Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1944 / Verhovay Journal
October 26, 1944 Verhovay Journal Page 5 They Gave Their Lives ... 85. SGT. FRANK BORCHICK On the 14th of September, we reported in our Journal that Technical Sergeant Frank Borchick was missing in aerial action over Germany as of June 21, 1944. At that time, we expressed the hope that he may have escaped from the plane that was shot down by the enemy and that we would soon hear about him being captured by the Germans. However, our hopes did not materialize. The War Department just recently informed the parents of Sergeant Frank Borchick, of Library, Pa., that their son was killed in action on the same day as reported by the German government to the international Red Cross. This young man served with the Air Corps on a highly dangerous mission which brought victory nearer to our troops but cost him his life. He was a member of Branch 193, of Monongahela, Pa. 86. SGT. EMERY NEMETH Killed in action in Holland three and one-half months after his brother was killed in France, Sergeant James J. (Emery) Nemeth, son of Mrs. Katie Nemeth of Coplay, R. 1, was killed on September 20 while fighting with the Army’s paratroop infantry, according to a telegram received by his mother. He celebrated his birthday two days before his death. He entered the service in July, 1943, and received his basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. He was sent overseas and participated in the invasion of France, in which his brother, Staff Sergeant Frank L. Nemeth, Jr., 26, was killed. Surviving, besides the mother, are six sisters and five brothers. They are Mrs. Mary Nagy and Mrs. Rose Maier, of Allentown; Joseph, of Orefield, R. I.; Vincent, stationed in Bermuda, and Margaret, Theresa, Betty, Stephen, Charles and Catherine at home. Emery Nemeth was a member of Branch 216, of Northampton, Pa. He is the second heroic dead of that branch and the twentieth Verhovayan to lose his life in the battle of Western Europe. 87. PFC. JOSEPH CHERNAY PFC. Joseph Chernay, a member of the Marine Corps, was born in Daisytown, Pa. Two years ago his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was a member of Branch 14. He is the third heroic dead of this Branch. His parents, of 8109 Woodland Avenue, received notification from the War Department dated October 6, 1944, that their son was killed in the defense of his country. Unfortunately, the notice did not reveal any information as to the place or time of his untimely death. Before enlisting, Joseph Chernay worked with the White Motor Company, then, at the age of eighteen, on the 26th of December, 1943, he joined the Marines and received his training in San Diego, California. Ten months later, his military career was ended. 88. S.-SGT. EUGENE J. VIGOSKY S/Sgt. Eugene J. Vigosky, aged 29 years, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Vigosky, 336 Ninth Avenue, Beaver Falls, Pa., previously reported missing in action July 25th in France was killed on that date according to a telegram received by his parents. He had been in the armed forces since October 27, 1941, and overseas with an infantry unit since February, 1944. He was a member of St. Ladislaus Church and Bracnh 39 and was employed by the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company prior to entering the service. Surviving are his parents and the following brothers and sisters: Seaman 1st Class Frank D. Vigosky in the U. S. Coast Guard, somewhere at sea; Mrs. Charles Nemeth, College Hill; Mrs. Martin Szeles, El Centro, Calif., and Irene and Julius Vigosky, at home. Sergeant Vigosky was a member of Branch 39 of Beaver Falls, Pa. He is the second heroic dead of this Branch and the twenty-first heroic dead Verhovayan of the Western European invasion. 89. PFC. LOUIS M. SPIVAK PFC. Louis Spivak was a member of Branch 447, of Dayton, Ohio, and is the first heroic dead member of this Branch. His mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Spivak, of 1622 Mack Avenue, Dayton, received notice from the War Department that her son was killed in action on Peleliu Island, Palau Islands, on the 21st of September, 1944. This action took place just recently and ended with a glorious victory for our invading forces but there were many who paid the supreme sacrifice for that victory which paved the way for the invasion of the Philippines. * # * To the families of these heroic dead we extend the deep sympathy of the entire membership of the Association. May they find some comfort in the knowledge that the lives of these young men have not been wasted. They have served a glorious cause, they have served it unselfishly and by their sacrifice they have paved the way to ultimate victory and a lasting peace. THE MEMORY OF OUR EIGHTY NINE HEROIC DEAD SHALL REMAIN WITH US FOREVER. OUR H The Verhovay Journal endeavors to make a record not only of the heroic dead of our Association but also of the heroic deeds and achievements of the living. For those soldiers who return are just as brave as those who will never again come back. Many of those who have met their death out there on the battlefield died so suddenly, sometimes even without meeting the enemy, while others who will return have seen action perhaps dozens of times; their lives were endangered untold times, yet by some unfathomable decision of providence, they