Obituary of Petro R. Sodol

Petro Roman Sodol July 4, 1935 - December 31, 2025 Major in U.S. Army Decorated Vietnam War Veteran, including two Purple Hearts Prominent Ukrainian Scout Leader One of the most noted historians of the post WWII Ukrainian Liberation Movement Author of many articles and books Petro Roman Sodol, a man of exceptional experience and dedication to his many favorite causes, passed away at 90 years of age, on the last day of the year. New Year's Eve was a celebration which he looked forward to every year as a time to reunite with his lifelong friends from the Ukrainian Scouting Organization (Plast) which he belonged to starting in his youth. He loved reminiscing old times and fond memories with his dearest friends. Petro was born on July 4th, 1935, in Mykolaiv Village, Buchach County, Ternopil Oblast on the hills overlooking the River Dniester, starting a life course that flowed like this mighty river. His life in Ukraine was changed drastically by the outbreak of the Second World War when his family had to flee their homeland. At the end of the war, the Sodol family lived in Germany for a few years where Petro first was introduced to the Ukrainian Scouts - PLAST. By 1949, they were resettled permanently in the United States, residing in Brooklyn, where he attended Eastern District HS, graduating in 1954. He served 20 years in the U.S. Army retiring with the rank of Major. After volunteering for the draft in 1958, he began military training in Texas at Fort Hood. Next he was stationed in Germany for a few years, and after his return to the U.S. he was determined to become an officer and attended Officer Candidate School, graduating with the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1962 while stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia. But that was just the beginning of his goals. He next decided to become an Airborne Ranger and successfully completed a very strenuous and difficult training. The ranks of First Lieutenant, then Captain followed. In January of 1964 Petro volunteered to go to Viet Nam to fight the Communists, who had begun their invasion. After attending Vietnamese Language Classes in Washington D.C. and preparation to be an Advisor to the Vietnamese National Forces, Petro valiantly served two tours in Viet Nam, was wounded, saved many lives of Vietnamese and American soldiers and received medals both from the Vietnamese and the American Commands. He was very proud of having served in The Big Red One Division on his second tour. Among his many medals, he received the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, four U.S.Armed Forces Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts. His various duties in the U.S. Army included squad leader, instructor, company executive officer, company commander, battalion executive officer, and division staff officer (G-3/G-4). He ended his prestigious military career as Commandant of Cadets at the Fordham University ROTC program in 1978. After retiring from the US Army, Petro received his Master's Degree in Library Science from Queens College, City University of New York and started working for Prolog Research and Publishing Corporation in New York City. At Prolog he did extensive research on the Ukrainian Liberation Movement, concentrating on the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). His monumental UPA works include various tomes of the forty-four volume "Litopys UPA," two reference books of the series "Ukrainian Insurgent Army, 1943-1949," and the sold-out English book "UPA: They Fought Hitler and Stalin." In addition to research duties, he maintained contacts with UPA veterans in Ukraine, interviewing many of them and ended his career at Prolog, as its final president in the 1990's. Throughout his life, from his youth till death, Petro was a Ukrainian Scout (a Plastun), including many years as a senior counselor and member of the Plast Supreme Command. In the early 1950's Petro became a member of the oldest Plast Fraternity - Lisovi Chorty (Forest Devils) joining alongside his peers from the infamous scout pack Berkut (Golden Eagles). His proudest achievement includes the renewal of Plast in Ukraine after Ukrainian Independence in 1991. His first and strongest Plast passion was Lisova Shkola (Scout Leader Training School), established with others, as well as his very active and prominent leadership in 1964. Today it still serves as inspiration for leaders both here and in Ukraine! Major Petro Sodol is survived by his beloved WIFE of 62 years, Nila nee Kolody. CHILDREN - Chrystyna with her husband David Van Sise Peter with his wife Jacque GRANDCHILDREN - Taras Van Sise with his partner Melissa Gregor Van Sise with his wife Allegra Zenovia with her husband Tanner Stover Anastazia Van Sise GREAT GRANDSON - Gregory Van Sise …as well as two younger sisters, Natalka and Alexandra with their husbands George Dziadiw and Eugene Stakhiv, brother-in-law Bohdan Kolody, nephew/godson Danylo Dziadiw and niece Stenia Cardona with their spouses and children, niece Natalie Stakhiv, nephews Jeffrey Kolody with his spouse and Gregory Kolody with his spouse and children, niece Stefanie Kolody, plus extended family in the USA and Ukraine. WAKE on Friday, Jan 9, 2026 from 5:00 to 9:00 with service at 7pm at Knott Colonial Funeral Home, 2946 South Broad St, Hamilton, NJ 08610 FUNERAL MASS on Saturday, Jan 10, 2026 at 10:00am at St Josaphat"s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1195 Deutz Ave, Trenton, NJ 08611 INTERMENT following at the St. Andrew's Cemetery 135 Davidson Ave, Somerset, NJ, 08873 next to his beloved in-laws, Gregor and Zenovia Kolody. The family requests that donations be made in his memory to: Plast Conference - Lisova Shkola 1756 Flintville Road, Delta, PA 17314 OR Plast Ukraine https://www.plast.org.ua/donate/