101-year-old American veteran Gideon Kantor is heading to Pilsen

Another direct participant in the battles of World War II in Europe has promised to participate in the Pilsen Liberation Festival, which begin on Friday, May 1. He is 101-year-old Gideon Kantor, who was drafted into the army in June 1943 and helped liberate the Ohrdruf concentration camp with his unit, among other things. He will arrive in the Czech Republic at the end of April for a few days, and his participation in specific events as part of the liberation celebrations will be specified later. In addition to Gideon Kantor, the previously confirmed centenary American veteran Joseph Thurmond will also participate in the celebrations in Pilsen.

“I am very much looking forward to my return to the places where the war ended for me, I look forward to meeting all of you. At my age, I exercise every day and read the daily newspaper. Visiting the Liberation Festival in Pilsen will be an amazing adventure for me,” said Gideon Kantor, who was a member of the 3804th Supply Company, 4th Armored Division during the war.

Gideon Kantor was born on March 30, 1925, in Vienna, Austria. When he was 13, the Nazis occupied Austria and placed him in a school for Jewish children. His father was imprisoned, and after his release, the family left Austria, eventually making their way to the United States as Jewish refugees through France, Spain, Portugal, and Cuba in April 1941.

In June 1943, at the age of 18, he was drafted into the Army and completed boot camp at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, but due to his language skills, he was sent to Camp Ritchie, Maryland. A month after D-Day, he landed at Utah Beach and was assigned as a truck driver to the 3804th QMC Truck Co., 4th Armored Division, refueling tanks. As his unit advanced through Normandy, his commanding officer took a wrong turn and ended up among German positions. Gideon Kantor was able to use his knowledge of French to safely lead the men back to the rest of the unit. The unit continued on through France. His unit crossed the Rhine River and helped liberate the Ohrdruf concentration camp.

Gideon Kantor left the army on December 16, 1945, having served in five campaigns.

Photo source: https://www.newsandsentinel.com/ (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)