Which country?

My grandfather Milan Forkapa was from jesenica or his brother Rade had said nova grodiska , which both of them came to the States in 1914. I've been told it is and is not Serbian.

Hhhm, I would advice first to check with Ellis Island and see if you can find the entry documents and then give me exact info. That way it will be easier.

The Ellis Island records list it as Masic for Milan Forkapa but his WWI draft card says Jesenica. My relative was told by Rade Forkapa Nova Grodiska. I'm sorry for all the confusion.

On both Rade's and Milan's Ellis Island records list the father as Radovan Forkapa and last residence in BUNIC. So I don't know where to really start now.

Bunić and Jesenica are villages in Lika (Croatia).

For me look like name Forkapa came from name Vorkapa or Vorkapić. In German language letter V at beginning of the word pronounce as F.

I had paid some one to do research on the name and they also came up with Germany. The said: Forkappel,"Kappel" meaning "Chapel" and For or Vor meaning in front of. Later denoted to a Latin "cappa" meaning in front of and then changed in Serbia as Forkapa.

Isn't Vorkapic a village in Croatia? And why would the Ellis Island Records change the pronounciation? If my grandfather came from Croatia would the Coatian speaking accent be confused the V as an F sound as in the german and english language and wrote down Forkapa on the records?

You cant determine the ethnicity by just looking at the name. You should take the info from Ellis Island and then check with the records in Bunic. But its not German, why? http://www.jasenovac-info.com/cd/zrtve/html/f.html is the victim list of Jewish and Serbian victims in Jasenovac and there is a Forkapa on it.

Thank you very much for all your help! I found a relative in Italy in the Airforce who is going to travel to Croatia to check on records.
I do have one other question:
When I write to the Church for information what is a fair donation and is it ok to send US dollars?

I do not know, the archives can be consulted for free. But I think anything you can share is welcome.

Do you know who I would ask for the "free" archives or where my relative can visit to do research? I wll gladly share any info we discover.

I live in the States and it is difficult to do research from here.