A Brief History of John Krol Post 6773 and John Krol and his Comrades
(This article by Carl Blakeslee appeared in the October 19, 1972, issue of the Union City Times)
John Krol Post
Named in 1945
By Carl Blakeslee
Service Commander
John Krol Post 6773
The V.F.W. was started immediately after the Spanish American War, which was in 1898. At first, there were three different organizations formed, men who fought in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippine Islands.
After a short time the three organizations were consolidated into one organization and became known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Post I was formed in Denver, Colorado.
Soon after this formation, a department was organized in Pennsylvania. Robert Woodside was the first department commander of Pennsylvania. Their membership was quite limited until after WWI and then many new posts were formed.
But still the membership was not so extensive but what the annual convention could be held in such places as Erie, Scranton, Pittsburgh and many other towns of this size.
After WWII, the VFW gained its greatest strength – many new posts were activated. Raymond Calfisch and his brother, with the aid of Alfred Chesley, Robert Jones and others secured enough names on a charter being 55 in all. These early meetings were held upstairs over the Ritz Restaurant.
It was difficult to pick a name for the post, which was traditionally named for the first hometown man killed in action in the most recent war. There was an uncertainty of death dates. Reed Liley was undoubtedly the first death because he died onboard ship on December 7, 1941, but was not confirmed until six months after the close of the war.
On July 12, 1944, many boys from Union City were killed in the St. Lo, France, drive. Maxwell Hites, Alex Gvatasky, Donald Lord, David Smith, all of Company A, 112th Infantry, and John Krol and Russell Davis. All of these names were all placed in a hat and the name of John Krol was drawn, thus giving the name to the newly activated post, which was march 22, 1946, Post 6773.
Chester Zerbe, who was State Commander at this time, installed the new officers: Robert Toner, Commander; Alfred Chesley, Senior Vice Commander; and Raymond Caflisch, Junior Vice Commander. These men became commanders in turn.
Now it was important that they have large club rooms, and a place for entertainment. They bought the bowling alleys which were located on the second floor of the Clayton Block. This building was owned by Ralph Mineo. The VFW also rented the third floor and proceeded to sell the bowling alleys and to consolidate their activities to the second and third floors.
In April, 1960, when it was found that the property at 23 East High Street was for sale, the lot was purchased and a home built by VFW members.
These obituaries appeared in various issues of the Union City Times.
Alex Gvatasky
S.Sgt. Alexander Gvatsky, 26, of Union City, died in an English hospital on August 13, 1944, of wounds suffered in the battle for France.
Before he enlisted, S/Sgt. Gvatsky graduated from Union City High School and was employed at the Standard Chair Company. He enlisted in the National Guard at Corry on February 14, 1941. In September 1943, he landed in England where he was briefed for active campaign service. It was during the invasion of France that he was seriously wounded and returned to England for hospitalization.
The United States Government shipped the bodies of T/5 David Smith, Sgt. Max Hites, and S/Sgt. Gvatsky home to Union City in November 1948. Reverend Perry Haines of the Methodist Church officiated at his funeral service and he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Maxwell Hites
Sgt. Max Hites, 24, of Union City, was killed in action on August 9, 1944, during the battle for France.
He attended Union City High School and was employed at the York and Foster Company, Inc. at the time of his enlistment in Company A at Corry on February 17, 1941. He received his early training at Indiantown Gap, Pa., Camp Buergard, N.C. and Camp Pickett, Va. He landed overseas in October 1943 and was serving with the infantry when he was killed.
Sgt. Hites was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
John Krohl
A War Department telegram delivered to the Krol home, R.D. 1, Union City, informed Mr. and Mrs. Krol that their son, Sgt. John Krol, had been killed in action in France on June 12, 1944.
Sgt. Krol, 32, enlisted in the service in March 1941, and received his early training at Camp Gordon and Camp Wheeler in Georgia and was later transferred to Fort Dix. Following extensive training at that camp, he was moved to Ft. Jackson, S.C. for maneuvers.
Following his briefing at Jackson, he was shipped to Florida and assigned to a unit ready to be shipped overseas. He landed in England in December 1943 and was with the invading forces that entered France.
Mr. and Mrs. Krol had two other sons with the U.S. forces. First Sgt. Frank Krol was stationed in Iran and Pvt. Stanley Krol was at Camp Phillips in Kansas.
