I, Bedrich Venelisk, came to Ellis Island when I was only 19 years old.

I came from Czechoslovakia in the

year 1922. It was the end of the world one and Europe was in shambles. My family had been killed
during the war and I was drafted into the navy. I had become a decorated soldier and I had earned
enough money to buy a one way ticket to America. I left from Amsterdam on the first of June. The trip to
America was long and cruel and a disease swept through the passengers and only 100 out of the original
1,316 had survived. When we arrived to Ellis Island, our boat was quarantined. There were no bodies
because when you are at see you have to cast the dead bodies overboard for health reasons. We had
about 3 make shift funerals a day. Even though I had lived through the horrors of war I was more afraid
then than I had ever been. We were each checked by a physician who wore a suit that was worn during
the war because of the biological weapons. They treated us like objects not people. Those that were not
sick were allowed to get off the boat. Those that were, they were sent back on a separate ship. It was
later reported that the same ship had been floating a drift and wasn’t responding via radio. I have
thanked God everyday for saving me from the disease that, counting the adrift boat, killed 1,310 of my
fellow passengers.

When I got off the boat from the boat I had to be cleared by immigration officials. I had learned some
English in the war because I had fought side by side with them. They asked me questions like “Where did
I come from?” and “What do you have to contribute like do you have any skills?” I said I was great at
finances and economics. I then went to get some kind of identification. I was then free to go. I go on to
work for President Coolidge and Secretary Mellon. I help cut the debt and I helped start the booming
20s.