U.S. veteran who liberated Pilsen during Second World War dies aged 99

Pilsen, West Bohemia, Sept 28 (CTK) - U.S. war veteran Colonel Earl Ingram, who was part of the U.S. units commanded by General George Patton liberating Pilsen in May 1945 and regularly attended the town's Liberation Festival since the 1990s, died on Monday at the age of 99 years, writer Jana Poncarová told CTK today.

OVer the past two years, Ingram could not travel to Pilsen to attend the celebrations of the city's liberation at the end of WWII due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Pilsen Memorial will pay homage to Ingram by hoisting the U.S. and Czech flags as well as a black mourning flag.

A book of condolences for Ingram will be displayed in the Town Hall on the main square from Wednesday and Pilsen Mayor Martin Baxa (Civic Democrats, ODS) will lay flowers to the Thanks, America! memorial, the Town Hall announced in a press release today.

Due to the Covid outbreak, the Liberation Festival could not be held to its traditional extent over the past two years, but the town connected with Ingram at least virtually in the spring.

He then remembered the Pilsen liberation saying he had never met happier and more grateful people and that Czechs had welcomed the U.S. soldiers warmly, inviting them to their homes. He said he had many pleasant memories from Pilsen in May 1945 that he would never forget.

Ingram, born on September 2, 1922, was the platoon leader in the L Company, the 38th Infantry, of the Second Infantry Division. He was recruited in 1940. In August 1944, he landed in Scotland from where he traveled by train to Southampton in England.

He then crossed the English Channel in the night and landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, from where he continued with his division across Europe to Pilsen.

He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant during WWII. A few months after the war, he started his career as a professional soldier and was in active service for over 34 years, reaching the rank of Colonel. He lived in North Carolina.

The liberation of Czechoslovakia by allied troops in May 1945 occurred at the end of the Second World War in Europe. Most of the Czech area was occupied by the Soviet army, but the bulk of Western Bohemia was occupied by the U.S. 3rd Army led by General George Patton.