Thursday morning at the St. Bartholomew Church Hall, that distinction will be bestowed upon the Potchak brothers — Stephen, John, Michael, Frank, Charles and Peter — as the bridge carrying Route 160 over the north branch of Little Conemaugh River in Wilmore Borough will be dedicated as the Potchak Brothers Memorial Bridge.

During their youth, the brothers played, swam and fished together in the creek, Dave Potchak noted, adding their childhood home still stands near the creek.

All of the Potchak brothers served during World War II and have since passed away, but Thursday’s dedication will showcase a lot of pride from the brothers’ roughly 85 descendants, Dave said.

According to Dave Potchak, there are at least 95 family members and friends expected to turn out for Thursday’s ceremony. That number doesn’t include the 33 members of the Forest Hills chorus and the 25 American Legion members who will present the colors and give a 21-gun salute, he said.

Stephen (from left), Charles and Peter Potchak all served in the Army during World War II. Photo courtesy of Dave Potchak

Also in attendance during the program will be representatives from state Sen. Wayne Langerholc’s office, R-Cambria, the Cambria County Commissioners and PennDOT officials, Dave said.

Amy Jukus, granddaughter of Frank Potchak, said the bridge dedication means a lot to her family. She thanked Langerholc’s office for making Thursday’s ceremony possible.

“The Potchak brothers have made a historical marker in the borough of Wilmore,” Jukus said. “My grandfather, Frank, and my grandmother, Evelyn, would be so proud.”

‘War story’

Dave Potchak said his father, Charles, brought home a Japanese rifle and sword from the war. Charles used the rifle for many years for deer hunting until he bought a rifle with a scope, Dave said.

Frank (from left), John and Michael Potchak all served in the Navy during World War II. Photo courtesy of Dave Potchak

When they were alone one day, Dave asked Charles what the sword’s backstory was. It was the only time his father ever spoke of his military service with him, Dave said.

During the invasion of Luzon, Charles was on an artillery ship that fired mortars at Japanese soldiers to assist the infantry on land, Dave said, adding the ship went on land and backed the invaders with more infantry.

Somehow, he said, Charles got ahead of his unit and discovered a dead Japanese general in a bunker — the sword stuck inside the general’s body.

“After they claimed that area, my dad actually had a Japanese prisoner who spoke English and he did some engraving on that sword. That’s why I’ve held onto it since then,” Dave said. “That would be my dad’s only war story.”

John Potchak also had an interesting war story, Dave said, noting his uncle was assigned to the USS Helena during the attack on Pearl Harbor but he was not aboard the ship during the attack.

The six Potchak brothers stand for a photo at a Wilmore High School reunion. Front row, from left: Frank, Chuck and Pete Potchak. Back row, from left: Mike, John and Steve Potchak. Photo courtesy of Dave Potchak

Michael Potchak served on the USS Bataan and saw some “major battles” in the Pacific, too, Dave said, adding he got the idea for the bridge dedication a couple years ago after noticing other bridges were being named for policemen, firefighters and veterans.

“I thought that would be a nice idea since my dad and his five brothers were all fortunate enough to serve and they all made it home safely. I just thought it would’ve been a nice idea to honor them,” Dave Potchak said.

Cambria County Commissioner Tom Chernisky said the Potchak brothers “remind us America’s strength has always been found in families who chose service over self.”

Their story is one of love for the country and their family, Chernisky said, adding the brothers had “a strong belief in freedom.”

Brothers’ service

The Potchak family Steve Potchak (from left), Frank “Pap” Potchak, Anastasia Makar “Baba” Potchak, John Potchak, Mike Potchak, Frank Potchak, Charles “Chuck” Potchak, Pete Potchak, Mary Potchak Marsalko and Catherine Potchak Timura are pictured in a photo outside their home. Photo courtesy of Dave Potchak

Stephen, Charles and Peter served in the Army while John, Michael and Frank served in the Navy during the war.

– Stephen was drafted into the Army on Feb. 5, 1942, and served as a medical administrative specialist in the Army Air Corps. He received the American Campaign, Good Conduct and World War II Victory medals.

