Capt. Donald H. Bochkay 357th FG
 

Well, I am just curious: anyone knows Don Bochkay's life deeply? His family name sounds evidently Hungarian (Bocskay). I know his claims but any info regarding his family would be very interesting for me (when he was born and where, who was his father, any suggestion regarding his roots, etc).

Thanks in advance,

Re: Capt. Donald H. Bochkay 357th FG
 

Hi Csaba,

He was born on the 19-Sep-1916 at Ashtabula, Ohio, USA.

He joined the Army reserves on 5-Nov-1940, serving as a private in the 7th Infantry Division.

Source - Stars & Bars (Frank Olynyk)

Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: Capt. Donald H. Bochkay 357th FG
 

Hi Andy,

Thanks.

Re: Capt. Donald H. Bochkay 357th FG
 

Check in here, lots of stuff about Bochkay (yes, he was of Hungarian origin):

http://www.cebudanderson.com/bochkay.htm
http://www.cebudanderson.com/262.htm

..and generally, here:

http://www.cebudanderson.com/combatstories.htm

hope it helps

Re: Capt. Donald H. Bochkay 357th FG
 

Thanks, Lagarto,

yes I knew the cebud site and the http://www.357thfightergroup.com/ also.

Bochkay was a great pilot, it's sad, that his name in unknown in Hungary.

Re: Capt. Donald H. Bochkay 357th FG
 

Many European immigrants from the Eastern part of Europe, and especially the Slavic countries came to the US at the beginning of the 20th Century and settled across what was the 'Steel' belt, from Pittsburgh to Chicago. There were many jobs in the steel mills, coal mines, railroads, and shipping jobs. My grandparents came from Croatia and Slovakia in 1910, and one of my uncles, with a Croatian name died in a B-24 over France, and 2 other uncles with Slovak names fought in Europe.

Re: Capt. Donald H. Bochkay 357th FG
 

Tony,

I know it but you should know, that the Hungarian is not a Slavic ethnic. In 1910 Croatia was a part of Hungary (it was a very interesting confederacy betweek Croatia and Hungary) There were no Slovakia at this time, just a part of Hungary with Slovak ethnic. The Croats, Slovaks and Hungarians are brothers in their history (but the Hungarian is not a Slavic ethnic, just the Croat and the Slovak).

Over Hungary, a B-24 crewmember fell with Hungarian roots also.