Victor Buinowski
ASN: 36406524
Registering for the draft on June 30, 1942, Victor Buinowski entered the military service on October 24, 1942. Victor resided in Albion, Michigan, a 20-year-old high school graduate who was 6’0”, 180 pounds, ruddy complexion, with a chiseled jawline and a scar over his left eye.
After entering the service in Kalamazoo, Michigan he received training at Ft. Bragg in Artillery and Officer Candidate School.
Private Buinowski became a member of the 319th Field Artillery, A-Battery of the 82nd Airborne Division, and traveled with the battalion to North Africa arriving in Casablanca May 10, 1943.
He fought in the major campaigns of Naples-Foggia, Normandy, Holland, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
Company Morning Reports
Company Morning Reports (see below) were produced every morning in Army units relating to personnel matters. Below are several reports of SGT Buinowski’s status and appointment to Private First Class while serving in North Africa on August 30, 1943. Naples, Italy, promoted to Corporal and later to Sergeant on June 11, 1945, while stationed in Marchais, France. Serving with the 319th his military occupation was 7844, gun crew artillery man.
Personal photos (below) of A-Battery gun section in the snow at the Battle of the Bulge loading a “75” round….and standing at ease in Epinal, France.
SGT Buinowski was a member of the A-Battery basketball team as seen in this group photograph taken at Camp Ballyscullion in Northern Ireland. The battalion was stationed there following the Italy Campaign.
Below is a group officer photo taken June 1945 with Sgt. Buinowski (standing far right), enlisted men photo waiting in line (Sgt. Buinowski 4th soldier from right). Sgt. Buinowski shouldering an M1 Garand on guard duty in Naples, Italy, and proudly carrying the battery colors (second from right) June, 1945, Lubtheen, Germany.
Victor Buinowski also appeared in the A-Battery group photo taken June 20, 1945 in Epinal, France.
Courtesy of William Bonnamy, Joseph Covais, author of BATTERY and the Buinowski Family.
The Adjusted Service Rating Score (ASR) was the system the U.S. Army used at the end of the war to determine when soldiers were eligible for discharge.
With a score over 85 points SGT Buinowski was deemed a “high point” soldier and returned to civilian life on September 6, 1945. Receiving an honorable discharge he returned to his home State of Michigan.
SGT Buinowski was awarded 6 Bronze Battle Stars, Bronze Arrowhead, Good Conduct Medal, the Belgian Fourragere, Presidential Unit Citation Badge, Victory Ribbon, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon, and Glider qualification. (Certificate below signed by Capt. Sartain and Col. Todd)
In the 90’s Victor Buinowski was interviewed about his time in the service. His memory for detail was rather good, he spoke of basic training, life aboard the SS Santa Rosa destined for Casablanca and his first combat near Maiori, Italy. He lost a stripe while stationed in Northern Ireland but earned it back with two battle stars and an Invasion Arrowhead.
He spoke of D-Day and the horrific glider landings, Holland, the freezing cold at “The Bulge” and watching “Hitler’s super weapons” at work. Glad to be in the airborne and always felt “God’s help,” years later he lamented over the sights and smells of the Wobbelin concentration camp. And a young, red haired enemy soldier lying dead along the road in Normandy.
Victor Buinowski (seated right) recalling his WW2 experiences
Following his return to civilian life Victor Buinowski stayed in touch with fellow 319th troopers and one last photograph taken with a glider.
Victor S. Buinowski, 86, died June 28, 2008.
God Bless this hero.