Zenon B. Lukosius
Zenon B. Lukosius (August 24, 1918 – August 12, 2006) was an American Navy sailor who helped capture the German submarine U-505 in 1944. The capture was the first time the U.S. Navy had seized an enemy ship since the 1800s, and it brought back a code book that helped Allied codebreakers track German ships.
Lukosius was born in Chicago to Lithuanian parents. His father died when he was 14, and he left school to help his mother. He joined the Navy during World War II and served as a chief motor machinist's mate aboard the USS Pillsbury.
On June 4, 1944, Lukosius and six other sailors boarded U-505. Six of the nine men aboard, including Lukosius, survived. They helped capture the submarine and recover its important code book.
He received the Silver Star for his actions. After the war, he lived in South Holland, Illinois, and worked in construction for 37 years, helping build projects like McCormick Place in Chicago. He also helped raise funds for a U-505 exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, which opened in 2005. His Silver Star medal is held by the museum. He died in Harvey, Illinois, on August 12, 2006, at age 87.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 20:09 (CET).