Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1945 / Verhovay Journal
AUGUST, 8, 1945 VOL. XXVIII “WE DIDN’T HAVE WEAPONS. BUT WHAT OF IT? THE ENEMY HAD PLENTY” CAPTAIN FRANK QYOVAI, PRIDE OF THE VERHOVAY SOUTHERN MINERS WELCOME CAPTAIN GYOVAI. — VERHOVAY CELEBRATION IN WHITESVILLE, W- VA., LEAVES LASTING IMPRESSIONS. — TWO HEROES’ PORTRAITS PRESENTED AT GYOVAI’S HOME-COMING. The former Private Gyovai, the one-man army of Luzon’s jungles, the heroic guerilla fighter who was promoted directly to the rank of a captain, was given an enthusiastic welcome by the miners of West Virginia in the High School of Whitesville, the school he attended as a boy. The great celebration was ararnged by the branches 482, Whitesville, W. Va„ and 25, Mt. Hope, W. Va., on July 29th, Sunday afternoon. At this occasion tribute was paid also to two heroic dead Verhovayans, Sgt. James Gyovai, the Captain’s brother, and Pfc. John Nagy, U.S.M.C., a former member of Branch 25, the first American Hungarian miner to pay the supreme sacrifice, whose portraits were presented to their parents by Supreme Secretary, Coloman Revesz. Up to now all the memorial celebrations arranged by the Verhovay had been sad, tearful affairs. They were expressions of sympathy to those who were lost in their sorrow. This time it -was different. Joy mixed with sadness in the hearts of the people who came from far and near to pay tribute to three heroes of this great war .. . two of whom have died but one of whom returned after having been on the “missing” list for three long years. He was reported missing when Luzon fell. And he wasn’t heard of ever since. The hopes of his parents faded as the months dragged into years without any encouragement. Often, in desperation they cried and mourned for their son ... and when James was killed over Ireland, their sorrow was bottomless. And then ... after three long years... the news came. It was unbelievable, but it was true. Frank was alive, very much so. And he returned to his happy and proud parents ... but not as a private... He was a captain then... a tribute, paid by his superior officers, to his heroic spirit. From the classroom he was called to the colors. He was taken overseas, to the Philippine islands and he fought there against the Japanese invaders until one day the command was given to cease resistance. It was impossible to resist the forces of the enemy which in number and equipment was so much stronger than the small garrison of Luzon . • . the ‘'expendables of Bataan.” Frank Gyovai couldn’t obey the command. Somehow he felt that he could still go on fighting and serving his country. He just couldn t submit to the slow and torturous death that was awaiting so many of our heroic soldiers who fell into the hands of the cruel enemy. A few hours before all resistance ceased, he escaped into the jungle. And deep in his heart he felt that, there, a great task awaited him. Three long years passed. They were years of danger, deprivation, sickness, suffering and the constant nearness of death. And then the liberating armies of General MacArthur arrived. He said three long years before that: “I shall return!” And Gyovai knew that he will keep his word. And General MacArthur had a home-coming, too, when he set his foot on the soil of Luzon. Out of the jungle forests a small army of Philippino soldiers came to welcome him ... led by a few American soldiers who organized and trained them ... five or six ragged, bearded, half-starved and bare footed American soldiers, headed by Pvt. Frank Gyovai who carried the Flag which for three long years never touched the ground and which was brought back then—to Victory! Indeed he kept his allegiance to the Flag of the United States ... $ * * It rained all day Saturday. It poured all the way from Pittsburgh to the mountain roads of West Virginia. Sunday came and the rains fell. Our heart sank. What a pity it would be if the rain would turn the celebration into failure! Driving from Charleston to Whitesville, it was impossible to make any time at all. But at noon the sky cleared and early afternoon a blue and sunlit sky greeted the people coming from all directions to pay tribute to the two Verhovay heroes of this district who died in the service of their country and to the one who returned with glory. The celebration was opened at 2:30 PM by Mr. Stephen Lengyel, who greeted the audience in behalf of Branch 482 and asked Mr. Peter Csanady, a high ranking officer of the Kanawha Valley National Bank to act as Master of Ceremonies. The audience then sang the National Anthem, led by Miss Pauline Haddad and accompanied by Miss Peggie Haddad. After speaking of the significance