World War II civilian-soldier George C. Kana, Sr., was 22 and at Freeport, employed as a boilermaker with Dow Magnesium Company, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

A native of historic Dubina in Fayette County, which has been recognized as the first Czech settlement in Texas, he was bron Oct. 10, 1919 to Steve and Frances Kana.

He was drafted into the Army as a Private First Class on March 23, 1944 at Fort Sam Houston.

As a member of the 8th Infantry Regiment, 97th Division, Kana served in the American Theater of operations in LaFrance, France and Germany.

With the war over and after being in the Army for two years and four days, Kana received his discharge on March 27, 1946 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, with the rank of PFC. Among the honors he had earned were the American Theatre ribbons, Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory ribbon.

After getting out of service, Kana arrived in Palacios in April, 1946 and took a job repairing and upholstering furniture. He later established his own upholstery and furniture business, along with serving some 45 years with the Palacios Volunteer Fire Department.

Attending a barn dance at an old dairy farm at Blessing, he met his future bride, Elizabeth Frances Morris.

George and Elizabeth had six children: Edward J. Kana of Lake Jackson; Tony Kana, Joe Kana and George Kana, Jr., all of Palacios; Betty Ann Boyd of Austin; and Robert Kana of Santa Fe, Tex.

There are also 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

GEORGE KANA 2002

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