Francis Charles Miduski, son of Mary and Francis, was born on April 8, 1944, in Camden, NJ. His home of record is Camden, NJ. A 1962 graduate of Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill, NJ, his interests included cars, computers and dancing.
He enlisted in the US Army and went on to work for IBM in Poughkeepsie, NY. He then received his orders to go to Vietnam where he attained the rank of Second Lieutenant (2LT). Miduski went to Vietnam on August 16, 1967.
On October 5, 1967, at the age of twenty-three, Miduski was killed in action in the Hua Nghia Province of South Vietnam leaving behind a wife, Eileen, sister, Donna and daughter, Karen. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Honorable Service Award.
I was only 17 months old when my father, Francis Charles Miduski, was killed in Vietnam. I have no memory of him and can only tell what I know from my mother and his sister.
He was born in Camden, NJ on April 8, 1944, and grew up there. He attended Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill, NJ, and graduated in 1962.
After he graduated, he enlisted in the US Army for 1 or 2 years and then went on to work for IBM in Poughkeepsie, NY. He married my mother, Eileen Lickfeld from Pennsauken, NJ, on May 24, 1965, and I was born a year later on May 10, 1966.
He received his orders to go to Vietnam, and arrived there on August 16, 1967. Less than two months later, he was killed by “friendly fire” on October 5, 1967, at the age of 23. One of our bombs wasn’t working properly and he and a few other soldiers were working on it when it went off.
My mother told me he had a genius IQ and he always dressed to the “T”. His shirts and pants were always perfectly pressed. She told me they met at a local dance and danced to the song “Going to the Chapel.” To this day, that song still reminds her of him and the night they met.
My Aunt Donna (his sister) tells me stories of how it was when they grew up together. He was her big brother and she always looked up to him for advice, getting her out of trouble, or getting them both out of a mess. She could always count on him to be there for her.
All I have are the memories my family shared with me, some photos, and some things of his that were returned after his death. I’ve been to his grave in Arlington, VA, and have seen his name on the wall in Washington, DC, and also on the wall in Holmdel, NJ. I know that he was someone I am proud of today.
Written by Karen Miduski-Whyte, Daughter
Sources: Karen Miduski-Whyte (daughter) and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
