Emil Stefan Mentel

Farmer, former cavalry officer, author

Born Oct. 26, 1916, Czaniec, Poland; came to U.S., 1988; son of Emanuel and Franciszka (Darowska); married Mary (Drucka-Lubecka).

Education: Central School of Agriculture, Warsaw (Poland), 1936-38; cadet officer, Cavalry Cadets' School, Grudziadz (Poland), 1938-39; senior diploma (in forestry), Edinburgh (Scotland), 1948.

Career: officer, 1st Chevauleger's Regiment, Warsaw, 1938-39, Polish Armed Forces in the West, 2nd Corps, Polish Carpathian Lancers Regiment, 1940-45; farm manager, Castle Milk, Dumfries (Scotland), 1949-51, Castle Zonga, Inyazura (South Rhodesia), 1951-61; farmer, owner, "Tatry" Farm, Umtali (South Rhodesia), 1961-81; field manager, Woringham Vineyards, Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), 1983-88; Retired.

Author: The Quest of Freedom; co-author, The Carpathian Lancers - Short Story, The Poles in Rhodesia, Vademecum of Civil Defense Officer; articles in military magazines: Bellona, Cavalry Ouarterly, The Carpathian Lancer, and in Lowiec Polski.

Member of: Polish Library, Paris (France); president, Polish Association in Zimbabwe, 1981-83; Polonian Cultural & Pastoral Center, Sacramento; combatants organizations.

Honors: citation for exemplary farming, Farmers Association, Umtali, 1965; Honorary Citizen of the State of California; Polish and British military awards and medals i.a.: Order of Virtuti Militari, Cross of Valor with Bar, British Military Cross, African Star, Italian Star, Monte Cassino Cross, Defense Medal, War Medal.

Served with: Polish Army, Cavalry, September '39 Campaign, 2nd lieutenant; Polish Armed Forces in the West, major, 1940-45; promoted to Iieutenant colonel.

Affiliation: Roman Catholic.

Languages: Polish, English, German.

Hobbies: writing, horseback riding, hunting.

Home: 2712 O Street #5, Sacramento, CA 95816.

From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation,
New York, NY, 1996