Centennial veteran Joseph Thurmond visited members of the 16th Armored Division

The Liberation Festival offers unforgettable moments. One of the most significant was the visit of American veteran Joseph “Joe” Thurmond to the 16th Armored Division’s period camp in Křižíkovy sady. The 100-year-old hero, who flew to Europe accompanied by his family, shared his memories and unwavering optimism.

Joseph Thurmond, a native of Kentucky, celebrated his 100th birthday in April this year. As a member of the 94th Infantry Division (51st Signal Company), he went through a difficult campaign in the Rhineland and Central Europe. He arrived in what was then Czechoslovakia in June 1945, where he performed guard duty in Klatovy and Střelské Hoštice.

Before his trip to Pilsen, Joseph Thurmond gave an extensive interview to Radniční listy, in which he revealed his fascinating life story. For example, he revealed that in order to support his family, he had to leave school after the sixth grade and worked as a lumberjack in coal mines. In the interview, Joe fondly recalled the Czech families who hosted him in 1945 and tried to teach him Czech in their free time. He also admitted that due to the language barrier at the time, he often did not even know exactly where he was, which is why he decided to visit these places again this year.

During his visit, Joe inspected the historical equipment and facilities that the club members carefully maintain. There was also a tasting of the food that the soldiers cook in the camp.