Memorial Day Post

According to what we have learned while visiting Praha, the settlement had the biggest ratio of servicemen of Texas killed in WW2 (considering the number of the settlement inhabitants/the number of the perished soldiers).
Not far from the church in Praha, TX, there is a memorial dedicated to the three men who were killed in action during their WW2 service. They were Joseph Lev, Adolph Rab and Robert Bohuslav.

Here is some information about them I have managed to find.

⭐

Joseph (Josef) Lev was born on 12 August 1918 in Flatonia, Fayette County, to Emil John Lev and Mary Veselka (1). 

Young Josef complete grammar school and worked on the family farm. His siblings were Frank - born on 2 May 1906 (3), Teresa - born on 6 October 1907 (4), Christina Agnes - born on 5 June 1910 (5), Mary - born on 23 September 1915 (6), Emil T - born on 9 February 1922/died on 19 February 1922 (7), and Bohumil Adolph - born on 2 April 1925/died on 23 June 1925 (# eight).

He was enlisted on 12 May 1942 at Sam Fort Houston (2). After the initial training, he was sent overseas. 

Private Joseph Lev was killed in action on 24 July 1944 (9) in New Guinea.

Newspaper clipping: Nycum, T. F. The Flatonia Argus (Flatonia, Tex.), Vol. 69, No. 34, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 31, 1944, newspaper, August 31, 1944; Flatonia, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth988974/: accessed May 29, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fayette Public Library, Museum and Archives.

Private Joseph Lev was awarded:
World War II Victory Medal, Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, and Army Good Conduct Medal.
Joseph's body was buried in the cemetery in Praha. 

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Adolph Rab was born in Hallettsville, Lavaca, TX on 22 June 1910 (10, 11). 

 

Adolph's father John Rab was born in Bohemia, Europe, his mother Agnes was born in Texas. In January 1920, 9-year-old Adolph lived with his parents and siblings Edward (age 14), Albert (age 11), and Jim (age 7) in Justice Precinct #6, Lavaca County. John Rab (age 39) was a farmer (12).

Ten years later, Adolph worked as a farm laborer. He had also one more brother Eugene who was 9 years old then (13). The 1940 census recorded Adolph Rab living in his parents' home in Justice Precinct #2, Lavaca County (14) - the town of Moulton area.

On 22 September 1942, 32-year-old Adolph was enlisted at Fort Sam Houston (15). Two years later, on 27 December, Private First Class A. Rab perished in Italy (16). 

 

 

Newspaper clipping: Nycum, T. F. The Flatonia Argus (Flatonia, Tex.), Vol. 70, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 11, 1945, newspaper, January 11, 1945; Flatonia, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth989181/: accessed May 29, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fayette Public Library, Museum and Archives.

He was awarded: 

World War II Victory Medal, Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, and Army Good Conduct Medal.

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Robert Vendelin Bohuslav, the son of Tom Bohuslav and Mary Migl, was born on 18 October 1822 in Lavaca County, TX (17). 

Eight years later, the boy lived with his father Tom (age 38), mother Mary (age 37), sisters Helen (age 14), Elsie Mae (age 6), and brothers Ernest (age 11), and Herman (age 2) in Justice Precinct #2, Lavaca County. Tom Bohuslav was a farmer (18). In 1932 another sister was born on 2 July. Her name was Mildred Annie (19).

I did not find any more records regarding Robert and his military service besides the fact that he was Private First Class and was killed in action in Africa on 3 February 1944 (20). His body was brought back to Texas and buried in Praha cemetery.

Newspaper clipping: Nycum, T. F. The Flatonia Argus (Flatonia, Tex.), Vol. 69, No. 11, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 16, 1944, newspaper, March 16, 1944; Flatonia, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth989842/: accessed May 29, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fayette Public Library, Museum and Archives.

