Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1945 / Verhovay Journal
Page 6 Verhovay Journal February 14, 1945 VENI,VIDI... BBS Branch 395, McKeesport, Pa. THE VERHOVAY EPIC... The high spot in the January meeting of Branch 395 was the election of officers with P.F.C. John Sabo presiding temporarily. John was at home on a pre-embarkation furlough, and it was like old times to see him at the helm of the branch. The new president is Albert Jozik, vice-president Ann Bagi, treasurer Ethel Halas,and secretary Helen Stipkovits. The advisability of discontinuing further elections for the duration was considered. How are our neighbor branches doing? We haven’t noticed election returns from Branch 430, this year. The idea of sending air mail stamps to our service men for Christmas with their Christmas cards proved an inspiration, as our boys write that it was a good thought. We intend to continue it, fellows, at regular intervals, so you might drop us a line or two and let us know just what you’re cooking up. Johnny Benedek, one of our youngest servicemen writes, in part, “Thank you ;and the club members for the Christmas card and the stamps... ....Received the Journal a few days ago; it was September but it sure was welcomed. It gives me an idea of what everyone is doing back home, how and where some of the members are. Sure it is a swell paper ... I also hope that we soon will be seeing each other as it has been a long time. How is your bowling score?” Sorry, Johnny, we’re not bowling Just now, but look for Verhovay -beginning next season. Former Secretary Alex Goydan, writes from somewhere in the Marianas: “I don’t know whether the Christmas greeting card and stamps enclosed were a hint to write or not, but please accept my thanks for both. They were welcome. Give my regards to the members of the club also . . . I haven’t much to say except that it’s the day before Christmas; it looks like rain although the sun is pretty hot and keeps a guy sweating. It’s hard to imagine Christmas with snow, cold and Christmas trees when we have rain, mud, and sunshine, and cocoanut palm trees. However, maybe next year we’ll be enjoying our Christmas back home (I hope).” We hope so. too, Alex, and although the stamps ware not a hint to write, it’s a good idea, we think. Helps keep up the Branch’s morale to hear from our far-away members. This ‘morale’ business works both ways. We can cop a phrase from the British and say that the sun never sets on a Verhovayan; here’s a few lines from the European theater, from Steve Kovatch: “ ... to let you know that I received the Christmas card you sent me and besides what I’ve been trying to get around here — Air Mail stamps... I hope everyone had a nice Christmas and New Year’s Day. As for me, it was just another day on the front here, except we had turkey for Christmas land again today since it’s New Year’s Day and living in my foxhole most of the time ... So there isn’t much to write about. All I know is that this is a hard, rough war and I hope it ends soon.” Half way across the globe and down below the equator, Alex Meszar says, “Today’s mail brought several pleasant surprises — among them being the Christmas card from the club.... I shall take this opportunity to thank the club for the card and the air mail stamps that were enclosed. A more practical and useful gift could scarcely have been thought of ... I’ve heard practically nothing about the activities of our members (we do still have members—dont’t we?) Any remarks pertaining to my activities are so limited that I shall not even attempt to write about them . . . I’ve met one or two of the home town boys since I’ve been here. I’ve seen the fabulous Taj Mahal and was not moved by its splendor. I’ve browsed through the native Indian market and their Oriental finery and saw nothing that would interest me. In short—I long to be home—and hope that the inscription in the Christmas card will come true . . . write me a letter and let me know how you and the rest of the members are doing.” Elmer Halas and Steve Dobos also sent their thanks and best wishes to the Branch through their families. The letters were read in full to all the members and the excerpts I have quoted here are exactly as written. We were very glad to get these letters and plancto publish them in this column, so you soldier members, drop us a line whenever you think of it and when you can spare the time. Our evening was concluded with refreshments, when Johnny Sabo left with us a few parting thoughts that we’ll remember and pass on to you. It’s up to us members at home, skeleton crew that we are, to keep our Branch from disintegrating while this war goes on, so when our absent members resume their places at home again we can plan constructively for the future. So stick with us all you numbers and come down to the next meeting on February 27. We might not set the world on fire with tea and cookies now, but there’s no time like the present to gather a little kindling wood for when “the duration” will only be a bad memory. HELEN STIPKOVITS ---------v------------------STEPHEN KACSO F. 1/C a member of Branch 220, Conneaut, Ohio, serves on the U.S.S. Athene. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS AWARDED VERHOVAYAN S/Sgt. Louis Antal of Arnold, Pa, a member of Branch 296, Springdale, Pa., has been recently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross—second highest military decoration—for displaying “unusual courage and resourcefulness” in completion of a mission in France. On last October 8, his company was assigned the mission of capturing Les Quartre Fers, to continue northward to Benicourt, and finally take the high ground northwest of Clemery. The company started operations before dawn, and in the darkness encountered heavy artillery and mortar fire, which resulted- in the death or injury of the platoon leader, platoon sergeant and squad leaders. The 24 year old Verhovayan reorganized the remaining force and continued the attack. Upon entering the town of Les Quartre Fers, the platoon encountered two German snipers who were quickly eliminated. Advancing further into the town, the group encountered a German anti-tank gun position which was supported by automatic weapons. Without hesitation, Sgt. Antal proceeded to within fifty yards of the gun and exposing