On Monday, July 24, 1944, a requiem funeral mass in memory of Sgt, Krol was solemnized by Father Lawrence H. Trembly at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church.
Sgt. Krol was the first member of St. Teresa’s Parish to be killed in action. Members of the American Legion LeBaron Post and servicemen made up the guard of honor. Members of the Mom’s Club attended the service in a group.
On Thursday, May 20, 1948, the body of Sgt. Krol came home to Union City on the morning Pennsylvania Railroad train from Schenectady, New York. Details from the John Krol Post Veterans of Foreign Wars and the LeBaron Post American Legion escorted the casket from the railroad station to the H.L. Musser Funeral Home.
Later, the casket was moved to the Krol home where friends called. Sunday evening the rosary was recited and on Monday morning, Father Lawrence Trembly officiated at a funeral mass at St. Teresa’s. Sgt. Krol was buried in St. Teresa’s Cemetery.
Donald Lord
The body of S/Sgt. Donald Lord, 30, arrived in Union City on October 27, 1948, from the Government Distribution Depot at Schenectady, New York. A military guard from the V.F.W. and American Legion met the train and escorted Sgt. Lord to the Glenn Funeral Home.
S/Sgt. Lord enlisted in Company A in Corry in 1940, and later transferred to Co. L., 28th Division, 112 Regiment. In February 1941, he was shipped overseas and served in England and France from October 1943 to August 1944. He was killed in action on August 10, 1944.
Reverend Perry Haines of the Methodist Church officiated. Sgt. Lord was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
David Smith
T/5 David Smith, 23, died in an army base hospital in Belgium on September 9, 1944, of wounds received in action. He was a graduate of Union City High School and before he enlisted worked as a clerk in downtown grocery stores.
He enlisted in Company A at Corry on July 17, 1940, and received his early training at Indiantown Gap, Pa. Later, he transferred to Fort Bragg, N.C., and then to Camp Livingston, LA. Following his specialized training there, he was sent to Florida and later to Army radio school in Kansas. In November 1943, he was shipped to England and was with the U.S. forces invading Belgium when he was wounded.
In November 194, T/5 Smith’s body arrived in Union City with two comrades, alsom from Union City. A military escort accompanied the bodies from the U.S. Government Distribution Depot at Schenectady, New York.
Reverend H.B. Burkett of the Free Methodist Church officiated at his funeral services. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
John Krol Post
Named in 1945
By Carl Blakeslee
Service Commander
John Krol Post 6773
The V.F.W. was started immediately after the Spanish American War, which was in 1898. At first, there were three different organizations formed, men who fought in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippine Islands.
After a short time the three organizations were consolidated into one organization and became known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Post I was formed in Denver, Colorado.
Soon after this formation, a department was organized in Pennsylvania. Robert Woodside was the first department commander of Pennsylvania. Their membership was quite limited until after WWI and then many new posts were formed.
But still the membership was not so extensive but what the annual convention could be held in such places as Erie, Scranton, Pittsburgh and many other towns of this size.
After WWII, the VFW gained its greatest strength – many new posts were activated. Raymond Calfisch and his brother, with the aid of Alfred Chesley, Robert Jones and others secured enough names on a charter being 55 in all. These early meetings were held upstairs over the Ritz Restaurant.
It was difficult to pick a name for the post, which was traditionally named for the first hometown man killed in action in the most recent war. There was an uncertainty of death dates. Reed Liley was undoubtedly the first death because he died onboard ship on December 7, 1941, but was not confirmed until six months after the close of the war.
On July 12, 1944, many boys from Union City were killed in the St. Lo, France, drive. Maxwell Hites, Alex Gvatasky, Donald Lord, David Smith, all of Company A, 112th Infantry, and John Krol and Russell Davis. All of these names were all placed in a hat and the name of John Krol was drawn, thus giving the name to the newly activated post, which was march 22, 1946, Post 6773.
Chester Zerbe, who was State Commander at this time, installed the new officers: Robert Toner, Commander; Alfred Chesley, Senior Vice Commander; and Raymond Caflisch, Junior Vice Commander. These men became commanders in turn.
Now it was important that they have large club rooms, and a place for entertainment. They bought the bowling alleys which were located on the second floor of the Clayton Block. This building was owned by Ralph Mineo. The VFW also rented the third floor and proceeded to sell the bowling alleys and to consolidate their activities to the second and third floors.
In April, 1960, when it was found that the property at 23 East High Street was for sale, the lot was purchased and a home built by VFW members.