He was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant on Dec. 1, 1946, at Andrew Field in Washington, D.C.

Stephen died March 28, 1994, and is buried at Resurrection Cemetery in Ben­salem, Bucks County.

– Charles enlisted in the Army on July 12, 1943. He was assigned to Battery C, 55th Field Artillery Battalion and fought in the New Guinea Campaign and the Battle of Luzon.

He received the Good Conduct, American Campaign and World War II Victory medals in addition to the Philippines Liberation medal with one bronze star and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal with two bronze stars.

Charles was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal on Feb. 9, 1946, at the Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Lebanon County. He died Feb. 20, 2012, and is buried at St. Michael Cemetery, Cambria County.

– Peter was drafted into the Army on Nov. 15, 1944. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 86th Chemical Mortar Battalion and fought in the Rhineland campaign.

He received the Distinguished Unit Badge with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Good Conduct, World War II Victory medals and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal with one bronze service star.

Peter was honorably discharged with the rank of Technician Fifth Grade on Dec. 29, 1945, at the Separation Center in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He died May 9, 1998, and is buried at Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Portage, Cambria County.

– John enlisted in the Navy on June 19, 1939. He was assigned to the Naval Training Station in Newport, Rhode Island; the USS Helena; the USS Ticonderoga; and the USS Cabot. He received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal with nine stars; the American Defense Service medal with one star; the Philippine Liberation Medal with one star; the American Campaign, Good Conduct and World War II Victory medals; the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon Bar and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

John was honorably discharged with the rank of Chief Electrician’s Mate on Nov. 28, 1945, at the United States Naval Personnel Separation Center in Sampson, New York.

He died May 12, 2010, and is buried at St. John Neumann Cemetery in Chalfont, Bucks County.

– Michael enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 15, 1942. He was assigned to the USS Bataan and the U.S. Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, Maryland.

He received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal with five stars, the Imperium Neptuni Regis and the American Campaign, Good Conduct, World War II Victory and Philippines Liberation medals.

Michael was honorably discharged with the rank of Electrician’s Mate First Class on March 5, 1946, at the U.S. Naval Personnel Separation Center in Bainbridge, Maryland. He died Feb. 2, 2009, and is buried at the Richland Mausoleum in Johnstown.

– Frank enlisted in the Navy on Feb. 23, 1943. He was assigned to the USS Kalinin Bay; U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center in Shoemaker, California; the S.S. Jacob Luckenbach; the S.S. Janet Lord Roper; U.S. Navy Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, New York; U.S. Navy Armed Guard Center in Little Creek, Virginia; and the U.S. Naval Training Station in Sampson, New York.

He received the American Campaign, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, World War II Victory and Good Conduct medals.

Frank was honorably discharged with the rank of Seaman First Class on Feb. 17, 1946, at the U.S. Naval Personnel Separation Center in Sampson, New York. He died Nov. 5, 2000, and is buried at St. John Neumann Cemetery in Chalfont.

Life after service

Upon returning to civilian life, Mike, Pete and Charles worked at U.S. Steel in Johnstown, while Stephen, John and Frank relocated to the Philadelphia area, Dave Potchak said.

Stephen worked as a laborer for the Budd Co. before working as a locomotive operator for more than 30 years at U.S. Steel, from which he retired.

John worked as an engineer at the Johnsville Naval Air Development Center in Warminster, Bucks County. He was a lifetime member of the Warminster Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6493. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in his free time.

Frank worked at U-Haul for 28 years.

Each of the brothers were blue-collar workers with strong work ethics, Dave Potchak said.

“I always looked up to all of them because, in my Uncle Mike’s terms, they all had savvy,” he said. “Even though they didn’t have college degrees, they were blessed with talents and a good work ethic.”

Dave said he wishes his father and uncles were still alive to see PennDOT officials unveil the sign Thursday, but it’s more difficult to get a bridge named after someone who’s not deceased, he learned.

“Maybe it all worked out for the best by waiting until a year and a half ago when I tried to get the ball rolling,” he said. “I know all of the family are proud of them. I’m sure that my dad and his brothers would be proud also.”

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.