Nancy Chapel/Nadia Chaplya

On December 31, 1924 a little baby girl named Nadia Chaplya was born in the Ukraine.  Nadia would be the middle of three children; her older sister was Maria and her younger brother was Boris.  Her parents were Anton and Oksana.  The Chaplyas had a small farm with a grove of cherry trees that their children had helped them to plant.  Anton, however, struggled with alcoholism and made things difficult for the family.

This was a difficult time for the Ukrainian people as the Communist influence was increasing.  In their small village, corruption and abuse of power was rampant.  The town constable, Ivan Dushko, wanted the Chaplyas' land so badly he was willing to use his power to take it.  To that end, he falsely accused Anton of political crimes, making him a wanted man.

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