Amerikai Magyar Hírlap, 1994 (6. évfolyam, 1-50. szám)

1994-06-17 / 24. szám

AMERICAN Hungarian Journal In our"Distinguished Hungarians" series, we introduce Captain DANIEL A. BROOKS, M.D., U.S. Navy He steps into the editor’s office in his crisp white navy uniform, cap in hand. We offer him a seat and some refreshments, since the San Fernando Valley is hot as an oven on this June afternoon. He starts to speak in English - that’s what he is used to at work - but as we get deeper into the con­versation, Hungarian comes to the fore. In fact, this extraordi­nary man whom willpower, diligence, and a thirst for knowledge carried to the top, remained Hungarian at heart. Daniel A. Brooks, formerly Commander, has recently been promoted to the rank of U.S. Navy Captain. This is quite an honor, for most candidates do not make it the first time they are due for promotion. Yet, if you miss out twice, you may have to leave the service. It is doubly true here that whoever is not progressing, is going backwards. Daniel Brooks was born in Hun­gary, and his name was Attila Pataki at the time. He excelled in sports, being a five-time Hun­garian Champion in martial arts between 1955 and 1964. He came to the United States in 1964, wanting to become a doc­tor. The beginnings we re ex­tremely difficult, since he was new to the U.S. school system, and had to face a tough competi­tion. He literally translates his name into English, from Pataki to Brooks, with the middle initial "A" as a remainder of his Hun­garian first name "Attila." He starts at various universities, picking up a few subjects at a time: biochemistry and physiol­ogy at Georgetown, pathology and pharmacology at George Washington University. By the time he applies to Temple University in Philadelphia, he has a lot to show for his efforts. He gets his doctorate in 1975, spends two years as a resident at Stan­ford. The Navy enters his life al­most as an afterthought - maybe a way to give something back to his adoptive country. He marries an American woman, and two children are born: a girl, whom he names Mancika - very Hun­garian! -, anti a boy, Bobby. Captain Brooks is stationed at the Long Beach Naval Hospital. He tells us about "container type" field hospitals with the latest in life-saving equipment. He adds that medical officers are usually in the first line of fire, and are prime targets in battle, since there is no better way to demoral­ize an army than to annihilate its medical support. We ask him about cooperation and proportion among land, sea and air forces. He replies this is "the question of the century," be­cause, though the cooperation among these forces is as strong as ever, the balance is shifting towards the navy when it comes to decisive battles. "The battles of the future will be fought on the beaches" - Captain Brooks says. "To go deep inland is far more costly and dangerous, the army is more vulnerable, losses can be Medical Corps more severe. Hospital-ships, as large as whole cities, with state­­of-the-art equipment, such as the U.S.S. Mercy - that’s the way of the future!" Upon his promotion, László Pásztor, head of the National Federation of American Hun­garians (AMOSZ), wrote a letter to Senator Bob Dole. We quote: "The promotion of Daniel Brooks to the rank of Captain means America has not fogottén the long-standing friendship be­tween our two peoples. It started when the United States was fight­ing for her freedom more than 200 years ago, and hundreds of volunteer Hungarian Cavalry (Hussars) crossed the ocean to fight under General Pulaski. It was during that time that the famous American Cavalry was founded by Colonel Mihály Kovács, another Hungarian. Our Federation hopes that the selection of Daniel Attila Brooks is a sign of increased recognition of the contributions of those Hungarian Americans who fought on the front lines, but be­cause they spoke with an accent, promotion to a high rank, and to a position of leadership might not have been previously possible. Captain Brooks, being fully trained as a physician in the United States, along with his fifth generation, American wife and family, is steeped in American tradition, while speaking with ä European accent. This promo­tion is a clear example that eth­nicity is not a disadvantage or an obstacle in attaining positions of leadership and authority. It is en­couraging that the U.S. Navy util­izes the ethnic diversity existing in this country to build a stronger and more unified nation. In these historic times, when Hungary has also regained her freedom, the Hungarian-Ameri­­can