Theodore Ray Tonihka, Dutch heritage (Van Pelt) 8/7 blood Choctaw, roll #853, enlisted in the US Army on July 22, 1942 in Oklahoma City. He married Lavada Thomas (b.1929) in Sevier Co., AR. Aug 5, 1945, and they had four children that I know of.
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April of 1945--An Eagletown man received the Silver Star for rescuing two fallen soldiers in Nazi-occupied Italy. Theodore R. Tonihka, in a six-man combat patrol, was clearing houses of Nazi one morning and ran into a large group of the enemy. As he sought cover and returned fire, two members of his patrol were hit across a field. Tonihka ran across the field, drawing Nazis' fire, and picked the first man up and ran him to cover, taking a bullet in the leg as he did so. The bullet didn't slow him down; he went back for the second man and took him to cover, taking another bullet to the hip. After leaving the Army, Tonihka went to a Chicago electrical and radio school.
bio from contributor Brandon O'Rear
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RAY T. TONIHKA DIES IN CHICAGO
Ray Theodore Tonihka, 52, Chicago, died in Cook county hospital May 12. Born March 4, 1906, at Eagletown, he had resided at Chicago 13 years.
He was a Bible salesman, a member of the Presbyterian church and a veteran of World War I.
He is survived by his widow, Lavada; two sons, Wilson Tonihka, Idabel, and John Tonihka, Eagletown; four daughters, Theda Raye Ahdohlowah, Betsy and Pheodosia Tonihka, all of Eagletown; his father, John Tonihka, Eagletown; one sister, Mrs. John Bohanon, Eagletown; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services were set for 2:30 p.m. today at Mountain Fork Presbyterian Church south of Eagletown with Rev. Oscar Loman officiating. Arrangements and burial in Tonihka Cemetery are under direction of Coffey Funeral Home.
McCurtain Gazette
Wednesday, May 21, 1958
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April of 1945--An Eagletown man received the Silver Star for rescuing two fallen soldiers in Nazi-occupied Italy. Theodore R. Tonihka, in a six-man combat patrol, was clearing houses of Nazi one morning and ran into a large group of the enemy. As he sought cover and returned fire, two members of his patrol were hit across a field. Tonihka ran across the field, drawing Nazis' fire, and picked the first man up and ran him to cover, taking a bullet in the leg as he did so. The bullet didn't slow him down; he went back for the second man and took him to cover, taking another bullet to the hip. After leaving the Army, Tonihka went to a Chicago electrical and radio school.
bio from contributor Brandon O'Rear
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RAY T. TONIHKA DIES IN CHICAGO
Ray Theodore Tonihka, 52, Chicago, died in Cook county hospital May 12. Born March 4, 1906, at Eagletown, he had resided at Chicago 13 years.
He was a Bible salesman, a member of the Presbyterian church and a veteran of World War I.
He is survived by his widow, Lavada; two sons, Wilson Tonihka, Idabel, and John Tonihka, Eagletown; four daughters, Theda Raye Ahdohlowah, Betsy and Pheodosia Tonihka, all of Eagletown; his father, John Tonihka, Eagletown; one sister, Mrs. John Bohanon, Eagletown; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services were set for 2:30 p.m. today at Mountain Fork Presbyterian Church south of Eagletown with Rev. Oscar Loman officiating. Arrangements and burial in Tonihka Cemetery are under direction of Coffey Funeral Home.
McCurtain Gazette
Wednesday, May 21, 1958
Theodore Ray Tonihka, Dutch heritage (Van Pelt) 8/7 blood Choctaw, roll #853, enlisted in the US Army on July 22, 1942 in Oklahoma City. He married Lavada Thomas (b.1929) in Sevier Co., AR. Aug 5, 1945, and they had four children that I know of.
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April of 1945--An Eagletown man received the Silver Star for rescuing two fallen soldiers in Nazi-occupied Italy. Theodore R. Tonihka, in a six-man combat patrol, was clearing houses of Nazi one morning and ran into a large group of the enemy. As he sought cover and returned fire, two members of his patrol were hit across a field. Tonihka ran across the field, drawing Nazis' fire, and picked the first man up and ran him to cover, taking a bullet in the leg as he did so. The bullet didn't slow him down; he went back for the second man and took him to cover, taking another bullet to the hip. After leaving the Army, Tonihka went to a Chicago electrical and radio school.
bio from contributor Brandon O'Rear
-----------
RAY T. TONIHKA DIES IN CHICAGO
Ray Theodore Tonihka, 52, Chicago, died in Cook county hospital May 12. Born March 4, 1906, at Eagletown, he had resided at Chicago 13 years.
He was a Bible salesman, a member of the Presbyterian church and a veteran of World War I.
He is survived by his widow, Lavada; two sons, Wilson Tonihka, Idabel, and John Tonihka, Eagletown; four daughters, Theda Raye Ahdohlowah, Betsy and Pheodosia Tonihka, all of Eagletown; his father, John Tonihka, Eagletown; one sister, Mrs. John Bohanon, Eagletown; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services were set for 2:30 p.m. today at Mountain Fork Presbyterian Church south of Eagletown with Rev. Oscar Loman officiating. Arrangements and burial in Tonihka Cemetery are under direction of Coffey Funeral Home.
McCurtain Gazette
Wednesday, May 21, 1958
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April of 1945--An Eagletown man received the Silver Star for rescuing two fallen soldiers in Nazi-occupied Italy. Theodore R. Tonihka, in a six-man combat patrol, was clearing houses of Nazi one morning and ran into a large group of the enemy. As he sought cover and returned fire, two members of his patrol were hit across a field. Tonihka ran across the field, drawing Nazis' fire, and picked the first man up and ran him to cover, taking a bullet in the leg as he did so. The bullet didn't slow him down; he went back for the second man and took him to cover, taking another bullet to the hip. After leaving the Army, Tonihka went to a Chicago electrical and radio school.
bio from contributor Brandon O'Rear
-----------
RAY T. TONIHKA DIES IN CHICAGO
Ray Theodore Tonihka, 52, Chicago, died in Cook county hospital May 12. Born March 4, 1906, at Eagletown, he had resided at Chicago 13 years.
He was a Bible salesman, a member of the Presbyterian church and a veteran of World War I.
He is survived by his widow, Lavada; two sons, Wilson Tonihka, Idabel, and John Tonihka, Eagletown; four daughters, Theda Raye Ahdohlowah, Betsy and Pheodosia Tonihka, all of Eagletown; his father, John Tonihka, Eagletown; one sister, Mrs. John Bohanon, Eagletown; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services were set for 2:30 p.m. today at Mountain Fork Presbyterian Church south of Eagletown with Rev. Oscar Loman officiating. Arrangements and burial in Tonihka Cemetery are under direction of Coffey Funeral Home.
McCurtain Gazette
Wednesday, May 21, 1958
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