The 17

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Is Naval Veteran PN1 Eva Binns the first African-American Female Veteran to have her remains unclaimed? The longest in time to have remains unclaimed, is she the first female veteran in Philadelphia to go unclaimed, the first unclaimed female veteran to be interred in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, or is there another story here?

Her accomplishments in a pre-civil rights era were stunning. Eva’s story is complex, intriguing and inspiring. However, there are still many questions that needs to be answered. Such as we need an explanation why it took three years for her remains to be buried?

There is almost no information available publicly about her final years and many of my findings lead me to more questions. The apartment complex she lived prior to passing is completely vacant, upon her passing her remains went unclaimed and she was interred three years later with 16 other unclaimed veterans on March 30, 2017 (Foster, 2017).

Pvt. Malcolm Drummond was interred at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, PA (VA.gov, 2018), and listed as one of the “Lonely 17…U.S. veterans whose remains went unclaimed by family members and sat in a morgue in Philadelphia for several years (Foster, 2017)”. Like many Malcolm Drummonds throughout world history – his life seems anything but “lonely”. Was Pvt. Malcolm Drummond also the Mr. Malcolm Drummond the community, and volunteering, leader of Philadelphia who left a “legacy” (Lin, 2013) described in several newspaper articles? Or, are these two different people who both served their country in different ways?

Either way, both of their life stories are important to document and demonstrates that the Project NAGA®, Inc. Bridge Model™ is effective at telling the life stories of both civilian and military trailblazers. There is one interesting fact of this research. During the last 800 years, if your name was Malcolm Drummond then, throughout history you probably lived a very colorful and exciting life. And the approach of this life story is to honor Pvt. Malcolm Drummond by telling the history of his name and comparing his accomplishments to other Malcolm Drummonds during the last eight centuries.

For unknown reasons, as a baby, Sgt. Frank Peter Chervoitch was abandoned by his parents and seems to have lived his entire childhood in a Depression-era orphanage from the late 1920s until the mid-1940s. Following his hugely successful tour in the United States Army, he moved back to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and appears to have no criminal record his entire life – not even a parking ticket. Sadly, after his death, Sgt. Frank Peter Chervoitch’s remains went unclaimed for years (Foster, 2017) , and while his body was in the morgue, his house was listed for sheriff’s auction (Philly.com Marketplace Legal Notices, 2015).

Thank you to Jerry Phillips, Ink Disciples Tattoo, and Pastor Kris, Valley Family Church – Salida.

Unfortunately, when he was interred along with 16 other unclaimed veterans, the story attracted almost zero Likes/Shares/Comments, and only about 50 people attended the ceremony (Foster, 2017). Let us ensure the entire country knows the story of Sgt. Frank Peter Chervoitch. Please Like/Comment/Share: To show we have not forgotten Sgt. Frank Peter Chervoitch and his legacy.

Frank’s life story is one of overcoming all odds to have a prosperous tour in the Army, and winning the top cook award at the Army Cooks Course. There are still many questions that need to be answered, but we are only documenting his life story based on current available information. He appears to have been a model citizen his entire life. He took a job after leaving the orphanage in the mid-1940s and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. After basic training, he went to the Army’s culinary school and was the winner of the top cooking award in 1947 (Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 1947). 

William Heenan was born on September 16, 1955, and passed away on October 26, 2013. He was a member of the US Air Force, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt), which suggests he spent at least three years in the service. He was born in the 1950s and grew up during the 1960s and 1970s, a time when popular bands such as The Beatles and Led Zeppelin dominated the music scene. It is likely that Heenan enjoyed listening to these bands while serving in the Air Force, sharing his love of music with his fellow soldiers. Music has the ability to bring people together, and we can use Heenan’s life to remind us of this, as he lived during one of the most iconic eras in music history.

