Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1945 / Verhovay Journal
August 29, 1945 VERHOVAY SPORTSMEN of BRANCH 164 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS WE THANK THEE, DEAR GOD, FOR THE BLESSING OF VICTORY AND PEACE. For years we have waited and after a tense week of rumors, at long last, the struggle with the Axis powers is over. It was a jubilant crowd that welcomed the news and yet, in our hearts was a prayer for the boys that will not return; Boys that shed their blood and gave their lives so that we may live With liberty and freedom. WE THANK THEE, DEAR GOD, FOR THE BLESSING OF VICTORY AND PEACE. MARGARET STANGRET Up to now, a rigid censorship kept us guessing as to where the boys are but it won’t be long before we have them home again. To see the boys home again is a dream that is soon to come true. Most interesting to me, of course, is my darling husband. Tony was in Germany on V-E Day, went direct to the Pacific and was in Manila in the Philippines on V-J Day. The day I WILL celebrate is the day he comes home to me. (And I do mean CELEBRATE!) Duke Soo, the sailor boy, had a lucky break. Minor repairs on his ship held it up in San Francisco and gave Duke a chance to send his wife a telegram, collect. It was a very short message and I quote, “Please come* at onec. Will wait at the Frisco Railroad Station”. She did with little William Soo as her escort. Sis Exner, wife of sailor Joey Exner, got the same breaks and spent three wonderful weeks near the Frisco dry dock with her hubby. , The last letter from Ernie Kunstadt Jr. came from Paris, France. Encouraging to us, soldier and sailor wives, are the words that he wouldn’t change his wife for a million French girls. Another G. I. getting a lucky break was Sgt. Steve Bozmanski. Steve has his Honorary Discharge papers in his pocket and is enjoying all the comforts of a civilian. Louie Kollar, the erstwhile playboy, sends his greetings from the Army of Occupation in Germany. Helen Zubor, our one only WAC member, is a very popular girl in her outfit. Helen, not only plays in the V/AC softball league but during the parties that follow the gam:s, she entertains With her excellant guitar-nlaying. From Friecbex", Germany, Cpi. Edward Kol ?y -it'--, that the matter rf r'n ratcrr alization war nc t invited by the American dou< hi- )y and is very hard to practise. The grapevine tells me that James Kantor is home for a visit but as yet I have no further news of him. And now I have a few words about Lt. Frank Kantor. In the years, not too far back, Frankie made many headlines in my columns as the proud and sometimes aggravated owner of Chevrolet cars of early vintage, broken in by other owners 15 or 20 years hence. I remember “Nellie No. 1” and “Nellie No. 2”, the experimental cars of General Motors and all the fun our sportsmen had with them. After nearly five years of Military Service, Lt. Kantor has kept up the old tradition. Stationed in California, Frankie purchased a 1934 Chevie for less than $100 and the next day, with friend wife as his companion, started for home. Believe it or not, our Frankie got home, friend wife got home and “Nellie No. 3” got as far as the City Limits. The cost of an Emergency Operation on “Nellie No. 3” was cqvered by old man Kantor. Frankie, his wife and Nellie No. 3 are now in North Carolina with a promise from Frankie that Nellie. No. 3 will serve as the official wedding car at his best pal’s wedding. As you all know, his best pal is Marv Kunstadt who is still Out in Hawaii with over 100 points to his credit. Family news is beginning to Overcrowd me and now that the war is over, I expect still longer reports. The most important arrival at the Csonka’s first saw the light of day at 3 A.M. on August 6th. It is some kind of a record that just three hours later, young John Michael Csonka was a Branch 164 member. Grandma Csonka, our lady-vice-president, commemorated the occasion with an $100 War Bond. Good Luck to you, Clara and, Johnny and May God Bless You again in the years to come. It is no secret that Sis Exner is waiting for the stork. I just know it will be a boy this time. Barbara Kovács is expecting her happiness too and the stork told me it would drop a baby boy for a lasting remembrance. The wedding of Irene Sepessy, member of Branch 96, to her soldier boy was attend by many members of Branch 164. Best wishes to her, her husband and to her dad, our well-liked orchestra leader. Irene Toth, who for many years had the power to say no to engagement rings, is now assured the old maids faculty. Irene came home for a two weeks visit early this month with a young, lady friend from Detroit by the name of Carmen McGowan. Carmen joined Branch 164. (Jolán Lucas please note. Here is a good member for you.) It is with regret that I announce that our Charter Member, Frank Kish, passed away. His funeral was arranged by Branch 164 and the Hungarian Catholic Church and was very impressive. Fr. Magyar and our Chairman lrocky made the farewell speeches. May His Soul Rest In Peace. On the very eve of Victory in Europe, Albert Andrew Barnak went down with his ship, the U.S.S. Frederick C. Davis, in the Pacific. To his parents came a letter from the officer in charge telling what a brave, responsible man Albert was and offering sympathy to the family in their bereavement. To the Barnak, Wojtas and Molnár families, all members of Branch 164, extend their condolences. There is very little I can add to the Navy’s message. Albert was a gallant man who went down with a gallant ship. May His Soul Rest In Peace. The gigantic Branch 164 Jubillee is only a few weeks away and the plans are well under way for a gala occasion. Mrs. Csonka, our lady vicepresident has asked me to extend an important message and request to the following people. Mary Szabó, the Ranyak sisters, Mary Ann Sabo, Julia Vash, Irene Vash, the Kaszas sisters, Ollie Kunstadt, Barbara Kovack, Marion Wojtas, Marge lrocky, Irene Adelmann, Sis Exner, Irene Kruchten, Martha and Julia Feifar, Mary Molnár, Marge Fodor, Blondie Fodor, Grayce Papp and Elsie Risko are all requested to