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Harry Supak was born in Fayetteville, Texas in January of 1932 in eastern Fayette County, close to the Colorado County line in the community known as “Pisek, Texas”. He attended school at the county line, one room school house. Later he attended school in Willow Springs, Texas. “We were a small share cropper family and I was an only son”, reports Supak.
At age 21 Harry Supak was drafted and shipped to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for eight weeks basic training. After eight weeks of basic training most of the guys got to go home for a leave and then they were assigned to some other station. Harry Supak had other ideas and signed up for another eight weeks of training, at the 51st AEB, 6th Armored Division still at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to become a heavy equipment operator. Until then the biggest machine Harry had operated was a horse drawn plow and a Farmall A tractor. Most of the guys Harry took basic training with went to Korea, as the conflict there was still going on.
After heavy equipment training Harry received orders, and he felt lucky as he was being shipped to Europe with the occupation forces to help rebuild what was bombed during World War II. Harry took eleven days leave and then went to New York to board a ship for Bremerhaven, Germany. From there he was shipped to Nellingen, Germany stationed with the 354th Engineer Construction Battalion. While there he worked rebuilding an airport, a helicopter landing pad, and a hospital train staging area. This was in Muenchweiler, Germany. While in Germany Harry took the opportunity to do some sightseeing in France and England. It was still not possible to travel through half of Europe if you were an America service man due to there being Communist countries.
Harry was relieved of duty in February of 1955 after serving 18 months in Europe. He was transferred to the Texas Army Reserve to finish 8 years of military service during which time he attained the rank of Corporal. Harry was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the German Occupation Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Harry Supak received an Honorable Discharge in February of 1960.
In November of 1955 Harry moved with his parents to East Bernard, Texas where Harry farmed and worked for Brown & Root Construction Company. Later Harry went to work for W-K-M Foundries in Richmond, Texas. In November of 1956 Harry married Helen Krueger of Frelsburg, Texas. They resided in East Bernard, Texas until 1961. In the early part of 1960 W-K-M closed. Harry did some odd construction jobs for a while. A job came open in the City of Eagle Lake, Texas for an equipment operator to help gravel all the streets in the flat area, rice mill area and the hill area towards the airport. Most of the streets were just dirt roads at that time. The job was to be temporary and last for three months. Harry took the temporary job and remained for 34 and a half years. Harry retired in 1994. During his time with the City of Eagle Lake, Texas Harry gained certifications as a Water Works Operator, Waste Water Operator, Gas Distribution Operator and as a Texas Plumbing Inspector. His last 12 years were as a Public Works Director for the City of Eagle Lake.
Harry and Helen have four children, Martha, Shirley, Carol and Larry. Harry formed a family band in early 1970. They played private parties when people asked them to go public. Shirley was 10 years old at the time and played drums. Martha was 12 and played bass guitar and both girls did the singing. Harry played lead guitar. He needed a rhythm guitar player and hired Billy McCage from Lissie, Texas. Billy, who was a brother to Linda of Linda’s Beauty Shop in Lissie, is now deceased. Carol also would play drums when Shirley would play an autoharp. Larry joined the band after the girls were married and left home. Larry remained with the band until the band retired in the year 2000. Larry played lead guitar, rhythm guitar and sang. Harry played lead guitar, rhythm guitar, accordion and harmonica. CDs of the Country Playboys are still available.
In 1992 they helped form the local Senior Citizen’s Dance at the former KC Hall in Eagle Lake, Texas. After five years the event was moved to the Eagle Lake Community Center where it is still going strong.
Harry’s hobbies over the years ranged from music, fishing, coon hunting, trapping and small engine repair which he did part time for 50 years. Harry is a Charter and Life member of the Eagle Lake VFW Post 8783, a Life member of the Fort Bend County Disabled American Veterans and a Life member of the Texas Trappers Association.
Harry Supak’s military unit, the 354th Engineer Construction Battalion has its own website at:
www.usarmygermany.com/usareur/94thengrbn.htm
