The two rare coins Kudibal gave me before the trip, I inadvertently lost when I was going to some store, still in Prague, getting some last minute items. They were in my pants pocket and I must have lose them getting something else from the pocket. I went back trying to retrace my steps, but did not find them. I will write details about leaving and life as a refugee in Austria in another story, so I will try to keep this pertinent to Kudibal.
Continue reading Story of Otto Kudibal – Part IVStory of Otto Kudibal – Part III
Kudibal told me many times, after he separated from his wife, that he was planning to “escape” again from Czechoslovakia and go back to live in Melbourne, Australia. He said that if we wanted, he will take my sister and me with him and that after we were in Australia, we would write a book about our experiences in a Communist country.
My father was arrested and taken away by the secret police in the fall of 1960. We did not know why he was arrested and did not know where he was until a year later at his trial. During this time we suspected that it had something to do with Kudibal, until we found at my father’s “secret” trial that it had nothing to do with Kudibal.
Continue reading Story of Otto Kudibal – Part IIIStory of Otto Kudibal – Part II
I was meeting Otto Kudibal approximately every other week, until I was drafted into the army in September 1962. We either met at a restaurant for a lunch or dinner, or a coffee shop for coffee and pastries, or at his apartment for tea and some pastries. He told me stories from his life, which I was very interested in. I told him the story of my life, and the difficulty I had communicating with my father. My father was of a age that he could be my grandfather; he grew up in an era predating the communist society, where he held powerful positions. After my father’s 3-year jail sentence in 1948, he could not grasp or relate to the cultural changes that had happened since Communist take over. Kudibal took interest and explained to me how to understand my father, how to avoid clashes, and how to better relate to him. I looked up to Kudibal and considered him to be my very wise, understanding, and important friend.
Continue reading Story of Otto Kudibal – Part IIStory of Otto Kudibal – Part I
One Sunday afternoon, sometimes in March of 1960, the doorbell to our apartment in Prague rang. When I opened the door, there was an impressive figure of man, around 40-years old. He introduced himself as Otto Kudibal and asked to see my father. My father was surprised to see him since they had not see each other since 1948. Kudibal said that he had lived in Australia for the last 10 or so years, and he decided to come back to Czechoslovakia with his wife and 4 children. My father’s reaction was fear because my father had been a political prisoner for 3 years after 1948 and could not understand why anyone would return to Communist Czechoslovakia without working for the secret police. He was afraid that the secret police were trying to set him up. Otto Kudibal was surprised about my father’s situation and explained that he came to see my father to ask for advise and help since my father used to be a high government official. He expected my father to still have a high position and a lot of influence and be able to help him to find a good job.
Story of Jan Kotva – Part V
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.
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.