William J Thomas was born on January 27, 1920, and passed away on August 9, 2013. He served in the US Army during World War II and achieved the rank of Private. Thomas was laid to rest at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Given his life span, we know that Thomas probably had to survive the Great Depression at a young age. Could this be part of the reason he joined the Army, to find a means to provide for his family during the depression? Or maybe he was drafted for it, as he would’ve been 19 and eligible to be drafted during this time. Nonetheless, while these questions may never have answers, we know that Thomas was a dedicated member of the US Army who helped us by serving his country. 

Alan Jay Tomar was born on April 2, 1947, and passed away on October 6, 2014. He was laid to rest at Washington Crossing National Cemetery. Alan served in the US Army during the Vietnam War and attained the rank of Specialist 4 (SP4). It is likely that he served at least two years in the Army, as this was often the minimum requirement for a person to achieve the rank of SP4. It is also possible that he was drafted to serve during the war.

There is limited information available about Alan Tomar, but a death notice published in The Philadelphia Inquirer on June 17, 1981, provides some additional details about him and his family. The notice mentions Alan's father, Henry H. Tomar, who passed away on June 16, 1981, as well as his mother, Harriet nee Singer. The notice also mentions that Alan had a brother named Shawn Tomar. The notice includes invitations to the funeral for friends and relatives, as well as members of various clubs, including the Cancer League of Philadelphia. It is possible that the Tomar family were philanthropists who donated to cancer research, or simply members of the Cancer League who helped raise funds for research. Regardless, it is clear that there is more to Alan Tomar's story than what is written on his gravestone.

Charles W. Kinsky was born on December 7, 1944, in New Jersey to unknown parents. He married Linda Dorothy Clark on October 1973 in West Deptford, New Jersey, when he was 28 years old. Kinsky served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War and achieved the rank of Seaman, though it is not clear for how long. It is likely that he served at least 18 months, based on his rank. Kinsky's wife passed away on November 16, 2003, when he was 58 years old, and he did not remarry before his own death. He appears to have lived in New Jersey throughout his life and died on February 5, 2014, at the age of 69. He was buried in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Harvey Goldberg was born on September 15, 1939, to Samuel and Bernice Goldberg in Pennsylvania. He served in the US Army, achieving the rank of SP5. It is not clear how long he served, but this rank usually indicates a minimum of two years of service. Harvey's mother passed away on December 2, 1970, while his father's date of death is unknown. Harvey appears to have spent his entire life in Pennsylvania, with the exception of his time in the Army and was buried there after his death on July 8, 2013, in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Paul Ernst Weller was born on June 2, 1950, and died on December 18, 2015. Unfortunately, most of the facts we have about him only come from his gravestone. We know he served a considerable amount of time in the US Air Force given his ranking of TSgt (Technical Sergeant) which takes an average of 12 years to achieve. Despite this minimal amount of information, there is one other piece of information that can prove to be significant in uncovering the life of Paul Weller. If we go back in time to the year Weller was born, we can find a manifest of passengers on a ship called the S. S. Washington arrived at the port of New York on December 6, 1950. On this manifest, we not only find the name of Paul Weller but the names of other members of the Weller family as well. According to this manifest, Weller was 5 weeks old and had 6 siblings that came with him to the port of New York along with their mother. More interestingly, there is no father listed on the manifest, just a mother by the name of Johanna Weller. Though the manifest does state that she was married at the time of her arrival in New York. Could the father have gone ahead of them? Or maybe even stayed behind. Either way, for a time this mother was left to take care of 7 children on her own. Even more interesting is the number of bags that Johanna brought with her to New York. According to the manifest, Johanna only had 3 pieces of baggage with her! For a mother of 7 children, isn’t it shocking that Johanna was able to carry everything she needed for the journey in 3 bags? This number of bags only leads us to create more theories. Maybe she only had 3 bags because her husband was waiting for them with supplies already. Or could it be, they had to leave their home in a rush and didn’t have any time to pack things except for the necessities? Or maybe they were a poorer family, with very few possessions, coming to the United States in the hope of obtaining more. Unfortunately, we may never find the answers to these questions, given that there is very little documentation on Paul Weller and his family, but maybe through further research, more pieces will be uncovered to the puzzle of Paul’s life. 

