Bělá nad Radbuzou

Czech Republic

16 September 2006

Memorial for Soldiers killed and wounded in “Operation Cowboy“

“Saving of the Lipizzaner Stallions”

A Trp 42D Rcn Sq, 2d Cav Grp (MECZ)

"The Ghost of Patton’s Third Army"

Československá Obec Legionářská CVA SOTFDUSA Remount Depot Hostau 1945 -2006 www.konesvrzno.cz KXK AGRO Chov koní Svržno 20 345 25 Hostouň EIVOFW VFW
	Picture courtesy of Don Stivers Rescue of the Lipizzaner Horses “Wild Western Cowboy Style”
	“Operation Cowboy” Original mail envelope first issued in Washington D.C. on 28 Sept 1945 at 9AM Post marked with a US Army stamp FIRST DAY OF ISSUE Provided by David Getty, 2nd Cavalry Association

General G.S. Patton’s Elementary School , Dýšina , Czech Republic

Society of the Fifth Division, US Army

V Corps XII Corps

General G.S. Patton’s Third U.S. Army, the V and Xll Corps in particular, were on the move to liberate southwestern Bohemia. The operation commenced 28 April 1945, near Hostau, at a village called Rosendorf, no longer standing today, but is the area of what is Bělá nad Radbuzou of the Czech Republic today.

Picture provided by

George Patton Waters

During the last few remaining days of April 1945, the Allied Forces delivered one deadly blow after another upon Hitler’s Army.

Photocopy of Original V Corps and XII Corps map

Unit locations at the American - Russian Demarcation Line

Provide by the village of Nezvestice, Mayor Mr. Jaroslav Hach

Copy of Original 2^nd Calvary Group "Operation Cowboy”1945 Map

Provided by David Getty 2^nd Cavalry Association

LDSB - Logistical Defensive Screen Building that ended World War Two

“Operation Cowboy”

Liberation of Western Bohemia, Czechoslovakia 1945

18 April 1945, as the 42d Rcn Sq prepared to move out on their new mission to begin the forward advance movement, by 2^nd Cavalry Group orders. A Troop moved in online with third Platoon pulling patrols as far East as the Czechoslovakian border.

19 April 1945, brought about a small amount of enemy artillery that was estimated to be 88mm coming from the east, with a small amount of enemy resistance with numerous by passable enemy roadblocks that were encountered. A Troop pushed southward clearing the woods while C Troop was moving east encountering roadblocks with some enemy resistance. B Troop was preparing to move south in order to cut off all possible routes of escape from the enemy.

20 April 1945, Aš would be the first large town to be captured in Western Bohemia by 2^nd Cavalry troopers. Approximately 800 enemy soldiers were stubbornly resisting the advancing squadron. The enemy panzerfaust fire was very effective and destroyed one tank after the resistance was finally broken up an undetermined number of enemy were hiding in building throughout the city and were heavily dug in on the southwestern outskirts of town by 16:30 the town had been cleared and captured. A total of ( 250 ) PWs were taken and an undetermined number of enemies killed or wounded.

21 April 1945, the enemy presented a weakly organized front line which appeared to be increasing in strength. Numerous roadblocks, some of which were defended by artillery and small arms fire which were encountered while the enemy attempted to outflank the American positions, but were stopped.

Reports that were unverifiable as to enemy unloading troops from trains at Adorf, the entire Squadron had been billeted in Aš. A Troop was patrolling the town during this time while B Troop was on the right in the squadron zone pushing patrols southeast. C Troop was on the left of the squadron zone pushing their patrols as far north as Gurth and captured the town. B Troop and C Troop pushed patrols through the forest Southeast of Aš meeting a large number of defended roadblocks.

22 April 1945, A troop, 42d Rcn Sq relieved A Troop of the 2d Sq in the zone to the North and established a screen along the line held by the 2d Rcn Sq. A troop being quite aggressive pushed forward to capture two towns, Rossbach and Thorbrukn and fifty enemies. A Troop was then relieved by elements of the 97^th Inf Div. C Troop was out on patrol picking up a large amount of PWs.

