Two 101-Year-Old American Veterans Paid Their Respects at the “Thank You, America!” Memorial in Pilsen

Two 101-Year-Old American Veterans Paid Their Respects at the “Thank You, America!” Memorial in Pilsen

On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, two 101-year-old American veterans, Andrew Bostinto and Kenneth Johnson, paid their respects at the “Thank You, America!” memorial in Pilsen. They visited the West Bohemian city as part of “The Rifle,” a project by American writer and researcher Andrew Biggio that documents the stories of the last surviving veterans, and were joined by historian Jiří Klůc. The group of about thirty people from the U.S. also included the daughter of American veteran and member of the 97th Infantry Division John Burke, as well as American veterans of the Vietnam War, representatives from the Gettysburg Museum of History, and others. Steven Williamson from the Office of the Military Attaché represented the U.S. Embassy in Prague. Mayor Roman Zarzycký laid flowers on behalf of the city of Plzeň. Children from the 16th Elementary School and Kindergarten in Plzeň also met with the two veterans at the memorial.

“I am delighted that we were able to welcome a group from abroad, including two American war veterans, to Pilsen today. I admire the fact that they decided to visit our city at their age, and it was an honor to welcome them at the ‘Thank You, America!’ memorial, where we paid tribute together to all the heroes who risked their lives in the fight for our peace and freedom. The visit by the American veterans and their families and friends demonstrates that Pilsen has a strong standing and a good reputation abroad, and that it is a city that truly values its heroes. I would like to thank Mr. Biggio and Mr. Klůc for their visit and for organizing the trip,” said Roman Zarzycký, Mayor of Pilsen.

The group’s itinerary, led by the veterans, takes them through Germany and the Czech Republic. The group has already visited Nuremberg and its sites associated with wartime history, as well as the Eagle’s Nest. In the Czech Republic, they visited battlefields in southwestern Bohemia and will tour Prague, including the crypt of the Czechoslovak paratroopers there. The group’s main organizer and fundraiser is Andrew Biggio, a veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq who is currently a police officer. Under the project “The Rifle,” he has published books of interviews with veterans. Also part of the delegation is Jiří Klůc, who is dedicated to locating war veterans, regularly travels to the U.S. and other countries, and records the stories of World War II survivors. He is the founder of the educational platform Witnesses of War. Jiří Klůc also initiated and co-organized the group’s trip to the Czech Republic.

Both American veterans saw heavy fighting in Europe during World War II. Andrew “Andy” Bostinto fought in Europe as part of the infantry in the 101st Regiment of the 26th Infantry Division (the so-called “Yankee Division”), including in the Battle of the Bulge. He served in the U.S. Army for a total of 29 years (including active reserve duty). For his meritorious service in combat, he received the Combat Infantryman Badge, and in May 2025, he was officially awarded the Bronze Star. He has been also actively involved in bodybuilding for most of his life and is considered an American pioneer of natural bodybuilding; he founded and led the National Gym Association. In May 2025, four months after his 100th birthday, he won the NGA Gator Classic championship in Florida, breaking Jim Arrington’s previous Guinness World Record and becoming the oldest competitive bodybuilder in history.

Kenneth “Ken” Johnson served during World War II as a scout with Company F, 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division (“Yankee Division”) of General Patton’s U.S. Third Army. During the fighting in Europe, he endured fierce battles, participated in the liberation of what was then Czechoslovakia, and has now, more than 80 years later, returned to the places where his wartime journey ended.

After laying flowers at the “Thank You, America!” memorial, the group toured the renovated premises of the building at Klatovská 19, where a new museum of the liberation will open next year, and also laid wreaths at the 97th Infantry Division memorial in Křimice.

Text: Plzen.eu