Roman P. Niedzwiedz, 62, decorated Vietnam veteran

 

March 11, 2010 - Representing the Nam Knights at the Roman Niedzwiedz Funeral were; Leo "Smooth" Ethier, Brit "Sarge" Henderson, Bill "Pillows" Loh, Bob "Gilligan" Hamilton, and Steve "Roaddog" Berry.

He vowed "never again" to have another abandoned group of war veterans, said Hathaway, a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 899. Mr. Niedzwiedz was first vice president of the chapter for more than two years.

As vice president, Mr. Niedzwiedz established a chapter honor guard and researched starting the Mission of Honor, Hathaway said.

Since 2003, Mr. Niedzwiedz had been heavily involved in veterans affairs. He visited Fort Dix or McGuire Air Force Base two or three times a week to greet returning troops and offer advice.

"These flights come in at like 3 a.m., and he was always there," said Francis Carrasco, vice chairman of New Jersey Mission of Honor.

Mr. Niedzwiedz's biggest mark in the veteran community was advocating a bill Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed in February 2009 that allowed veterans groups to take abandoned veteran cremains and give the deceased a military burial.

The bill, which became law last July, allowed Mr. Niedzwiedz and Carrasco to establish an organization to track down all veteran cremains in the state.

"That was his goal, and we are continuing it," Carrasco said. In 2009, the group buried the cremains of 10 veterans and matched seven of them to families in the area, he said.
 

Best Wishes and Speedy Recovery to Bill West and John Maslik...

March 12, 2010 - Bill West was injured in the line of duty...duty to his friend / our friend, Roman Niedzwiedz.
 
Bill was one of the five bikers who braved-it to ride in Roman's funeral procession yesterday. Weather, of course, played the major role in the event. While rounding a curve on Elmwood Road before leaving Marlton, John Maslik's trike caught a slick spot and slid into a retaining wall causing John to dive over the wall and roll onto soft ground. He was bruised. But, Bill West, just behind John, saw this and tapped his brake causing a spin-out. Bill tried his best to keep his ride upright but both bike and Bill layed down on the wet and oil slicked blacktop. Both bikes sustained damage.
 
The procession, of course, stopped dead and many rushed forward to help, including Roman's own daughter, Thea, who is a Nurse Practitioner. No external injuries were apparent except that Bill complained that his shoulder hurt, thinking that, "maybe he pulled a muscle". John got his bike running but Bill's relay prevented his from starting. Doug Pierson came forward and was able to fire-'er-up after a bit. Evesham Twp Police arrived and wrote a report to document it all for the record.
 
The procession continued, albiet really cautiously, toward Brig.Gen. Wm.C.Doyle Cemetery while John and Bill were able to ride their bikes home. The funeral procession arrived on time at Doyle, proceeded as best as it could under the weather conditions, and both John and Bill joined up at the luncheon with their wives seemingly okay...but hurting. Please pray that both John and Bill's unjuries heal quickly and that their pain is offered up to the repose of Roman's soul. It was acquired freely in honor of a great man. May God bless them and all who came out to show their respects for our friend and hero, Roman Niedzwiedz. 
 
Respectfully submitted as I recall it (hopefully not offending anyone),
Jerry Skorch
 

A native of Germany, Mr. Niedzwiedz moved to Hartford, Conn., with his family about 1952. After graduating from high school in the mid-1960s, Mr. Niedzwiedz enlisted in the Army and was sent to Vietnam.

He was injured by mortar fire in combat and also survived an accident in which the Jeep he was riding in struck a land mine, his son, Roman P. Niedzwiedz II, said. He was later awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, his son said.

When Mr. Niedzwiedz returned from Vietnam in 1970, he worked as a drill sergeant at Fort Dix, his son said. He retired from the military in 1973 but remained in South Jersey.

Mr. Niedzwiedz went to Trenton State College and started working in the financial sector, specializing in mortgages. His family lived in Sunnybrook in Lumberton for about 10 years before moving to Marlton in 1984.

After retiring as a mortgage banker in 2001, Mr. Niedzwiedz responded to an invitation from the Fort Dix VA hospital for a checkup.

"They gave him the medical treatment he needed," his son said, adding that since then, Mr. Niedzwiedz had wanted to assist other veterans.

"He helped out one, then it was two, then it was three," his son said.

Mr. Niedzwiedz was described as the brains of Mission of Honor - the go-to person for legal questions, or getting death certificates and other paperwork, Carrasco said.

He never complained and enjoyed getting calls from other veterans or group members, they said.

"He would pick up the phone and say, 'Hey, hey, heyyy,' " Carrasco recalled.

In addition to his son, Mr. Niedzwiedz is survived by his wife of 42 years, Toni; a daughter, Thea; and two sisters.

A viewing will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Bradley Funeral Home, Route 73 and Evesham Road, Marlton.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10 a.m. tomorrow at St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, 100 Willow Bend Rd., Marlton.

Interment will be in Brig. Gen. William Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown.

Donations may be made to New Jersey Mission of Honor, Box 263, Bordentown, N.J. 08505.

NIEDZWIEDZ, Roman P. On March 6, 2010. Of Marlton, NJ. Age 62. Beloved husband of Toni (nee Montineri). Loving father of Roman, II and Thea. Dear brother of Helen Cadigan and Anita Feger. Roman was a combat Veteran of the Army during Vietnam, receiving the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was First Vice President of the Vietnam Veterans Of America Chapter 899 and a member of their Honor Guard. He was also founder of NJ's Mission of Honor for the Cremains of American Veterans and a member of the NJ State Veterans Cemetery Advisory Committee. Relatives and friends are invited to the viewing 6-9pm Thursday at the BRADLEY FUNER AL HOME, Rt 73 & Evesham Rd., Marlton. Mass of Christian Burial 10am Friday at St. Joan of Arc Church, 100 Willow Bend Rd., Marlton. Interment Brigadier General William Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to NJ's Mission of Honor, PO Box 263, Bordentown, NJ 08505.