Polish Americans celebrate commitment to both nations

Monday, Nov. 9, 1998 | 11:03 a.m.

When her parents' homeland called on her, Las Vegan Ruth Zimpfer answered and served in the Polish Army during World War II.

When Las Vegan Eugene Dreger, the son of Polish immigrants, got the same call, he too responded -- though a bit differently -- by joining a branch of the U.S. armed forces, as did his three brothers.

Since the Revolutionary War, Poles and Polish-Americans have proudly fought for freedom in America and around the world.

This Wednesday on Veterans Day, they will march in the local parade and attend some of the many services throughout the valley, including the main service at 1 p.m. at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City.

Veterans and local officials will gather at the veterans cemetery where the Coast Guard will unveil its monument among the previously dedicated monuments and more than 7,000 gravesites of local ex-military men and women.

After Poland was overrun by the Germans on Sept. 1, 1939, Zimpfer, then Ruth Sokolowski, was asked to serve in the Polish Army as a translator for Poles who had escaped their homeland and regrouped in North America to form the resistance forces.

"The U.S. government would not permit me to do it (serve as a translator in another country's army), so I had to go to Ontario, Canada, to serve," said Ruth, now 72 and retired in Las Vegas.

Given the rank of private, she helped train the troops for combat by translating the instructions barked out by English-speaking instructors.

Eight years ago, Zimpfer, and her husband, Dick, a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, visited Poland and bought an authentic ceremonial dress worn by Polish women in the 1930s and '40s for traditional ethnic dances.

A leg ailment will not permit her to wear the multi-colored ornate outfit in Wednesday's Veterans Day Parade. However, other Polish-American women, wives of Polish Legion of American Veterans, are scheduled to wear replicated period dresses as they march among the expected 1,600 entrants in the downtown event.

Dreger, who is state commander of the PLAV, a 66-year-old national organization, says Polish-Americans have been among the first to sign up to defend the United States in times of trouble.

"In World War II, 375,000 Americans of Polish extraction joined (U.S. forces)," Dreger, a Navy veteran of World War II and Korea, said. "In World War I, about 200,000 Polish-Americans fought, as did about 50,000 to 75,000 each in Korea and Vietnam."

Dreger, a native of New York, initially considered joining the Polish resistance, but there was no pay in it and he could not afford to fight for gratis.

"So instead, I got drafted into the Navy and fought for $21 a month," said Dreger, who served 26 years and was a draftsman.

His brother Walter also served in the Navy. Brothers Frank and Teddy served in the Army.

"Polish-Americans have made good contributions to the military because we are raised to be loyal, dedicated and responsible to our country," Dreger said. "And, my country has always been this country -- the United States first."

Still Dreger has deep feelings for the land of his forefathers. Three years ago, Eugene and other local Polish-American veterans got together and formed the Adam Kepinski PLAV Post No. 207 in Las Vegas.

It is named for an old gold prospector who worked claims around Las Vegas in its earliest years. During World War I, Kepinski was wounded in a mustard gas attack in France. Kepinski received the World War I Victory medal and Purple Heart among other decorations. He died at age 70 in Connecticut.

Polish warriors have played significant roles in American history.

The first was Count Casimir Pulaski who joined Gen. George Washington's forces in 1777 after distinguishing himself in European wars. In two years he rose to the rank of general after participating in the battles of Brandywine, Warren Tavern, Georgetown and Trenton.

Pulaski then formed his Polish Legion which fought at Little Egg Harbor and Charleston. The general known for defying nearly hopeless odds, died from wounds sustained in fighting at Savannah, Ga., on Oct. 9, 1779.

At least five Polish generals served with the Grand Army of the Republic during the Civil War. The best known of them was Wladimir Krzyanowski who organized one of the first militias in Washington, D.C.

His forces eventually became part of the 58th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment -- also called the Polish Legion. Krzyanowski and his men distinguished themselves at Bull Run, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He died in 1887 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Dreger said Americans should remember those great men and the gallant efforts of Polish soldiers who were tortured to death after being invaded by both Germany and Russia at the outbreak of World War II.

Dreger said the time they bought with their lives allowed allied forces an extra six months to prepare for war and what would be a hard-fought eventual victory.