Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)

1945 / Verhovay Journal

January 10, 1945

THE FERRET SEZ

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Mrs. Jolán Lucas

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“Buying your lunch in the school cafeteria is like a blind date—you never kJtow what you’ll get sez my nearly 13 year old Skipper.

So it goes with planning our Tenth Anniversary Jubilee—we don’t know what it’ll be like

Greetings from branches, business places, individuals are all in ^ if, every branch were as fortunate in the gcod wishes which have come our way, the idea cf FRATERNALISM has a' chance to survive the indifference which it has to buck every step of the way.

The important thing to remember in selling FRATERNALISM is that you have to believe in it yourself. I’ve always maintained that FAITH in an emotion, product, or individual is about 95% of the battle. It’s amazing what a few kind words to your branch members and officers will do in the way of co-operation. Sell them the idea of working towards one goal, of setting an, example for other branches to follow. But sell them first the idea of working TOGETHER, not against each other.

In a recent issue of the Journal, Rev. Rettman( our editor, pointed oQt how much ptaise we have for these who are always ready to work with us, but complain bitterly about members who hamper our efforts by their continual bickering. He goes on to say that since we cannot change the bickerer, it is much wiser to use a bit of common-sense and try to deal with him—find out what makes him nag all the time, and at least LISTEN to his sobstory. Ye Ed sums it up neatly with this remark, '“Once he sees that he’s not to fight for a hearing, the wind is taken out of his sails and he becomes quite an agreeable fellow.”

All quite true, and since I consider myself a “true fraternalist”, more often than not I need the bickerer to “pull up the brakes on the motor of love and fervor” which I put into my fraternal work. The tougher members make it to co-operate, the harder we need to fight to gain our goal. Sometimes we get carried away in. our dream, of doing big things in the way of social activities in our branch— we see it plainly, the success it will be, how easy it will be to attain that which we seek. Along comes Friend Nagger, who sez it won't work—you can’t get your favorite speaker; the little unusual shindig you planned is’nt going to come off; someone else lets you down for various reasons —and about the time you think to yourself that maybe it won’t work, after all, a pleasant surprise comes along in the form of a nice letter, or the unexpectedness of Friend Nagger asking what he can do to help! A pleasant glow cf happiness steals over you, and you think to yourself, ‘ Gee, kid, don’t ever let your self get that low again, . . . people are very nice, after all. Remember that when things look darkest, the rainbow of Hope is not far behind.” So you pitch in and work twice as hard, knowing that those few members who believe in you are working just as hard. We have to remember that we can’t force anyone to do what we want, but if we can make the idea appealing enuf, it

THE HOMESTEAD MERRY-GO-ROUND

BRANCH 430

Verhovay Journal _

Pa^e 5

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Corp. William C. Kohut

will be only natural that others will want to do the same thing.

Getting ready for our Jubilee has shown the finest example of Fraternalism any branch manager would desire. Members who never showed up at meetings are on committees. Active members became more active, and the disinterested persons are the most enthused. One also finds out which branches and individuals are willing to co-operate and lend a helping hand to a smaller brother. It gives me goose-bumps of happiness reading some of the letters which have been received from swell Verhovay members and leaders, and next issue will gather them all together and give you excerpts from them. Never let it be said that our older branches and members are trying to keep the Second Generation Branches from getting ahead. —• They do : their best in inspiring and co-operating and giving sound ideas—but, what I wity tell you is that I’m surprised at the lack of interest shown by some of our English Branches.

For Pete’s sake, youngsters, get wise to yourselves! Eventually, the war will be over—those boys and girls will be coming home and will want an interest in social life. Have you anything prepared for them? Or do you think you’ll be able to toss something together at: thé lást minute? Well, don’t fool yourselves, those kids fresh from thsf horrors of' war will be acutely sensitive, and will be able to feel if'ycfUr branch ’has stuck together. They will be able to sense cool - récéptiVeness and tepid attempts to make them I welcome. What they will be looking for is; a boisterous welcome,, something solid to sink their teeth 1 into, so they can forget what they have been through.

