Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1945 / Verhovay Journal
VOL. XXVIII. SEPTEMBER 23, 1945 NO. 18. Sons’ Portraits for Gold Star Mothers Courtesy oj Northampton Morning Call SCENE FROM MEMORIAL CELEBRATION IN NORTHAMPTON, PA, Much publicity was given to the memorial celebration and portrait presentation held in Northampton, Pa., on Labor Day, September' 3, 1945. The above picture with an article under the heading “Verhovay Flag Honors 123 in Service”, appeared in the Northampton Morning Call. Shown on the picture are: the Rev. Father Paul Repchick, rector of Our Lady of Hungary Church and two gold star mothers, Mrs. Katie Nemeth, Coplay, Pa., and Mrs. Joseph Milisits, Northampton, Pa. Father Repchick sits under the portrait of Master Sergeant John Radakovits whose mother is not shown. Radakovits was killed in action in France, August 1, 1944. Above Mrs. Nemeth, in the middle, appears the portrait of Sergeant James Nemeth, a paratrooper, who was killed in action in France on September 20, 1944. This hero was awarded posthumously the Silver Star for extraordinary courage and initiative shown by him in an encounter with the enemy on June 8, 1944. The posthumous award was presented to the bereaved mother by a highranking officer of the U. S. Army. Technical Sergeant John Milisits, shown on the left side of the picture, was killed in action in Germany on March 16, 1945. The story of the portrait presentation was reported in the last issue of the Journal. However, to our regret, we failed to mention among those responsible for the arrangements, the name of Mr. Peter Toth, President of Branch 216. This is regettable especially because Mr. Toth did everything in his power to make this occasion a successful event Our apologies and thanks to Mr. Toth. TOLEDO NEXT. On Sunday, September 30, the branches 27,Toledo, O., 194, Rossford, O., and 301, Clinton, O., will jointly pay tribute to six fellow members who made the Supreme Sacrifice, Branch 27 has the largest and Branch 301 the smallest number of members but the order is reversed in respect to military casualties. The branch in Port Clinton lost three of its members, Rossford two and Toledo one . . . Branch 301, Port Clinton, mourns for Cpl. Joseph 7am Jr.,, who died in a Japanese prison camp, due to the deprivations to which our heroes were subjected by the Japanese, on June 13th, 1943. His parents, Mr. and. Mrs. Joseph Zam, live in Egyptian, O. — Pfc. John A. Kovács Jr., died under similar circumstances at the age of 21, on July 9, 1943, in a Japanese prison camp. — Pfc. Joseph Tomor, son of Mr. and Mrs. Titus Tomor, was killed in action in Normandy, on June 16, 1944. Branch 19$, Rossford, Ohio, lost 1st Lt. Zoliié Juhos, son of Mr. and Mrs. Coloman Juhos, who was killed in action on May 30, 1945, in Germany, — and Oscar Tury, Coxswain, Delta, O., who was killed in naval action in the Pacific theatre of War. He was first reported as missing and then the notice was issued that he was killed on March 26, 1945. Branch 27, Toledo, O., has lost S. 1 /C Andrew Paul Juhasz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pityer. He was wounded in action in North-Africa and died in the naval hospital at Norfolk, Virginia. He is the only heroic dead among the six to be commemorated on September 30, whose body could be returned and buried in Toledo. An impressive program had been prepared for the solemn occasion. Mr. Joseph Beres, president of Branch 27, will deliver the opening address and Dr. Géza Farkas, editor-publisher of the Toledo Hungarian weekly will act as Master of ceremonies. His task will be to introduce the speakers, among them The Rev. Father Albert Gajdos, Rector of the Greek Catholic Church, Hon. Lloyd E. Roulett, Mayor of Toledo, Hon. Fred Hufman, Mayor of Rossford and Hon. William Hunt, Mayor of Port Clinton, O., Hon. Frazier Reams, State Welfare Director, who will represent the Governor of Ohio, Msgr. Elmer Eordogh, Mr. Grove Patterson, editor in chief of the Toledo Blade, Supreme Secretary Coloman Revesz, Supreme President John Bencze, the Rev. Dr. Steven Szabó, Hungarian Reformed pastor, and others. All Verhovayans in Toledo and vicinity should be present at this memorial-celebration which "will be held in the Virág Hall, Front Street, beginning at 3 P.M. Lt Col. Kovach’s Message to all Americans of Hungarian Descent Lt. Col. Kovach