William Penn Life, 1972 (7. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1972-07-01 / 3. szám

A Coal Miner Looks at Vietnam officers at their last meeting. Joseph Gross re-elected president; Joseph Demeter, vice­­president; John P. Vespremi, re-elected secretary-treasurer and Jolán Lucas, audi­tor. So everyone have a nice and enjoyable but safe Summer! See you at the Picnic in August and then the various activities next fall. To the members and friends go­ing to Hungary this Summer — have a nice time but come home safely! Elvira László 24 Chicago, 111. The Branch will hold a family style basket picnic, Sunday, August 19, 1972 in the Thornton Forest Preserve, Sweet Wood South in the usual spot, admission is free. Also I wish to inform our fellow members and friends that Branch 24 is planning a Dinner-Dance, Saturday, Sep­tember 30, 1972, 6:30 P.M., at Calvin Hall, 12380 Michigan Ave., Chicago, 111. Reservations for the Banquet will be ac­cepted. For further information and reservation please call Mrs. Charles Akai, RE 4-0017 or Mr. Joseph Revay, PU 5-7718. Meetings every second Saturday of each month. Please join us. Betty Akai, reporter 28 Youngstown, Ohio Our Branch 28, Youngstown, Ohio sent Jacque C. Palmer, Secretary and Treas­urer Anna Wash and Mr. and Mrs. John Bunchy, and delegates, to attend the 70th Anniversary Banquet, Branch 14, Cleve­land, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Steve Sándor also attended. On behalf of myself and our branch officers, and members, we extend our thanks to Branch 14 President Mr. Wil­liam Kaston and Mrs. Mary Karnya, Vice- President, who so cordially welcomed us. We enjoyed meeting and having the op­portunity talking to National Officers and Directors. As an honored guest Mrs. Anna Wash, attended William Penn Mixed Bowling League Banquet. Bowlers are encouraged and asked to participate in their Fall League. A get well, to Mrs. Irene Gionfiancises who had surgery recently and is recover­ing at home. Mrs. Margaret Bunchy, convalescing gradually to health and getting more strength after a period of illness. She is now attending Branch meetings and parti­cipating in Branch activities. Branch 28 meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month, at 7:30 P.M., at the St. Stephen’s Church Hall, on Wilson Ave. Members are enjoying a social, after the meetings. Branch members are en­couraged to attend these meetings. Would like to see some new faces. For further information, feel free to call secretary, phone number 755-4447. Anna Wash, reporter The following article appeared in the Valley News Dispatch, New Kensington, Pa. and because it is an article on a timely subject by an active member of Branch 296, Springdale, Pa. and because our roots were planted by coal miners 86 years ago we thought it interesting enough to publish in our official publication. Mr. Louis Antal is a lifelong member of the Association, he is President of Harmarville Local 4426 United Mine Workers of Amer­ica, he is Chairman of Miners for Democ­racy the coalition of reform minded union members in UMWA District i\o. 5. He is a member of the slate selecting commit­tee to run against the incumbent inter­national UMWA leaders on a court order­ed election. Interestingly enough, the article which we present herewith is a speech presented by Mr. Antal to the student body of West Virginia University, Morgantown. V. Wa. His assessment of the Vietnam situation so impressed the students that his speech was published in booklet form. This of course is the personal opinion of Mr. Antal and is to be read in that vein. AS A FORMER serviceman, who en­listed and fought in the infantry during World War II, I have many thoughts of my own about this so-called war. I fought in Europe — the difference was like night and day. It was a most honorable war in comparison to all the stories coming out of Vietnam. Certainly there were atrocities in that war, as in all wars. In war, man seems to become somewhat of an animal. But never to my knowledge has the United States been known to commit such inhu­manity against man as it has in Vietnam. The saddest part of it is that high of­ficers have been involved and have lied and tried to cover up these cruel and in­human practices. Mass slaughtering of civilians, babies, pregnant women, old men and young boys. THIS IS unforgivable! The Lt. Calley case is just one sad example. The excuse they usually give is that someone made a sudden move. For one reason or an­other, they all justify their inhuman acts on the grounds of “personal defense.” When Lt. Col. Herbert from Herminie, Pa., the most decorated hero of the Ko­rean war (and he rose from the ranks), tried to convince the top brass in the Army the war was wrong, they practically fore-249 Dayton, Ohio The Officers and Members extend to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Herchig, of Kettering, Ohio, congratulations and good wishes up­on having celebrated in the month of May, 1972 their 50th Golden wedding anniver­sary. The happy occasion was celebrated among the immediate family members and relatives. ed him into retirement. Prior to his resig­nation, they belittled and harassed him and his family. Just because he was big enough to admit the truth. As for decorations — once it was an honor to be recognized for valor and brav­ery over and above the call of duty. Now. from the generals down, they have made a mockery of awards. Today they award them in many cases for morale and pro­paganda purposes. They are giving awards for all the immorality and devastation caused by our war. I WAS ONCE PROUD because I was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in World War II. Today, it has little or no meaning whatever to me. I was also wounded five times. That means nothing. You look at all the “salad dressing” on the top brass, on any Army officer. You’ll always notice three, four, five, six rows of ribbons. How did they manage to get them? Ask any G.I. He’ll tell you. These atrocities I mentioned are sup­posedly committed because our troops contend they cannot distinguish a friend from a foe. This is believable And why not? After all, they are all people of that country; therefore, they all look WÉ’RE THE ONES who look different and certainly act different. What do we expect them to do? Hug and kiss us? For what? We have destroyed their land and torn apart the lives of the Vietnam­ese and their family culture It is sad that after the Vietnamese de­feated the French, after they threw off the colonial yoke of France, they became involved with the mightiest and richest nation oh earth. That is us! They have used the most ingenious methods to hold and stall us: bamboo slivers dipped in water buffalo dung to give our boys tetanus and cross-bows made from beer cans and bamboo are just two examples. If history is ever written accurately, just think of all the heroics on their part! As opposed to our troops — who have all the most sophisticated weapons of any war. I am not about to take away any­thing from our boys. But remember, the enemy must endure the same hardships nature bestows, whether it’s hot or cold, wet or dry. BUT GETTING BACK to distinguishing friend from foe. If we cannot distinguish one from the other, then I suggest we don’t know what we are doing. Then, if that is so, we should quit! Get out! It is ridiculous for us to continue a war that is so confusing and seemingly impossible to win. And if we should win, what would we win? We have already become notorious for losing the peace. When will we ever learn? Vietnam has drained all the best our country has had to offer. We are not

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