Zigmund Zebrowski

Zigmund Zebrowski was born February 2, 1921 in Middle Island, New York. His parents were William and Michalena (Luba) Zebrowski. Zebrowski attended the on room school house at Middle Island for 8 years and Port Jefferson High School for 4 years. Before entering the service he was employed by the Loper Brothers Lumber Company as a Cabinet Maker. Zigmund enlisted in the Navy on January 23, 1940 at Jamaica, Long Island. Zebrowski left the United States on October 22, 1940 aboard the USS Brooklyn leaving Long Beach, California for Hawaii. During the war Zebrowski was involved with the invasions of Sicily, Anzio and Southern France. He received the European, African, Middle Eastern (with 3 stars) Campaign Medals, he was also awarded a Good Conduct Medal.

Zebrowski was discharged from the service on January 31, 1946 at Lido Beach, New York

Jonah Santorello
Longwood JHS
June, 2005

With the entry of the United States into World War II Brooklyn got underway from Bermuda to patrol the Caribbean Sea. In April 1942 she was assigned convoy escort duty between the United States and the United Kingdom. On 3 September during one of the trans-Atlantic crossings, Wakefield (AP-21), a member of the convoy caught fire and was abandoned. Brooklyn rescued 1,173 troops which had been embarked on board Wakefield. Although severely damaged by the fire, Wakefield was towed to safety and repaired.

On 24 October 1942 Brooklyn departed Norfolk, Virginia for North Africa. On 8 November she bombarded shore installations to cover the Fedhala landing. While thus engaged she was hit by a dud projectile from a coastal defense gun which damaged two of the cruiser's guns and wounded five of her crew. She departed Casablanca for the east coast 17 November 1942. Between January and July 1943 she made three convoy escort voyages between the east coast and Casablanca and then steamed to the Mediterranean where she carried out screening and fire support duties during the invasion of Sicily (10-14 July).

Remaining in the Mediterranean, Brooklyn next covered the Anzio-Nettuno landings (22 January-9 February 1944). Between 13 and 23 May 1944 she participated in the bombardment of the Formia-Anzio area and then carried out exercises in preparation for the invasion of southern France. On 15 August 1944 Brooklyn furnished part of the heavy naval gunfire which preceded the landing of Allied troops on the coast of southern France. She remained on duty in the Mediterranean until 21 November 1944 when she departed Sicily for New York, arriving 30 November.