Frank Hayostek
Encyclopedia
Frank Hayostek is an American veteran of World War II
who gained international notoriety for his attempts to spark a relationship with an Irish
milkmaid met through a message in a bottle
. The event became a media circus
on both sides of the Atlantic.
On Christmas, 1945, Medical Corpsman Frank Hayostek returned by sea from military duty in France. Feeling lonesome, he stuffed a note into an aspirin
bottle, corked it and tossed it over the side of the SS James Ford Rhodes. The note read: "Dear Finder, I am an American soldier . .. 21 years old . . . just a plain American of no wealth, but just enough to get along with. This is my third Christmas from home . . . God bless you."
Eight months later Hayostek received a response from Breda O'Sullivan, 18-year-old resident of Lispole
. The pair became pen pals and over the course of the next seven years they exchanged 70 letters. In the summer of 1952 Hayostek traveled to County Kerry
to finally meet O'Sullivan. His two week stay was shadowed by a flock of reporters and photographers who "tried to fan the romance into flame."
The publicity was too much for the shy O'Sullivan who would later describe the notoriety as "gruelling" and Hayostek returned to Pennsylvania
without her. In 1958 he married a local girl and the following year received his last letter from Breda. His wife, however, died in 1965 and Hayostek continued to wonder about his Irish romance that never was.
In 2004, the story was rekindled by The Tribune-Democrat
, and Patricia Dolan, an American who attempted to reconnect the two on her trip to Ireland. Breda, now Breda Hand, was found but had little interest in reconnecting, saying, “If I had known that I would get all that publicity by answering the letter, I would have left the bottle lying there.”
Frank Hayostek died on November 17, 2009 at the age of 85.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who gained international notoriety for his attempts to spark a relationship with an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
milkmaid met through a message in a bottle
Message in a bottle
A message in a bottle is a form of communication whereby a message is sealed in a container and released into the sea or ocean...
. The event became a media circus
Media circus
Media circus is a colloquial metaphor, or idiom, describing a news event where the media coverage is perceived to be out of proportion to the event being covered, such as the number of reporters at the scene, the amount of news media published or broadcast, and the level of media hype...
on both sides of the Atlantic.
On Christmas, 1945, Medical Corpsman Frank Hayostek returned by sea from military duty in France. Feeling lonesome, he stuffed a note into an aspirin
Aspirin
Aspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication. It was discovered by Arthur Eichengrun, a chemist with the German company Bayer...
bottle, corked it and tossed it over the side of the SS James Ford Rhodes. The note read: "Dear Finder, I am an American soldier . .. 21 years old . . . just a plain American of no wealth, but just enough to get along with. This is my third Christmas from home . . . God bless you."
Eight months later Hayostek received a response from Breda O'Sullivan, 18-year-old resident of Lispole
Lispole
Lispole is a Gaeltacht village in County Kerry, Ireland. It is situated on the Dingle Peninsula 5 miles east of the town of Dingle and 25 miles west of Tralee on the N86 National Secondary Route.-Transport:...
. The pair became pen pals and over the course of the next seven years they exchanged 70 letters. In the summer of 1952 Hayostek traveled to County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
to finally meet O'Sullivan. His two week stay was shadowed by a flock of reporters and photographers who "tried to fan the romance into flame."
The publicity was too much for the shy O'Sullivan who would later describe the notoriety as "gruelling" and Hayostek returned to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
without her. In 1958 he married a local girl and the following year received his last letter from Breda. His wife, however, died in 1965 and Hayostek continued to wonder about his Irish romance that never was.
In 2004, the story was rekindled by The Tribune-Democrat
The Tribune-Democrat
The Tribune-Democrat is a seven-day morning daily newspaper published in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc....
, and Patricia Dolan, an American who attempted to reconnect the two on her trip to Ireland. Breda, now Breda Hand, was found but had little interest in reconnecting, saying, “If I had known that I would get all that publicity by answering the letter, I would have left the bottle lying there.”
Frank Hayostek died on November 17, 2009 at the age of 85.