Neumann Family Fled Ukraine in 1951 Aboard the USS Muir, Move to Harlem, MT

 

March 22, 2023

Many readers of the Blaine County Journal really enjoy learning about the various trials and tribulations that local residents have endured through the years. We have done stories on family ranches celebrating 100 years, to achievements of residents accomplishing great things. We have highlighted businesses, individuals and community groups that have made each of their communities great. We have done stories on the successes of endangered species reintroductions on Fort Belknap as well as academic and athletic achievements from Hays/Lodge Pole, Harlem, Turner, Chinook and Aaniiih Nakoda College. All of these stories have been great to pass on to our readers but every now and again we get word of some very interesting travels from our readers have had their own tales to share.

Such is the case of long time reader Bert Neumann whose family fled Ukraine aboard the USS Muir back in 1951. As Ukraine fights a Russian Invasion today in a war that has now passed the one year mark, the tale of the Neumann family more than 70 years ago is very similar. Soviet dictator Josef Stalin enforced the 'Holodomor' in Ukraine in 1932-33 that killed millions of people. In an attempt to force the freedom seeking Ukrainian people into collectivization of the farms, seizing food from the people and forcing Ukrainians to roam the countryside for anything they could find to eat. The war with Germany changed the Russian focus and gave some a chance to escape following its conclusion.

The USS Muir played a vital role in helping refugees flee across the Atlantic. The USS General C. H. Muir (AP-142) was launched November 24, 1944 under Maritime Commission and eventually was transferred On March 1, 1950 to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS General C. H. Muir (T-AP-142). The USS Muir helped thousands of refugees escape Europe while in Service. On March 16, 1950 the USNS General C. H. Muir arrived in Sydney, Australia with 1,278 refugees from Europe. The USS General C. H. Muir made one more such trip to Melbourne with 1,280 refugees in October 1950. On May 17, 1951 the USS Muir arrived in New York carrying refugees from Bremen Germany.

The Neumann family arrival in Harlem was made possible by a sponsorship from a rancher/farmer who lived in Harlem. According to friends of the family after a 12 day voyage, the Neumann family boarded a train in New York, and moved to Harlem, Montana, in 1951 with their four children. Bert was 2 years old at the time and was born in Salzburg, Austria. Their ship landed at New York City, passing by the Statue of Liberty and from there the family made the long trip west by train. The Neaumann's maintained their home in Harlem until May 1965, when they moved to Chinook.

Their new home was a small farmhouse on the Sugarbeet factory road. Bert attended Chinook High School for his Junior and Senior years, graduating in 1967. Following high school, Bert began a career working construction. While Bert was working on a site in Wyoming, he was involved in a serious accident leaving him in need of extensive care. Following the accident, Bert lived with his parents who had relocated to Canada. Bert lived with his parents until the time of their passing. In 2015, Bert was moved to Lake View Care Center, to be closer to family.

Fred Jenneskens, a family friend says, "I am a frequent visitor to the Care Center and was very surprised when I saw Bert. He was only one grade behind me at CHS. We talked often, and he shared his Chinook Breeze annual with me, as well as the Harlem annual. He even showed me the page where I had autographed his annual, many years ago. Often, he will pull out his orange 'C' that he got for lettering in football. Bert is so proud of his Chinook heritage. We have gotten the Journal for many years, so for the past 8 years, I have shared it with Bert. According to the nurses, he reads (and rereads) that paper, from front to back, and back to front!"

Lake View Care Center was closed last fall, and Bert moved to Heritage Place in Kalispell. At 73 years of age, and after his accident, it still brings him happiness, to read about Chinook and Harlem even though he may not remember most folks. Bert's older brother, Waldemar (Whitey) said "We were just a refuge family like many others. Every family had equally varied and interesting backgrounds and went through hardships with hard work and courage. When they came here, they couldn't speak English. The three oldest kids started school without knowing English."

 
 

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