Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1945 / Verhovay Journal
January 10, 1945 Verhova'S Journal. Page 3 THE VERHOV AY EPIC They Gave Their Lives The hirrors of war are coming home to us. The hidden power of the enemy has asserted itself shattering our hopes for an early Victory and peace. There is a long, hard road ahead of us. And the hardships which we endure, the anxienty and the agony of the home-folks for their beloved ones seems insignificant in comparison to what our heroes have to bear. As vfe learn, more and more about their valor and their sufferings and their sacrifices, we are humbled to more unselfish service to the cause to wich they have dedicated themselves. Nothing will contribute more to the effectiveness of The Home Front’s war efforts as our knowledge of what takes place in the field of battle. To-day, we have pome marvellous stories to report. Stories that fill our hearts with pride and our eyes with tears. Stories that elate and, at the same time, humble us. Reading them and telling them we come to believe that no greater epic can be written than that which our Verhovay heroes write with their bl^ood and tears and sweat. MANAGER CHERNEY’S THREE SONS Stephen Chernay is manager of Branch 198, of Sagamore, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Cherney had three sons serving in the armed forces of the United States . . .1 say “had” . . . for only two have remained as one of them, Staff Sergeant Joseph Cherney, has made the Supreme Sacrifice on June 12th, 1944, in France. He was the 61st Verhovayan to give his life for his country. At the time, when we reported his death, only meager details were available. Now, through his sister, we have received the full story of his self-sacrifice which must be told in the “Verhovay Epic.” St. Sgt. Joseph A. Cherney His death was a great shock to his parents resulting in an illness of his loving and beloved mother, from which she has not yet recovered. They asked their daughter to write to the commanding officer of their son for details. The reply to her letter has just arrived and is published in full in the following: “Bear Miss Cherney: Lieutenant Church received the V-mail letter concerning your brother yesterday. He gave it to me because I know a little more about Joe’s death. I thought an awful lot of Joe Cherney. I have a brother-in-law frem Partage, Pa,, and I'm from Akron myself. My brother-in-law spent a couple of weeks with me in Camp MacKall last summer and he and Joe had become very good friends, talking about Punxsy and Portage and Pennsylvania in general. The three of us were planning a deer hunting expedition after the war. Joe jumped on France with us the 6th and in every respect carried cut everything required of him and more besides. On June 12th he asked me to relieve him of his supply duties long enough to get in the attack at Carentan with us. I consented, mainly because he was so anxious and had been so aggressive in our previous fights. He was with me until 16.30 and had been in the thick of everything laughing and joking as always. I then took one half of the unit on a flanking action, attempting to surround the enemy. Joe and the other half were to stand put and hold the Germans in position with fire. By eleven o’clock we had the Huns trapped between our two units and a group of them stood up to surrender. Joe being the foremost man in his unit as usual, moved forward to bring them in. He had taken only two or three steps when a German hidden in a tree, shot him. Joe died instantly, he never knew what hit him, and he did not suffer in the least. I know how miserable you people must feel over this and I send you my deepest sympathy. Last night a friend (Lt. Ell) and I were speaking of the boys we had lost and I think he expressed it perfectly when he said that “out of all of them I think Sgt. Cherney hurts the worst.” He had just a little more understanding, a little kinder heart than the rest. I’ve cried only once over here, Miss Cherney, and that was the night over Joe. I’ve got a kid brother that is seriously wounded now and I couldn’t feel any worse if he died. I would have written you people before; however, I received a wound myself and have just recently returned to my unit. I think, Joe is buried in one of two cemeteries, either at the burial ground at St. Mere Eglise or at St. Come DuMont. More definite information should come from the War Department concerning this and I think that you can request that he he returned to America for burial, although I’m not sure. There is another thing ... He and I went to Mass together on the 10th, and I’m sure that God most assuredly opened the celestial gates for Joe Cherney. He was good and lovable, and all man, and I’m intensely proud to be numbered among his friends. I can’t express in a letter how we really feel about him, but perhaps I can someday visit you people and explain these things better then. I ONLY HOPE THAT IF I DIE OVER HERE, THAT MY SIS CAN BE AS PROUD OF ME AS YOU CAN BE OF JOE. If there is any way in which I can fielp you at all, please let me know. JOHN L. WHITE 1st. Lt. Inf. Commanding Co. I. No greater tribute can be paid to a man than that which is paid to St. Sgt. Joe Cherney by 1st Lt. John L. White. The sentence in his letter, printed in capital letters, is an epitaph witnessing to the fact that Joe Cherney, with his livable personality and his heroic courage has become an example to his entire unit. No one lived in vain who continues to live in the memory of his fellow-men, and, though he fell at Carentan, his spirit remained with them, driving them on towards theig goál. And so, in the hearts -of his comrades, St. Sgt. Joe Cherney continued the fight and achieved victory. May he rest in peace (beyond those celestial gates of which Lt. White wrote his sister. 