Career
Grabiarz joined the Army from his birth city of Buffalo, New York, and by February 23, 1945 was serving as a private first class in Troop East, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On that day, in Manila, the Philippines, he voluntarily braved enemy fire in order to rescue a wounded officer who lay in an exposed position. After being wounded himself and trying unsuccessfully to drag the officer to safety, he used his body to shield the man from hostile fire.
Grabiarz was killed by the intense fire, but the officer survived.
Grabiarz, aged 19 at his death, was buried in Saint Stanislaus Cemetery, Cheektowaga, New New York
