Verhovayak Lapja, 1943. január-június (26. évfolyam, 1-25. szám)
1943-06-10 / 23. szám
Page 1 STBANCE ADVENTEBE Bv KATHRYN RAW Most people wouldn’t understand; but, I want to tell you of a strange adventure I once had. It is difficult to put into words the emotions — the thoughts that filled my mind — when 1 embarked on this adventure of mine, into a world where I conquered space and time. It was easy to enter that place, for someone took me by the hand and led me through a land — a strange land of enchantment — all poetry and music, gaiety and joyousness. The sky — an endless stretch of pale blue color—seemed everywhere. It was even in the sea _ the laughing water eternally singing of adventure — luring me on. Its call was too powerful to resist. I delighted in sailing over the soft rolling waves that lulled my senses. It was then I made my escape from the world I had known, and entered into that place of mystery — where old roads met and blended into new paths — paths filled with a quiet and peace that is beyond comprehending in the ordinary world. Truly, this was a strange adventure — but, stranger still was the fact that the atmosphere — so dream-like — was real; — and you were there, beside me — and we glimpsed the romance of all the ages. We breathed the spirit of immortality while sailing over the crystal water that day, when we had everything that had been denied to us before. You were so beautiful — your face was lit with the sun — the warm sun whose rays were like a spark that set our hearts aflame with love divine. We had more than the world could ever give us — we wanted no more than to stay forever there, and gaze eternally on our treasure — and see the light in each other’s eyes. The colors of the setting sun vanished and twilight touched the sky with a soft purple hue that deepened into night. The wind blew lightly — and whispered a melody our hearts echoed. The night sky filled with a million glittering stars, and the moon — symbol of love — rose high to light our way over the sparkling water. How calm and peaceful the night was! We were so far above and away from the world of everyday affairs. The things we worry about seemed so trivial to us, there on the heights. We laughed — and took our happiness in that moment in Eternity. I watched while you dipped your hand into the cool water; when you drew it out, the drops of water left on your fingers were as the pearl dew the nymphs of the night leave on the earth star, before they vanish in the pale dawn. That moment passed all to quickly — but in that short time we had all life had to offer us — love, happiness and understanding — and the privilege to enjoy our precious gift. When I returned to the commonplace life, the dreams still came and enchanted me With * bliss is far above the Verhovayak Lapja June 10, 1943 A Report on the War Effort What Americans of Hungarian Origin Are Doing By Stephen Huzianyi It is inevitable that most of the activities which contribute to the successful termination of this war will never be publicized in the full, because the range and variety of the departments in which we serve are too greatly diversified to permit of a detailed description and summary. It is our purpose here to do what justice we can to our boys as well as those of us on the production line through an analysis and exposition of our efforts on both home and battle sectors of this, the most widespread and far-flung of conflicts in our world history. While many thousands of our people, our brothers, our husbands, our sweethearts are battling all over the globe, right here in our country there are undoubtedly several hundred firms whose efforts are all directed toward an early and successful conclusion to the wrar. Recognition is deserved on the fighting fronts — and at home, and moreover, is necessary — so that we may gauge more thoroughly our contributions to the U. S. A. Such will be the aim of this and future articles, in which I intend to give brief, revealing biographies of our fighting men. FRANK V. HUZIANY, Tuesday morning, last March 9th, United States Coast a 15 year-old lad took leave of Guard Training Station his tearful but proud parents and left for service with the United Stales Coast Guard. This volunteer, a mere boy, looked for the real thing. “I want action!” said he. “Kid stuff!” was his somewhat disparaging and impatient reference to his recent corporalcy m the high school ROTC. At first his'folks would not consent to sign a release for him. Why, he’s just a baby, they said, and not through high school, yet. Whereupon he refused to budge from his home, went on a “strike” against parents, school, and everything, until his brothers and sisters signed and presented a petition to his parents — who had finally to give in. Yes, just a kid in his middle teens, Frank left his sophomore year at Chicago’s Kelly High School to get right into the fracas. At the recruiting station he passed up opportunities to serve with the mounted division of the Coast Guard, and other duties of a similar kind, insisting vehemently that he wanted nothing less than the post of machine-gunner on a mosquito or FT boat. He got just what he wanted and is he happy! Today he’s studying intensively all that which pertains to sea duty with the Coast Guard. Everything from rowing a boat to dismantling automatic firearms, and just got 100 in “Blinkers and Code.” When he isn’t on duty he takes time out to write letters, mostly concerned with “shop talk.” "I just got through helping put up 4 anti-aircraft guns for practice. Boy, are they big babies! This morning from 9:00 to 11:00 I was on the firing range out here, and the instructor said to fire at will. But I didn’t know anybody by the name of “Will!” This is just a typical American boy who learned by the example of his parents to give unstintingly of his enthusiasm and energies to a good cause and for the furtherance of the ideals and aims of the society into which he was born. There are many more of his kind today serving America in every corner of the earth. I will try here to give you something about those “others” and what they too are doing for our country and our future. * * * Capt. 