Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1945 / Verhovay Journal
October 31, 1945 V erhovay Journal Page 5 THE VERHOVAY EPIC.,. AMERICAN HEROES BORN IN HUNGARY Chicago Verhovayans, especially the members of Branch 164, consider Vilmos Feifar one of our outstanding fellow-members and we sincerely agree now that we received a letter from him in which he told us a great deal about his two sons. All the Feifars are first-generation immigrants as the boys, too, were born in Hungary, in a town called Keresztül-. They grew up there and when coming to America, they brought with them the memories of a childhood in Hungary. Yet, they are not foreigners. America appealed to them as it does to every young man who has ambition and imagination. They fell in love with America 60 deeply and sincerely that when it came to defending their adopted country, both of them fought courageously and fulfilled their duty with such devotion that they earned the respect and admiration of their comrades as well as their superiors. They serve an excellent example to what Grove Patterson, editor of the Toledo- Blade wrote about Americans of Hungarian origin, after attending the memorial celebration held in Toledo, O. “Our fellow-Americans love the land of their birth ... but they love, with a depth of emotion unknown to many Americans of the older stock, this country which has given them what the struggles of the past could never quite win.” First, we introduce Mr. and Mrs. Feifars older son, St. Sgt. Frank Feifar. bitter fighting. The entire town to the Sergeant: “Brother, you was burned down. No stone was left unturned. There wasn’t a single house, not even the church was left. Its walls in ruins, its pews and puplit completely burned out and destroyed . . . except the altar with the Cross and the Holy Virgin upon it .. . It wasn’t damaged a bit .. . not eben a scratch could be found on that miraculous altar . . .” However, these are but glimpses into the struggles from which he emerged. Frank prefers not to talk about his experiences. Arriving at home, he told his parents: “I am only glad that •you won’t ask me any questions about the war. Mother doesn’t want to know of its horrors and you, Dad, know them from your own experiences . . .” And so Frank buries the stories of his experiences in his heart. We have to respect his desire. He was discharged in June, 1945, with 106 points to his credit. He has several decorations, among them the Silver Star . . . For 38 months he fought against the cruel foe, yet he was never injured. He escaped the bullets and bombs but malaria got him. But he is improving rapidly what with the good air on Dad's farm and Mom’s excellent cooking which he certainly missed for 44 long, dangerous, torturous months. ir-.il ££tü*£. St./Sgt. FRANK FEIFAR He is 26 now and was 22 when he joined the armed forces two months before Pearl Harbor, October 11, 1941. He was soon taken overseas so that he was not even granted a furlough. His family did not see him for 44 months, until his return on June 11, 1945. He spent 38 months in the Pacific theatre of war. He was twice in Australia, fought several times in New Guinea where his company earned the "butcher” by-name from the Japanese. And there was a reason. Frank told his father that the JAPANESE ATE STEAKS CUT FROM THE BODIES OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS. So his company got the orders that not a single Japanese soldier should be left alive in that front .... The order was carried out to the letter. From New Guinea Frank was taken to the East Indies and then to the Philippines and finally to Manila. He told his parents: "One picture I’ll always remember. We took a village which the Japanese abandoned after 1st. Lt. THEODORE FEIFAR Lieutenant Feifar is two years younger than Frank. He joined the Air Force on January 27, 1943. He was trained in various camps and then he was taken to the European theatre of war. In the course of duty he saw many lands: Africa, Sicily, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Silesia and Poland... at one time he even visited his native town and the house of his childhood ... of course, it was a more or less “passing” visit, for all these trips were made on a bomber which, based in ItaTy> was sent over these countries on various missions. Once he was granted a week’s furlough which he used to vi ót Rome, the Holy City and the Vatican, where he saw the Pope and was honored by being spoken to by His Holiness. At long last the European war ended and Lieutenant Theodore Feifar, navigator, returned to the States, arriving at home on May 15 for a 30 day’s furlough. Then he met his brother whom he hadn’t seen for 44 months. It was a moment of undescribable happiness for Mr. and Mrs. Feifar to see their two abundantly decorated sons who, returning from East and West, proudly eyed each other. Said the Lieutenant are decorated like a Christmastree. But I guess, you suffered for it, too!” Ted hasn’t been discharged yet due to his rank. He is stationed in Texas but he is expected soon to return to civilan life. And so Mr. Feifar happily concludes his letter, writing: “It’s not only the American-born boys who fought well in this war!” How true! MEMBER OF CENTURY DIVISION AWARDED BRONZE STAR. Pfc. L. Frank