American Veterans And A Legacy Of Their Mother

 All three surviving Rusnak boys came back from WW2, and all three led successful lives despite tough circumstances. The second oldest (secular name “Carl Stephen”) had to lie for his father when his father (a son of Ya’akov/Jakab and Miriam/Mária Novak Rusnak) made him lie on his death certificate and write that he was a son of “George Rusnak” and “Anna Novak” (He knew who his parents were, and it wasn’t cute or funny that he put Great-Granduncle Carl in that position). God understood, and He gave Great-Granduncle Carl (ז״ל) a family of his own and a VFW leadership position. 

The oldest (secular name “Andrew Lewis”, for his Jewish-Austrohungarian father Yosef/Joseph “Andrew Stephen” Rusznák) had a successful life as well, living to 95 years old. The youngest (still Biblically a child when he signed up to serve in WW2, and when he lost his mother) also had a successful life; and he even made local news for opposing another tavern in the area to which moved with his own family. He didn’t want undue influence on his kids, three of whom he fathered altogether. 

All three boys had the faith of their mother, whose brother Alexander “András” Foczko sent her to the United States to marry Andrew Rusnak after he judged that staying in Austrohungary would not be safe for her: being hidden Jews didn’t spare them, believing in Jesus didn’t spare them, and taking care of her widowed mother didn’t and wouldn’t spare her. She had every right to be creeped out by a 24-to-28-year-old writing to propose to her. She nonetheless listened to her brother (the oldest one at their home in the Exile), and she went to the United States. Ultimately, the three surviving boys are a legacy of Yehudit/Julia Fosko Rusnak; and they served a country that they had no obligation to serve, as FDR didn’t favorably view Jews of any circumstance or faith. 

“I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother…and your mother…and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” (From the second letter to Timothy, ESV translation)