John Sobchuk Kark

Colonel, Infantry, US Army, Retired

US Army Master Aviator

PERSONAL: Born 30 October 1928, in Lidykhiv, near Township Pochaiv, Volyn’ Region (then under Poland, until September 1939—now, Ternopil’ oblast’, Ukraine), in the Family of Agrephina (nee Kaminska) and Levko Sobchuk, as the 5th child of Seven children.

FAMILY HISTORY: My Father was a great influence in my early years. He completed Pochaiv Orthodox Seminary in 1914. He was mobilized into the Russian Army; sent to Officer Candidate School; then sent into combat, serving as Infantry Platoon Leader and later as Company Commander. In1917, he joined the newly organized Ukrainian military of the Ukrainian National Republic. As an Infantry Company Commander - fought against the Red and the White Moscovia until the end of WWI. In 1921, he was elected to the Polish Parliament (Sejm) – but did not serve due to the Ukrainian boycott of cooperation with Polish government until 1928. Father was the half-owner of Church Rebuilding business in Pochaiv. He worked family’s 7 hectares of land and was deeply involved in scientific agriculture. The land had had over 300 varieties of Fruit trees. In addition, there were 300 Honeybee colonies. In the local Community he organized Cooperatives, Community Banks and worked toward Better Education for Ukrainians. During Polish occupation, Father was under House Arrest until September 1939. Despite this, high Polish officials such as the Minister of Agriculture, respected his abilities.

At the beginning of German-Soviet War (22 June 1941), my older 18-year brother was member of Ukrainian underground. He was called to “Fight for the Freedom of Ukraine”. Following the footsteps of my older brother, two days later, I decided to fight for Ukraine “my way.” Neither my brother nor I consulted with the Family about our decisions (now – it is sad memory about such conduct). During WWII, under Soviet occupation, many members of my family perished; my Parents, 3 Sisters, 2 Brothers, 2 Grandchildren and one son-in-Law (husband of Sister Helen). Of the survivors, the 2nd Son-in-Law (husband of Sister Vera) was drafted into the Red Army in 1940, Sister Maria married when underage and I, at the end of WWII, was in Western Europe. In 1946, “US Committee to Save European War Orphans” brought me to the US where I pursued advanced education and investigated career opportunities. In 1955 I married Nona Kolelsnyk Gardner. We have two daughters and two granddaughters.

EDUCATION: Education during chaotic war time was a challenge but always extremely important. Primary school (7yrs) in the villages of Lidykhiv and of Budky and the town of Brody. Secondary school began in 1943 at the briefly functioning Gymnasium in Kremenets City, continued at Business School in Lviv City, completed at the Ukrainian Real Gymnasium, Displaced Persons Camp, Zalzburg, Austria. Higher Education was always a priority; coursework being done in the evenings while working full time. Beginning in 1948, at Monterey Peninsula College, Monterey, CA, completed in 1950, with Associate in Arts degree. 1n 1954 earned BS degree (History) from University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Earned MA degree (International Organizations and Public Law) in 1956 from MD University (+courses at the Texas University at Austin, TX). In 1965 earned a 2nd Graduate MS degree (Management of Public Property) at the US Army Command and General Staff College, Ft Leavenworth, Kansas in. Ph.D. "Modern History of Eastern Europe” started in 1968, at Columbia University, NYC (completed All Required Courses in 1971; in 1978, defended Dissertation “Views of the British Government on the Question of Ukrainian Independence, 1919-1921” –researched newly opened documents at Public Libraries in London -- at the Ukrainian Free University, Munich, Germany. Completed 1-yr Postdoctoral Program at the School of Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, with Research Topic: “Technicians, Engineers, Technical Scientists in the USA – Their Education systems, Employment, Quality of performance;” attended classes, participated in discussions, visited 28 Technical Educational Institutions to check out statistical information and to discuss local technical projects. In addition, as Military serviceman, completed 1-yr Foreign Language Course, Parachutist- Jump Master-Army Aviation Pilot (Airplanes & Helicopter Courses; schools for Infantry Officers, Army Command and General Staff College.

CAREER: US Army; Summer 1947 – September 1982. Almost 4yrs Enlisted service first as Foreign Language student, then as noncommissioned officer; Foreign Language Instructor. In 19XX

became an officer serving over 31yrs as Infantry Officer and Army Aviation Pilot. Career highlights include –

Wartime leadership positions:

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Commanding Army Infantry Aviation units in combat: Korea (War Zone 1951-52) as Infantry Platoon Leader, later Company Commander. Airborne Tactical Controller of Attack Aircraft on Frontline; Commander of Mechanized Company and later Mechanized Battalion outside of War Zone.

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In South Vietnam (War Zone), 1963-64-- Commander, Army Aviation Reconnaissance Unit of 32 Airplanes and 53 Aviators.

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In South Vietnam (War Zone), 1971-72 (as Colonel) – Chief, Army Aviation Operations & Training, Headquarters, US Forces in Vietnam-- and later, Senior Adviser to Commanding General, Vietnamese Army Training Command.

Training and Academic positions:

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Senior Instructor and co-Director of Special Course for Senior Officers for the Management/Command of several Army Aviation Units, Dept of Tactics, US Army Aviation School, Ft Rucker, AL).

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Assistant Professor & Chief, Foreign Language Program, US Military Academy, West Point, NY.

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Professor-Director Army ROTC at MIT, Cambridge, MA

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Taught classes at MIT on the “15 Nation-States of Eastern Europe Since WWII” and “US and Soviet Military in the Lives of Their Nations.”

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Senior Instructor-Researcher at the National Defense University, Washington, DC – Topics: “Warsaw Pact – Nations of Southern Europe” and “Education as means to improve effectiveness of Nation’s workforce and Nation’s Defense capabilities”.

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Served as Operations and Training Officer at Battalion, Regiment-Brigade, Division; as Sr Training Staff Officer at HQ, US Army Doctrines Command and the US Army Training Command.

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Served as Senior US Army Assistance Officer in Greece, and briefly, as Special Adviser to Australian Military Academy.

After retirement from the Military

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Director and Academic Dean – directed training US Navy Technicians, ALL Specialties (except Submariners and Nuclear Power). 12 Departments, 327 Permanent Instructors and up to 180 Temporary instructors. Once more – Retired in 1993.

1993-PRESENT: Formed-the “Committee to Assist Ukrainian Orphans and Children without Parental Care” in close cooperation with the “Ukrainian American Relief Committee” (UUARC) in Philadelphia, PA. The Committee consists of Five Directors US-Canada and Five in Ukraine. As the Head and the Executive Director of the Committee undertook 29 month-long Assistance Trips to Ukraine. During those trips conferred with Ukrainian leaders and educators, visited orphanages throughout Ukraine providing direct support and assistance to individuals and schools. Completed 11 Major Assistance Projects. “Stipends for Students-Orphans in Ukraine”- personally presented stipends to 11,398 Students-Orphans at All 1,194 Institutions of Higher Learning where there were orphans – Costs=$525,003.00. “Eyeglasses for Orphans in Ukraine” – 783 Orphanages-Internats, 158,891 children – Purchased and delivered 20,987pairs of eyeglasses to children who needed them –Costs=$130,166.00 (UUARC funded ½ of the costs). Presently, the Committee is implementing a Program to provide Eyeglasses for Public School Children, a Program “Best Student in Class,” and publishing “Little Reader” Book for 2nd Graders.