Steve Dacko was born on April 30, 1918 in Carteret, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA to parents Theodore Dacko DOB unknown. ?(1894-)? and Martha Yavorsky DOB Unknown ?(1896-)?. He had three brothers. The second brother passed away at the age of two.
My father was raised in Ukraine and came through Elis Island with two of his cousins, Steve and Ann Yavorsky, at the age of 14, after graduating high school in Ukraine. The three of them settled in New York USA. Steve Yavorsky would never live in any other state, NY would be his permanent home. Ann would marry George Tizio and move to New Jersey, they would have one daughter Teresa Tizio. My grandmother Martha tried to immigrate to the USA but had my father before being departed back to the Ukraine. She her baby, my father back to Ukraine, where he would be raised.
His mother Martha Yavorsky would have her son, Steve Dacko baptized in the Ukrainian Orthodox church around or about August of 1918. His baptismal name was Stefan Pavel in Slavic, in English it translates to Steven Paul, but this is a baptismal name, and not his name on his birth certificate. he absolutely hated the name Steven and would fell ridiculed if called that. His last name was also changed by the church from Dashko to Dacko, the SH were dropped and a C added. However the pronunciation is the same as it was before the name change. Evidently this had happened frequently in Ukraine back then. On his birth Certificate his name is Steve Dacko.
In 1932 when he was 14, would set foot on American soil leaving at that time the USSR Ukraine forever. He did not speak English when he arrived in America, nor could he read or write in the English language. He did speak six different languages which he could read and write in those languages fluently. That would be Ukrainian, his mother tongue, German, Polish, Russian, Romanian, and I can't recall the last language at this time. He learned the English language as well as reading as the written word while living in NYC. Sink or swim situation.
He received many medals, including the American Defense Service Medal, National Defense, WWII Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, a Purple Heart, and The Bronze Star. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his heroic duty by swimming across a river and disarming a bomb under a bridge resulting in saving the many lives of his platoon.
The Bronze Star is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States after December 7, 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.
He held the rank of a Technician Fourth Grade (officially abbreviated as T/4) was one of three United States Army technician ranks established on January 8, 1942 during World War II. Those who held this rank were often addressed as Sergeant. This is according to the Military records receive from the National Personnel Records center in St. Louis Missouri.
He enlisted into the US Military on March 19, 1941 in New York City New York. From there he would go Fort Jackson Combat Training, boot camp, in South Carolina, where the young men would train with wooden riffles. The real one were being used to fight over seas. He was assigned to the Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, and held the rank of sergeant, and Selectees (enlisted Men). He served in the US Army until his Honorable discharge date of September 24, 1945.
His job title in the U.S. Army was a Communications Specialist. He was an Interpreter/Translator, Cryptographer, and Field Interpreter, he would also relay propaganda to his superiors that was being communicated by the Germans. His fluency in German was an asset to the U.S. Army and to the war.
Unfortunately many military records at the National Personal Records Center were destroyed where they were store on July 12, 1973. Most were for those men and woman who served in the U.S. Army between 1912 through 1959. I recall seeing and holding the medals, and listening to the stories from my father about the things that happened. His medical records were also destroyed, but I do know he had some sinus problems, and he also had a dent in his forehead where a bullet hit his helmet. Guess the helmet saved his life.
He married Lola Mae Allison (1932–2000) in August 1948 in New York City. However they remarried in May 22, 1953 in Jackson, Missouri, USA. The couple lived in Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri. They celebrated their wedding anniversary in mid August though. In 1966 the had their one and only child together, Alison Ann Dacko. Lola Mae was 34, and Steve Dacko was 48.
He would eventually move to the Midwest. I believe he lived in Arkansas for a very short time until moving to Missouri. Steve and Lola would move to Smithville Missouri, and finally move to Kansas City proper, North land in Clay County where he would buy a house and live the American dream. Steve Worked for Owens Corning Fiberglass for 30 years before he was forced into medical retirement. He received a medallion with a diamond, a ruby, and an emerald set into it at his retirement party he attended. He would retire early because of medical reasons in 1978.
He began at Owen Corning Fiberglass by unlatching trains, then moved up to the role of a batch operator, later he would be promoted to the Binder room working an automated system by way of a computer. Around 1973/74, he along with many others would suffer from lung problems due to the harsh chemicals and asbestoses they worked around. After a short time in the hospital and a month off of work he returned to work. In 1976 he would suffer a major heart attack. He would undergo open heart surgery, a triple by-pass. At that time Open heart surgery was rather experimental and a triple-by pass would be the first hospital in Kansas City to preform one. A cardiac specialist was flown from New York who had preformed triple by-pass surgeries to teach the cardiologist how to do a triple-bypass at St. Lukes hospital in Kansas city Missouri.
Aliann Dacko 
