The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-11-03

fought side by side with the men, And like the men they went down under the enemy guns, the guns of terror and shame. But they, the women of Poland will rise again, If we the women of America do our share to help bring victory to our world again"
 So speaks the Coast Guards SPAR Helen Gragory, founder and organ izer of the famed Polish Women Sharpshooters Civilian Regiments which fought SO bravely during the invasion by the Nazis, many of whom are now in concentration camps in Germany and Poland.
 Only twenty four, the slender, al- most frail looking SPAR, born in Newark, N. J. was taken by her en- Rineer father at the age of two to Jaslika, Poland, where she spent most of the years of her life Edu- cated at the private St. Catherine School there, upon graduation In 1856 she wanted to do her bit to help prepare for the war which everyone knew was coming.
 American Citizen
 Being an American citizen, she wus denied membership in the Pol ish Women'S Police Brigade, Down. cast she went to her brother-in Jaw Capt. Wilhelm AnZlolek of the Pol ish Army and sought his aid He suggested that she form some organ ization among the younger girls
 Helen says she was also inspired by the epic story of the children of the town of Lwow who in the last war organized Q military unit and recaptured their city from the in- vaders. "If the children could do that for Poland then we girls could do our bit now" Helen told group of girls in her home town.
 Enlisting the aid Of the Mayor she procured the services of an army officer to drill the group. At first only twenty five girls were organized, but later the Idea spread to other cities and soon all Poland had It's Women Sharpshooters, at tired In smart green uniforms with the white eagle of Poland on the brass buttons. Some difficulty was encountered in obtaining weapons but when the local government saw the possibilities of the group guns and ammunition were supplied,
 When the Nazl herds swept Into Poland and ground the small but determined people into submission. SPAR Helen was not with her Sharpshooters. She had left Poland In 1886 to return to America for Q visit. In 1887 she was anxious to return but was refused passage.
 But she knows her girls fought bravely. Some died, she says, still others were captured. T received letters from some gayin ttey arc in 'convents'. That means that they are In concentration camps. Of late l have heard nothing, Who can say what those fiends have done to them"
 When she was stranded in this country. which she loves and never wants to leave, Helen looked about for work to do People didn't under stand what was going on on the other side. War was so remote. So I made speeches for the Red Gross to try and tell as best could what WGs in store for us,
 After visiting Canada SPAR Helen decided to take job in q defense factory, "so that could help make tools which forge victory"
 Sought Service
 But service In uniform was what Helen really wanted, Since over here girls cannot fight, or do not have to defend their very lives as did the girls of Poland, she wanted tie next best thing service with one Of the armed forces. q chose the Coast Guard because they interested me the most. They seened so young and active" she says.
 T want to do all that l can, We women must do so much, The women overseas are doing all that they can--.it is the least that they expect Of us."
 If only every girl in this country could have seen what have seen. If you could talk with young Ger mans as I have done and realize how they feel about war. They will all have to be beaten down. They consider 1t m honor to die for their rotten country. They will never give up. I think they will have to be crushed. almost individually be- fore they give in. We will get them all down soon, but 1t will be hard"
 With great earncstness and force- fitness the slender Coast Guard SPAR, obviously moved by her ex- perience speaks with determination of the people who raised her from infancy.
 "Those German monsters have al- most leveled our country. They have smashed our churches and killed 50 many of our people. But this war will not change the faith