Sure I know it’ll be the same old thing we’ve been doing right along, but why can’t that “same old thing” be so appealing that i it’s a sure cure for boredom and nerves? They’ll want to know that you haven’t forgotten the birthday of the branch, that you’ve kept a place for them on | the bowling team, that there are such things as parties and boat cruises and picnics. If you’ve got a nice, smooth organization ' rolling, the kids will fit right in without feeling that you are making a mighty effort to rehabilitate them — they don’t need rehabilitation which will 1 cause you an effort to produce —

1 they need rehabilitation which is so natural that it fits without ’ conscious effort. So take a tip ’ from experience, sell FRATERNALISM and be happier than you’ve even been in your life ’ before.

Well, branch members and ■ friends everywhere . . . before ; another issue comes out, our . Tenth Anniversary Jubilee will : be one of those pleasant affairs s t,> be tucked away in'' cellophane i and bright ribbon into the re1- • cesses of our hearts. We will have ) learned a lot, we will have under t stood a lot more. We will be in a r position to make the next Jubilee -) affair that much more successful, i because practice makes perfect, t in all manner of things. The

cember 27th, Pfc. Sabo along with Mrs. Sabo and Nancy, boarded a train for Edenton, North Carolina, happy in the thought that they had visited with their parents, relatives and dear friends especially at the Christmas Season, and had also renewed many dear friendship at Verhovay and elsewhere.

Pvt. Jimmy Vajda of the U. S Air Corps, stationed at Truax Field, Wisconsin, journeyed home on Saturday December 29th arriving in Homestead Sunday morning. He spent the day with his family on McClure St. Munhall, Pa. I believe Jim’s only complaint was that the three day pass had to be split into three parts, with two parts going for travelling, and one part, or one day for being with the folks at home. He left for Truax Field on Monday morning expecting to arrive there around midnight of the same day.

Pvt. • Eddie Kepes of Sq. Hill is with the Medical Department of the U. S. Army, and as such has experienced many unforgettable events. As I understand the set-up, Pvt. Eddie is stationed in California and occasionally leaves aboard a hospital beat for such places as Saipan, Tinian, Peleliu, etc. He is quite skilled in caring for the sick and wounded and my hat?s o£l; to hinland to those of his kind. The Medics in my estimation do not receive the credit that they reserve........................

The Kurucz boys of Smith Lane, Munhall are located in various parts of this country and the world. Mike is with Gen’l Patton and the 7th Army, and Is attached to a tank outfit; his brother Rudy, a member of the Signal Corps, is now out in California awaiting shipment, While his brother Eddie, an eighteen year youngster, is somewhere in the South supposedly destined for overseas service.

Coz Captain Wm. Suto and wife and daughter blew into town on Sunday, December 24th, after a thrilling auto ride from George Field, Illinois. His leave, a seven day affair, was spent with hit | parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Suto of West 12th Avenue, Home ; stead.

A card came in from a good ' friend, Pfc. Lou Pastor, who is i now stationed at Fort Lewis Washington. He is training as a member of a medical group and is attached to a general hospital. Lou is another of our local lads who chose the medical field in the Army, and it is | truly a noble one.

Erny Ladany, Coxswain, is with an LCI somewhere in the Pacific area, and during the holidays greeted me with a Xmas Card I trust he is well and that before too long he will once more return home to h^ family and friends.

Coxswain Edward A. Kovach I

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of Youngstown, Ohio, came home from the Pacific area and was granted thirty days leave the early part of November. He | visited in Homestead for several j days. He is now back at a 1 Naval Training Station, Camp | Endicott, Rhode Island.

HOMESTEAD CHATTER:

A son, their first chlldj was born Saturday, December 30th, in Homestead Hospital to Cph and Mrs. Sumner Marshall of 113 Lawrence Avenue, Munhall. Pennsylvania. Mrs Maishall is the former Gloria Thom):a. Her husband, Cpl. Sumner, is with the Air Corps in far-away mysterious India. Our heartiest congratulations to the young mother and Cpl. Marshall, the happy father, upon their precious acquisition.

Young Elmer Borovich, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Borovich, of Hazel-Glen Hgts., visited at his sister’s home, Mrs. Catherine DeBossy’s, in Brooklyn, New York, during the holidays. ^ bet seventeen year old Snooky was all agog when Mr. and Mrs. De Bossy showed him around New York. It’s a great city.

