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Joining Hands To Touch Lives... . . . Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation
Official Publication of the SPJST, originally chartered as the Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas, in 1897
BENEVOLENCE
BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY
VOLUME 91 NUMBER 30
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SPJST Home Office, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 ISSN-07458800
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nsurin Enriching Lives
July 30, 2003
Family Fun and mportant SPJST Dates State Royalty/Youth Achievement Day, Mayborn Center, Temple Lodge 4, Hallettsville Family Day August 10 Lodge 84, Dallas Princess Ball August 16 August 24 Lodge 9, Snook Fireman's Barbecue August 27 No Vestnik Published Labor Day • SPJST Home Office Closed September 1 September 6 Beyersville Fund Raiser District Six Fall Meeting hosted by Lodge 8, Weimar September 7 September 7 Lodge 6, Cottonwood Hall Centennial September 7 Lodge 38, Kovar Appreciation Dinner September 12-13 District Six Barbecue Cookoff and Children's Activities at Lodge 40, El Campo-Hillje September 14 Lodge 9, Snook Grandparents Day September 14 District Seven Family Fun Day hosted by Lodge 202 Jourdanton at Jourdanton Community Center September 20 Lodge 92, Fort Worth Czech Heritage Day September 20 District Four Fall Meeting September 20 District Five Fall Meeting at Lodge 196, Houston•West September 21 Lodge 84, Dallas Czech Fest September 21 District Two Fall Meeting at. Lodge 29, Taylor September 27 Fall DYC Meeting, SPJST Home Office September 27 Fall FAC Meeting, SPJST Home Office September 28 Lodge 196, Houston-West Anniversary —SPJSTAugust 9
SPJST Supports Sokol On June 8, 2003, the American Southern Sokol Southern District Slet was held in Corpus Christi, Texas. In conjunction with the event, SPJST District Three Director Johnnie Krizan, third from left, presented a check for $1,500 to Southern District Sokol President Robert Podhrasky, second from right, The annuoi donation was authorized by delegates to the 2000 SPJST Convention. The Sokol movement was founded by Dr. Myroslav Tyrs in Prague in the year 1862 on the theory that a physically fit, mentally alert and culturally developed citizen is a necessity to form and maintain a free, strong and healthy nation. Participating in the presentation, from left, are American Sokol President Larry Laznovsky (135, Ennis), Vice President of Sokol Corpus Christi Jerry Sijansky (79, Corpus Christi), SPJST District Three Director Johnnie Krizan (6, Cottonwood), President of Sokol Corpus Christi W.L. Hermis (79, Corpus Christi), Evelyn Skopik, Southern District Sokol President Robert Podhrasky (130, Dallas) and Rhonda Liska (135, Ennis).
School boy grows up fast against South Pacific backdrop When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Richard Jenke was only 14 years old, but he was more than ready to play his part in the conflict. "This was the biggest shock our nation had had in a long time," remembers his wife, Irma. Richard clearly recalls the day after the bombing. "(It was) the first time I skipped school in my entire life . . . to try and join the Marines," he laughs. "Guys were there by the hundreds to enlist, and there I was, 14 years old. The guys said, 'Son, you go on home and grow up and come back to see us."' Determined to serve his country, Richard contrived a story to fool the Navy recruiters into thinking he was old enough to enlist. To his surprise,
This is Part Six in a series of articles about SPJST members who have served their country on the warfront and on the homefront. Whenever possile, the stories are in their own words, providing a first-hand account of their experiences.
the recruiters believed his tall tale, and by 1942, Richard was serving aboard a Navy submarine in the Pacific. Richard had a very important role aboard the diesel-powered submarine. "I served as the electrician," he explains. "It was a tough way to go. My job was to take care of the batteries, take care of the generators, motors, and anything else electrical." He had to clean off the carbon that would build up on the motors and generators so they would run smoothly. Two hundred and fifty-two battery cells weighing more than 1,500 pounds were also under Richard's care. "When I wasn't doing that, I was on propulsion," he adds. This meant that Richard had to monitor the transfer of power from the generators to the motors, an extremely important job. The electricity Richard helped generate kept the submarine cruising through the Pacific at about 10 miles per hour. "Modern day submarines are very fast. Much faster than that," he says. Richard traveled all over the Pacific as his submarine made regular patrols of the ocean. He was carried from
Australia to the contribution people on the homeIndonesia, New front made to the effort. His wife, Guinea, the Irma, worked in a weapons and ammuSolomon Islands, nition factory while Richard was away. and even north to He declares, "We wouldn't have won Korea. "We covthat war without people like my wife. ered quite a bit of They did it for us." the Pacific." Along the way, Brother Jenke is a life member of the "there were many Sea Wolf Chapter of the U.S. missions ... done Submarine Veterans of World War 11, by the submarine VFW Post 581, Submarine Veterans, Richard Jenke force." Richard Inc. and Veterans of Underage Military recalls, "The submarine's mission (was Service. "It was truly an honor to have not only) to seek and destroy the been a part of the greatest Navy the Japanese merchant marine and navy .. world has ever known," says Richard. . but also to supply the guerrillas in the Following his discharge from the U.S. Philippines." The crew was involved Navy, Brother Jenke embarked on a in rescue missions as well. career as an electronics wholesaler. Nonetheless, defeating Japan was at He retired from the business in 1996 the heart of all the submarine mis- and has since accepted a part-time sions. "We went after them wherever position with the Houston Traffic they went," Richard says. Court, providing assistance as a "goRichard spent 34 months in the between" lawyers and clients. Brother Pacific defending the U.S. against its Jenke has three sons, Jeff Clifford and enemies, and was overjoyed to return Mark and a daughter, Gina. Sons home. "There (were) times when many Clifford and Mark served aboard naval of us never thought we'd see this destroyers during the Persian Gulf war. country again," he says. "I learned He is also a proud granddad, having from my experience . . . to appreciate five grandchildren and one greatthe things we (have) and to appreciate grandchild. Richard and his wife, this country." Irma, live in Houston. Both are memRichard says he would serve again bers of Lodge 88, Houston. if he was needed, but also recognizes —SPJST-