himself to point blank enemy fire, fired rifle grenades at the Nazis until those not killed or wounded surrendered. Sgt. Antal’s group captured the gun position and then went on to complete the mission. In addition to the D.S.C., Sgt. Antal holds the Purple Heart—• awarded for wounds suffered November 8—a month after the mission related above—and the Combat Infantryman’s badge. He has been in the service since July, 1942. Sgt. Antal has a brother, Joseph, serving in the army. He was recently taken overseas and sent word of his safe arrival in England. The father of the two young men is one of the old-stock immigrants, who spent most of his life in the coal-mine. He and his wife have certainly made a great contribution to this land, having reared a son who earned the D. S.C. The story of his amazing courage and cool resourcefulness makes one of the most brilliant chapters in the Verhovay Epic ... GLIDING INTO FRANCE Few events in history have received more publicity than “D”Day.. . yet for all the publicity it still remains a mystery how the invasion succeeded. It has been proposed that the artificial breakers and piers towed across the Channel from England did the trick, though it is quite clear that the decisive victory of “D”Day cannot be ascribed to any single factor. It is certain, however, that the initial success of the invasion depended almost exclusively on the forces of the parachuting and gliding infantry. For. while the world’s greatest armada lay awaiting at the shores of Normandy in the darkness of the breaking night, thousands of planes roared over Normandy, dropping tens of thousands of parachutists and releasing the thousands of gliders with their loads of armed men and their weapons. To these men was assigned the task to silence the shore-batteries. If they had failed, the invasion would have turned into a bloodbath. a tragic repetition of Dunkerque. But they did not fail! Thousands of them met death in the first hours of desperate fighting but those who survived carried out their mission and opened the shores of Normandy for the invading forces of the Allied nations. The world can never forget the heroism, the selfsacrifice and the tenacity of these men who have been dropped from the skies into enemy territory bristling with guns and who against great odds performed the most marvellous military feat of history. PFC. JOHN BERO Pfc. John Bero, a member of Branch 208, Filbert, W. Va., is one of the members of the gliding infantry. He entered the service in March 1942, received his training at Camp Clairbome, La., and Fort Bragg, N. C. He was taken overseas in September 1943. He participated in the invasion of Normandy on “D”-Day with the gliding infantry, and he fought his way through France, Holland and finally Belgium. His brother, Julius George Biro, was killed in action in Belgium, on December 16, 1944, the day of the German counteroffensive. It seems that at that time the two brothers must have been in the same theatre of operations. The heroic death of Cpl. G. Biro was reported in the last issue of the Journal. He is the ■112th fatal casualty of the Verhovay. ÍVe pray that his heroic brother may victoriously survive the war and. return safely to his parents to comfort them in their sorrow over the loss of their older son. ■A' '!■ "i4 RECOVERING FROM ‘WOUNDS Cpl. Julius Sasse, a member of Branch 130, East Chicago, Ind., a son of Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Szaszi, was reported wounded in action in Normandy on August 6, 1944. He was taken to a military hospital in England where he recovered slowly from his serious wounds. We rejoice hearing that he was discharged from the hospital last November and awaits now his assignment to duty somewhere in England. The report does not state so but it is understood that he will be awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action. :jí * -'fi MISSING SINCE SEPTEMBER Last September 23rd a wire was brought to the home cf Mr. and Mrs. Frank: Dozza of 225 N. 11th Street, Richmond, Ind. The telegram was sent by their daughter-in-law from Nashville, Tenn., and reads as follows: “Received telegram that Steve has been missing in action since September sixth in France. Have you had any word from it. Please answer right back. Beulah Dozza. Nearly five months have passed -since but nc- word has been received by either the wife or the parents of Pfc. Stephen Dozza, a member of Branch 344, Richmond, Ind. Their anxiety and hope is shared by all Verhovaya-ns who pray that soon good news may dispel the fears of the wife and the parents of the young soldier. * * * ONLY SON MISSING SGT. HENRY SANISLOW, a member of Branch 193, Monongahela, Pa., once already figured in the Verhovay news when, last September we reported that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action. A veteran of the North African, Sicilian and Italian campaigns, T/4 Henry Sanislow was attached to a Tank Battalion in Italy when wounded. Asked repeatedly about the extent of his injuries, he on’y wrote home that he has been “burned.” After his recovery he was reassigned and taken to France and was reported missing in action as of December 30, according to the telegram received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Sanislow of 504 Rail-: road St., Monongahela, Pa. Sgt. Henry Sanislow is the only son of the Sanislows, but has two sisters, Mrs. Joseph Matuga, nea Grace Sanislow, Monongahela, Pa., and Mrs. Jack Berrish, formerly Louise Sanislow, of Detroit, Mich. We sincerely hope that soon the parents and sisters of our hero will receive good news to the effect that Henry has been found, perhaps in a German prison camp, but at any rate: safe and well. He certainly had done his share in the fighting and the comparative safety of an enemy prison camp should assure his parents of his safe return after the cessation of hostilities. % # % NEW GUINEA COMMANDO HOME ON FURLOUGH Christmas was a real holiday for Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Raboezi of 300 Jackson St., Campbell, O., members of Branch 321, for their son, Dezső, a Marine Commando, who has served 13 months in New Guinea, was granted a 30 day furlough in recognition of his exceptional behavior and courage, and arrived at home just in time to celebrate Christmas with his happy parents.
