Golden Gate Wing Guest Speaker Archive

Presentation Date: October 27, 2011

1st Polish Armored Division, Captain Marion Grohoski

Captain Marion Grohoski, 1st Polish Armored Division. His mother was Latvian and father was Polish. His parents met in San Francisco and then went to Harbin, China where Marion was born. He attended a Polish high school in Harbin and college in Yokohama, Japan. While there, one of Doolittle's B-25s flew over the campus while conducting the raid. Marion was carried on the Polish Ambassador's list as a diplomat so he was able to leave the country on the Swedish ship Gripsholm. After a lengthy trip, he arrived in England, went on to Scotland, and joined the 1st Polish Armored Division which landed in Normandy on D-Day +30. He fought throughout Europe until the end of the war and remained in Germany as part of the occupation force. He completed his education in Germany as a mining engineer. Five other Chinese born escapees will also attend Marion's presentation. Captain Marion Grohoski, 1st Polish Armored Division. His mother was Latvian and father was Polish. His parents met in San Francisco and then went to Harbin, China where Marion was born. He attended a Polish high school in Harbin and college in Yokohama, Japan. While there, one of Doolittle's B-25s flew over the campus while conducting the raid. Marion was carried on the Polish Ambassador's list as a diplomat so he was able to leave the country on the Swedish ship Gripsholm. After a lengthy trip, he arrived in England, went on to Scotland, and joined the 1st Polish Armored Division which landed in Normandy on D-Day +30. He fought throughout Europe until the end of the war and remained in Germany as part of the occupation force. He completed his education in Germany as a mining engineer. Five other Chinese born escapees will also attend Marion's presentation.