co-operate at the ban: quet so that the good name of Branch 164 will be upheld. I know, with the system arranged by our management, our task wilt be light and there will still be time for us to enjoy the festivities. Further details of our Jubillee will be in my next issue, I promised to make a report about our Bowling League which ended the last week in July. Strange as it may seem, it was “Just me” that copped the first prize in the Sweepstakes. Please don’t ask about the handicap T received but the extra Bond I bought with the prize money will certainly be appreciated when Tony comes marching home. In the Ladies’ Sweepstakes, Irene Kructen and Marge Fodor took second and third prizes. Just to be different, the men paired off for Sweepstake teams with the first prize going to the team of John Kovács and Charlie Drungelo. The Louies’, Molnár and Fodor took second place while Joe Gerhard and Bob Zubor showed for third. Verhovay Journal Here is the list ofbowlers and their Averages. Vic Hanslie166 Joe Exner162 Bob Zubor160 Louis Molnár154 Chas. Drungelo152 John Kovács151 Joe Gerhard148 Louis Fodor146 Marge Fodor144 Andy Janovics139 Frank Földi138 Mary Molnár137 Sis Exner136 Anne Drungelo123 Louise Janovics120 Marge Stangret117 Marge Kunstadt 110 Irene Kructen 105 Due to the uncertainties of traveling in War time, plans for our inter-branch Bowling Tournament were postponed but it is expected that further developments will be discussed when our Senior Secretary and Jolán Lucas meet in Pittsburgh sometime in September. In closing, may I remind you to say an extra little prayer for the boys that are not to return. May Their Souls Rest In Peace PROMOTED TO 2nd LIEUTENANT 2nd Lt. JOSEPH A. SIMON Mr. and Mrs. Alex Simon of Bicknell, R. R. 2, have received word that their son, Joe A. Simon, of the 511th Parachute Division, has been promoted to Second Lieutenant. Lt. Simon has been in service over four years and in the Pacific sixteen months. He has been awarded several citations and battle-stars. While in the States he served as an instructor. While serving in the Philippines he was. given the privilege of attending officers school in Australia for a. fourteen week period. but while in training he suffered an injury to his knee which necessitated an operation. He was able to attend only seven weeks of school bflt was presented his gold bars while in the hospital. He was granted a week’s leave after leaving the hospital which he spent in Sydney, Australia. Lt. Simon is a graduate of Freelandville High School and is well known in and around Bicknell. N He is a member of Branch 20V, Bicknell, 111. Congratulations to Lt. Simon and his proud parents, and our best wishes for his early return! ----------------v---------------A man is the part he plays among his fellows. He is not isolated; he cannot be. His life is made up of the relations he bears to others—is made or marred by those relations, guided by them, judged by them, expressed in them. There is nothing else upon which he can spend his spirit—nothing else that we can see. It is by these he gets his spiritual growth; it is by these we spe. his character revealed, his purpose, his gifts. A few (men) act as those who have mastered the secrets of a serious art, with deliberate subordination of themselves to the great end and' motive of the play. These have “found themselves,” and have all the ease of a perfect adjustment. —Woodrow Wilson ------------V—-----Look not mourn fully to the past—it comes not back again; wisely improve the present—it is thine, go forth to meet the shadowy future without fear, and I with a manly heart. —»Henry W. Longfellow and May the Victory and Peace they fought for be a lasting Peace. Just me, MARGARET STANGRET, Publicity Agent, 1427 So. Sawyer Ave. Chicago, 23, 111. A WELCOME VISITOR Page 3 Pvt. STEVE KENDI Pvt. Steve Kendi, 32457488, is recovering at the Deshon General Hospital,(Ward 50A) from serious wounds received in action in France. The other day he got a three day pass and visited the Home Office, on July 7th. All were glad to meet this softspoken, attractive soldier whose warm smile and sense of humor made him many friends. He is a member of Branch 68. Bridgeport, Conn., and was born in Edgewater, N. J., in 1913. A year later his parents migrated back to Hungary taking their little son with them. He was brought up in Bodrogszentes, Hungary and returned to the States in 1938, shortly before the storm broke out in Europe. But his folks stayed behind. His mother died ten years a,g°, hut his father and two sisters are still overthere. As far as relatives are concerned, Steve is alone in this country and he isn’t married either. On August 8, 1942 he was inducted and on July 14, 1944 he was taken to England and from there on September 1st to France. He participated in three great battles. On the 26th of November he was sent out with a patrol, consisting of six men, including a member of the Medical Corps, to get information as to the strength of fortifications at the French city of Bitchie, near the German border. Proceeding cautiously, they suddenly found themselves in a precarious situation when the enemy, íveli hidden among trees and shrubbery, opened fire from a distance of some 300 yards. They couldn’t even see the machine-gun nests from which a hail of fire was directed against them. Pvt. Kende was seriously wounded. The medic immediately gave him first aid and then the patrol retreated carrying their wounded comrade back to the American lines. He suffered three injuries and was taken to a military hospital in France, from there to England, then to Staten Island, N. Y., until, finally, he ended up at Deshon's General ' Hospital in Butler. He tpas hospitalized for eight months. When asked about his experiences, he just smiled anil said! “It was pretty tough.” Looking into his clear eyes and smiling face, one wouldn’t think that he has been through hell. Steve, who fought with the 3pth Infantry j Division, has been awarded the ‘ Purple Heart. It is our privilege to present our heroic, fellow\ member and visitor to the readers i of the Journal.
