Subritzky-Count Kusza, Michael Raphael Gabriel
Born 1950 in Katikati, New Zealand, from an old Polish noble family (ennobled Poland 1495), Polish Lord..
Education:
Saint Joseph's Convent Waihi, Waihi College. Married Marilyn (nee: Williams)
6 Children. Retired professional soldier. Captain. Served in the Royal New Zealand
Navy, Royal New Zealand Artillery, Royal New Zealand Air Force, US Navy-Task
Force 43 Antarctica, Polish (Independent) Reserve Brigade, Polish Government
(In Exile). 13 Tours of Duty, including peacekeeping Operation Agila
(Rhodesian War 1979-80). Enlisted into the Legion of Frontiersmen (New
Zealand) Command (P Troop) in 1996.
Has declined/refused any form of promotion since his enlistment in the LOF
New Zealand historian, author and war poet: Numerous published papers (chivalry, heraldry and nobility), documents (NZ history and military history), articles and poems in a wide variety of media; a dozen books on a variety of subjects and, -
The Subritzky Legend - Official New Zealand Sesqui Centennial Project (Heritage Press, 1990),
Subritzky Shipping A Heritage of Sail 1843-1993 (Three Feathers 1993),
The Vietnam Scrapbook "The Second ANZAC Adventure- Official New Zealand Army 150th
Anniversary Project " (Three Feathers, 1995),
History of the Polish Government (in exile) 1939-1990 (Three Feathers, 1996).
Numerous poetry awards.
"The Flak Jacket Collection", an anthology of personal war poems 2001.
Song of War - War poetry for Kiwi College Kids (Kiwiana Publishing, 2003).
Decorations and Medals:
- US Antarctica Medal 1973;
- New Zealand Operational Service Medal 1980;
- Rhodesia Medal 1980;
- Zimbabwe Independence Medal 1981;
- United Fire Brigades Assn. Medal 1983 (2 Clasps);
- US Congressional Cold War Certificate 2000;
- UN International Year of the Volunteer Service Medal 2001-
citation "For Dedicated Commitment to Humanitarian Causes".
- Received the Legion of Frontiersmen Centennial Medal (2003)
- Awarded the Most Honorable Order of St Barbara by the US Field Artillery Association (2006);
- Awarded the Annand Service Cross by the Independent Overseas Command of the LOF 2007
(LOF Foreign Award);
- Awarded the NZ Legion Service Medal (2008);
- Awarded the US Coast Guard Commendation Medal (2008);
- Awarded the US Navy Meritorious Service Order (2009);
- Awarded the Australian Service Medal by the Australian Division, Legion of Frontiersmen 2009
(LOF Foreign Award)
Edited:
Child of Destiny The Tom Rangi Story (Three Feathers, 1991),
Nobility of the Polish Commonwealth (Polish Nobility Association 1991),
"With Our Boys in Vietnam" - Poems by Betty May Brown (Three Feathers, 1996),
Poems of Distant Wars (Brian Riggir, 2001),
Waikato Word Weavers (Kiwiana Publishing 2002),
The Great Kiwi Summer Poetry Slam 2001/02 (Kiwiana Press, 2002),
Locked Down - An Anthology of New Zealand Prison Poetry (Kiwiana Press 2002),
Kiwi Gunners in War and Peace (Kiwiana Publishing 2003).
Who will cry for the Soldiers (Kiwiana Publishing 2003).
Nominated for New Zealand Book of the Year Awards 1996 and 2001; named Book of the Quarter by Texas State University April - June 1998; honoured by the NZ ex-Vietnam Services Association by having a copy of his book The Vietnam Scrapbook "The Second ANZAC Adventure" laid at the Vietnam War Memorial "Wall" in Washington D.C. during the 1997 pilgrimage; awarded the American Vietnam Veterans (honorary) Distinguished Service Medal 1997, citation "for his contribution to all veterans of the Asian conflict and immortalising the Vietnam Veterans of New Zealand for all time".
Assisted with the official New Zealand Millennium Television Series "Our People - Our Century" TVNZ, 2000. Most recently was selected to have his work published in the Australian war poetry anthology "The Happy Warrior".
Operation Enduring Freedom 2001/2002/2003/2004/2005, daily electronic news service "Subritzky's Word of the Day" to all ships in the US Navy's 5th Fleet in the Persian Gulf.
Member:
Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Polish (Independent) Reserve Brigade 1990,
Knight of Justice - Order of Saint Stanislas (Grand Cross) 1990;
Honorary Colonel California State Medical Reserve 1991,
NZ Kings Empire Veterans 1995;
Honorary Member 28 (Maori) Battalion Assn. 2001,
Knight of Justice - Order of Saint Lazarus 2003,
President IWVPA (International War Veterans Poetry Archives) 2001 -
National President New Zealand Antarctic Veterans Association 2002 -
Polish Nobility Association 1986.
Executive Te Awamutu Returned Services Association 1986,
ANZAC Day (Memorial Day) Parade Commander 2001-
Knight Commander of the Eagle of Georgia 2008
Subritzky has written some of the most important New Zealand war poetry of the 20th and 21st century, and is one of the best known New Zealand poets on the international scene. He is regarded as 'The Kiwi Kipling.'.