'ALBERT A. FIOK, There is Captain Albert Fiok ot Headquarters 10th Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Mem-AA Tng. Bn. ber of Verhovay Branch 34.) “My job at present,” says Capt. Fiok, “is threefold: I am Battalion executive, plans and training officer and — the third is a military secret. We are located near Williamsburg, Va. In other words, in the middle of nowhere and miles away from anywhere. We are on duty from 6 to 6 so that we still have 12 hours out of the day we can use as we wish unless we are on night duty or night alert. As you have probably noticed from the heading, we are an antiaircraft outfit down here, handling 90 mm. guns that are good, plenty good against planes, tanks, destroyers and smaller boats, and men. And if there are any tougher artillery problems to solve than those we work with, I would appreciate hearing about them. The work is interesting and there isn’t a dull moment. There is always something to do, so much to do and so little time in which to do it. Sometimes 1 wish I were twins so that I could take care of everything I am supposed to. Yet, I don’t mind the work at all, for if our efforts happines of this world. You did not leave me — but came back with me — to share my every thought and emotion — everything I feel — the mental stirrings and sensibilities of my being. My heart still rejoices at the remembrance of that strange adventure into an unknown land — where we two were one — and knew but one emotion-------LOVE---------that strange emotion that caused us to delight in the beauty and joy of our oneness. v ill bring about the end of the war, we are glad to work 24 hours a day.” Capt. Fiok attained his present honors and responsibilities as a leader and teacher of thousands of our “Yanks” after years of intensive and unremitting work against seemingly insuperable Odds. He had to contend with language difficulties and the many adjustments necessary in settling in a new country He was bom almost 30 years ago, November 18, 1913, in the ancient city of Kassa, Hungary. “My education started in Hungary — and finally wound up here. I had two years grammar school in Hungary, Then in November, 1921, we came out here and I continued with my education in Cleveland, Ohio. This was just for a short duration. After that, we moved to Leechburg, Pa., where I continued with my education in a country school where we were all packed into one room — children from 6 to 19 years of age. Here the younger children tried to study while the elders tried very n&rd to marry off the schoolmarm. Fortunately, this didn’t last too long either, and after about six months of this we moved to Pittsburgh, Pa. It was really here that my education be in. Up to that time, I didn’t make much progress because each time I moved with my family I was put back where I began — in kinde'-varden, practically speaking, because of my language difficulties. However, by the time we arrived in Pittsburgh, I was able to carry on some sort of conversation in English, and it was here that I finally started to climb educationally. I finished my grade school education, then High School where my chief interests lay in magazine work and newspaper writing — and then to College. 1 attended the University of Pittsburgh from 1932 to 1936, majoring in English, History and German, and finally obtaining a degree in leaching. However, after teaching only a short while, I decided that my interest lay in legal work so I reentered the University of Pittsburgh and obtained a degree in law. In 1940 I entered into law practice here in Pittsburgh. Then along came the present war and I was put into the service of Uncle Sam in June of 1941. incidentally, while still at the University, I received a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army, coast artillery branch. And I am still in service.” Whatever one’s national origin might have been, whether Hungarian (Magyar), Polish, German, Czech, English, Irish, Norwegian, Swedish, Serb, etc., it is made evident by the foregoing that the backbone of the American forces is made up in great part of young men willing and able to surmount all obstacles in pursuit of the ideals that make up our republic. Captain Fiok is but an example of the kind of determination and courage that is becoming daily more evident in our armed forces. We salute Captain Fiok and wish him and all others of his kind the very best. Before we go on to a recital of the work of others, we wish to announce the happy marriage of Captain Fiok to his childhood sweetheart, Katherine Király, of Washington, D. C., on April 14, 1942. We would like to be able to say here that the blissful couple settled down in a rose-covered cottage in the suburbs of Pittsburgh in the peace and joy concomitant with such a blessed union. But war intrudes upon any such possibility. And we find the Captain, after a very short honeymoon, writing from his camp, “Just as soon as my time is up, I shall be moving down to Camp----------for a one month grind in advanced gunnery school from which I shall be sent? ...” *!I wish 1 knew! I may stay here and then again I may be sent out. Even if I do stay here, I know that such a stay will be only for a short duration during which we shall have an opportunity to organize separate battalions or perhaps regiments and then move, with renewed energy and determination, to bifng this war to a successful end as quickly as possible. And when I say Urat nothing would give me more pleasure than to be out there w'th the rest of the boys, to fight with them, cry with them during their sorrows and be ever so gleeful with their joys, to be hungry with them, to be parched with thirst with them, to sympathize with their muscle fatigue, sores, blisters and wounds, I sincerely mean just that. For I am fed up with just training men how to fight.” * * * Corporal MICHAEL SZOPO One of our most promising 80th Aib. AA. Bn. young soldiers and non-coms is Corporal Michael Szopo of Detroit (member of Verhovay Branch 36). He worked for the Ford Motor Company when March 1942 saw him off to serve in the infantry All American Division — the 82nd. Not just an ordinary private, his superiors recognized his athletic prowess demonstrated back at school and Michael was appointed athletic non-com for Company M. That’s Mike all right — he won many medals in Decathlon meets, was a letter man in football at Detroit’s Southwestern High School, as well as on the International baseball and basketball teams. He has reason to be proud as he writes recently that from his division and from the 101st was organized the 80th Airborne Anti- Aircraft Battalion. Carefully picked men from every state are
