AIR BATTLE OVER THE WHITE CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS Moravia, Czech Republic 29th August 1944 - 60 Years Later by Loy Dickinson, Past President, 2nd Bombardment Association This trip actually began in 1944 when I was shot down over Czechoslovakia. MOJMIR BACA found me near a forest and took me to his family's home where they sheltered me overnight at great risk to themselves. The friendship with Mojmir Baca his wife Elishka, his children and grandchildren have meant a great deal to me. Baca came to visit us in Denver in 1979 by means of airline reciprocity with the United Airlines. At that time Mojmir worked as a mechanic for Czech Airlines. Over the years we have visited in Czechoslovakia and now the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic was under the communist yoke in 1984. The velvet Revolution took place in November 1989 and our subsequent visits have found the families increasingly better off. We have grown closer together over the years as several of the grand children have come to visit the United States. Marcella Turcinkova is one of Baca's four daughters. Her husband, Jenda Turcinek, is the son of Dr. Turcinek, the doctor who met me when I was taken into custody in Slavicin the following the battle. Granddaughter Jana Turcinkova came to Denver as a Rotary Youth Exchange student, sponsored by Denver Mile High Rotary, in 1995-96. She is now a doctoral candidate at Mendel University in Brno. Her brother, Honza, is a graduate student at Mendel, also in economics. The youngest brother, Pavel Turcinek, just completed a year as a Rotary Youth Exchange at Golden High School, Colorado. When we saw him he was in the midst of taking 26 exams to allow him to stay with his graduating class. Honza and Pavel had visited pilot Bill Garland and his family in Sedona, Arizona in 2002. Another Baca daughter, Hana Vaculinova, husband, Stanislav Vaculin and their children, Lenka and Radim live with their grandparents in a three story house built by Baca in 1960. Lenka and Radim have visited the U.S., Lenka, several times. Baca's other daughters, Elishka Papouskova and Myrak Stankova have five boys between them who speak passable English. The following is a brief summary of our visit to the Czech Republic and Slovakia from August 24 through the 31, 2004. My companion was Jim Noles, 59, of Florence, Alabama, Retired Army Brigadier General and good friend of Bill Tune. His son, Jim Noles, Jr., is a 37 your old attorney in Birmingham. Jim Junior is an accomplished writer and historian. One of the reasons Noles senior decided to accompany me, is that his son is writing a book about the life of Bill Tune and thought that reporting from the scene of a life-changing event for Bill would be of help to the author. Tuesday, August 24: Jim came into Vienna on KLM and I arrived on British Air. We were met by Mr. and Mrs. Jenda Turcinek, their son Honza and daughter Jana Turcinkova. We had rented a car but did not want to drive unguided to Brno in the dark, thus the kindness of the Turcinek family in guiding us to their home. The Turcinek home was built up from a one story to a two-story house with a full basement by the Baca family in the early 1990's. We ate and drank wine and told stories into the night. Wednesday, August 25: The next morning Jana took us on a walking tour of downtown Brno, ending at the equivalent of our NPR radio station that we learned had been established in 1923. The reporter who was to interview me was not able to be there and Jana was pressed into service. We believe that she had been set up. She conducted the interview extremely well. Jana came about her connection with the radio station when she was a visiting scholar at Vienna University on a scholarship from the European Union in 2001-02. During that time she had an open afternoon and volunteered at the Vienna public radio station. This fall she will lecture on Economics at a university in Finland. Later, on Wednesday afternoon, we drove to south Moravia, near the Austrian border and the towns of Znojmo and Novy Saldorf. Here, along with a few of the Turcinek neighbors, we tasted wine at four wineries. The first was not too different from a winery in California. The others were distinctly different in that they were all caves dug deep into the hill. One of these sported some ancient equipment including an 80 or 90-year manual corking device, not too different than the one our wine club in Colorado uses. Upon entering the winery one must walk down hill a short distance where the wine maker told us about his wine. The wines from this region are almost all whites since the climate and soil did not do well for reds. We got back to Brno about 10PM ready to go to bed but we must have a few nibbles and try a few of Jenda's red wines. Color these folks 'convivial'. Earlier he had shown us the wine-making equipment in his basement. From crushing to corking he as a complete setup and produces quite nice wines. Thursday, August 