1st LT. PAUL J CHERNEY Joe’s death nearly broke his mother’s heart. She had not yet recovered from her illness when, of all times, on the 22nd of December, shortly before Christmas, another telegram arrived from the War Department informing the parents that their son. 1st Lt. Paul J. Cherney was missing in aerial action over Austria. Ha was taken as an Air Cadet to Italy and was promoted there to a First Lieutenant. From Italy he flew over Nazi occupied countries on several bombing missions. On one of these missions he was sent over Hungary, too, and he wrote to his parents about the beauty of the country from which they came. He wrote his last letter to them on the 11th of December and on the same night he set out for another mission over Austria, from which he never returned. •Writes the father, Branch- Manager Stephen Cherney: “Our only hope is that he could bail out in time with his crew and that he was not shot down while descending . . .” 105. PFC. JOSEPH SEBOK Mrs. Joseph Sebok, nee Elizabeth Bodish. S41 Colfax Street, South Bend, Ind., received notice from the War Department according to which her husband. Pfc. Joseph Sebok, Jr., was killed in action in Germany on November 19th, 1944. Joseph SeliO1:, Jr. was born in Ontario, on January 1st, 1917. He was a member of Branch 132, South Bend, Ind., which already has lost several members in the waiv We express our deepest sympathy to the widow of our heroic soldier and to his family . . May they find comfort in the assurance that he has served nobly and by his self-sacrifice saved many. THE MEMORY OF OUR 105 HEROIC DEAD SK.ÍLL REMAIN WITH US FOR EVER. CAPTAIN WILLIAM CHERNEY Cherney’s third son, William, has recently been promoted to a eftptain's rank. A high-school teacher in civilian life, age 31, he fights on the Japanese front. He has been wounded in action but fortunately recovered and is back on active duty. It is only fitting that we pay tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Cherney who have reared three s:ns all of whom have .distinguished themselves by their achievements and heroism. Their contribution to our nation is one of which we all are proud. Cherneys, too, are preud of their sons and we hope that this pride will sustain them in their sorrow for Joe and their anxiety for Paul. May thenprayers be granted and their two remaining sons return safely to effect the recovery of their mother whose sorrow we share with the deepest sympathy. SILVER STAR AWARDED TO VERHOVAYAN Report all important news items concerning cur soldiers. Do not hesitate to send newspaper clippings as they usually carry all the details. Branch managers are requested ta look for such news items and report them. But the families of soldiers who figure in the news are also requested to send their story to the manager of their branch, or directly to the editor of the Journal, if preferred.------------V--------—«■ Pfc. Richard J. Ternyey The OFFICE OF WAR INFORMATION reports the following: “The Silver Star was awarded to Pfc. Richard J. Ternyey, 604 Suisman Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., for gallantry in action. His official citation reads: “On June 3, 1944, in Italy, he was the lead scout of his company as it advanced up a thickly wooded hill, and he moved* forward aggressively through an area infested with enemy patrols and snipers. He was suddenly fired upon by an enemy machine pistol and was severely wounded by the bullets. His first thought was of his comrades, and, realizing that his company commander was following close behind him and would advance into the fire of the well camouflaged sniper, lie rallied his failing strength in an attempt to remove the danger. Although he was suffering from his painful wounds, he succeeded in lifting his rifle and firing at the enemy soldier. He wounded the sniper and removed that threat to the safety of his commanding officer and the remainder of his unit.” Pfc. Richard Ternyei is a member of Branch 12. of Pittsburgh, Pa. :'i * * Please help us complile the records of Verhovay heroism. JOSEPH GOULISH a member of Branch 88, Yatesboro, Pa. He was recently reported missing in action in the European theatre of war. ?TOHN KUSHNER is a member of Branch 478, Bobtown, Pa, and serves with tile Marine Ccrps at Camp Lijeune, N. C. — Your getting a little bald on top here. What do you think is causing it? — I’m not sure, but I imagine it’s because my hair is falling out.
