FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Matej Kocak ~ 05 February 2024

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Matej Kocak

Info from this website.

           

Matej Kocak (December 3, 1882 - October 4, 1918), a United States Marine Corps sergeant, was posthumously awarded both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor, for "heroism above and beyond the call of duty" in action against the enemy on July 18, 1918. Almost three months later, on October 4, 1918, he was killed in action by enemy gunfire in the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge in France while serving as a member of the 66th Company, 5th Regiment.

Matej Kocak was born in Egbell, Kingdom of Hungary (today Gbely, Slovakia), in 1882. He emigrated to the United States in 1906, and on October 16, 1907, enlisted in the Marine Corps in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and began his 11-year Marine Corps career at Marine Barracks, League Island, Pennsylvania. He was discharged on October 16, 1911 at the expiration of his first enlistment but reenlisted in New York City on December 26, 1911 and was assigned to the Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, New York, for duty. For some time he lived in Binghamton, New York, where large Slovak community used to live. He was member of Slovak Catholic Sokol in this town.

During his second enlistment, he served with the U.S. Army at Verz Cruz, Mexico, from April 30, to November 23, 1914. His enlistment ended on December 25, 1915 at Marine Barracks, New York, New York, but he again reenlisted and transferred to Marine Barracks, Naval Station, New Orleans, Louisiana.

The following year, he was ashore in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he participated in skirmishes with native bandits in Las Canitas, Azua Province, Dominican Republic. Appointed to the rank of corporal March 23, 1917, he then returned to the United States where he joined the 12th Company at Quantico, Virginia.

By December 31, 1917, he was again overseas, this time at St. Nazaire, France. The following January 23, 1918, he joined the 66th Company, 5th Regiment, and on June 1, 1918, was promoted to sergeant and then took part in the attack against the enemy in Bois De Belleau Bouresches sector northwest of Chateau Thierry, France. On July 18, 1918, he participated in the attack at Villers Cotteret Wood south of Soissons, France, and it was on this day he performed the act of heroism for which he was posthumously awarded both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor.

1– October 4, 1918 found him taking part in the Allied drive against the enemy in the Argonne Forest between the Moselle and Forest of Argonne in the vicinity of Blanchmont in Champagne, France, and in the attack against the enemy in the St. Mihiel sector in the vicinity of Thiaucourt, France. He was killed in action on October 4, 1918, and is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France.

Medal of Honor Citations

Navy citation

    For extraordinary heroism while serving with the Sixty-sixth Company, Fifth Regiment, Second Division, in action in the Viller-Cottertes section, south of Soissons, France, 18 July 1918. When a hidden machine gun nest halted the advance of his battalion, Sergeant Kocak went forward alone unprotected by covering fire and worked his way in between the German positions in the face of heavy enemy fire. Rushing the enemy position with his bayonet, he drove off the crew. Later the same day, Sergeant Kocak organized French colonial soldiers who had become separated from their company and led them in attacking another machine gun nest, which was also put out of action.

Army citation

    When the advance of his battalion was checked by a hidden machine-gun nest, he went forward alone, unprotected by covering fire from his own men, and worked in between the German positions in the face of fire from enemy covering detachments. Locating the machine-gun nest, he rushed it and with his bayonet drove off the crew. Shortly after this he organized 25 French colonial soldiers who had become separated from their company and led them in attacking another machine-gun nest, which was also put out of action.

SS Sgt. Matej Kocak (T-AK 3005)

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[PROCON]

Good evening Kathy and thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero!

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Matej Kocak ~

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...a man on a mission. He was a hero.

Still enjoying warmer weather? We made it above zero late yesterday and it is snowing again. About 5” so far.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...hope you are feeling one day better?

Hope your rain has stopped so you and Tippy can stay dry when venturing out.

I made it above zero finally, and it’s snowing again.

[PROCON]

Still wet/warm weather our way, son and I will finally get back out to the range this week, gotta dust off my ammo, LOL.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Col Douglas Macgregor tells TRUTH about Texas Border Crisis! Send Troops To Texas border NOW!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrLuQc_g4LE

Comments below the video:

“I hope Trump will choose Col. Macgregor for Sec. of Defense or Sec. of State. We need sanity in our Administration, we need him We need him for both!.”

“Glad to hear the word “treason” & those that are guilty.”

“Hi Stephen, my father in law served 32 yrs army LT Col. WW2, Korean War, and Vietnam, everything being said here is spot on. This is by the book, how communism takes over a county, they destroy it first. America is in cataclysmic danger. 🙋‍♂️🇨🇱🇺🇲🙏”

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Nice to see the snow has stopped for now. I imagine y’all are beyond ready for Spring at this point!

[lightman]

Thank you for the reminder of the heroic role that LEGAL immigrants have played in defense of our freedoms!

[radu]

Howdy, PRO.

You and your son are FINALLY getting a chance to head back out to the shooting range? WOOHOO! Been a long time.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Now that sounds like a worthy outing...and fun, too.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, ETR, for the link...good stuff. Col Macgregor knows his stuff, and he tells the truth!

[luvie]

Matej Kocak
December 3, 1882 - October 4, 1918 [KIA-France]
United States Marine Corps sergeant
Posthumously awarded Army & Navy Medals of Honor
for "heroism above and beyond the call of duty"
in action against the enemy on July 18, 1918.
What an awesome hero he was!

[The Mayor]

February 5

Extending Dignity

Bible in a Year :

• Exodus 36–38
• Matthew 23:1–22

Has no one condemned you?

Maggie’s young friend showed up in church shockingly dressed. No one should have been surprised though; she was a prostitute. Maggie’s visitor shifted uneasily in her seat, alternately tugging at her much-too-short skirt and folding her arms self-consciously around herself.

“Oh, are you cold?” Maggie asked, deftly diverting attention away from how she was dressed. “Here! Take my shawl.”

Maggie introduced dozens of people to Jesus simply by inviting them to come to church and helping them feel comfortable. The gospel had a way of shining through her winsome methods. She treated everyone with dignity.

When religious leaders dragged a woman before Jesus with the harsh (and accurate) charge of adultery, Christ kept the attention off her until He sent her accusers away. Once they were gone, He could have scolded her. Instead, He asked two simple questions: “Where are they?” and “Has no one condemned you?” (John 8:10). The answer to the latter question, of course, was no. So Jesus gave her the gospel in one brief statement: “Then neither do I condemn you.” And then the invitation: “Go now and leave your life of sin” (v. 11).

Never underestimate the power of genuine love for people—the kind of love that refuses to condemn, even as it extends dignity and forgiveness to everyone.   .

Reflect & Pray

How will you react when you see someone who’s living a hard lifestyle? Who can you invite to church this week and how might you get them to come?

Gracious God, please forgive me for having a judgmental spirit, and help me to show others Your love and grace.

Learn more about the importance of extending forgiveness.

[PROCON]

Hiya radu!

Yeah finally some gun range time, the weather will cooperate so it's a big GO!

Did my usual visit to see Robin and the pups today; they got their baths and haircuts done so they were looking cute.

A few shopping errands to run tomorrow and then some more major relaxing time.

Howz things with you?

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Checking the Earth Wind site, it looks like you still have blustery weather down there. :-( I know you’ve had enough of that by now.
I hope the day was good otherwise.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...is it still dry, or is the rain finding you?

It finally got aboe zero here, but now there is more snow.

BUT...my plow guy just came.

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

Yes, it’s been windy all day. Very annoying. I haven’t been out since feeding the kitties, but was still windy at that time. Hopefully, tomorrow will be calmer. We’re all ready for it.

Hope you had another pretty and warm day. Did you get any rain?