of the celebration, the Master of Ceremonies introduced Major Conner, commanding officer of Frank Gyovai. The audience arose and greeted with tremenduous applause the Major who appeared on the stage in front of a huge military map. Deep silence ensued when he began to speak. And as he unfolded the story of their life in Luzon, the audience paid him breathless attention. He was a lieutenant when he escaped capture. In the jungles he met Private Gyovai and the two became brothers ... He turned to the map and pointed at the route they took and at the places where they stayed and the jungles in which they fought the enemy. He told how they organized twothousand natives and how they tied down with their help 20,000 well equipped and trained Japanese troops. His eyes lit up when he spoke of Gyovai... mentioning how courageously he met every emergency ... how many times he saved his life ... They could never stay anywhere for any length of time. But once, they had to spend half a year on the same territory ... And he recalled how Gyovai cut down three acres of jungle with nothing but his bolo-knife... how he tilled the ground and sowed and harvested providing food for his comrades ... He even built houses and supplied them with waterpipelines ... He praised Gyovai who proved himself not only an excellent soldier but a master of every trade. Then he went on telling how, with the aid of their spies, they contacted the American headquarters and sent messages containing military information across the ocean by submarines and other means ... Once the Japanese troops had them completely surrounded. The only avenue of escape over a bridge was heavily guarded. But Pivate Gyovai with another comrade dispersed the guard and opened their way to freedom ... Later he contracted malaria .. . he collapsed but Gyovai carried the unconscious officer through the jungles and nursed him back to life ... Tears filled his eyes when he spoke of the deeds of Frank Gyovai and when he introduced him to the audience, all arose and greeted the two with thunderous applause that kept on for a long time... * * * Captain Gyovai faces the audience but he can’t speak. The storm of cheering and applause shakes the walls of the building. Minutes pass but the ovation goes on unabated. He stands there, a good looking, tall young man, looking wonderingly at the cheering audience with his soft, warm eyes, as if the cheering embarrassed him. His eyes stop at his beloved paents ... the immigrant miner and his wife who, in the seclusion of the West Virginia mountains, reared a national hero ... At last the applause subsides and he begins to speak. Simple words flow quietly from his lips as he talks about their experiences. But he never mentions himself ... He speaks of the heroism of his comrades, the organizing ability and courage of Major Conner... He feels he doesn’t deserve any credit for he had done nothing more than his duty... And then the storm of cheering and applauding breaks out again when he concludes his words with a statement which should be preserved in military annals as the classic expression of heroism and understatement: (Continued on Page 2) FRANK’S COMIN’ HOME TODAY , By Mary Jean Shurtz This poem, adapted the January-Februray issue of the Louis Allis Messenger for the home-coming celebration of Captain Frank Gyovai, was recited on that occasion by Mr. Frank J. Hughes, Superintendent of the Glogora Coal Company. Ma’s eyes are lit with happiness Just like they used to be. And all the pleasure in the world Is there for folks to see. And there is just one reason why She acts the same old way— I’d like to shout it to the world, Frank’s cornin’ home today! He’s been away from us for years, For years that seemed so long. Long months when Ma tried hard to smile When everything went wrong. And through it all she worried lots, But now her heart is gay And there is laughter on her lips— Frank’s cornin’ home today! He’s cornin’ back to stay with us For just a little while. To tell of places he has been, To cheer us with his smile. Of course he’ll have to leave again For he’s not home to stay. But we’ll forget that for a while, Frank’s cornin’ home today. Ma’s baked the pies that he likes best, The chicken’s golden brown; And she has fancy dishes made That she brought in from town, She says she’ll have his favorites All spread in fine array. And my! but she moves sprightly since Frank’s cornin’ home today! I hear the whistle as the train Comes ’round the little bend. And folks are at the depot now With gifts and things, no end. I lift my face and give glad thanks Above, that -I can say— Because He’s made it possible— FRANK’S COMIN’ HOME TODAY!
