Corporal Hubert Kowalewski began his military service in 2001 as a tank gunner in the armored brigade in Świętoszów. After completing his compulsory military service, he applied to extend his service and, owing to his very good evaluation from his superiors, was called up in September 2002 to serve as an extended-service soldier.
He participated in the fourth rotation of the Polish Military Contingent of the stabilization mission in the Republic of Iraq from January to July 2005. On 15 January 2007, he was called up for professional military service as a Leopard 2A4 tank gunner. He served in the 6th Tank Company of the 24th Uhlan Battalion of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade (10BKPanc).
On 15 October 2007, he began his mission with the second rotation of the Polish Military Contingent in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. He was killed on 26 February 2008 while carrying out a combat mission.
By decision of the Minister of National Defence, Senior Private Hubert Kowalewski was posthumously promoted to the rank of corporal. At the same time, by a decision of the President of the Republic of Poland dated 28 February 2008, he was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Military Cross for outstanding service in operations conducted during combat actions, and for the courage and personal bravery he demonstrated.
Ten years later, at the Garrison Square in Świętoszów, during the brigade's morning assembly, the soldiers observed a minute of silence in memory of their fallen comrade. Earlier, Lieutenant Tomasz Frąckiewicz of the 10BKPanc Educational Section had described in a few sentences the profile of the armored soldier who gave his life while serving his Homeland.
That day, at seven o'clock, a Mass was also held for the deceased, attended by numerous representatives of the command and all subunits of the Świętoszów unit. After the assembly, at the memorial plaque in the Square of Soldiers of the 10BKPanc Fallen in Polish Military Contingents, a delegation from the armored brigade, led by its commander, Colonel Doctor of Military Science Dariusz Parylak, laid a wreath and lit a candle to pay tribute to the fallen soldier. In addition, a delegation of soldiers from the 24th Uhlan Battalion went to Sulechów, where they visited the grave of the man who had once served in the same subunit as they did.
The soldiers of the armored brigade remember the fallen not only on the anniversary of their deaths. Corporal Hubert Kowalewski remains constantly present in the memory of his comrades and superiors. He gave up what was most precious to him, and therefore remembering Him is the duty of the soldiers of the 10BKPanc.