Jozef Kowalski | |
---|---|
Born | 2 February 1900 (age 112 years, 42 days) Smerekivka, Lviv, Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine) |
Allegiance | Poland |
Service/branch | Polish Army |
Years of service | 1919–1921; 1939 |
Rank | Lieutenant |
Unit | Polish Army 22nd Regiment Ułanów |
Battles/wars | Polish-Soviet War September Campaign |
Awards | Order of Polonia Restituta |
Józef Kowalski (born 2 February 1900) is, at age 111, thought to be Poland's oldest living man. He is thought to be the oldest verified military veteran in the world, following the death of Gertrude Noone.[1][2][3] He is also the only living verified veteran of the 1919–1921 Polish-Soviet War. Kowalski served in the 22nd Uhlan Regiment of the Polish Army. He took part in the September Campaign in World War II, and was later held in a concentration camp. On his 110th birthday, he was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for his war service by President Lech Kaczyński, of Poland.[4] Now aged 111, he lives in Tursk, near Sulęcin, in a care home.[5][6][7][8]