Hello everyone,
I wanted to let you know that with the kind help of Irena Chernichowska, I received documents written by my grandfather, two of my aunts, and one of my grand uncles. ?The documents are part of the Wladyslaw Anders Collection, East European Section at Hoover. ?I am so thankful that my relatives wrote the documents, which are all so varied, each describing another part of what occurred: ?the political climate and goings-on of the times including ALL local ethnic groups, the invasion of the Red Army, confiscation of livestock, farm equipment and crops, and military uniforms, guns, and ammunition, being rousted in the middle of the night, death threats, my grandfather going into hiding for two months, Soviet-style elections, and more. ?The events described took place in Hallerczyn, pow. Brody, and Czabarowka, pow. Kopyczynice. ?Both were in Tarnopol woj.
My father's oldest sibling, who is my godmother, also included a poem with her statement. ?To my great surprise today when I dropped everything off at her house, she presented me with my grandfather's "Ksiaz~eczka Wojskowa," which I am almost certain is my grandfather's military record book, passport size. ?She also gave me a poem written by my grandfather to my grandmother for her birthday. ?It was not dated, but was written in the Middle East. ?It has been very difficult at times trying to communicate with this aunt, but she is the most important person to my family history since she is the oldest and has the most knowledge. ?One moment she is overjoyed with what I am doing, yet the next time I talk to her she makes me wonder why I even bother with it all! ?I feel that this changed when she saw the Hoover legacy she left today. ?Well, I am keeping my fingers crossed!
From my father's family there are only three survivors: ?my godmother above, who was 20 years old when deported, my aunt who was 14 at deportation, and the youngest of the family, my aunt who was 8 years old when deported. ??Not everyone has seen the documents yet, but those who have are very happy. ?Thank you, Irena, and Hoover! ?What I received from the Institution has also given my work validation. ?Sadly, my grandfather died two months after his arrival in the US and a few months before my birth. ?I really feel that I know him now, and I am sure that he would be extremely pleased with all I have done.
Eve Jesionka Jankowicz
New Jersey, USA ?
