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

1945 / Verhovay Journal

Page 2

Verhovay Journal

LET TRUTH BE UNCONFINED

CHICAGO BRANCH 503

'“New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.” (John Locke.)

SGT. JOSEPH FIRTKO (Racine, Wisconsin) wrote us two letters, one in March and the other in April. “I am now somewhere in the Philippines. We are leapfrogging in the Pacific. I’m enclosing an article telling the accomplishments of our 41st Division—the SUNSET DIVISION. I’m sure it will interest you. If you look at the February 20th issue of LOOK magazine, you will find a more complete article about our outfit. The boys are finally receiving the praise and recognition they are justly deserving. I’ve participated in three major engagements. The last I am not yet at liberty to disclose. The other two were Salamua and Hollandia. You will find out from the article just what Salamua was, although we only spent 58 days while the infantry did the stretch of 76.” (Editors Note: Because of its interest, the article concerning this 41st division, extracted from the Portland Oregonian, is included in a separate article on this page.)

THE SERGEANT writes further, on April 18th: “After a short stay on Mondoro, our outfit participated in another invasion and have been in action for the fourth time. Had a rather tough deal this campaign... as I was also acting section chief on a gun. The fracas is over outside of a little mopping up still left.” We are glad to hear from you, Joe, and we hope that we shall soon see you... for we remember that you have been out there for several years and have earned sufficient points to return .. . we hope. Anyway, we’re expecting to see you soon!

* * *

PFC. JOHN S. HUZIANY, from inside Germany in Wieden (which is near the Bohemian border), wrote on May 6th to

say that great things were impending ... and we have had V-E day two days later. “A few days agio about 200 German soldiers gave up to one of our platoons. You should see them later—marching them in formation down the city street in a town near Bayreuth (Wagner’s home town). I’ve seen hundreds and hundreds of slave laborers. Many of them are Russians, Poles, Czeches and also Hungarians. A Hungarian civilian asked to see the military authorities so Nagy and I talked with him. The fellow said he attended a Budapest college. We didn’t talk with him very long as it is forbidden unless on official business. Another civilian (a Belgian woman with her husband and youngster) asked when she can see the military government. She spoke very good English. So I answered her and asked: ‘Are all these people with you Belgians’? She replied: 'No, they are Hungarians and they gave us a lift in their large carts’. That’s only half of it. This same Belgian woman also told me that she just came from Kőszeg, after a two years stay and now Kőszeg, she replied, ‘is left in ruins.’ Another story came from an English soldier captured in the Battle of Dunkirk ... yes, over 5 years he was a PW. He had Red Cross identifications, which he showed us, and said his girl friend had married to another soldier. He told us how the) Nazis fed the PW’s rotten potatoes, moldy bread and water ... sometimes just potato peelings. This English soldier lost all taste of food because the boys were going to give him a bacon sandwich and he refused, telling us his tastei of food was gone. Many people took a tremendous beating, especially the Russians, and now the Nazis will have to pay for it. The people we saw looked very tired, some unshaven for weeks, unfed and poorly clothed. Let us be thankful that there is a place

like the U.S.A___ One doesn’t

get much time to think. Why, for two weeks I didn’t know what

day it was ...” Thank you, Jack, for the interesting letter. Only you soldiers who have seen all those horrible cruelties will be able to impress on civilians back home that if an enduring peace is to be made there must be an accounting for the acts of atrocity perpetrated by the Nazis—and those peoples who have suffered cruel Nazi torture must see to it that the Nazis pay for their crimes.

* # *

In the last issue was an article concerning the welcoming dinner Branch 503 gave to the two veterans, Pfc. Bob Sanoshy and Paratrooper Pvt. Joseph S. Papp, Jr. A letter was received from Joe, thanking the Branch for arranging the affair. Let Joe’s letter speak for itself: “This letter is to express my feeling toward Branch 503 for making the party Sunday, May 6th. I enjoyed myself more in those few hours than the rest of the week. The check was worth more to me than the amount, for it showed the good friendship and feeling and that you folks were thinking of me. So I want to thank everybody who was at the party. The affair was greatly enjoyed and those hours of pleasure took away from our minds the horrors of war that we veterans have seen. Once again I thank you all from my heart.”

* * *

As this column was being sent away, another letter reached us from Pfc. John Huziany. This time it is from Deggendorf, Austria. “Yes... I came across many Hungarian 'soldiers (PW’s) but could n,ot talk with them, nor with the Hungarian civilians. It is forbidden to talk with any civilian unless it’s official business ... You have heard of V-E day by now; it was a happy day for us Joes over here... At Mainz we built the biggest, longest and highest fixed bridge— dedicated to the men of the 3rd Army... By the way, Deggendorf is on the Danube, or around it, and we live in a hotel. The weather here is just like the states in summertime. Why some of the boys are already swimming in the Danube ..

Friday, June 1, 1945.

THE SCRIBE OF KŐSZEG.

THE SUNSET DIVISION

(Article sent in by Sgt. Joseph Firtko, of Racine, Wisconsin)

This morning a tanker bearing a particularly proud name will go down the ways at the Swan Island Yard of the Kaiser Company. It will carry the name “SUNSET” in honor of the 41st Division—the Pacific Northwest’s ‘own’.

