Lucas Virgil L.
Returning Years Later
Virgil L. Lucas, V Corps Member
In my meetings with your countrymen in those days, I was deeply moved and touched by the outpouring of their feelings. It was such a happy time for all of them! We Americans were extremely relieved and happy that the war was over. Everyone realized that freedom in Europe was already a reality. I was a young soldier, I joined the army in May 1943, just as I was finishing high school. I was delighted to be able to participate in such an important period of history that restored freedom to so many people.
By May 8, 1945, many American soldiers were tired, exhausted and ready to return home. After three years in England and Europe, I felt the same way. The U.S. Army planned to send its soldiers home who had been through such a difficult deployment. On July 4, 1945, I boarded a ship for the United States in Le Havre, France. When West Point arrived in port and the beautiful Statue of Liberty stood before us, I had tears in my eyes and knew I had accomplished my mission. At that moment, it was clear that our mission had succeeded and was the right thing to do.
I took no souvenirs from your beautiful country - I felt that these things belonged to the people here. I had not been with you long enough to retain the southwestern Bohemia in my memory, so I was looking forward to getting to know it during my visit to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Pilsen. I was convinced that I would like it here because the people are so friendly and loyal to America.
Words cannot express the depth of feeling we American veterans experienced during the week of the Freedom Celebration in Pilsen. I will always remember May 1945, when I was a twenty-one-year-old soldier, and when I was greeted by your countrymen and women with a mixture of happiness, joy, and tears streaming down the faces of many of them. How history repeats itself, 65 years later, driving through the streets of Pilsen again, in a 1942 Willys jeep, shaking the hands of so many of your wonderful people and looking into their eyes, with tears streaming down the cheeks of many of them once again. During this extraordinary reception, I, an old soldier, also had tears running down my cheeks and I realised how much your people value freedom. Thank you all for an experience that will remain in my heart forever.
From the book 500 Hours of Victory by Karel Foud, Milan Jíša, Ivan Rollinger
