Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)

1945 / Verhovay Journal

June 13, 1945

Verhovay J ómnál

They Gave Their Lives ...

15?. ELMER SOLDIER

The war in Europe was almost over. Negotiations were conducted between the Allied Supreme Command and the Germand Command concerning the unconditional surrender of the German armed forces. In the meantime the war was, still going on and took its toll in lives and human suffering.

Elmer Soldier was killed in action in Austria on May 4, 1945, according to the telegram of the War Department received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Soldier, 1928 N. 53rd St., East St. Louis, 111.

His heroic death occurring in Austria points to the fact that he fought with the famous Third Army of General Patton which reached Austria during the last days of the war.

Elmer Soldier was a member of Branch 303, Washington Park, 111., and is the first heroic dead member of that branch. He was born in East St. Louis, 111., on September 24, 1918. He was the 65th Verhcvayan to pay the Supreme Sacrifice on the front in Western Europe.

153. ZOLLTE RAYNER

of war in 1944. According to a letter written to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Rayner, by his commanding officer, Zoliié Rayner met the heroe’s death on May 4, 1945. On that day, at 9:45 AM the ship on which Zoliié Rayner served, was attacked by Japanese planes in the Okinawa area. The ship suffered several direct hits during the attack and Zoliié Rayner, who was at his battle station, was instanly killed and his body blown overboard. However, his body was immediately recovered by a ship in the same unit and it was returned later to his ship for burial. His body was interned in the Zamami Burial Grounds at Kerame Petto. Three of his shipmates were seriously injured during the same attack which cost Zoliié Rayner his life. v.

Zoliié Rayners bereaved family lives at 420 Penhal Ave., Campbell, O. He was the 42nd fatal casualty of the Verhovay in the war against Japan.

154. ST/SGT. ALEXANDER GEORGE

Joseph George, manager of Branch 386, Nanty Glo, Pa., had three sons in the armed forces. Now, after the victorious conclusion of the war in Europe, he received notice, that one of his sons, Staff Sergeant Alexander George was killed in Germany, May 7, 1945, while on military duty. The tragic news Was conveyed to his wife, Mrs. Mae E. George, by the War Department which stated that her husband was killed on that date when one half pound block of TNT accidentally exploded in his hands. His death is a sad reminder that even though the war is over in Europe, we must still keep prepared for receiving tragic news which will bring endless sorrow to the homes of the heroe’s who are called upon to make the final payments for the victory achieved.

Mrs. George is the 19th war-widow of our Association and the sympathy of the membership of our Association goes out to her as well as the father of Alexander George and his family whose joy over the end of the European war was so unexpectedly turned into sorrow.

St/Sgt. Alexander George was the 66th Verhovayan to die on the front in Western Europe.

155. PFC. WILLIAM DEES

Pfc. William Dees, Jr., was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on September 5th, 1922. Serving with an armored division he was killed in action in Italy on April 19th, 1945, according to word received by his mother, Mrs. Anna Dees, of 4651 G. St-, Philadelphia, Pa. He, too, died at the time while negotiations were already underway. The news about the unconditional surrender of the German armies in Italy reached his family sooner than the tragic notice of his untimely death. He was a member of Branch 76, Philadelphia, Pa. and is the third heroic dead member of that branch. He was the 14th Verhovayan to pay the Supreme Sacrifice in Italy.

Zoliié Rayner was born in Campbell, O., on February 8th, 1918. He was a member of branch 321 of the same city and is the first heroic dfead member of that branch.

He received his education at the Campbell Memorial High School and was later employed by the Youngstown Sheet and

I Tube Company. He volunteered for military service and enlisted on June 15th, 1942 and was taken to the Pacific theatre

To the bereaved families of these Verhovayans who paid the Supreme Sacrifice, we express our deepest sympathy. Their sorrow is ours. Their loss is ours, too. May the gratitude of the nation and of the liberated people give them some measure of comfort in their sorrow.

THE MEMORY OF OUR 155 HEROIC DEAD SHALL REMAIN WITH US FOR EVER.