26: We did not make a fast start on Thursday but did get on the road to Slavicin (slav a chin) by way of Zlin, the administrative capital of Zlin District of Moravia. Jana was our guide. Upon arrival we were greeted by Mojmir and Elishka Baca their daughter Hana Vaculinova and granddaughter Lenka. Stanislav Vaculin arrived later from work. Both families live in the two-story house built by Baca in 1960. By the dinner hour son Radim arrived to join us. Jim and I bunked upstairs with Hana and family. Friday, August 27: On Friday morning we meet at the Information Center (similar to a Chamber of Commerce) where there is a well laid out display of aircraft parts from B-17's, banners, plaques and photographs of the carnage from 60 years ago. Baca and his friend Dr. Lumir Horak and others now passed on, have turned over the reigns of managing and maintaining the Slavicin Museum to younger but just as eager and as committed volunteers. It is truly amazing how thoroughly they have searched the grounds where the ten airplanes came down in an area at least 50 miles from south (in Slovakia) to the north at Metylovice. They are still finding parts and within the last year had found the number three engine from Tune's airplane#159. It was buried deep in a bog not far from Rudice (roo dee che). On display in the Slavicin Museum is the engine from a German ME109 fighter airplane discovered much the same way in the early 1990's. At the Info Center we met Michael Zitnik, who is in his 40's, and with him are two cameramen and a photographer. We all travel to the City Hall in Rudice for an audience with the Mayor. It was near this town where Bill Tune's "Tail End Charlie", #159 crashed. We drove out into an open field perhaps a quarter of a mile off the road to find a small metal plaque fastened to a tree with the name "Tree Memorial" and was originally placed here by Zitnik's father in 1976. Hanging below the plaque is a small vase containing fresh flowers. We returned to this field on Sunday morning for Mass. During this time someone had called the Mayor of Rudice to tell him of my plight. Less than twenty minutes after we got back to the cars the Mayor showed up with a brand new sweat suit for me to change into. He also brought along a case of pilsner beer which he believed correctly would be welcomed by the crew on hand. From this point we drove to the nearby village of Rudimov, which is, the location of the Baca farm house 60 year ago and was within 400 yards of the point where I had parachuted. Our little group decided that we needed to visit the town of Luhacovice (Loo ha ko vee che) to see the shops and the Palace Hotel where Lenka worked. Luhacovice is well know in this part of Europe as being a spa and source of healing spring waters. Jim Noles was delighted to find an appropriate gift to take home with him. He claimed that this was out of character for him and could expect many brownie points when he got back to his wife in Florence, Alabama. These shops had quite nice crystal and quite reasonable prices compared to Vienna and Zwarovski. Joining us that afternoon was Baca grandson, Adam Stanek, the son of Mojmir's fourth daughter, Myrka. A tall, handsome 18 year old, Adam is learning the restaurant business waiting tables, but also learning the trade to become a chef. Adam and Grandpa later went to check race Cars. Photos: Click to enlarge... The Start of the Anniversary of the Air Battle over Moravia, Czech Republic. Loy is accompanied by Lenka Baca who served as his interpreter during the many Memorials attended on the 28th and 29th August 2004. Left - Julie Krejci, wife of the MD at Yale, her father is Mayor of Sanov, Czech Republic. Center - Dr. Lumir Horak, one of the founders of the Slavicin Historical Museum he has been a friend for more than twenty years of Loy. Right - Loy Dickinson . Czech Honor Guard Saturday, August 28: * Saturday, the 28th was the beginning of two days of ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of what has become known as the "Air Battle Over the White Carpathian Mountains". It commenced in Slavicin with a reception at City Hall. Here we met the Mayor, Pavel Studenik, Deputy US Ambassador Ken Hullas and his wife, Barbara, US Military Attaché, Colonel Ed Gallagher (USAFA grad) and his wife, Julie, and many others. Michael Zitnik and his cameramen were with us again and stayed with us until late Sunday afternoon. About 10:00AM there was a Holy Mass at St. Vojtech Church. After the service the congregation was directed to the cemetery on the grounds immediately behind the church where another ceremony would take place. It was a commemoration for the 28 dead American** airmen who had been buried there after the Air Battle of 29 August 1944. A 20 man Czech*** Army Honor Guard marched in, presented arms and came to attention as the Band played the three national anthems of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the United States. This was followed by the