Horvath, of R.2, Athens, O., a member of Branch 41, Murray City, O., has recently been awarded the Bronze Star for his action in combat prior to V-E Day, while serving with the 100th Division. He is a member of the famous Century Division’s 398th Infantry Regiment. The award recognized the part he played in the division’s fighting through France and Germany. Driving through the Vosges Mountains last November, the Century Division cracked the German’s planned defenses at the Meurthe River, and later fought to take the elaborately-fortified town of Bitche on the Maginot Line. Standing off a major German counterattack at the turn of the year before Bitche, the 100th crashed through the fortseries there to wrest the historical defense bastion from the enemy in mid-March. After speeding to Ludwigshaven on the Rhine, the Ceptury crossed the river and then began its assult upon Heilbronn, important natural barrier and key rail center at the western gateway to the German National Redoubt. After nine bitter days of building-to-building fighting under enemy artillery directed by observation from the hills to the east of the city, the division captured the city and drove south along the Neckar River to Stuttgart, where it joined forces with the French in a pincers movement which forced the capitulation of that industrial metropolis. Pfc. Frank L. Horvath made himself an outstanding record during this 6 months’ offensive and his courageous conduct has won him the Bronze-Star award which is a source of pride not only for him but also to his parents and his fellow-members. THE SILVER STAR TOR ’‘UNDAUNTED BRAVERY” AND “GALLANTRY IN ACTION” AUTOMOBILES KILL 2 VERHOVAY VETERANS Two accidents, shocking in their ghost'y simi'arity, fork the lives of two Verhovayans who escaped injury during the war and returned happily to their loved ones only to meet their death at home. SGT. JOSEPH RINKACS Joseph Rinkacs, of 1118 Kahri Ave., Duquesne, Pa., a member of Branch 71, is the son of Sieve (Continued on Page 7) PVT. JOHN KOMEC John J. Komec, a member of Branch 222, Canonsburg, Ik»., son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Komec, Midway, Pa., met his death on September 8th, 1945. He had been out of the service only ofi.e week, when he was crushed under his automobile on which he w.v working. The car rolled off the ramp, pinning him underneath. He was pronounced dead when found. John Komec was born in Canonsburg on December 5, 1917. He received an honorable discharge from the Army at Gatup Gordon, Johnston, Fla., on September 1st While in the army, he was a machinist. He is survived by his parents, seven sisters and two broth' n; one of whom is still with the Air Forces in. France. Requiem tot;:!f Mass was held in St. Anns Catholic Church, Bulger, Pa., the Kev. Father John Robaczevvsky officiating. T 4 JOHN ROB1CX John Rodick, a member of Branch 68, Bridgeport, Corn., was born in Pittsburgh. Pa., 26 years ago. His family moved IE years' ago to Milford, Conn. There he went to school and there he entered service on February 21, 1941. He served four year- overseas, in the South Pacific, Christmas islands and the Marianas. A year ago he was home on a 30 day furlough and returned to the Pacific where he served in Saipan until he returned for Mii discharge. After four and a half years of military service toe received his discharge on September 20. He was taking a week’» vacation and planned to go to work the following week. The Bridgeport papers, however, appeared with tragic news on September 29th. A huge picture showed a completely demolished car and underneath we read the following report. “A Milford soldier was killed and another injured seriously at 1:30 o’clock this morning when their auto went over a 46 feet embankment after crashing into a state highway fence on the Merrit parkway, near the White Plains road exit. Killed was Tech. Fourth Grade John Rodick, 26, of Mont(« St., Milford, Conn., who was dead when State Policemen Charles Flanagan and John Carlson arrived on the scene. He bad hern discharged from the Army cn September 20, after lour years in the Pacific. Injured was his brother-in-law, Forrest Grinnel, 26, of Harrison St., Milford, who was taken to Bridgeport Hospital with a possible fractured skull and a fracture of the left leg. His name was placed on the danger list. Cause of the accident is still being investigated by State police.” * * * Throughout the bitter years of the world-war we found U possible to gropingly search for words of comfort whenever the death-notices of our heroic dead arrived Ineffective as those words may have been, they stiil were inspired by the conviction tti.it in the death of our more than 186 fellow-members there was a purpose and a noble sacrifice. But words fail us in this instance as they have failed cur friends when similar tragedy befell our life. To see ou*- boys; gr iv up, to see them return, unhurt and safe, only to suffer then the Supreme Cruelty of Fate. .. that is agony for which there arc no comforting words... nothing to soften the pain except, in these two instances, the surviving children, brother# and sisters who, by their love, may slowly help these deep wounds to heal . . , With heartfelt sorrow we extend our sympathy to the bereaved families...!
