Name: George Richard KOVALICK
Rank / Rating: S2-Seaman Second Class
Service #: 862 06 40
DOB: Mar 03, 1925
From: Detroit, Michigan
Parents:
Went Aboard: Sep 01, 1943
Age When Ship Went Down: 20 years, 4 months, 27 days
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Irene Schoenborn (Sister) and Carl Fahnestock (Admin)
Date Posted:

George Richard Kovalick, Seaman 2/C was born March 3, 1925, in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Pershing High School. He was loved so much by his family. We all adored our baby brother! It was a loss we never got over.

He called his mother his "best girl friend"! He loved to go trout fishing and loved to sing. His dog "Ming" was always at his side. We were told by two survivors that we met at a memorial service, that George swam from raft to raft and kept up the boys spirits by making them sing. They said they saw him alive the day of the rescue and were saddened to hear he didn't survive. The years have passed but our love and memories of George remain forever in our hearts. Still missing his beautiful smile. MICHIGAN MEMORIAL PLAQUE See photographs (posted below) to view a copy of a memorial plaque that was dedicated circa 1946 to honor seventy-two (72) State of Michigan men who served on USS Indianapolis CA-35 and who were Lost At Sea. George Richard KOVALICK's name is listed on the plaque! Per the caption on one of the photos, the plaque was originally planned in 1946 for display at a proposed Detroit Civic Center. The plaque was initially displayed at the Detroit Naval Post VFW #233. However, the plaque had vanished for decades, fueling rumors of theft, being melted for scrap, or hidden away in a private basement. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Jeff Ortiz (nephew of LAS Y3 Orlando Ortiz) and Joni Deaver (cousin of LAS sailor S2c Charles Roof Jr.), this priceless piece of history has been re-discovered in the Detroit Historical Society storage basement in Michigan. One of the photos shows Jeff Ortiz and Ralph McNabb (nephew of LAS F2 Thomas McNabb, Jr) standing behind the very dusty plaque as it was found.