Serbs in America

IN THE SPIRIT OF NIKOLA TESLA – SERBS IN AMERICA       

Last year during the president’s speech to students in Washington D.C. about America, Nikola Tesla was mentioned  as having contributed a great deal to his adopted country. Thereby,  officially recognizing  the great American scientist of Serbian origin Nikola Tesla, for his many contribution towards the industrial and scientific development and success of  the United States.

Serbian people from the Balkans have been immigrating to  America for over two hundred years. Sailors, shipbuilders and fishermen from the Adriatic Coast,Eastern Orthodox  Serbian missionaries and adventurers with a variety of skills, and common laborers were among the first to migrate to the USA. The first officialy registered Serb to enter America was Đorđe Ribar Šagić, a young merchant, who arrived as a stowaway to Philadelphia in 1815. Šagić, who took an American name George Fisher, was a fighter for the independence of  New Mexico and Texas,became a director of customs and a judge, founder of a Serbian society and Masonic lodges, writer of one of the best American adventurous novels. As a historical person, Mr George Fisher is included in  a museum display in Houston, Texas.

Further, and as a result of Fisher’s personal and professional relationship with Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin, he was selected as a delegate to assist in the laying of the corner stone of the Washington National Monument.

In the beginning of the 19th century Serbian immigrants entered the southern Gulf States of– Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama at which time many were called upon to fight for the Confederacy.. They were also found entering  California, as it was a haven for agriculture, fishing and mining for gold.Later they continued to the copper and coal mining states Nevada, Utah, Montana, Arizona, Pennsylvania, etc.. and then also a gold mine, so Serbian pioneers conquered Western cities Los Angeles and San Francisco. Slightly they moved towards the continental part  – to Nevada, Utah, Montana, Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Many of the early settlers were also from the same region as that of Nikola Tesla, and were conscripted to serve in the US Army during WWI of which one in particular, Col.Louis Cekula was the awarded two Medals of Honor for bravery   serving both in the European and Pacific theaters.

Since Nikola Tesla came to New York City in 1902 he immediately began concentrating on his goals and objectives to fullfill his American Dream by introducing his many inventions and patents that would have a positive impact on his adopted country and the world to include alternating current, the radio, wireless communications, remote control technology, etc.. to name a few.

In the meantime, Nikola Tesla became an American idol and world known scientist. Today, he and his many inventions have been mentioned  on Google 15 million times.  The Museum of  Nikola Tesla in Belgrade receives 300.000 emails every year, from fans and scientist alike.Thus in Belgrade it is  often said with pride that Serbs in America are – Tesla’s people.

For two and a half  centuries Serbs have managed to become a part of US history. The early history was written by ship stowaway Đorđe Šagić, and famed  scientists Mihailo Pupin and Nikola Tesla. Both of them have established endowments in New York.

Forty-three years have passed since man has landed on the Moon. Names of astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins were written in golden letters in the history of humankind. However, not much is known about eight experts of Serbian origin who were instrumental in the design, development  construction and launch of  the many Apollo space capsules.. Milojko Mike Vučelić was a project manager, and one of the directors of  Apollo program from 1966 to 1978, and was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Johnson for his role as scientific  advisor during the rescue of the Apollo 13 from disaster.

In addition to Mike Vucelic as Apollo Program Manager, the following American Serbs were also members of the team:

David Vuich, NASA/Rockwell International Project/Program Coordinator

Danilo Bojic, Systems Engineer, Designer of Apollo Emergency Escape System

Slavoljub Vujic, Avionics Systems Engineer

Peter Gaich, Electronics Engineer

Milosh Subatovich, Structural Engineer

Peter Duich, Project Engineer

Other prominent  American-Serbs in the Aviation and Aerospace Industry:

Nickolas Chabraja, President/CEO General Dynamics (retired)

Phebe Novakovich, President/CEO General Dynamics

Welko Gasich, Sr, Vice President, Northrop Grumman, Chief Aero Engineer for the T-38, F-5, F-20 and B-2 Bomber

Dragisha (Gish) Jovanovich, President McCullough Aviation Designed the first Gyrocopter

Mike Begovich, President, Litton Industries

George Vucerovich, V. President, Lockheed/Martin Information Technologies

Vern Pupich, Test Engineer, Chief Test Pilot of DC-3 Douglas Aircraft

Dan Sabovich, President, Mojave Airport, Established Largest Flight Test Facility

Universities:

    Dr. Jasmina Vujic, Prof. of Nuclear Physics, Univ. of Calif

    Dr. Michael Pravica, Prof .of Physics Univ of Nevada

    Dr. Vojin Jaksomovich, Prof of Nuclear Physics (retired)

There are an estimated 5000 leading professors, assistants, scientists and researchers of Serbian origin in the US vowing to become the next Nikola Tesla.

Military:

    Lt. General Edward Radkovich USAF

    Maj. General Rudy Ostovich Army Aviation Commander

    Maj. General George Karamarkovich, US Marine Aviation Commander

    Maj. General Mele Vojvodich, USAF, SR 71 Blackbird Test Pilot

    Maj. General Mike Pavich, USAF Wing Commander

    Maj. General Gary Batinich, USAF Wing Commander

    Brig. General Karen Djurich, Information Technology

Medal of Honors:

     Capt. Lance Sijan, USAF Viet Nam

     Col. Mitchel (Vujnovich) Page US Marine Corp WWII

     Sgt/ Alex Mandich US Army WWII

     Col. Louis Cukela , Two Medals of Honor, WWII

The spirit of Nikola Tesla can be found in the future generations of Serbian immigrants and American  Serbs who consider him their personal scientific and humanitarian visionary.

We thank Nikola Tesla for his never ending legacy.