Robert Henry Riehl was born on January 14, 1943, to Henry A Riehl (29) and Beatrice Lapinski (26) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Riehl served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War Era. It is not clear how long he served, but his rank typically indicates a minimum of 18 months of service. In August 1977, Riehl's father passed away, and his mother died 10 years later. Riehl spent his entire life in Philadelphia and died on August 21, 2013, at the age of 70. He was laid to rest in Newtown, Pennsylvania. 

Richard Allen Wells was born on October 16, 1927, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Leon and Rose Wells, who were 32 and 28 years old respectively at the time of his birth. He had five siblings, all of whom had passed away by 2017. Tragically, several members of the Wells family died at a young age, including his sister Dorothy Wells Harris, who passed away when Richard was just 14, and his brother Theodore Wells, who passed away four years later. His father Leon Wells passed away at 37, and three of his siblings did not live past 44. Richard, two of his siblings, and his mother were the only ones in the family to live into their 60s.

Richard registered for the draft when he turned 18, but it is not known if he was ever actually drafted. However, we do know that he served in the US Army during the Korean War, though his rank during his service is not known. He married Dorothy Dawkins and the couple had a son who is still alive today. Dorothy passed away on July 15, 1997, and Richard never remarried. He passed away on July 23, 2014, in his hometown of Philadelphia at the age of 86. Due to his military service, he was given military honors at his burial at Washington Crossing National Cemetery.

Allen Patrick Blake Jr. was born on February 24, 1953, and passed away on October 9, 2014. He was a US Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War and achieved the rank of Private. It is possible that he was drafted like many others during the war, but regardless of how long he served, he made a sacrifice by dedicating a portion of his life to protecting and serving our country. Despite the fact that he may not have been claimed, his sacrifice will not be forgotten and his story will be remembered and honored. He is now laid to rest at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, where he is honored among his military peers.

Roger Joseph Walsh was a highly dedicated and patriotic soldier who served his country with distinction in the United States Army. He was born on October 28, 1938, and attained the rank of Specialist 4 (SP4) during his military career. Despite the scarcity of information about him, it is evident that Walsh was a determined and dedicated individual who made a significant contribution to his country through his military service. In recognition of his service, he was laid to rest with military honors at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery following his passing on March 31, 2014.

Walter Eugene Hodges III was a patriot who dedicated his life to serving his country as a US Army veteran during the Vietnam War. He achieved the rank of Private First Class (PFC) during his service and was born on May 30, 1947. Sadly, he passed away on July 28, 2013. Although there may not be a lot of information available about his service, we honor his commitment and sacrifice to our country. His grave will forever serve as a reminder of his heroism and his story will not be forgotten.

 Harold Curtis Selagyi was a soldier who dedicated part of his life to protecting our nation. Born on June 22, 1946, he lived in Pennsylvania before ultimately settling down in Pottstown and calling it home until 2013 when he passed away at the age of 67. A patriot through and through, Harold's final resting place proudly lies with military honors at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in honor of all that did for us during his lifetime.

John August Winkler was born on August 1, 1949, and passed away on July 8, 2013. He served his country as a Private (PVT) in the US Marine Corps during the Vietnam war. Given his rank, it is likely he got drafted into the war like many others did at the time, and given his rank, we know he gave a significant portion of his life to serving and defending our country. In honor of his sacrifice, he has been laid to rest with military honors at Washington Crossing National Cemetery where he lies among his military brethren. 

Robert Michael Calvo was a dedicated patriot who served his country as a Vietnam veteran in the US Army. He held the rank of Private First Class (PFC) during his service and was born on November 29, 1942, and he passed away on January 16, 2014. Though there may be little information known about his specific service, we can gather that he likely served at least a year in the army. Additionally, the fact that his last name, Calvo, is Italian in origin, it is possible that he came from a family of Italian immigrants who came to America in search of new opportunities. Despite the questions left unanswered about his story, Robert Michael Calvo will always be remembered for his service and dedication to our country, and his grave at Washington Crossing National Cemetary marks his final resting place among his military brothers in arms.