23 April 1945, the squadron was relieved by the 303rd Inf Regt in the area of Aš and moved to Mitterteich. A Troop and B Troop relieved elements of the 359 Inf Regt in the zone allotted them and a screen was established one platoon from F Troop was attached to B Troop while one platoon from E Troop was attached to A Troop. The mission was to establish an offensive screen protecting the left flank of the 90^th Inf Div.

24 April 1945, enemy front lines were generally being held along the line, nebelwerfer and artillery fire was being received by the squadron. Some enemy patrols were reported near in the vicinity of Zirkenreuth, as then the squadron direction of advance shifted south: consequently A Troop and B Troop were moved to a new zone to continue with their offensive screening with F Troop being attached to A Troop.

25 April 1945, A Troop and B Troop were relieved in their respective zones by elements of the 303d Inf Regt. C Troop moved to the vicinity of Pfrentsh and relieved elements of the 358^th Inf Reqt in the zone that had been allotted them. B troop moved to the vicinity of Eslarn follow by Sq Hq. E Troop and F; B Troop then relieved elements of the 358^th Inf Regt and established a screen along a designated line. One platoon from E Troop was attached to C Troop with no enemy activity reported with in the sector.

26 April 1945 there was no organized enemy front line contacted during this time within the sector, the front line was being extended. The squadron right flank was in contact with 358th Inf Regt while the 2d Cav Rcn Sq was on our left flank. Troop B moved forward and established a screen along the line extending from Rustin to Waldorf to Ples. After these positions were cleared the patrols continued on to Schumnebruck. Troop C pushed their screen forward through the forest to the line extending from Sukaternia to Eisendorf. One platoon from Troop F attached to Troop C for the operation. Troops E and F placed guards on the hospitals at Schonsee and Wieding respectively.

27 April 1945, enemy front line appeared to be well defended with considerable defensive preparations having been made. The American patrols were also reported quite a bit of enemy vehicular activity thereabouts. B Troop and C Troop held the positions with very active patrols working forward. Troop C established an out post (OP) on a hill and had called for targets of opportunity and succeeded in knocking out one half track, one large truck, and two tank engines. One section of Tank Destroyers (TDs) attached to the 3^rd platoon of Troop B for support due to tank and vehicular activity observed. The Squadron still maintained their screen along the assigned zone with OPs reporting enemy activities and patrolling forward of positions.

28. April 1945, upon receiving the report there were “Allied” prisoners of wars in the vicinity of Hostka an assemblage of soldiers named Task Force Stewart. Task Force Stewart was manned by A Troop, 42d Rcn Sq (MECZ) , 2^nd CAV Group better known as the "Ghosts of Patton’s Third Army".

The mission named “Operation Cowboy”. C Troop was reconnoitered the terrain thereabouts and then advanced to capture ground and released approximately 150 PWs. Meeting with very little resistance they continued to move forward and gain ground until reaching Bela nad Radbuzou . A Troop was capturing many enemies retreating before the advance of C Troop.

A Troop, with one platoon from F Troop passed through C Troop location which was located at Ujezd Sv. Krize. A command post had been established there with surrounding towns occupied by elements of the Troop. B Troop remained in position pulling patrols to the Eastern side of the forest. Result of the day’s operation had the squadron advancing forward capturing nine towns in Czechoslovakia, taking approximately 650 German prisoner’s alias code name “Lipizzaner Horses” of course not documented.

29. April 1945 no front line contact was made with the enemy, but there was for example of enemy were “werewolf” activity behind the American lines was encountered. Troops of the 42^nd Reconnaissance Squadron continued to clear the area that was allotted to them.

A Troop was controlling the Remount Depot at Hostau containing 670 horses valued at three million dollars. C Troop remained on screen until they were relieved by the 1^st Battalion, 387 Inf. Regiment. One platoon from E Troop and one platoon from F Troop who was attached to A Troop. 750 new enemy aircraft engines were captured intact.