haunting notes of Taps...... At this point a series of dignitaries presented beautifully designed wreaths. Each wreath was carried to the base of the Memorial plaque by one the Honor Guard. Each of the dignitaries in turn knelt to straighten the ribbons, then stood erect and nodded their respect to the memory of the 28 airmen who had been buried there. The Mayor made remarks that were translated into English and then introduced the Deputy Commissioner from the Zlin District who also made brief remarks. The third speaker was Kenneth Hullis, the Deputy US Embassy. I seem to recall that there may have been one or two more and then it came to moi. Lenka Vaculinova stood with me and translated a paragraph or so at a time. I had written my talk out for her and for myself but as I was being introduced it came over me that an ad-lib was in order. So this is how it came out. " It is an honor to be invited to take part in this commemoration . I would like to ask the committee to invite me back at the time of the 100th anniversary." It should be noted that the same remark was used at all seven of the memorials. At the five towns and villages in the Czech Republic it was acknowledged politely. The two occasions in Slovakia the audience laughed out loud. Jim said "they got it" Following is the 'talk'. "We join here to commemorate the sacrifices of 41 brave airmen who gave their lives in the name of liberty. The Air Battle of 29 August 1944 over the area of the White Carpathian Mountains was witnessed by our friends on the ground. You and your fathers, mothers, aunts and uncles are the heroes. You and they had lived under the yoke of dictatorships. You also live with the legacy of the historic example of Masaryk, Benes and Stefanic whose love of democracy has inspired Czechs and Slovaks for all of the 20th century. The Americans who died here did not come from Los Angeles, Chicago or New York. They were from the towns, villages and farms, from the heartland of America....Sheridan, Arkansas; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Roseau, Minnesota; Provo, Utah; Everett, Washington and Sharon, Pennsylvania. As former president John F. Kennedy wrote in 1962, 'Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we will pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty.' If it needs to be, we would come back and do it again! Thank you." As the Mayor closed the proceedings, he called attention to the approaching paratroopers coming down from the sky. The grounds were packed with people, that made it a challenge for the troopers, but they managed to successfully land within the grounds to the appreciative applause of the crowd. Well over 150 people were invited to luncheon where we continued meeting new people and many presentations of gifts and awards took place. One group was 6 or 7 Czech fighter pilots who escaped their homeland and flew with the RAF. Col. Emil Bocek, the president of the RAF club in Brno, was one of the group who greeted us warmly. They, along with a group of Veteran Paratroopers, were present at each one of the seven Memorials. Almost everyone had a camera. Two of our friends, Jenda Turcinek and Jirik Fleischer, a Brno Rotarian, were omnipresent with their movie and still cameras. It was during this luncheon that Ambassador Hullis and Col. Gallagher became quite interested in Lenka Vaculinova and her situation. Lenka is engaged to a Californian and was awaiting approval of a "Fiancé Visa' to the US. Her appointment for an interview at the Embassy in Prague was scheduled for September 10th. When that day arrived so did Lenka at the Embassy. She gave a blood sample and waited 40 minutes at which time she was presented with her validated passport. The interview and physical had been by-passed. Hen Hullis took her on a tour of the Embassy and Julie Gallagher entertained Lenka at lunch at the Attaché Mansion. All in all, it was a thrilling experience for Lenka. After lunch we were off in caravan style to Sanov (shan ov) where the B-17 named 'Wichita Bell' #096 came down on a hillside near the town. Pilot Thayne Thomas was the only survivor. He was one of three who were picked up by partisans and on Sept 17, 1944, flown out on an OSS rescue mission - more on this later. Mayor Krecji greeted us and we went through pretty much the same routine as described in Slavicin, except that this event was on a hillside about 1 1/2 miles off the paved road. One of the Mayor's sons, Lumir Krecji, is a research MD at Yale University. Lumir was unable to be there, but his wife Julie and their two children were in attendance. I regret that we did not have more time to visit with this family. The citizens and others had commissioned a sculpture of an Aerial Heart that I cannot describe adequately. (Perhaps when we have some photos.) The Ambassador and I did the official unveiling. It was about 5 feet across and 3 1/2 feet high and will become a permanent fixture on this lonely hillside. When the official