community feels reassured that the U.S. continues to play a key role in peacekeeping mis­sions around the world." August 20, St. Stephen’s Day is a national Holiday for Hun­garians. At last year’s celebra­tions, Daniel Brooks was the guest of honor at the Hungarian Consulate. Although he is the epitome of the soldier - cool, dis­ciplined, prompt in his actions, immaculately uniformed, his thinking as sharp as his aim at the shooting range - in his August 20th speech, Captain Brooks stood up for peace. He ap­preciated King Stephen’s foresight in getting our nomadic ancestors off their horses and be­hind the plow. "He understood over one thousand years ago that peaceful co-existence was the ’sine qua none’ for his nation’s survival and prosperity. It was a tremendous undertaking to unify the seven highly trained, mili­taristic tribes, who believed that the way to make a living was by conquest of Surrounding nations. His first priority was to realign and streamline his military force, and increase the existing dip­lomatic relations." Capt. Brooks drew a parallel be­' This page written by ATA accredited translator SUSAN JANCSO tween King Stephen’s drastic military reduction, with its posi­tive economic consequences over 1,000 years ago, and today’s downsizing. He said the future wars, "in addition to traditional combat, will be waged against famine, pollution, global warm­ing, and the ever present threat of extinction." As we talk, Captain Brooks speaks warmly of the officer who promoted him, who performed the actual ceremony. He is a highly respected superior whom Daniel Brooks is proud to call a friend: Frederic Sanford, a two­­star Admiral, and possibly the next Surgeon General of the Navy. Indulging my curiosity, I ask our guest to explain what all the decorations on his jacket mean. The four stripes on his epaulette mean the rank of Captain, the golden oak leaf with the acorn in the middle, the medical corps. The colorful little things on the left, above his heart, are actually three rows of medals (he has more, but wears them only on fes­tive occasions): Navy Achieve­ment Medal, Army Commenda­tion Medal, Sea Service, National Defense, and the ones with the letter "E" - Sharpshooter, Expert Rifle Shooter. Before we say goodbye, Captain Brooks summarizes the meeting: "We started out as total strangers, and yet, after only a few hours, we part as good friends." We couldn’t agree more with this out­standing man who, while rising to the top in the U.S. Navy as Daniel Brooks, has not forgotten his Hungarian heritage and is proud to be Attila Pataki. Susan Jancso Notice to our Readers: That time of the year has come again! The American Hungarian Journal is taking its usual two­­week summer vacation in the second half of June. The present issue dated June 17 is the last one before the break, and we’ll be back with the July 8th issue (work in the editorial office will resume in the week of July 4th). While we are out, we promise to continue the hunt for newsworthy materials for your reading enjoy­ment. We wish you all a pleasant and relaxing summer, whether you take your vacation now or later. (You work-a-holics who never do, should realize that we only live once!) Susan Jancso and the StaiT of the Editorial Office Events to watch out for: Fathers’ Day-Sunday, June 19th (Take Dad to the Csárdás Sun­day Brunch!) Collegium Corvinum Gala Benefit Concert Sunday, July 24 at 4:00 p.m. For info, read our ad in this issue or call Judith Nesleny at (818) 798-1562. Take Summer Courses at UCLA Extension Summer Language Institute begins June 25. "Cultural Factors in Interpersonal Communication” for those who wish to develop skills for more effective com­munications, June 28-August 4, Thu and Thurs 7 to 10 pm. For information, call (310)206-8456. NEW YORK (JFK) és BUDAPEST között MALÉV az egyetlen légitársaság amely NON- STOP szállítja utasait naponta közlekedő járatain az új BOEING 767-ER típusú gépekkel. Kényelmesen, gyorsan érkezik velünk Budapestre és jó csatlakozásainkkal Európa és Közel Kelet más városaiba is. A magyaros vendégszeretetről már repülés közben is meggyőződhet. Helyfoglalásért - a jelenleg érvényben levő -SPECIÁLIS ALA CSONY ÁRON hívja utazási irodáját vagy a MALÉV Los Angeles-i irodáját a (800) 262-5380 (310) 286-7980 számokon 1994. szeptember 25-én, vasárnap délután 3 órai kezdettel a belvárosi LOS ANGELES HILTON & TOWERS HOTEL GOLDEN STATE TERMÉBEN 930 Wilshire Blvd. (Figueroa sarok) HÉCZEY IVÁN bemutatja NEKÜNK TALÁLKOZNI KELLEIT! című vidám zenés műsorát. 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