Newspaper clipping: Sulak, L. J. The Fayette County Record (La Grange, Tex.), Vol. 22, No. 37, Ed. 1 Tuesday, March 7, 1944, newspaper, March 7, 1944; La Grange, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1255444/: accessed December 8, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fayette Public Library, Museum, and Archives.

PFC Robert V Bohuslav was awarded:

World War II Victory Medal, Purple Heart, and American Campaign Medal. Army Presidential Unit Citation, and Army Good Conduct Medal.

Sources:

• HonorStates.org.
• Findagrave.com

1. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2KF-JHG: 1 March 2021), Joseph Lev, 12 Aug 1918; citing Flatonia, Fayette, Texas, United States, certificate 40606, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,515,207.
2. "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8PR-4NH: 5 December 2014), Joseph Lev, enlisted 12 May 1942, Ft Sam Houston, Texas, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
3. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VX98-P54: 1 March 2021), Emil J Lev in the entry for Frank Lev, 02 May 1906; citing Flatonia, Fayette, Texas, United States, certificate 65734, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,380,461.
4. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VX9D-V8Y: 1 March 2021), Emil Lev in the entry for Teresa Lev,; citing Flatonia, Fayette, Texas, United States, certificate 66276, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,380,461.
5. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3CF-7R6 : 20 February 2021), Emil Lev in entry for Christina Agnes Lev, 07 Dec 1950; citing certificate number 60981, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,074,551.
6. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2LG-WLT: 1 March 2021), Emil Lev in the entry for Mary Lev, 23 Sep 1915; citing Flatonia, Fayette, Texas, United States, certificate 36919, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,336,203.
7. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K37M-9ML: 20 February 2021), Emil Lev in the entry for Bohumil Adolph Lev, 23 Jun 1925; citing certificate number 27984, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,113,920.
8. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KS1K-8GZ : 20 February 2021), Emil Lev in entry for Emil T Lev, 19 Feb 1922; citing certificate number 4550, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,074,475.
9. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K384-CVD : 20 February 2021), Joseph Lev, 24 Jul 1944; citing
certificate number 1400, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,242,483.
10. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXMM-TX6: 1 March 2021), Adolph Rab, 22 Jun 1910; citing Hallettsville, Lavaca, Texas, United States, certificate 21270, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,112,424.
11. "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V8WC-65T: 5 December 2014), Adolph Rab, 22 Jun 1910; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
12. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHY6-MDS: accessed 3 December 2021), Adolph Rab in the household of John Rab, Lavaca, Texas, United States; citing, sheet, line, family, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll; FHL microfilm.
13. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H621-7MM: accessed 3 December 2021), Adolf Rab in the household of John Rab, Precinct 6, Lavaca, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 16, sheet 13A, line 48, family 258, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2369; FHL microfilm 2,342,103.
14. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW2K-8TT: 11 February 2020), Adolph Rab in the household of John Rab, Justice Precinct 2, Lavaca, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 143-7, sheet 2A, line 16, family 22, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4092.
15. "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8PY-F5W: 5 December 2014), Adolph E Rab, enlisted 22 Sep 1942, Ft Sam Houston, Texas, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
16. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K38S-2JD : 20 February 2021), Adolph Rab, 27 Dec 1944; citing certificate number 3012, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,242,622.
17. "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V8CW-WJ4: 5 December 2014), Robert Bohuslav, 18 Oct 1922; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
18. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H6NX-4W2: accessed 6 December 2021), Robert Bohuslav in the household of Tom Bohuslav, Precinct 2, Lavaca, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 7, sheet 8A, line 15, family 157, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2369; FHL microfilm 2,342,103.
19. "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V8QQ-34W: 1 January 2015), Tom F Bohuslav in the entry for Mildred Annie Bohuslav, 02 Jul 1932; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
20. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K384-JD1 : 20 February 2021), Tom Bohuslav in entry for Robert V Bohuslav, 03 Feb 1944; citing certificate number 2026, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,242,483.