stuff was concluded I persuaded Ken that we needed to go into the crowd and shake hands and to express our appreciation for them being there, and we did. Ribbons had been put in place around the area of the proceedings in such a way that the crowd of people were 80 to 100 feet away from the Memorial and the podium. In addition, the well-behaved audience was not aware that they could come forward to visit with us and to see the Aerial Heart up close after the ceremonies. On the whole it was an impressive site and will have meaning to citizens of Sanov and Moravia for decades to come. At about 2:15PM we left again for Khrov (car hov) where the imposing monument was first unveiled in 1994. This place is where B-17 #048 crashed with the loss of 9 men. We were never able to make contact with the survivor, Irving Thompson, the co-pilot, after the war. The crowd here was quite a bit larger than Sanov, perhaps 400 people and they had to climb a pretty good hill to get to the tall monument. The area is festooned with flags and a lively crowd was on hand to be witness to this event. The Czech Honor Guard was on hand to do their arms drill and presenting of wreaths. The band, which numbered about 36 men, did their part to add to the pomp and ceremony as they did at all seven memorials. Khrov and Bojkovice (boy ko vee che) together are nearest the size of Slavicin, which meant that this was the only other memorial ceremony to witness the paratroopers who had a much bigger stage to parachute on to. Since the Monument had been unveiled in 1994, the committee decided to add a touch. An Oak tree and a Linden tree (the latter being the Czech nation tree) were all ready to be planted. The Bjokovice Mayor, the Zlin Deputy and I were outfitted with shovels that were pointed at the pile of earth. We shoveled energetically if not proficiently until the tree was properly planted. After the ceremony had concluded, I was exchanging pleasantries with the Paratroopers' Veteran Club of Zlin, when Antonin Sulak presented me with his maroon beret complete with an impressive pin. How do you thank people like this? Our caravan, excluding the band and the Honor Guard was lead to the Masaryk Elementary School where the usual suspects assembled for dinner and wine. The was followed by a Q & A with yours truly being "A". Lenka and Jana helped with the back and forth translations. There were the questions you would expect. One questioned the wisdom of the strategy of leaving us unprotected from the German fighters to which I could only add, amen! Another wanted to know whether the Germans had tortured us. No. In fact we were treated well since their own airmen were the most admired of their military. Another: we did not have a good diet by any means, but toward the end the Germans did not either. Red Cross parcels came to us from Switzerland until the Battle of the Bulge, December 16th. These food parcels were designed to provide nutrition elements that it could be assumed would be missing from our diet. From then until March when the parcels were shipped in from Sweden, it was tough going. By evening we were back at the Baca house with just family and a full moon. It was our last night all together and a special one it was. There was a friendly back yard dinner party in and around the tent-like gazebo. Wine and more wine. Later the gathering moves upstairs to Hana's dining room where there was picture taking, drinking of more wine and then the singing. This is the unforgettable part. Hana began by coaxing her sisters, Marcella and Elishka to join in and soon Jenda, Grandpa and Grandma Baca were singing. It was rollicking good harmony and the faces of the singers told you that they were having fun and that they loved each other very much. It was beautiful to behold...Later, Jim and I chatted about the lack of Participation on the part of the youngest generation. Jana, Lenka, Radim and the three Papouskova boys, Mirek, Petr and Radek, all between the ages of 17 and 26, were part of the audience. Was it because this generation had been deprived of some of their culture and heritage? It happens that the folk songs that entertained us were quite bawdy and the youngsters were too embarrassed to join in. Sunday, 29 August: This day was the 60th anniversary and we drove off to Rudice where we were on Friday. We met again at the City Hall and form a 4-car caravan with Stan, Jenda, Jim driving plus the camera car. We arrived to find a large gathering enjoying coffee and breakfast and later walked to the cemetery for the commemoration. At Rudice the memorial commemoration honored the memory of Russell W. Meyrick and Joseph Marinello, the casualties from "Tail End Charlie", #159, which was piloted by Bill Tune. Ambassador Ken Hullis had left to return to Prague for a school board meeting and Col. Gallagher took the lead US role in Sunday's ceremonies. The Czech Honor Guard made its entry as does the band. The speeches and the wreath laying took place with