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Monongahela brothers reunite after World War II

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Headlines in area newspapers on Monday, Jan. 7, 1946, called attention to the threat of more labor strife in the United States.

Typical of those alerts was this banner over a story by United Press in The Daily Republican in Monongahela: Critical Week Looms As New Walkouts In Nation.

The wire dispatch said workers in the steel, electrical and meat-packing industries were poised to join some 376,000 other union employees across the country idled by strikes or shutdowns in a growing effort to gain improved wages and benefits in the aftermath of World War II.

Directly below that lead headline and a photo of pickets in New York City was a more positive – and certainly poignant – local story. It appeared under this headline: Reunion At War’s End, Five Brothers Together.

The story did not carry a byline but recounted how the happy gathering of the Lodovici brothers “were home with their mother, Mrs. Emma Lodovici,” together for the first time in seven years. It was, the newspaper proclaimed, “a reunion seldom to be equaled.”

The sons of Guido and Emma Paterline Lodovici who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II were: Archie Lodovici, 31; Charles Lodovici, 30; Bernard “Bim” Lodovici, 27; Olinto “Shine” Lodovici, 25, and Albert “Cueball” Lodovici, 21.

The newspaper reported that Olinto was the first to enter the military in 1939 and served in Puerto Rico, Trinidad and the Panamanian area before deploying to the European Theater of Operations and then the Pacific.

It was in that latter mission that his plane was shot down and he was held captive by the Japanese for eight months before before being liberated Aug. 14, 1945.

Bim, according to The Daily Republican, was stationed with the Army Air Corps in California for most of his service, while Albert enlisted on Feb. 2, 1942 and was a paratrooper in Europe. Archie entered the ranks on July 9, 1943 and served with a medical corps in Italy, and Charles was inducted into the Army on March 27, 1944.

The Lodovici home at 103 Sixth St. “was filled to overflowing with children and children’s children – a different scene from 1939 when the sons were slim youths – now big, handsome, strapping fellows,” the story said,

“For ribbons and decorations for outstanding action in the service, the Lodovici home probably has the largest array in the vicinity,” it stated.

Guido Lodovici was 74 when he died March 27, 1954. He had been employed as a blacksmith for district coal mines for 45 years and was a member of United Mine Workers Local Union 3422 at Hazelkirk.

Emma Lodovici died Dec. 28, 1966. She was 71.

The reunion in 1946 was one of the most memorable moments of the Lodovici family’s history. The military service of the Lodovici brothers is one of the many lasting legacies written by thousands of area men and women those many years ago.

A story similar to that of the Lodovici brothers also appeared in area newspapers on this day in history 70 years ago – Jan. 7, 1946.

It noted that after serving in India with the U.S. Army Nurses Corps, Lt. Justine Yurkovich of Bentleyville was honorably discharged from military duty.

She was the fourth member of her family to serve during World War II. First Lt. Steve Yurkovich, an Army Air Force pilot, and Yeoman Josephine Yurkovich of the Navy WAVES also had been discharged. Their brother, Tech. Sgt. John Yurkovich of the Army, was still serving in France.

Pfc. Louis J. Yanchula of 517 Fourth St., California, received the Silver Star Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster from Lt. Joseph E. Cickery and Tech. Sgt. Clare E. Eckelberger of the Washington Army Recruiting Station in ceremonies at his home.

The Silver Star was awarded to Yanchula for “gallantry in action” in the vicinity of La Chapelle, Normandy France, on July 28, 1944. He received the Oak Leaf Cluster for “gallantry in action” at Hambuch, Germany on Nov. 18, 1944.

Among the other honors Yanchula received during his 4 1/2 year of service with Company D of the 16th Infantry, 1st Division, were a Purple Heart and another Silver Star.

Meanwhile, Seaman First Class Edward Milby Jr. of Ellsworth received the Distinguished Flying Cross in ceremonies at Camp Kearney in San Diego, California. He served as a nose gunner on a Navy patrol plane, was stationed at Clark Field on Luzon and completed 40 missions before returning to the United States. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Milby Sr., he entered the service on Dec. 6, 1943.

James W. McGuire was sworn into office as burgess of Charleroi by Washington County Judge Roy I. Carson in quiet ceremonies at the judge’s home.

Across the river in Monessen, Hugo J. Parente became the fourth mayor in the city’s history as city clerk John Lehrman administered the oath of office to him. Parente succeeds Joseph Lescanac as mayor. Preceding them in that top leadership post since Monessen became a third-class city in 1920 were Carl Woodward and James Gold.

Swearing-in festivities also took place in Monongahela for new councilmen George F. Roule and Fred Stiegman and controller William B. Hill. Mayor C.B. Lamp did the honors.

Monongahela rolled over Brownsville 41-25, Monessen walloped California 47-20, and Donora bumped Charleroi 44-22 in WPIAL Section 4 basketball games. “Handy” Andy Smith led coach Harry Johnson’s Monongahela Wildcats with 19 points and teammate George Rostcheck added 11. George Nicksich looked best for Monessen with 21 points, while Bill Starkey topped California with 11. Andy Lelik paced Donora with 16, and Karl Sauritch had eight for Charleroi.

Hitting a brilliant 243, Walter Pieper, captain of the Umbriago team, nailed the top score in opening the season of the Macbeth Athletic Association Bowling League. Dave Schaum was second with a 204.

The classy North Belle Vernon Rens basketball team upset the highly-toured New York Barons in an exhibition game at the NBV High School gym. The final score was not reported, but the newspaper story noted that Woggie Johns of the Rens led all point-makers with 30.

“Deadeye” Pete Americo scorched the nets for 28 points to lead the Monessen Legion team to an easy 73-41 win over Connellsville in the debut of the new Legion Basketball League at the Armory. Teammate Eddie Hughes also hit double digits with 11.

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