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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Matej Kocak ~ March 16, 2015
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !!
| The Canteen Crew
Posted on 03/15/2015 5:01:20 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
| Our Troops Rock! Thank you for all you do! |
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| For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces. |
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| ~ Hall of Heroes ~ Matej Kocak Info from this website. |
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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.
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 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.
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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.
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport
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To: Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC
A very pleasant good Monday morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.
((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?
41
posted on
03/16/2015 1:31:01 AM PDT
by
E.G.C.
To: Kathy in Alaska
42
posted on
03/16/2015 1:31:21 AM PDT
by
E.G.C.
To: SandRat
Good morning, Sandrat How’s it going?
43
posted on
03/16/2015 1:32:20 AM PDT
by
E.G.C.
To: Kathy in Alaska
44
posted on
03/16/2015 1:32:31 AM PDT
by
E.G.C.
To: Kathy in Alaska
I'm going to take you down a memory lane trip. Hope you enjoy the music, and some of them bring back memories and set your toes to tapping.
My HTML skills are not very good. So it's 2 post.
45
posted on
03/16/2015 4:11:03 AM PDT
by
GailA
(IF you fail to keep your promises to the Military, you won't keep them to Citizens!)
To: GailA
46
posted on
03/16/2015 4:11:49 AM PDT
by
GailA
(IF you fail to keep your promises to the Military, you won't keep them to Citizens!)
To: GailA
47
posted on
03/16/2015 4:15:00 AM PDT
by
GailA
(IF you fail to keep your promises to the Military, you won't keep them to Citizens!)
To: left that other site; Kathy in Alaska
Prayers going up for succesful surgery and quick
recovery for your dear sister.
Praying God's strength and comfort for you and
your family, Mary.
48
posted on
03/16/2015 4:26:36 AM PDT
by
MEG33
(God Bless America And OurTroops)
To: beachn4fun
Morning Beachie!
Well, your favorite day is upon us, how was your weekend?
I stayed busy over the weekend doing various activities and a side job but still had time to relax a bit.
As the warmer weather arrives, it will be time to get out walking a bit more.
OK, my coffee needs a refill, have a bodacious day!
49
posted on
03/16/2015 5:06:05 AM PDT
by
PROCON
(Always Give 100% --- Unless you're donating blood.)
To: beachn4fun
50
posted on
03/16/2015 5:09:03 AM PDT
by
PROCON
(Always Give 100% --- Unless you're donating blood.)
To: StarCMC; Kathy in Alaska; GodBlessUSA; LUV W; Arrowhead1952; E.G.C.; HiJinx; AZamericonnie; ...
Good morning, Canteen.
Good morning to our
Military, our Allies, and their families.
Thank you, Star, for preparing the Canteen
for today’s activities.
Making a quick stop to check in and
honor our latest hero.
R I P Matej Kocak
Job well done.
Gotta run; work is heating up already.
But please stay right where you are.
Chat up the military or a family member.
No need to fret...you know I'll be back!
The FR Canteen is
Come in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea,
pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS
REMEMBER THEM ~ DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM
 FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before. 
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51
posted on
03/16/2015 5:23:48 AM PDT
by
beachn4fun
(The only hyphen you need...American - or not!)
To: PROCON
Good morning Pro ((HUGS))
my favorite day? funnnnnny...hahahahahaha…NOT!
So, did you get the yard work done at the ex’s place?
You’re in an apartment, right? So you don’t have to do yard work at your own place?
Weekend was okay. Saturday was rainy and Sunday was cloudy and cool. I did rest as much as possible. Was not ready for Monday though. And of course, it looks to be a busy Monday.
Have a marvelicious Monday.
52
posted on
03/16/2015 5:30:14 AM PDT
by
beachn4fun
(The only hyphen you need...American - or not!)
To: left that other site
Prayers of strength, a successful surgery and a full recovery for your little sis! I pray that all the people she cares for will be ok while she recovers!
53
posted on
03/16/2015 5:47:13 AM PDT
by
luvie
(All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris, Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!)
To: PROCON
#50
54
posted on
03/16/2015 5:56:24 AM PDT
by
beachn4fun
(The only hyphen you need...American - or not!)
To: beachn4fun
((HUGS))Good morning, Beach.
55
posted on
03/16/2015 6:01:02 AM PDT
by
E.G.C.
To: beachn4fun; y'all; Arrowhead1952; E.G.C.; GodBlessUSA; ConorMacNessa; Kathy in Alaska; HiJinx; ...
Whaaaaaaa???
Is it Monday already?
Say it isn't so!
At least I get to go
see my girls on Wednesday! Yay!
Hope all of you have a Mahv'lus Monday!
...and a warmer week leading up to spring!
((((hugs))))
My "gizmo" seems to be broken, Arrow!
But it's still fairly cool here!
56
posted on
03/16/2015 6:04:23 AM PDT
by
luvie
(All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris, Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!)
To: LUV W
Thank You, Dear FRiend! :-)
((((HUGS))))
57
posted on
03/16/2015 6:09:56 AM PDT
by
left that other site
(You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
To: MEG33
Thank You so much for your sincere prayers and the beautiful flowers!
((((HUGS))))
58
posted on
03/16/2015 6:10:58 AM PDT
by
left that other site
(You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Thank you, Dear Kathy, for your prayers and for sharing my prayer request with the BEST PRayer Team on the PLant!
((((HUGS))))
59
posted on
03/16/2015 6:12:31 AM PDT
by
left that other site
(You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
To: All; Kathy in Alaska; beachn4fun; LUV W; PROCON; Arrowhead1952; SandRat
To The Canteen
we are warming up here to the 70s..YEA
Have A Good Week
(((HUGS)))
60
posted on
03/16/2015 7:10:53 AM PDT
by
MEG33
(God Bless America And OurTroops)
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