It has not been my practice to include humorous items in my column, but I’ve come across some that I’ve just get to pass onto you. They’re really good and I hope you get a “kick” out of them, too.

WHATSA DIFFERET CE

“Rastus brought his marriage license back to the Bureau and asked to have the name of his intended bride changed. Pie was told it would cost a dollar to make the change.

“Never mind, Boss”, winked Rastus, “there ain't a dollah’s wirth of difference between dem twb gals.”

BREAD AND DOUGH

“I wish you could make the bread 'your mother used' t/»4 make,” said Hubby.

"I wish you could re. te' the dough your father used to make,” replied his wife.

THE NEW WOMAN

“For centuries it has been the cu tom in Arabia for the man to ride the family donkey while the woman, carrying the household goods, walked behind. Now the woman is emancipated. She walks in front as there may be land mines.

WHEN SHE WANTS.

“My wife can be an angel whew she wants to be.”

“Mine too—anytime new.”

CORRECTION!

In the December 27, 1944 issue of the Journal, in “The Ferret Sez . . column, it stated that the Tenth A'joniversary Jubilee of Branch 429 will be held Sunday, January 20, 1945. The day is SATURDAY, not Sunday. Hope to see many' oul-of-towners at the banquet.

TO THE CONTRIBUTORS

The next issue of the Journal will be published on Wednesday, January 31. Contributions for that issue should be in not later than January 24, Wednesday.

Contributions should be typewritten, on cne side of the paper on’y, double-spaced, and J not exceed 1200 words, or 6,000 letters. Address contributions to VERHOVAY 3ÖUR'XAL, ENGLISH SECTION, 345 Fourth Ave., Pittsburgh 22, Pa.

I was pleasantly surprised recently when I received the news that an old friend of mine and a former Verhovay contributor, Arpad Chontos arrived home for i a twenty-one day furlough. T/Sgt. Chontos departed from India on August 4th and arrived in the States on November 15th, arriving at his home in Terrace shortly before Christmas. He was stationed in Upper Assam, India, as* a member of the U. S. Army for over two years and this trip home was his first in three years time.

In the Army or the Air Corps or most any branch of the Service, events take place at breath-taking spead, and it isn’t easy to keep up with the travels of many of our good friends. A typical case is our good friend and member, Corporal Johnny Katrincsak, of West Homestead who one week was near the Great White Way, Broadway, and the next week was intently studying the varied nationalities to be found in San Francisco, and today he is in New Guinea as a gunner and radio operator aboard a . fortress, Within a period of ten days Johnny found himself whisked from one end of the country to the other and then to the Pacific theater of operations and New Guinea. It was as though he were aboard a magic carpet,

Bad "news 'comes' in from the European theater of operations concerning members of the Timko family. The ex-policeman, goodnatured Andy Timko who was truly a friend to all, now finds himself in a hospital in England recuperating from injuries suffered in heavy lighting in Germany with the United States Army. He has been hospitalized for the past two and one half months. His brother, Bill, located in the Italian section, has^begn wounded for the fourth time gnd in a recent letter states that his fighting days are over. He is hospitalized somewhere in Italy and upon recovery will probably be brought to the States.

During the Christmas Holidays, our Supreme Officers were able to join as one family inasmuch as Supreme Auditor, Pfc. John Sabo, U. S. Marines, arrived home on a ten day leave. Pfc. Sabo spent a complete day at the Home Office shortly after he arrived in town, and he really enjoyed being with his Verhovay brethren. This is easy to understand inasmuch as Friend John eats, sleeps and reads nothing but Verhovay.

The good wife and yours truly met with Pfc. John and Mrs. Sabo during their visit to the Pittsburgh Area. Needless to say, I have not seen Friend John in better health and spirits. And his enthusiasm about Verhovay is truly bubbling over, and its extremely contagious—which is excellent.

On Wednesday morning, Debest of luck to you 429-ers, from the Verhovay membership throughout the country. By the time your 35th Jubilee rolls off, it will be as smooth as velvet and we can laugh at any mistakes we may rqgks in the meantime.