is a member of the American Military Commission in Budapest, Hungary. Being of Hungarian descent, his services are needed especially because of his knowledge of the Hungarian people and their language. At the time when the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., announced that the first shipment of medicaments, purchased for $10,000, have arrived in Hungary, Lt. Col. Kovach also figured in the report as a speaker of the occasion. He told the Hungarian Red Cross and the many others present that these gifts were sent to them by American citizens of Hungarian origin and he promised that more assistance will follow soon. In the meantime, bickering went on as usual in American Hungarian circles. Regardless of the fact that the State Department made the announcement concerning the arrival of the medicaments, and that an even and just distribution was promised, gossip still persisted that the medicaments will never aid those who really need it for they will be confiscated by the Russians and by the Communist Government of Hungary. And now we have a letter before us, written by Lt. Colonel George S. Kovach to Mr. Nicholas Phillips, attorney, New York, N. Y. The letter was dated in Budapest on August 27, 1945. Its contents serve conclusive proof as to the necessity of the Reliefmovement and the justice which prevails at the distribution of the aid rendered by the American people. It is a letter that should stop all hesitation. “Dear Miklós: I have your letter of August 12th, and the contents regarding the Relief Action are making me sick. I am on this end doing all I can to help wherever possible because I see the terrific need for help. PLEASE TELL BOTH, THE RIGHT, AND THE LEFT AND THE CENTER AND ALL THE SHADES YOU HAVE THAT I AM ASHAMED OF THEM AND IF THIS WILL HURT ANYONE’S FEELING, TAT IS JUST TOO DAMNED BAD. I tried very hard to distribute the medicine supply to all organizations irrespective of religion or political belief and SUPERVISED THE HUNGARIAN RED CROSS TO THE NTH DEGREE AND I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE GOT AN EQUAL DISTRIBUTION. SO PLEASE TELL THEM, ALL THE HUNGARIANS AT HOME, THAT WHEN THE RIGHTISTS SAY THAT THE JEWS ARE GETTING THE HELP, IT IS TRUE. ALSO TELL THE JEWS, AND WHEN THEY SAY THAT CHRISTIANS ARE GETTING MOST OF THE HELP, IT IS ALSO TRUE. ASSOCIATIONS GET IT, COMMUNISTS GET IT, SMALLHOLDERS GET IT. For God’s sake have them stop bickering, and open up their purses! THIS COUNTRY WILL SEE A HORRIBLE WINTER, AND SO FAR NONE OF THE ALLIES HAS HELPED TO ALLEVIATE IT. IT IS UP TO THE AMERICAN HUNGARIANS TO DO THEIR JOB, AND THEY BETTER DO IT NOW. With sincere regards. George. GEORGE S. KOVACH, Lt. Col. Ac.” * * * Lt. Colonel Kovach is an American officer of Hungarian descent. His loyalty to America does not keep him from sympathizing with the misery of other nations and, being of Hungarian descent, he lias a natural and understandable. interest especially for the people of Hungary. Conscious of his responsibility towards the American citizens of Hungarian origin, he does everything in his power to distribute their contributions equally, irrespective of religious or political belief. In that he acts in the American way. His letter has a distinct significance for all second and third generation descendants of Hungarian immigrants. There may be a tendency among them to neglect this cause because of the distance in both, time and space, which separates them from their Hungarian cousins. There may be some members among our American branches who are inclined to dismiss with a shrug the tragedy of the people of which they are descendants. Lt. Col. Kovach likewise could do the same. But he can’tt because he is there and sees the terrific need. He sees the shadow ot a horrible winter approaching and he appeals to the American Hungarians to act—and to act NOW. What we want to bring out is, that even the most indifferent descendants of Hungarian immigrants would feel the same way if they were present to witness the undescribable misery of Hungary. They are spared the sight and fortunate they are, for its memory would hunt them until their dying day. Let Lt. Col. Kovach be the witness and let the Americans of Hungarian descent accept his testimony which is given without bias. He is not led by selfish motives, he is not trying to make (Continued on Page 2)