were permitted to avoid death and they will be with us when the war will end. The number of the heroic dead ©f our Association is close to ®ne hundred. I would like to EROES make a point of this. The armed forces of the United States lost 102,000 killed in action out of a population of 130 millions. The Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association, out of a membership of 52,000 has lost up to date almost 100 members. Our Association has sacrificed twice as many soldiers on the average than the rest of the population. And those who are still alive and who—we hope and pray— will return, are just as great heroes as those tyho made the supreme sacrifice. Therefore, we call upon all the branches and all the membership to report to the Verhovay Journal everything that happens to our soldier members, be it a decoration, a deed of valor, or the fact that they have been wounded in action. I am sure that the members of our Association who serve in the armed forces of our nation are writing with their blood and sweat an epic story of American- Hungarian heroism. * * * Here is the news about EDWARD RÁKÓCZI, a member of Branch 89, of Homestead, Pa. He served as a rear gunner on one of our big bombers which tried to break open the German defense line at the soft underbelly of Europe. His bomber was sent to Greec on a mission, to Greece where our victorious armies have already liberated the capital city. Rákóczi was reported missing in action and his parents, his friends, and the entire membership of our organization hope and pray that we may soon receive the good news that he is safe, even though captured. * * * Then we have two reports about Johnstown heroes. CORPORAL LOUIS GYURE is mentioned in the Johnstown paper. He is a member of Branch 8, of Johnstown, Pa. The papers write the following story about him: CPL. LOUIS GYURE RETURNS TO STATES Cpl. Louis Gyure, who has seen 32 months of overseas service in seven different countries, is now spending a 21-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gyure of 155 Strayer St., Morrellville. Cpl. Gyure has been on duty in Ireland, Scotland, England and Africa and participated in the invasion of Sicily, Italy and Southern France, The soldier, who has never been seriously wounded, has been subject to many bombing raids, land encounters with enemy patrols and snipers. He also ran against enemy Fascists who were constantly committing acts of sabotage and sniping. Cpl. Gyure, 24, joined the Army on Nov. 24, 1941, prior to which he was employed at Bethlehem’s Johnstown Plant. Upon the completion of his furlough he reports to Camp Butner, N. C., for reassignment. A brother, Joseph, who had been stationed in England for the past three months, arrived recently in France. Joseph, 21, entered the Army on June 28, 1943, and is serving as an ambulance driver wiht a medical unit. He formerly worked for the Goodrich Silvertown Company. Here we have a hero who has fought many battles, whose life was endangered many times and yet God granted him and his family that he may return. Good luck to you, Corporal Gyure, and when you have to go back again to the battlefied, may you be as fortunate as you have been until now. * * * Then there is another soldier of whom we wrote a long story •some time ago. This is SERGEANT WILLIAM LENGYEL, of 933 Virginia Avenue, Johnstown, Pa. We have a report about him direct from the battle zone as it appeared in the “Johnstown Democrat”, This is the report: LENGYEL’S PLATOON BATTLES TOE-TO-TOE WITH GERMANS With the Third Division, France. —A platoon of determined men from the Third Division’s Friscan Regiment had it out, toto-toe, with a company of Germans here—and boy, you shoulda seen the other guy! According to Sgt. William Lengyen, the platoon went up on a ridge to see what was holding up the Yank battalion on the road. “And”, he said, “as the oldtime thrillers tell it—‘little did we know’.” On the high ground, the platoon, supported by a couple of tanks, squared off against a company of Germans, odds of about 3-to-l. In addition, the Nazis had horseshoes in their gloves—four or five flak-wagons, a couple of self-propelled 88s, and '‘beaucoup” of machineguns and machine pistols. Automatic weapons from both sides rang the bell first. From then on, Lengyel calls it 2 Vi to three hours of hell. “The second squad,” he said, “went out to clean up a wooded section.” This was Lengyel’s gang. In short order, they polished off that threat. Meanwhile,. Pvt. Walter Wilson of Ada, Okla., let his gun cool while he crawled through all kinds of fire to aid a stricken buddy. The platoon then maneuvered behind German holes set to fire down the road while supporting tanks kept blasting away. One by one, the Germans fell, scores to every Yank hit. Slowly, their support dwindled because of the hail from the tanks. Shortly afterward, the last of the supermen were finished and the tired Yanks, minus a few casualties, descended to pick up the advance. Sgt. Lengyel praised the platoon aid man, Pfc. Loomis Kendrick of Oakalla, Tex. “Doc,” he said, “stayed with every wounded man. You should have seen him dashing around under that fire! He was the last guy to leave the hilL” * * * Again we invite yon to report to the Verhovay Journal or to your publicity agent whenever your soldier figures in the d*ily news through his valojr.
