Speaker Series: Graveyards of a Mine: Domestic War Heroes of Montana Coal and Iron Co. (1943)

In 1943, an explosion occurred at the Smith Mine in Bearcreek, Montana. 74 miners perished during a voluntary overtime Saturday morning.
Hitler annexed Austria in 1938 and then began his European conquest in 1939, first invading Poland. Realizing Germany’s nefarious plans, mine workers increased their commitment to support the war effort. The first war bond drive occurred before Christmas, 1942. Frank and Jack Mourich, two Austrian immigrants working at the mine, ramped up their efforts as the war bond drives began in earnest. Government and media propaganda were used to encourage the purchase of war bonds by working class Americans. In September 1942, Frank Mourich purchased $75.00 in war bonds from a $132.00 net paycheck, 56% of his paycheck! In order to afford this investment in America’s future, the Mourich’s and other miners volunteered to work extra days offered by their company, it was necessary to provide food for their families and defend the country from the Axis forces. When they died in the Smith Mine Disaster on February 27th, 1943, these immigrant patriots became domestic war heroes. Yet, in the aftermath of the disaster, the families of these heroes were left desolate and abandoned by the federal government while returning veterans were greeted with parades and accolades. The sacrifices of these immigrants have, until now, remained in the background of American History.