These obituaries appeared in various issues of the Union City Times.
Alex Gvatasky
S.Sgt. Alexander Gvatsky, 26, of Union City, died in an English hospital on August 13, 1944, of wounds suffered in the battle for France.
Before he enlisted, S/Sgt. Gvatsky graduated from Union City High School and was employed at the Standard Chair Company. He enlisted in the National Guard at Corry on February 14, 1941. In September 1943, he landed in England where he was briefed for active campaign service. It was during the invasion of France that he was seriously wounded and returned to England for hospitalization.
The United States Government shipped the bodies of T/5 David Smith, Sgt. Max Hites, and S/Sgt. Gvatsky home to Union City in November 1948. Reverend Perry Haines of the Methodist Church officiated at his funeral service and he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Maxwell Hites
Sgt. Max Hites, 24, of Union City, was killed in action on August 9, 1944, during the battle for France.
He attended Union City High School and was employed at the York and Foster Company, Inc. at the time of his enlistment in Company A at Corry on February 17, 1941. He received his early training at Indiantown Gap, Pa., Camp Buergard, N.C. and Camp Pickett, Va. He landed overseas in October 1943 and was serving with the infantry when he was killed.
Sgt. Hites was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
John Krohl
A War Department telegram delivered to the Krol home, R.D. 1, Union City, informed Mr. and Mrs. Krol that their son, Sgt. John Krol, had been killed in action in France on June 12, 1944.
Sgt. Krol, 32, enlisted in the service in March 1941, and received his early training at Camp Gordon and Camp Wheeler in Georgia and was later transferred to Fort Dix. Following extensive training at that camp, he was moved to Ft. Jackson, S.C. for maneuvers.
Following his briefing at Jackson, he was shipped to Florida and assigned to a unit ready to be shipped overseas. He landed in England in December 1943 and was with the invading forces that entered France.
Mr. and Mrs. Krol had two other sons with the U.S. forces. First Sgt. Frank Krol was stationed in Iran and Pvt. Stanley Krol was at Camp Phillips in Kansas.
On Monday, July 24, 1944, a requiem funeral mass in memory of Sgt, Krol was solemnized by Father Lawrence H. Trembly at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church.
Sgt. Krol was the first member of St. Teresa’s Parish to be killed in action. Members of the American Legion LeBaron Post and servicemen made up the guard of honor. Members of the Mom’s Club attended the service in a group.
On Thursday, May 20, 1948, the body of Sgt. Krol came home to Union City on the morning Pennsylvania Railroad train from Schenectady, New York. Details from the John Krol Post Veterans of Foreign Wars and the LeBaron Post American Legion escorted the casket from the railroad station to the H.L. Musser Funeral Home.
Later, the casket was moved to the Krol home where friends called. Sunday evening the rosary was recited and on Monday morning, Father Lawrence Trembly officiated at a funeral mass at St. Teresa’s. Sgt. Krol was buried in St. Teresa’s Cemetery.
Donald Lord
The body of S/Sgt. Donald Lord, 30, arrived in Union City on October 27, 1948, from the Government Distribution Depot at Schenectady, New York. A military guard from the V.F.W. and American Legion met the train and escorted Sgt. Lord to the Glenn Funeral Home.
S/Sgt. Lord enlisted in Company A in Corry in 1940, and later transferred to Co. L., 28th Division, 112 Regiment. In February 1941, he was shipped overseas and served in England and France from October 1943 to August 1944. He was killed in action on August 10, 1944.
Reverend Perry Haines of the Methodist Church officiated. Sgt. Lord was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
David Smith
T/5 David Smith, 23, died in an army base hospital in Belgium on September 9, 1944, of wounds received in action. He was a graduate of Union City High School and before he enlisted worked as a clerk in downtown grocery stores.
He enlisted in Company A at Corry on July 17, 1940, and received his early training at Indiantown Gap, Pa. Later, he transferred to Fort Bragg, N.C., and then to Camp Livingston, LA. Following his specialized training there, he was sent to Florida and later to Army radio school in Kansas. In November 1943, he was shipped to England and was with the U.S. forces invading Belgium when he was wounded.
In November 194, T/5 Smith’s body arrived in Union City with two comrades, alsom from Union City. A military escort accompanied the bodies from the U.S. Government Distribution Depot at Schenectady, New York.
Reverend H.B. Burkett of the Free Methodist Church officiated at his funeral services. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.