the expected changes in the cast. About 9:30AM everyone drove several miles to the field and the spot on the edge of the forest near the Russell W. Meyrick 'Tree Memorial. Here Mass was held. This is the third year that Mass has been held at this spot on the last Sunday of August. This year the 29th happened to be on a Sunday. The service lasted from 9:45 to 10:30, with 300 to 350 attending. When the service concluded, the crowds milled around taking pictures and greeting people. I was visiting with Ed and Julie Gallagher and happened to look at my watch, which stood at 10:41, the exact moment of the beginning of the air attack 60 years before. A little 'surge' of realization came over me. Back in Colorado it is 2:41 AM and at that time of day I am not given to 'surges'. We were due in Vyskovec (vis ko vech) at 11:30AM and it's 30-40 minutes away. Again we found ourselves on a hillside but this one had an excellent view of a lovely valley, farmhouses dotted the scene that was verdant green. At this place is an impressive vertical monument, similar to the one at Khrov, was put in place 8 or 9 years ago. It was here that pilot Merrill Prentice aircraft #885 met its unfortunate fate. We paid our respects to the memory of nine airmen who gave their lives here. All nine were buried initially in the Slavicin cemetery. The sole survivor, the navigator, Charles McVey, now lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A new Mayor exchanged small gifts with us. The Honor Guard and band did their part with as much enthusiasm as the first time the day before. We moved a short distance to the Valmont Recreation Resort that featured a restaurant, pleasant ambiance, and a glass of wine and fine food. This refreshed us for the next stop across the border in Slovakia. Before the Gallagher's leave, Ed told us that he and Julie attend about 20 of these commemorations each year. They all involved downed airmen, because flyers were the only Allied military that they encountered during the war. He stated further that his counter parts in other countries do not have this experience. The Czechs and Slovaks will never forget what being freed from the Nazis meant to them. The presence of many children and young people at each stop was noticeable. When we crossed the border into Slovakia there was the sense that things are not quite as good as it had been in the Czech Republic. Farmhouses and barns were in need of repair and towns not as well kept up. We did find a good crowd gathered in the shade around the perimeter of the cemetery. We met a host of new officialdom, plus a Master Sergeant McMullen representing the US Embassy in Bratislava. We were here to honor the six men who died when "My Baby" #473 crashed nearby. The pilot, Robert McCloskey, survived, as did Navigator Willard Netzley, Bombardier John Curran and James Jones, Engineer. The co-pilot died in Brno hospital and the lower turret ginner was buried in Slavicin. The remaining four men were interred in a prominent spot with quite distinctive markers. The commemoration ceremony, including the Czech Honor Guard and our loyal band, was well done and well received by the audience. The last stop was at Nemsova (Nem shauv ah), Slovakia, which was near the village of Antonstal where B-24 "Rough Cobb" crashed. Pilot Billy G. Ray survived along with eight of the crew. Andrew Solack was the only American from the crew to perish. The B-24, #313, was a part of the 454 Bomb Group, also flying out of the 15th AF in Italy. A new memorial plaque naming Andrew Solack was unveiled against a milti-rock tableau. It was the last of 7 memorials we visited over the two-day weekend. There were 11 or 12 Boy Scouts in the audience, which prompted me to comment on their presence and to recall my own scouting days 67 years ago. After the program several of them came up to me gave me the Scout handshake. It had been a long time since I had done that. Mayor Jan Mindar and Stanislav Micko the vice chair and organizer of the day were very cordial and invited us to attend a dinner function later. We had to decline because we wanted to drive to Banska Bystrica and get to our hotel before it got dark. From my hotel room at about 11 O'clock I would see a fire works display. It was the celebration of the Slovak National Uprising that also took place 29 August 1944. Monday, August 30: The reason we came to Bystrica was that a good friend, Jim Downs, was being lionized for the book he wrote - "WWII:OSS Tragedy In Slovakia". His book had been translated into Slovak and 'State' had invited him to come to visit for a Symposium, the weekend celebration and recognition of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP). In August 1944 the Russians had overrun Bulgaria and Rumania. The Slovak partisans had been successful in being able to organize a large force. With 10,000 troops and what they thought would be Russian support, the Uprising got under way. This really got German attention and immediate