Harry Kulkowitz the son of Russian Immigrants, who where Jewish, was born in New York 1924. His father was a tailor in New York City. His mother Sophia died while Harry was fighting in Europe.
To join up in 1941 when the Americans came into the war Harry had to lie on his enlistment papers, he was not yet 18, to fight along side his friends against Fascism. Harry originally signed up to be a photographer and then became radio intercept operator. As a radio operator, he was trained to listen to Nazi codes and messages.
Harry landed on Utah Beach, Normandy on June 6, 1944 as a 20 year old with the 114th Signal Company, sea sick and frightened and as he says not knowing what the hell was going on! After landing on Utah Beach June 6, 1944 Harry went on through the whole European campaign eventually finishing in 1945 in Germany.
At the start of the battle of the Bulge, the 20-year-old Harry Kulkowitz was among General George Patton’s forces. He intercepted messages from the Germans that proved the enemy troops were less than a mile away. When he told his sergeant, he refused to act on the intelligence until it was confirmed by a later message. That was the start of the Battle , and Kulkowitz said if he ever saw that sergeant again, he would "kick his rear end".
On arrival in New York in 1945 from Amsterdam on board their ship, Harry and his colleagues were welcomed by huge flotilla of boats and water canons, huge signs saying 'welcome back boys!' thinking they were being welcomed back as the conquering heroes, they discovered to their dismay when one of them turned around, that the US Missouri was sailing right behind them!
After the war Harry then concentrated on his career as a photographer and also expanded his various interests to eventually founding the Restaurant/Hotel in Cape May, The Mad Batter an acclaimed New Jersey establishment, which today is now owned by his son Mark.
Inside the Mad Batter, he has a place set aside to honor the service of his father and others who served their nation in the Second World War. Annually, he hosts the local chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of Bulge for a dinner.
Harry Kulkowitz who is also awarded the Legion of Honor, France’s highest tribute to a foreigner, still lives in New York.
