Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1944 / Verhovay Journal
June 29, 1944 Verhovay Journal Page % THE HOMESTEAD MERRY-GO-ROUND---------------------- BRANCH 430 ---------------------(Continued from Page 6) that he “saw Mt. Vesuvius and also explored Naples and was preparing to move ahead.” Pvt Julius Orosz came through with a nice letter from the Aleutian Isles. He writes, “Most of the snow hereabouts has melted except on the mountain sides, and the tundra grass is starting to get green. The streams are full of salmon, and trout (what a fisherman’s paradise) but we don’t get any time off to go fishing.” Tough break, Jul. Johnnie Tobias of Fairport Harbor, Ohio is also somewhere in England, but now probably on the French countryside as a member of the Great Invasion. T/Sgt. Elmer Mathias of Detroit is now the Personnel Sgt. Major at Battalion Hdqs. at Camp Swift, Texas, and up to his neck in work. The boy really moved ahead fast since taking up residence at Camp Swift. Andy Bishkoff, Lt. Andy Somiak, George Koko, Capt. Joe Docy were also lucky G. I.’s because of welcome furloughs during the month of May. Corporal Paul “Rudy” Balogh of the Marine Corps is now stationed in Honolulu after undergoing some gruelling battles in the Pacific. Pvt. Joe J. Hasak is stationed at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma with a Tank Destroyer unit. Johnny O’Brien, aviation cadet, was recently transferred to Radio School at Madison, Wisconsin. His brother, Joe, age 18, passed his physical on May 27th and will leave for the Army shortly. Another brother, Bob, age 17, was sworn in as a member of the Air Corps on June 17th, and will be shoving off soon for an air corps school. The O’Brien boys are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Leo P. O’Brien of Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh. Pvt. Louis Balogh has recently been assigned to a tank battalion at Camp Polk, Louisiana. S/Sgt Joe Galyas, gunner aboard a Flying Fortress was recently reported missing somewhere over Germany. The unpleasant announcement came over the Butler radio sometime in May. Recently word reached me that Bill Timko, brother of Andy Timko, was injured in comabt somewhere on the fighting front. Joy reigned in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Kondás, Sr. of 21st Avenue, Munhall, when a telegram was received from the War Department stating that their son, Julius, had been listed as a German prisoner of war. 1st Lt. Alex Suto, piloting a big Liberator bomber, has twenty missions to his credit having been all over Europe and above Berlin a half a dozen times. His brother, Bill, a Captain in the Air Corps recently arrived in Homestead after spending 28 months in the Pacific battle area. Pfc John Sabo, Jr., Verhovay Supreme Auditor, is now at his new Marine Air Corps Station at Edenton, North Carolina. In May he was joined there by his wife, Helen and daughter Nancy John is continuing his training there and handling various Paymaster duties at the same time. The ole desert fox, Captain Steve Neméth, arrived in Homestead around the 1st of June with his wife, Alice and daughter, Alice, Jr. Steve complained of the long, tiring train ride from California, but nevertheless was happy to be back home for a few days. His furlough was an enjoyable one, though, and he utilized each minute of it to visit many of his old friends and cronies. Steve began the long trek back to California on Saturday evening, May 20th, and arrived at his station, Camp Haan, around Wednesday of the following week. Our old friend, Julius Lenart, formerly of McKeesport but now with Walworth Company in E. St. Louis, Illinois, recently passed his pre-induction examination and was accepted for service by the Army. He will stop in the Pittsburgh area sometime in August for a short visit before leaving for duty with the Armed Forces. His attractive wife, Violet, will accompany him East. HOMESTEAD CHATTER: Death on the Rampage Within the past several months, some of our oldtimers have left our midst. I am late in mentioning the death of Mrs. Stephen Toth, of W. Hazel Way, West Homestead, during the latter part of April. She was buried in St. Elias Cemetery with Rev. Albert Gaydos conducting the burial services. We extend heartful sympathies to the family of Mrs. Toth. Several weeks ago, Mr. Nicholas Nagy, member of the Hung. Reformed Church passed away to the Great Beyond. He was buried on Thursday, June 15th in the St. Elias Cemetery with the Rev. J. Paal officiating. Our deepest sympathies are extended to his immediate family. * * * Welcome, Father Gaydos “To youthful, good natured, Father Albert Gaydos, temporary pastor of St. Elias Gr. Cath. Hungarian Church, we all extend our warmest welcome. May his present stay at the local pastorate be a fruitful one and may he also radiate the wisdom and teachings of Our Lord Savior in his every waking day, * * * Member Bill Csizmadia, Elder at the Hungarian Reformed Church, has been unusually busy lately visiting the homes of the parishioners with Rev. J. Paal. When you are on your visits, Bill, do not forget to get a word in for Verhovay even if edgewise. * * * Summer School for children of Hungarian parents, especially those belonging to the Hungarian Reformed Church and the St. Elias Gr. Cath. Magyar Church, will be in vogue in about a weeks time. Each of the two churches is conducting a summer school where children will be taught subjects of extreme importance. Mothers and Fathers should encourage their children to attend these schools because now and in later life they will definitely profit by this attendance. * * * IMPRESSIONS AND REFLECTIONS Our good friend, Ethel