So far as the 41st is concerned, it would be doing an injustice to obscure the record with adjectives and explanations and superlatives. The record standing alone is so startling, that we can ask no more than that the home people should be thoroughly acquainted With it.

The factual statement, as given by Herman Edwards, military editor of the Oregonian, is as follows:

“'The 41st Infantry Division was inducted into federal service September 16, 1940, at Fort Lewis, Washington,—one of the first four national guard divisions called to the colors under the war emergency, there being eighteen national guard divisions in all. It was composed of men from

Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, with Oregon providing the greatest number. Later 40 per cent of the triangulated division came from selective service, representing every state.

“Units of the 41st sailed from New York on March 3, 1942, and San Francisco March 19. The entire division was in Australia by May 13.

“The 41st was the first division to go overseas after our entrance into the war. It was the first to arrive in the Southwest Pacific. It has served overseas longer than any other division. It was the first division trained for jungle warfare. It has killed more Japs than any ether division in the Pacific, at least up until the present campaigns. It has captured the greatest number of Jap prisoners. (In the February, 1945. issue of LOOK magazine these figures are set at 18 thousand Japs buried and 2 thousand Japs taken prisoner.) It leads all other Pacific army outfits in the number of individual decorations, and it holds the presidential unit citation.

“Elements of the 41st were in the foxholes at Salamaua on New Guinea for seventy six straight days, believed to be a record for this war on any front.”

A fair number of the men of the Division are home on furlough or rotation and to each and every one of them, here or still abroad, the home folks pay tribute as the Sunset goes down to the sea. They have made as great a record as there is in the war.

(This article was extracted from the Pvrthland “Oregonian”.)------------V-----------On little Rosa’s first day in school she was assigned a temporary seat, and at the end of the day she went home dissatisfied.

“Well, how do you like your new teacher?” asked Mother. “Don’t like her a bit,” answered Rosa. “She told me to sit on the front seat for the present, and she never give me any present.”

* * *

“What’s the big idea wearing my raincoat?”

“It’s raining. You wouldn’t want your suit to get wet, would you?”

June 27, 1945

SEARCHING FOR L1QHT

My soul, black as night,

Sought to find the light.

But it sought in vain.

For the world was dark;

Greed had found its mark,

And filled the earth with pain.

Midst all this utter desolation My soul could find no resurrection,

And without light stumbled on.

Oh, where is the peaceful rest God promised for His blest?

Where is the welcomed dawn?

As thought in answer to my plea,

The heavens opened; I could see The light my soul long sought.

It had forgotten God’s love;

Had failed to seek light above.

Alone myr, soul had fought.

Now within this holy peace My soul its search has ceased.

Ended is the weary fight.

No more struggle; no more tears;

Gone are all my fears;

My soul has found the light!

MARGARET C. BARA

VERH0VAYAN HANDLES

NERVOUS CASES

Sgt. Joseph Stromeyer, Jr.

Sgt. Stromeyer is a great asset to Branch 383, Buffalo, N. Y. _ A quiet sort of man, but a good sport, a courageous soldier, a real personality whose patience and understanding have won the admiration of his superiors as shown by the letter of his commanding officer in Germany, Major James McLaughlin, addressed to the Sergeant’s mother, Mrs. Joseph Strohmeyer of 113 Miller Street, North Tonawanda, N. Y.:

“Somewhere in Germany April 5, 1945.

My dear Mrs. Stromeyer:

This short note represents an attempt to convey something of the respect and appreciation held for your son by those who work with him in this company.

He is one of those quietly working individuals whose unfailing excellence of performance determines the calibre of an organization. We recognize this, but realize also that the reticence normal to such a person might prevent your understanding fully the worth of his efforts.

In the work to which we are committed now, neuropsychiatry, he has done especially well as wardmaster, exhibiting considerable tact and understanding in the handling of exhaustion cases, a type of patient not always easily manageable.

It is a pleasure to have him in my command. Sincerely

Major James T. McLaughlin, 682nd Medical Clerk’s Co.”

Sgt. Stromeyer attended the North Tonawanda Highschool, was known as an excellent baseball player. He has been in the army for three years and saw action in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany.

We are sure that he deserves the praises of his commanding officer who writes in such glowing terms about the excellency of his work. Handling nervous cases is one of the most nerve-straining duties and it takes a great deal of mental resistance to successfully persist in performing such a task. Yet, there are so many “exhaustion cases” of nervous collapse,, that men who can successfully handle such patients render a service of inestimable value to their stricken comrades as well as to their country. Recovery depends very much on the type of treatment these patients recive from their attendants. Major Me Laughlin in his letter pays tribute to a man who is giving his best to men whose recovery he has helped by his exceptional capacity for patience, tact and understanding.----------------v---------------Judge—Guilty or not guilty?

Mose—Not guilty.

Judge—Have you ever been in jail before?

Mose—No suh, I never stole nothing before.

* * *

“’What is meant by the three R’s?”

“The three R’s run all through life. At 25 it’s romance, at 45 it’s tent, and at 65 it’s rheumatism.”

“Hey mister: Your engine’s smoking.”

“Well it’s old enough.”