|
 This
past Sunday marked the sixth year the Roseau County Historical
Society has broadcasted Pioneer stories of Roseau County on KJ
102. This month’s series will be devoted to veteran’s stories. The
article Irene Olson gave this past week was from Roseau County
Veterans Book of Honor compiled by the Veterans Memorial Park
Committee.
Joseph Praska was a native of the Badger community and was born
April 11, 1925, at Park River, ND. He was a graduate of Badger
High School and entered the service April 21, 1944.
The Roseau Times-Region on June 24, 1945 reported:
PFC Praska Killed
A short time ago Emil Svir of Badger received the news that his
nephew, PFC Joe Praska, was missing in action in the battle of
Luzon, Philippines. Monday of last week a telegram from the war
department gave the information that Pfc. Praska had been killed
May 13. Pvt. Praska’s parents are dead.
An obituary from the Badger Enterprise stated:
Memorial services will be held Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock from
the Catholic Church, for Pfc. Joseph R. Praska who was killed on
Luzon May 13. Father L.A. McMahan will attend the body and take
part in the services.
Pfc. Praska was born April 11, 1925 and attended the local school
here. He entered the Army April 21, 1944. He was preceded in death
by his parents and one sister. Survivors are one sister of North
Carolina and 3 brothers in the service-Alfred in Utah, Albert,
somewhere overseas, and Stephen in the Navy. Pfc. Praska was the
third local boy to make the supreme sacrifice in the defense of
his country.
Luzon was scheduled as one of the last islands in the Philippine
chain to be taken by the Allies before the invasion of Japan
itself. It became the largest U.S. land campaign of the Pacific
war. Some 68,000 American GI’s clambered ashore on the beaches.
Any cities had to be taken in hand-to-hand, house-to-house combat.
The Japanese had 250,000 men on the island with instructions to
fight to the death. The campaign lasted six months, from Jan. 9,
1945 until July 5. Jungle fighting continued until the end of the
war in August. It was estimated that at the end of the war about
50,000 Japanese troops were still alive. Many took to the jungles
and remained there for years.
Joe’s last address was Badger, MN. He was believed to have died as
a result of an enemy flamethrower attack. His body was returned to
the Badger community for reburial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Badger,
in Feb 1945 , Badger VFW furnished the military rites of honor.
*Information from Loren Johnson, St. Louis Park, MN
As was mentioned last week the Veteran’s history project is off
and running. Each day the museum sees incoming forms and
photographs. We would like to encourage all county individuals to
help us with this ongoing Veteran history project. If you have
family members that have moved away who should participate please
send us their name and address and we will be sure they get a
form. To request forms, write or call the museum: Roseau County
Museum, 307 Third Ave. NW Roseau MN 56751, ph. 218.463.1918. This is
going to be a vital source of historical data for future Roseau
County generations, exhibiting how the service people of our area
have participated in conflicts that have helped to preserve
democracy not only within our country but for people throughout
the world.
To give you a little update on the Pinecreek Log Church: The
foundation has been readied for the winter with some additional
cement work. There is much work to be done and as improvements are
made we will keep you updated.
An addition to the research center this week is a volunteer
project done by Arlene Seydel of Badger and Arizona. She has
created a database of the landowners on the 1935 Roseau County
Atlas. This gives the staff and patrons an efficient way to locate
the township and section of any landowner that was listed in the
plat book. Thank you Arlene, it is much appreciated.
Come in and take advantage of what your museum has to offer!
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