Submitted by: Corrine Janovec - Special to the News
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has been recognizing the surviving World War II Veterans by awarding a recognition medal to each of the last living veterans of Nebraska communities.
Plainview is on that list, with World War II Veteran, Lumer John Bartak, as the recipient of one of these medals.
Bartak was born in Creighton as the fifth child of six: four boys and two girls. He took his physical at Missouri for the draft when a senior at Plainview High School.
At 18 years old, he graduated and went to Fort Leanardwood, Kans. As a 1A classification with the “Military Occupational Specialty” (MOA) as a gunner.
He had enlisted and preferred the Merchant Marines, but was told the quota for a gunner on a destroyer was higher, so the Navy it was in from 1945-1947. His basic training was in San Diego, Calif., and then he was assigned to Treasure Islands, Calif. In the San Francisco bay area.
There were 10-12 “kids” from Nebraska and Iowa that traveled together.
Bartak said the sure got an education in culture, as none of them had seen any other culture but farming until arriving in California.
His father immigrated from Czechoslovakia and taught he family the value of hard work. His brother, Raymond, was in the Air Force in 1941, and brother, Arnold, served the military police in Korea.
Though the war was essentially concluded maneuvers were still completed should military intervention be recalled.
Bartak was educated to shoot 40mm guns, how to rescue pilots from the water and how to identify and track submarines. He was one of three soldiers chosen to go into Port three to four times a week to do typing for the Rear Admiral of the Navy.
He smiled and said, “I was a pretty good typist in school.” He probably did a lot of typing as the Rear Admiral was the commander of all the destroyers in the Pacific Fleets.
Fortunately, the war did end, and Bartak was able to come home in 1947, “with no tattoos!”
The fleet was never recalled, so he returned to the farm.
Once home, life continued, and Bartak soon found himself at a dance with a local girl, Glee, and eventually, the couple was married on November 23, 1952 – 73 years ago. They became parents to Dana, Jill and Jody.
So how did serving in the military affect/help his marriage?
Bartak says he got really homesick at first. Doing Barrack duty was the worst time, when all were sleeping and a “guy had time to think back to home.” The food was pretty good, especially the eggs, and there was create cake with a lot of frosting to go along with a good cup of coffee.
Of course, being on the ship, the cups did not have handles because … well, Bartak said, “they just didn’t.” There were washer facilities on-board so pants and shirts were always clean, but the uniforms were sent inland and, of course, there was a cost – but Bartak said he didn’t worry too much. “I was always able to make stretch. Some of the guys would gamble and needed more, but I never did that,” said Bartak.
If soldiers did go on furlough, the whole uniform was to be worn.
Bartak had a good buddy from Dune, Iowa and they remained friends event after discharge.
To get to shore the soldiers rode a shuttle-boat – standing, hanging onto a rope. Bartak said, “I could swim, but I never wanted to find out what would happen if I let go, and I always held tight!”
“Mail from my mother was always welcomed and helped me adjust to military life, even though the first Christmas away from home was missed, the second Christmas at home was wonderful,” said Bartak.
Pictures of his travels, friends and acquaintances, and locales are in a book to him to share with his in-laws and grandkids: Dana and Vicki Bartak, Jill and Les Anson and Jody and Bruce Forbes.
Bartak did receive two promotions while serving, which was a credit to his dedication to military standards as promotions were much harder to receive after the war.
The community of Plainview is proud to have Lumer (and Glee) Bartak!