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Joining Hands To Touch Lives... . . . Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation
ansurinp Official Publication of the SPJST, originally chartered as the Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas, in 1897
BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
C7 Enriching Lives
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SPJST Home Office, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503
VOLUME 90 NUMBER 43
November 6, 2002
ISSN-07458800
A Proud Salute to Our Veterans On Veterans Day, November 11, SPJST remembers those who served with honor and courage in our armed forces, risking so much to preserve our nation's high ideals and hopes for the future. Starting with this week's cover story, the Vestnik will be presenting
SPJST Veterans
stories from our veterans, telling what their lives were like during their years in the service. Whenever possible, the stories are in their own words, providing a first-hand glimpse of life through the eyes of the citizen soldier.
Remember...
My guardian angel rode "shotgun" by Dan Pavlas Lodge 81, Needville I used to not talk about it much — about my time in the service. It's only after I got older and look back at those days that it really hits me. Those were some pretty rough times when I could have been killed. At a young age of 21 years, I was inducted into the Army on February 2, 1952. After boarding a train in Houston, we headed for Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. After three days processing, I wound up at Fort Bliss in El Paso to begin my basic and advanced basic training. After spending four months in Fort Bliss, I was given a two-week furlough with orders to report to San Francisco, California. Arriving there, we boarded USS Mann and sailed for Pusan, Korea. There, we boarded a train for Seoul Korea.
From there, we were trucked to all different military units. Seven soldiers and me were assigned to 25th Infantry Division, 21AAA Headquarters Battery. My duties were radio operator for a while and then Jeep driver for Major Tedwinkle. Headquarters Battery was in War Zone Three. However, driving the major to all four batteries was a daily procedure. Able, Baker, Charlie, and Dog batteries were on the front line, and Major Tedwinkle inspected these units almost daily.
No One is Expendable My war experience happened on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1952. It was about 11 p.m. Me and a buddy, Anthony Recekia, were sitting on a hillside, singing, and drinking Canadian Club, when Major Tedwinkle came up to me and gave me an order to go (Continued on page three.)
A
Quiet Day on the 38th Parallel
A young Dan Pavlas, radio operator, stands beside an armored
half-track vehicle in Korea's Punchbowl. Located near the infamous 38th Parallel that divided North and South Korea, the Punchbowl was the an ancient volcanic crater surrounded by hills 20 miles northeast of the Hwach'on Reservoir and the scene of considerable fighting and heavy casualties during the Korean War. Corporal Pavlas, who earned two bronze stars, was discharged in 1953.