Wyandotte honors 11 of its fallen in World War II Memorial

By Dave Gorgon

Rod McLean described his late cousin, Chester L. Chormann, as a man with a country but without a city.

Chormann lost his life on March 1, 1942, while serving in the United States Navy during World War II. Yet, his name had not been part of the World War II Memorial in Wyandotte’s Bishop Park, so McLean wrote to city officials requesting that the omission be rectified.

McLean presented research that Chormann grew up in Wyandotte and lived at residences on 16th Street, Pine Street and 17th Street. He attended George Washington Elementary School, Trinity Lutheran Elementary and Roosevelt High School. He joined the Navy a few days after turning 17 years old on September 17, 1940, listing his hometown as Wyandotte on the paperwork. The enlistment upset family members who thought he was too young to serve, especially with all the turmoil in the world at that time, McLean said.

By the time of the enlistment and time of service, McLean noted, Chormann’s father Chet had built a home on Reeck Road in what is now Southgate. However, in the 1940s, Southgate did not exist; the area was considered part of Wyandotte.

“Chet was killed in action at the battle of Sunda Strait when he was 18 serving on the U.S.S. Houston,” McLean’s impassioned letter stated. “The Houston and HMS Perth ran into the Japanese fleet and fought bravely, but were severely outnumbered and both ships were sunk.”

Today, Chormann and 10 other servicemen with ties to Wyandotte are men with a country and a city. The 11 names were added to the Bishop Park memorial on a bronze plaque that was dedicated before a grateful crowd in a special tribute on June 25 by members of American Legion Post 217 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1136.

Joining Chormann on the plaque and wall are Billy L. Boyd, Hazen Branch Jr., Adolph E Kalin, Louis A. Kwiatkowski, William A. Laffin, George P. Ostrowski, Jack V. Padgett, Ralph R. Shull, Floyd H. Stone and Clarence J. Zempel. Each has a different story of being a casualty of war as do the 163 names that were placed on the original memorial when it was first unveiled.

McLean credited the 2021 book Wyandotte at War: A Michigan Town Fights Back in WWII by Alana Branch Paluszewski as detailing the names that were missing from the monument. The author is a lifelong Wyandotte resident, a distinguished Roosevelt High School graduate and member of the school’s Hall of Fame and a respected historian. Her books have earned national recognition.

“These young men were from Wyandotte or like my cousin believed they were from Wyandotte,” McLean wrote. “They joined the military because they loved this country and all that it stands for. If you had asked them on that fateful day where they were from, each would have told you: They were an American from Wyandotte, Michigan. Their names are either on head stones overseas or… like my cousin, went down with the ship.

“Families didn’t have the money to visit their graves overseas back then and they just fade away without fellow Americans knowing who they were or the cost they paid for our freedom. We have a solemn obligation to never forget their sacrifice.”

With McLean’s letter in hand, Wyandotte Mayor Rob DeSana formed a committee in the spring of 2022 that included himself, City Councilman Todd Hanna, Executive Assistant Julie Sadlowski, McLean, author Paluszewski, Mark Holthus and Tom Rushman of the American Legion and Brian Martin of the VFW.

In fact, Paluszewski’s late Uncle Hazen Branch Jr. was one of names missing from the monument. She said Branch was one of 10 children in his blended family from Wyandotte. During World War II, Hazen and his brother Don served together on the same Navy ship. Hazen also was lost at sea in 1943, the detailed book says.

“The minesweeper U.S.S. Hogan was deployed to the Battle of Casablanca in Morocco on November 8, 1942,” Paluszewski writes. “Onboard were Electrician’s Mate 2/c Hazen Branch Jr. and Signalman Don Branch, two of the six sons of Lillian Branch Lau and Bill Lau Sr. of Wyandotte. Hazen graduated in the June 1940 class of Roosevelt High School and joined the Navy two weeks later.

His older brother Don graduated from the RHS in the Class of ’38 and enlisted a few months earlier than his brother. Hazen’s request to join Don on the Hogan was granted after his training was completed.

“The USS Hogan patrolled for enemy submarines during the battle and after the conflict the Branch brothers visited Casablanca briefly… The Hogan arrived back in Norfolk, Virginia, the day after Christmas 1942 and continued minesweeping activities along the East Coast of the U.S.”

The morning of February 7, 1943, the book says, Don went to meet his brother for breakfast at the enlisted men’s mess, but Hazen never showed up.

“Later that day, Don was informed that Hazen was missing overboard in the night and bad weather conditions had prevented a search,” the book says. “Hazen’s personal effects were given to Don, who was sent to personally tell the family the bad news.”

A letter from Navy Commander A.C. Jacobs told the Branch family that Hazen had been on watch and is believed to have been “lost overboard because of rough seas.”

“His name is inscribed on a monument in New York City honoring American servicemen who lost their lives in the Atlantic Ocean,” the book reads. “Don returned to active duty and was honorably discharged in 1946.”

Holthus was master of ceremonies of the patriotic rededication in Wyandotte. He said adding the names to the bronze plaque would “rectify a profound oversight… ensuring their memory and heroism will forever be remembered.”

Other speakers included Mayor DeSana, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, past VFW Commander Martin, current American Legion Commander Mark Lawn, current VFW Commander Mike Samson, Michigan Department Commander of the VFW Ray Lopez.

“This was a very deserving dedication,” DeSana said. “It’s a perfect example of ‘all gave some and some gave all.’ When Rod told me Mr. Chormann didn’t have a city, it kind of hit my heart. Now they all have a city.”

Congresswoman Dingell called World War II veterans “the greatest heroes in the world” who “knew what the flag stood for.” Her late husband,

U.S. Rep. John Dingell, served in World War II.

“These names, like the countless others inscribed on this monument, embody the courage, valor and unwavering commitment to freedom that defined an entire generation,” said the VFW’s Martin. “World War II was a time of unprecedented global conflict, a battle fought on every front, a struggle for the very essence of humanity. In the face of unparalleled adversity, these young men and women stood tall, ready to defend the ideals upon which our great nation was founded. They fought not only for their families, their communities or their comrades, but for the future of liberty itself.”

He added: “The 11 names we add today, though late in their arrival, are now forever woven into the fabric of this memorial. They join the ranks of the courageous, the honored and the unforgettable. Their spirits join the chorus of voices urging us to be worth heirs of their sacrifice.”

A military salute featured three volleys of rifle fire. A moment of silence remembered the fallen. Two surviving World War II veterans – Henry Piwowar, a Wyandotte resident, and Richard “Pops” Pastula – were among the distinguished guests on hand. Piwowar joined McLean, Paluszewski and VFW member Bob Louks in unveiling the bronze plaque. The afternoon concluded with a celebration of heroes at the American Legion hall.