Ukrainian American Veterans Post 30 was founded in 1990. It is located in Freehold, NJ. Jurij Jacus was the first Post Commander.
Post 30 usually meets on Sundays, in the vicinity of Toms River, NJ. Please contact the Post Commander for exact times and locations.
Post 30 Founding
At Jurij Jacus’s initiative the first attempt to unify Ukrainian American veterans in Monmouth County, New Jersey, were made in 1989. This initiative was upheld by then UAV New Jersey State Department Commander George Miziuk, who also served on the UAV National Executive Board.
The initial organizational meeting was held in Holmdel, New Jersey, on October 9, 1990. UAV National Adjutant George Miziuk and UAV National Public Relations Officer Andrew Keybida opened the meeting and briefed candidates about the Ukrainian American Veterans, Inc. A motion to establish UAV Post 30 in Freehold, New Jersey, was made by Ihor W. Husar, seconded by Anna Krawczuk, and it was unanimously accepted.
Captain Ihor W. Husar (who was the pivotal force behind recruiting members) presented the slate of officers who were duly elected. Jurij Jacus became the first UAV Post 30 Commander; the membership also elected Bernard Krawczuk as Vice Commander, George Buk as Finance Officer, Anna Krawczuk as Adjutant, John Lucyk as Service Officer, Ihor W. Husar as Public Relations Officer, Nikolaus Holinaty as Trustee, and Monsignor Anthony Borsa as Chaplain. UAV National Commander Dmytro Bykovetz, Jr., and UAV National Adjutant George Miziuk conducted the Installation of Officers and presentation of the Post 30 Charter on November 13, 1990.
Post 30 Patron Major Myron Diduryk
During the Post meeting on 12 February 1991, Jurij Jacus proposed that Major Myron Diduryk, who was killed in action in Vietnam on 24 April 1970, be honored as UAV Post 30 patron. After a review of Major Diduryk’s biographical data, Mr. Jacus’s proposal was unanimously accepted. Major Diduryk’s name is engraved on the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, and on the New Jersey Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Holmdel, NJ. Major Myron Diduryk’s name is also imprinted on two bricks on the walkway leading to the Memorial, which were funded by UAV Post 30. The UAV Post 30 flag bears his name.
Myron Diduryk was born on 15 July 1938 in Muzhyliv, Western Ukraine. After the turmoil of World War II, the Diduryk family immigrated to the United States, arriving in 1950. They settled in Jersey City, NJ, where young Myron attended high school, later earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from St. Peters College in the same city. His military career began in 1960 when he was commissioned from St. Peter’s ROTC (New Jersey) as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. From 1960 to 1963 he served in the 1st Battle Group (Airborne), 505th Infantry. He was then deployed to Germany before returning stateside to Ft. Benning, Georgia.
During his first tour of duty in Vietnam (1965–1966) he served as commander of Company B, 7th Infantry, 1st Cavalry Division. Returning to the United States, he attended and completed the Advanced Infantry Officers Course (1966–1967). From 1967 to 1969 he was Assistant Professor of Military Science at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. In 1969 Major Diduryk was again deployed to Vietnam. During this second tour of duty he served as Operations Officer, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry. He was shot and killed by a sniper in Phouc Long, South Vietnam, on 24 April, 1970.
Major Diiduryk was laid to rest with full military honors at Fort Benning Cemetery in Georgia. He left behind his wife, three children, parents, and his brother Bohdan, a United States Army West Point Academy graduate.
Myron was known to his Nam comrades by the nickname “Mad Cossack” and his name is mentioned at least 17 times in the now famous book We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young,which was co-authored by Joseph L. Galloway and Lt Gen Harold G. Moore. Published in 1992, the book was later made into a movie, We Were Soldiers, starring Mel Gibson. Those of us who knew him in the Ukrainian American community he was raised in, remember him as a young “plastun,” a member of the Ukrainian youth organization PLAST, the one who left Jersey City, New Jersey, and became a great American warrior and hero.
New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day
In 1991 the New Jersey Legislature established May 7 as New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Remembrance Day, honoring all those who served in the US military during the Vietnam era (1959–1975).
New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Dedicated on May 7, 1995, the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Holmdel, New Jersey, honors 1,562 New Jersey soldiers who were killed or reported missing in action in Vietnam during the Vietnam era (1959–1975). Jurij Jacus and Bernard W. Krawczuk took part in the dedication of the monument. Since 1995, UAV Post 30 participates in the Wreath Laying Ceremony, which is held each year on May 7 at the memorial.
On 7 May 2012, Post 30 member Peter Yurkowski was honored during Medals Ceremony and was awarded New Jersey’s Distinguished Service Medal and Korean Service Medal. Peter is a Korean War veteran and a Purple Heart Medal recipient.
Among the names engraved on the memorial are eight Ukrainian Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice. The Memorial Biography Project endeavors to collect biographical data on the 1,561 men and one woman whose names are engraved on the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial. UAV Post 30’s goal is to obtain information about Ukrainian Americans killed in action in Vietnam, especially those from New Jersey. We were able to obtain their US Military histories from the Archival Databases (AAD), and we are currently searching for additional biographical/personal information.
Post 30 Projects and Activities
Through the years, Post 30 members have taken part in American and Ukrainian Memorial Services on Memorial Day, including Veterans Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. In 2004 Bernard and Anna Krawczuk attended the dedication ceremonies of the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. Since 2004 post members have also participated in St. Thomas Sunday ceremonies at St. Andrews Cemetery in South Bound Brook, New Jersey.
In recent years UAV Post 30 has extended its activities to include Ocean County, thus recruiting Ukrainian American veterans from southern New Jersey. We are constantly seeking new members residing in Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Past Commanders
- Jurij Jacus (1990–1991)
- Bernard W. Krawczuk (1992–2010)
- Gerald P. Tchir (2011-2018)
Post 30 National Service
Post 30 delegates attend the annual UAV National Conventions. At the 2004 convention, UAV Post 30’s Anna Krawczuk was elected UAV National Commander and re-elected to this position in 2006. Both Anna and Bernard Krawczuk have served on the UAV National Executive Board; both have also served on the UAV National Monument Committee since 2004; Anna and Bernard Krawczuk server as co-editors of the UAV Tribune, the official newsletter of the Ukrainian American Veterans, for many years.
POST 30 UAV National Commanders
- Anna Krawczuk (2004–2008)
UAV National Convention
The 61st UAV National Convention was held in Somerset, New Jersey, in 2008. The convention was co-hosted by UAV Post 30 along with Post 6 (Newark, NJ) and Post 17 (Passaic, NJ). This was the year that the UAV celebrated its 60th anniversary (1948–2008).
Contact
If you are interested in joining Post 30 or would like additional information about what our members do, please contact Post Commander Anna Krawczuk.
Anna Krawczuk
PO Box 172
Holmdel, NJ 07733-0172
330-896-4166
anna.krawczuk@verizon.net