Halas of McKeesport, Pa. spent a pleasant month in our Garden of Eden, Florida. She visited with her brother, Warrant Officer Elmer Halas and his family at a military installation in Florida, and then traveled down to Miami to obtain the benefit of much hotter rays of sunshine. Hope to see you soon, Ethel. * * * If all goes well, the Verhovay office will be able to move into the new Home and office building sometime in the Fall. Of course, everything depends on the generosity of the WLB and the ability to secure much needed materials necessary in the remodelling. The sgoner the better is the attitude of all of the employees and officers, too. * # * Last month I received the May issue of the “Columbia”, a publication of the Knights of Columbus, through the courtesy of Julius Lenart. This issue contained an article entitled “Hungary and the Hungarians” by- Francis Stuart Campbell. The article was such a thorough and correct piece of writing that I endorsed it as a writing that should be read by all Americans of Hungarian birth, both young and old. In fact, I’ve written Mr. Campbell requesting permission to reproduce this article so that others may have a copy for the asking. * # * The Home Office has already taken steps towards establishing the California Branch Office, and this is cheerful news. True, it could have been done much sooner but we must adopt the axiom “better late than never.” Our good friend, Albert Steinmetz, I am sure, will be justly represented in the California scene. As reported in my last column, May 11th issue, much credit should be given to Mr. Steinmetz for the helpful facts and figures he bombarded the Home Office with for a period of six years. In the new organizational work, he will prove a mighty handy man to have around.------------V-----------SERVICE Card in Florida paper: “Thursday I lost a gold watch I valued very highly. Immediately I inserted an ‘ad’ in your lost-andfound column and waited. Yesterday I went home and found the watch in the pocket of another suit. God bless your paper.” GREETINGS TO THE PRESIDENT BY THE AMERICAN HUNGARIAN FEDERATION June 5, 1944 The President, The White House, Washington, D. C. Mr. President, On the second anniversary of the declaration of war by the United States on Hungary—provoked by the previous declaration of war by the Hungarian government on the United States—loyal citizens of Hungarian origin united in the American Hungarian Federation send heartfelt greetings and good wishes to you, Mr. President, our Commander-in-Chief. Ever since the outbreak of this second world war, we have followed your leadership unhesitatingly, because we are firmly convinced that the noble principles which you, Mr. President, have announced from time to time to the people of the United States and of the world, are the only ones that can assure a just and lasting peace. Today, we reiterate all our former pledges, and once more offer our lives and our possessions in this sacred fight for freedom and democracy. Our sons on the battle-fronts and we on the home-front will follow your leadership until nazism and fascism are destroyed and greedy imperialism is swept from the face of the earth. By fulfilling to the utmost all our duties as American citizens, we wish to contribute also to the liberation of the Hungarian people recently reduced to helpless slavery by Hitler’s ruthless occupation of Hungary. Mr. President! Since December 1940, when the Hungarian government signed the fateful Axis-pact, the Hungarian people have not been free to decide their own fate, express their will or voice their opinion. Since then, the Hungarian people are exposed only to nazi propaganda, which uses every method to make them believe, that the victory of the Allies will lead to another dismemberment of Hungary and to the reiteration of Bela Kun s savage regime, the memory of which still haunts the libertyloving people of the unfortunate country of our origin. But we and through us, the Hungarian people know differently. We and they firmly believe that after final victory the mistakes of the past will not be repeated, because you, Mr. President, the enlightened leader of the oppressed nations, stated in one of your inspiring fireside chats, that “we will not accept a world like the post-war world of the 1920’s in which the seeds of Hitlerism can b« again planted and allowed to grow.” A better future for Hungary and for the whole world can only be established by the faithful application of the principles contained in the Atlantic Charter, to which you, Mr. President, and we, the American people, have pledged ourselves. ‘HÄ Mr. President! The just cause for which the United States has drawn the sword is soon to triumph. Mankind will never forget your courageous part in this war against evil. We pray that it will also remember You for your part in the establishment of just and lasting peace in the spirit of the Atlantic Charter. In this hour of decision, permit us to salute you, Mr. President, and pledge our unshakable loyalty to God and Country. In the name of the American Hungarian Federation, Respectfully, TIBOR KEREKES Executive Secretary i Professor of History, Georgetown University * * * i\ THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON June 8 ,1944 Dear Professor Kerekes: Please accept the President’s thanks for your letter of June fifth, inspired by the second anniversary of war by the United States on Hungary. The President was glad to receive your letter and shares your hope that a better future for Hungary and for the whole world can be established under the principles of the Atlantic Charter. Very sincerely yours, WILLIAM D. HASSETT Secretary to the President