AMERICAN HUNGARIAN FEDERATION SENDS MEMORIAL TO SAN FRANCISCO

The following significant memorial has been sent to the members of the American Delegation at the San Francisco Conference, by Dr. Tibor Kerekes, executive secretary of the American Hungarian Federation: •

April 23, 1945

To the American Delegation at the San Francisco Conference

American citizens of Hungarian origin united in the American Hungarian Federation anxious to cooperate in the establishment of just and lasting peace, believe that their patriotic duty is to call the American Delegation's attention to the following:

On January 7, 1941 in a letter addressed to the President of the United States the American Hungarian Federation declared, that by the signing of the Axis-pact the Government of Hungary lost its power of independent action, that the people of Hungary Were no longer free to express their will, and therefore the American Hungarian Federation assumed the duty of their representation within the limitations of the Constitution and Laws of the United States.

In the name of the still silent people of Hungary we wish to express full agreement with the decisions of the Crimea Conference. Particularly do we welcome the declaration reached at Yalta that the generally accepted principles of the Atlantic Charter will serve as the foundation of a secure and lasting peace. This guarantee seems to eliminate the threat of a partition of Europe into “spheres of influence.” The condition for the restoration of an independent Hungary is thus assured, the continued development of the ancient western civilization of Hungary guaranteed.

We wish to express special gratitude for the declaration on Liberated Europe, whereby Hungary also was promised assistance “to solve by democratic means” her “pressing political and economic problems.”

We believe that an independent, democratic and economically

healthy Hungary is the best guarantee of peace in Eastern Europe. But at the same time we believe in our often expressed conviction, that only within the frame-work of a Federation can the small nations of the Danube Valley find final solution for their diversified political and economic problems.

In particular a reconciliation between the Hungarian and Rumanian peoples can only be achieved within a Danubian Federation where Transylvania should also become an equal and independent member of the Federation. Onesided solutions—whether Hungarian or Rumanian—will never achieve reconciliation. Extermination, deportation or transfer of the Hungarian population of Transylvania would not serve the cause of peace, but could only lead to future conflicts.

In this conviction we wish to call the attention of the American Delegation to the attached Memorandum on Transylvania, to which our Analysis of the Rumanian Armistice Terms are appended.

Article II of the Rumanian Armistice was a cruel surprise to all peace-loving Hungarians. Even if alien domination, reestablished by the armistice agreement over Hungarian inhabited territories of Transylvania, should prove to be temporary and should receive rectification on the final peace treaty, this article exposes the Hungarians concerned to unnecessary sufferings incidental to change of sovereignty.

These we have considered our duty to call to the American Delegation’s attention.

With determined conviction in a lasting peace if built on Christian justice we fervently pray that Almighty God may enlighten the minds and hearts of the members of the American Delegation, that through their effort and unselfish influence the lofty principles of the Atlantic Charter may find world-wide application.

In the name of the American Hungarian Federation

DR. TIBOR KEREKES, Executive Secretary.

Page 3

PFC. JOHN HAYDU

son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Haydu of R. D. 1, La Grange, O., a member of Branch 515, Elyria, O., joined the armed forces in February 1, 1944, went overseas in. November and is now stationed in Germany.---------------V--------------FRATERNAL INSURANCE COUNSELLOR CERTIFICATE AWARDED TO DISTRICT MANAGER FRANK J. CHER

We are pleased to announce that Mr. Frank J. Cher, District Manager, New York, has successfully completed the study of the Fraternal Sales Training Course, instituted for the advancement of fraternal field managers by the Insurance Research and Review Service, Inc., and the Fraternal Field Managers Association and after having passed his examinations, was awarded the “Fraternal Insurance Counsellor’s” certificate, which reads as follows:

CERTIFICATE AWARDED TO FRANK J. CHER,

Who according to the certified records, has completed the study of the Fraternal Sales Training Course and has passed an honorable examination in the funda-\ mentals of life-insurance and fraternal field selling procedure.

In Witness whereof, this Certificate is issued and attested by an officer of the Insurance Research and Review Service, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., over its seal, by an officer of the Fraternal Field Managers’ Association, and by an Officer of his society. \

Done this sixteenth day of April, 1945____

(Signed by the President of the Insurance Research and Review Service, Inc., the President of the Fraternal Field Managers’ Association and the Supreme President of the Verhovay V. I. A.)

We are certainly glad to have in Mr. Cher an ambitious District Manager and congratulations are offered to him for having gained this coveted insurance degree which puts him into the group of the most progressive and extensively trained fraternal field managers.---------------V--------------WHEN ARE YOU OLD?

You are old the moment you begin to look behind instead of forward.

You are old when you fall into the habit of thinking every new idea proposed is “all wet,” just because it has never been done before or because you tried it once and it didn’t work.

You are old when you begin to think in terms of getting by instead of getting on.

T