic service.
On Wednesday, there was plenty of action happening in front of the Stanley Drive home he shares with his wife of 73 years, Helen. In commemoration of their June 7 anniversary and Stanley's 95th birthday, his family arranged for a socially distant parade past the couple's longtime residence.
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Several dozen vehicles containing family members, friends, Marines, police and firefighters drove slowly past the couple, hollering good wishes and expressions of love to them as they watched in awe from the front lawn.
One of the first vehicles in the procession contained retired U.S. Marine Corps MSG Daniel Ward, who disembarked, approached Kokofski on the lawn and presented him with the Connecticut Veterans Wartime Service Medal, thanking him for his service to his community and his country.
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After growing up as one of nine children on a Suffield farm, Kokofski enlisted in the Marines at age 18, and shipped out to the Pacific in 1944 with the First Division. He was wounded twice during his service, in the leg and hip. He received a Purple Heart at the Battle of Peleliu, and a Gold Star in Okinawa (a substitute for a second Purple Heart). In Okinawa, he also received a Silver Star for charging an enemy ridge alone against concentrated machine-gunfire, then single-handedly defending the ridge with gunfire and grenades until his company joined him, according to his family.
His presidential commendation cites “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity,” “outstanding fighting spirit,” and “courageous devotion to duty.”
After the war, he returned to Enfield and continued to embody these Greatest Generation qualities and others – like integrity, sacrifice and hard work – in countless other ways. He worked as a meat cutter until age 90, his family said.
Video: Tim Jensen/Patch
Photos: Tim Jensen/Patch
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