steps were taken to quell it. It turned out that the Russians were not in any way interested in supporting neither an action they could not control nor one that would be bourgeois. While all this was going on the OSS and the 15th AF had been successfully rescuing flyers out of Yugoslavia, and had made a plan to do the same in Slovakia. The OSS put together a group known as DAWES to insert into Slovakia to support the partisans. Two B-17's from the 15th flew these men into Banska Bystrica on September 17, 1944. With the engines still idling, 17 American and British evacuating airmen boarded and were flown back to Italy. Three of the men on the August 29 mission #263, Pilot Thayne Thomas, co-pilot Clarence Jackson and Tail Gunner Robert Donahue were among those flown to freedom that day. Thomas died in 1996 and Donahue in August 2003. We never did find Jackson after the war. That morning we had breakfast with Jim and Patsy Downs and were joined by Barbara Zigli of the Embassy in Bratislava. Barbara arranged to have Downs autograph copies of the translated book to send to Mojmir Baca and Jirik Fleischer in Brno. We met Lora Berg and Stephen Crosbie, also from the Embassy, who were helpful in keeping us up to date on the arrangements. Noles and I walked to the Banska Bystrica museum that we learned had been designed and built during the communist years. The outside had a dreadful, fortress-like appearance. On the inside however, we found it to be quite well organized. The exhibits included a great many mannequins in military dress of every kind almost all from the 20th century and with emphasis on WWII, e.g., flak vest, electric flight suit, lined flight boots, soft leather cap, etc. We had the good fortune to meet Jan Babincak, Historian and interpreter from Bratislava. He helped us with translations of the exhibit descriptions and gave us background on the Slovak Uprising and the Historical Symposium. Back at the hotel we learned that most of the visiting types (veterans, Embassy people) were being taken for a ride in a small airplane to the town of Prievidza, that is about 35 air miles away but about 85 miles by road. We were invited but declined since our plan was to get to Bratislava before dark. We met Richard Moulton, a B-24 nose gunner. After being shot down on June 26, 1944, he was taken in by Slovak partisans. Another was Leo Kituskie, a retired dentist from Glenside, PA. Leo was on a B-24 crew from the 45th Bomb Group and was also befriended by partisans. After the 'flying group' left for the airport, Jim and I checked out, had lunch and headed down the road to Bratislava. We did arrive in time to do a little sight seeing on foot. Later we went into 'Centrum', the city center, with all of the cobbled streets and ancient buildings one will find in all European cities. Bratislava is livelier than the rural towns and people gave the appearance of being fairly well off. The literally hundreds of restaurants and shops we found in the narrow confines of the dozen or so streets we wandered. A casual dinner, wine and a cigar at a sidewalk cafe was a fitting end to our week long adventure. Early the next morning we are off to the Vienna airport and to our separate destinations. After thoughts: The memories of the last 60 years involving Baca and his family have had a lasting impact on me. After the unpleasantness of the 40's, we moved on through school, career and family. We stayed in touch with the Garland's and Zupan's, but it was not until 1994 that I found that Bill Tune and Fran Flynn were still with us. In 1994, all five of us attended the 50th commemoration of the 'Air Battle' in Slavicin and Bojkovice which was a memory none of us will ever forget. Our relationships were strengthened and deepened by the experience in the Czech Republic. The relationships with Baca, his children and grandchildren, especially Lenka, Jana and Pavel, helped to increase the bond to the point we are now extensions of each other's families. It could well be that their lives have been affected more than ours, and that may have been part of a grand plan. Look at it this way, had my jump been made 30 or 40 seconds earlier or later than it did, none of the foregoing would have come to pass. Last, and most important, is the feeling I have carried with me for many years that the Czech people are deeply conscious of the value of the liberty that they now enjoy. If only that realization were better understood by Americans. By Loy Dickinson - Past Association President 2004-2006 Photos: Click to enlarge... L to R - Slavicin Mayor, Pavel Studenik, Mojmir Baca, Loy Dickinson, Simona Susil (Wife of Roman Susil in the picture below). The plaque in the background is the listing of 28 American airmen who were buried in Slavicin cemetery August 28, 1944. L to R - Mojmir Baca, Roman Susil, Loy Dickinson , Moi, Czech Republic. All attending Memoriam. Roman Susil is employed by an Italian company and I have known him for almost 20 years.