The 1991 visit in Prague was great and I missed the city where I grew up. Next year, in 1992, I went again to Prague for 2 weeks, this time by myself. I stayed again with Jan Kotva family. I also visited some of my cousins, notably my cousin, Peter Kralik, in Slovakia and my cousin, Tona (Antonin Valach), in Prague, the last time I would ever see them. We had a great time and again Honza and his family were great hosts.
Category Archives: Story of Jan Kotva – VKR / STB code name “Jan Hamlet”
Story of Jan Kotva – Part I
September 1, 1962, I had to report to Prague’s main train station for military transport to the city of Tabor. Every Czech male 19 years old was drafted for 2 years military service. The exceptions were males attending a university – they attended ROTC-like program in the university and after university was completed they were drafted for 6 month military service.
Continue reading Story of Jan Kotva – Part IStory of Jan Kotva – Part II
In the evenings or weekends, when we could not go out of the army barracks area or we were not assigned to other army duties, Honza and another soldier, Risa, very often spent time in the communication warehouse I was responsible for. There was a good coal stove, which kept us warm, there were radios so we could listen to music or sometimes Radio Free Europe news. We had a good time, shutting ourselves off from the army surroundings, having privacy. Sometimes we were discussing politics and expressing opinions about the communist system. Continue reading Story of Jan Kotva – Part II
Story of Jan Kotva – Part III
I could write a whole book about the 2 years with Honza Kotva in the communist army, but I will try to limit it to only the most memorable instances. Once a year the army had a regional and national competition in arts between different army units. Kotva was very active in putting together performances and rehearsals in theatrical areas. He was able, once in a while on Sunday afternoon, to reserve a hall in the old Tabor’s theater, put together small performances, and also open it up to public dancing.
Continue reading Story of Jan Kotva – Part IIIStory of Jan Kotva – Part IV
Fast forward to 1989, after the collapse of communism. Until that time I did not contact anyone in Czechoslovakia, since correspondence with someone from a Western country could create problems for them. I found the phone number for Honza Kotva and called him to let him know that I would like to come to Prague for a visit. Honza told me that he had triple-bypass heart surgery and he recovered and he would love to come to USA for a visit in the summer of 1990. I postponed my visit to Czechoslovakia and mailed him an invitation, so he can get a tourist Visa to USA.