Veterans of Czech liberation sought

A call is out for veterans who participated in the liberation of the city of Pilsen in western Czechoslovakia during World War II.

The city of Pilsen, Czech Republic, would like to honor American soldiers for the sacrifices during the war and their assistance in liberating the city under the leadership of Gen. George S. Patton in early May 1945.

Patrick Foye, co-administrator of the Gen. George S. Patton Scholarship of Honor (http://www.briansjourney.com/soh/pilsen) has reached out to the Daily Inter Lake in search of Flathead area veterans who participated in that service.

Foye is a Montana resident who has been living with his wife and two sons in Pilsen for many years. According to Foye, throughout the Cold War period, Pilsen’s citizens were not allowed to commemorate the liberation of Patton’s troops, and instead were taught that it was actually the Soviet Army dressed as American soldiers that liberated them.

Foye refers to the Velvet Revolution of November 1989 as having provided the first opportunity for the city of Pilsen to finally openly acknowledge the sacrifices made by America and American soldiers.

Since then Pilsen’s citizens have expressed their gratitude through the city’s May Liberation celebrations. On behalf of the city, Foye would like to bring a letter from the mayor of Pilsen to Montana, personally thanking those Flathead area veterans, as well as pictures and videos from the commemoration in Pilsen.

If you or someone you know was involved in the liberation Czechoslovakia during World War II, you are encouraged to contact Daily Inter Lake Managing Editor Frank Miele at edit@dailyinterlake.com, or Community Editor Carol Marino at community@dailyinterlake.com.