User:Kent Robertson-Chodakowski/Romanas Chodakauskas

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Romanas Chodakauskas was a lawyer, a Colonel in the Military Court of the Lithuanian Army and the military attaché of the Lithuanian Embassy in Berlin, Germany.

Romanas Chodakauskas was born on August 9, 1883, at Zvanagala Manor, Konstantinavas Parish, Lithuania to Antanas Chodakauskas and Marija-Johana Chodakauskaite. He was baptized by Reverand Heronim Jaksztowitch on August 30, 1883 in the Roman Catholic Church in Konstantinavas (present day Vaskai). His Godparemts were the nobles Casimir Chodakowski and Stanislawa, a spouse of John Chodakowski. Romanas had three younger siblings: Sofija, Tadas and Jadvyga. Romanas was a bright boy and received early tutoring from the man who would one day be the first President of Lithuania, Antanas Smetona. In fact, it was because Antanas tutored Romanas that the future President had the opportunity to meet, fall in love with and marry Romanas’s sister, Sofija. It was a family connection that would influence Romanas’s entire life. After graduating from his gymnasium, Romanas studied law at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University in Kharkiv, Ukraine, where he graduated in 1912. He married Janina Turaite with whom he had his first son, Miroslavas, born August 20, 1914 at Topoliu Manor, Skapiškis parish, Rokiškis district, Panevėžys County, Lithuania. During World War I Romanas served in the Russian Imperial Army. In 1915 he graduated from the Vladimir Military Academy in St. Petersburg and was called to join the Lithuanian army in 1918. The newly formed Lithuanian army lacked resources and ammunition. Romanas worked from 1918 to 1919 as the representative of Lithuania to the Ukraine and Romania where he attempted to convince Lithuanian officers to return to Lithuania to join the fledgling Lithuanian army. At one point, when the Germans retreated, Romanas was forced to leave the Ukraine and go to Gomel, in present day Belarus. As the Bosheviks were inquiring after him, in February 1919, he fled to Vilnius incognito. He was then delegated to the Ministry of National Defense where he was responsible for very important affairs and later was the representative for the Ministry of National Defense responsible for jurisdiction. On January 27, 1918 he was awarded the rank of Captain and then on June 7, transferred to the Army Court. While Captain he was the military attaché of the Lithuanian Embassy in Berlin, Germany. On May 22, 1923 Romanas was awarded the rank of Major and Lieutenant Colonel on July 11 of the same year. And then on October 1 he was given a permanent position in the Military Court (whereas before he was temporary.) He was awarded the Military Court rank of Colonel on September 15, 1926 and then on October 1 he was transferred to the Reserves. While in Kaunas, Romanas was involved in the activities of The Daina Society, an organization that promoted Lithuanian language and heritage through song. On June 22, 1928 Romanas married Wanda Griffin in the Roman Catholic Church of Vytautas the Great in Kaunas, by the Bishop of the ArchDiocese of Kaunas, Rev. Canon Tumas. Witnesses to the marriage were President Antanas Smetona and Gvidonas Ruscicas. One of the conditions of the marriage was that Romanas was to stop being involved in state activities and start an “honest” job, earning a decent wage. He lived with Wanda in a house on Donelaičio gatvė, Kaunas and spent summers at Lapsiai Manor, in Vilnius District. At Lapsiai, Romanas often entertained his sister and her husband, President Antanas Smetona. For a general view of Kaunas in 1929 go here. Romanas died on October 9, 1932 in Kaunas. He was 49 years old. His wife had just given birth to his second son, Roman, six months earlier. Romanas was buried in the parish cemetery of the Church of Carmelits in Kaunas. In 1957-1958 the cemetary graves were destroyed by the Soviets and the remains dispersed to places unknown. Where the graveyard once lay is now Ramybės Park