The Eighth Tribe, 1978 (5. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1978-12-01 / 12. szám
Page 10 THE EIGHTH TRIBE December, 1978 a complex network of lords and vassals, and their hierarchy stretched from a simple knight, through the barons, counts and princes, right up to the feudal king. If the culture of the contemporary Church was other-worldly, the culture of the feudal lords was geared very much to this world. True, this culture included also the cult of God. But the highest ideals of knighthood emphasized mostly heroism, faithfulness, self-sacrifice, honor, and a somewhat over-idealized worldly love. These ideals are mostly commendable, but in those days they applied only to a select few. They had no bearing whatsoever on the serfs, whose only purpose in life appears to have been to serve the select few. Feudal society of Western Europe, therefore, was a polarized one, whose two extremities lived by different standards and different sets of laws. Later they were joined by a third social class, the burghers of the newly formed towns. This came in the course of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, when the rise of manufacturing and commerce turned some of the more important marketplaces into walled towns. These towns then severed their feudal relations to the lords, and developed their own distinct urban cultures and way of life. This new urban culture and outlook gradually undercut the religious and feudal (knightly) components of Medieval European Civilization and contributed greatly to the rise of the new Renaissance World. (Heer: Medieval World, 17-100) Delay in Hungarian Cultural Developments Although the Magyars had accepted Christianity at the very time when these three components of medieval culture were coming together to shape the civilization of the late Middle Ages (11 tli-14th centuries), they were never fully able to join ranks with that civilization. Their non-Christian and non-Western roots had kept them slightly apart and behind. This was all the more so, as the Magyars were forced to accept the ways of the Christian World at the same time when they were still trying to divest themselves from the vestiges of their traditional culture. And in their haste to do so, they unwittingly destroyed many of their cherished traditions, which should have been preserved and integrated into their new Christian culture. The delay that the Magyars experienced in the development of their new Christian culture was not limited to Hungary. This was equally true for the Czechs, the Croats and the Poles, and even more true for the other peoples of East Central Europe. This led to a situation wliere-122 supported by grenades, rockets, automatic weapons, and small arms fire. After assisting to repel the first enemy assault, Sergeant Molnár found that his squad’s ammunition and grenade supply was nearly expended. Again leaving the relative safety of his position, he crawled through intense enemy fire to secure additional ammunition and distribute it to his squad. He rejoined his men to beat back the renewed enemy onslaught, and he moved about his area providing aid and assisting in the evacuation of the wounded. With the help of several men, he was preparing to move a severely wounded soldier when an enemy handgrenade was thrown into the group. The first to see the grenade, Sergeant Molnár threw himself on it and absorbed the deadly blast to save his comrades. His demonstrated selflessness and inspirational leadership on the battlefield were a major factor in the successful defense of the American position and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Army. Sergeant Molnar’s actions reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. « * RABEL, LÁSZLÓ Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, United States Army, 74th Infantry Detachment, (Long Range Patrol), 173rd Airborne Brigade. Place and date: Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam, 13 November 1968. Entered service at: Minneapolis, Minn. Date and place of birth: September 21, 1939, Budapest, Hungary. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Staff Sergeant László Rabéi distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as leader of Team Delta, 74th Infantry Detachment (Long Range Patrol), 173rd Airborne Brigade in Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam on 13 November 1968. At 1000 hours on this date, Team Delta was in a defensive perimeter conducting reconnaissance of enemy trail networks when a member of the team detected enemy movement to the front. As Sergeant Rabel and a comrade prepared to clear the area, lie heard an incoming grenade as it landed in the midst of the team's perimeter. With complete disregard for his own life, Sergeant Rabel threw himself on the grenade and, covering it with his body, received the complete impact of the immediate explosion. Through his indomitable courage, complete