30. April 1945, the 42^nd Reconnaissance front line extended to create a screen where they were flanked to their left by the 2^nd Cav Reconnaissance and their right by the 2^nd Battalion, 10 infantry Regiment. B Troop and C Troop 42nd Rcn Sqd were task to relieved elements of the 5^th Infantry Division so that the Fifth could pushed forward into the zone to establish a screen for the push to liberate Western Bohemia which was being soften up by bombardment ahead of the advancing US Army. A Troop continued to guard the horses in Remount Depot Hostau along with the help of newly freed POWs and staff who worked there to take care of the horse farm.

The Fifth Division arrived and attacked east into southern Czechoslovakia and northern Austria to mop up the remaining enemy resistance in the area not attached to the 2^nd CAV Grp, but would link up to the right flank of B Trp and C Troop of the 42^nd Rcn Sqd , 2^nd CAV Grp (MECZ) pushing forward establishing a screen with the 2d Calvary (MECZ) who had spearheaded the operation known as “Operation Cowboy” daring rescue to saving the famous Lipizzaner horses from destruction that were being kept by the enemy at a military riding stable that had been captured at Hostau (Rosendorf, Czechoslovakia) which occurred two days earlier “Wild Western Cowboy Style”. The division made fast progress and met up with very little resistance. Soldiers of the 5^th Infantry Division knew the war would be over in a few days as units of the Fifth moved into position not knowing what they would find later as they entered Volary. Liberating 118 starving young Jewish ladies in a barracks, finding 93 young Jewish women bodies buried in shallow graves shot by the SS on their final Death March to their death.

Little did the Red Devil soldiers not knowing that it would be one of their own who would be the last soldier to die in the Fifth Division front, some nine minutes after the cease order and 5 hours and 59 minutes after the unconditional surrender. Pfc. Havlat was the last American soldier killed in action in the Theater of Operation (ETO).

The 5th Division, from its landing in Normandy July 9, 1944 to the last Division Headquarters in Vilshofen, Germany traveled 2049 miles and engaged in all five of the ETO's major campaigns. The 5th Division served in the XII and XX Corps, Third Army from August 3, 1944 to the end of hostilities, May 7, 1945.

Ending of World War II “Operation Cowboy”

“Liberation of Western Bohemia", Czechoslovakia 1945

Unconditional surrender of the Germans came at 0241 hours, May 7, 1945, at a schoolhouse in Rheims, France from Colonel General Jodl to Lieutenant General Walter Bedell Smith who signed for General Eisenhower. The ceasefire order was officially released at 0831 hours at 5th Division Headquarters by Colonel Graham , Commanding officer of the 2nd Infantry Regiment; Fifth Infantry Division who gave the surrender terms to the enemy in Volary, Czechoslovakia.

This memorial marker is to remind the present and future generations of the tragic death of two American soldiers and wounding of others

A Trp. 42^nd Rcn Sqn

2^nd Cavalry Group (MECZ)

28 April 2006, in the wooded area in drizzling rain that once stood the village of Rosendorf, Czechoslovakia at this site some sixty-one years later a memorial marker plaque was placed in the area where two soldiers would lose their lives . During the course of the top secret mission that was conducted by Trp. A 42nd Reconnaissance Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Group (MECZ), “The Ghost of Patton’s Third Army” into the Russian controlled sector of Czechoslovakia, commanded by Captain Carter N. Catlett. During the Top Secret mission “Operation Cowboy”, and Taskforce Stewart, Captain Thomas Stewart, who had been enlisted by Col. Charles H. Reed to spearhead this operation to rescue the famous Lipizzaner horses many PWs ( Prisons of war ) were released and 670 horses including a nice surprise the capture of the enemy and confiscated of 750 new enemy aircraft engines.

Mayor Libor Picka of Bela Nad Radbuzou (Middle) (Right to left) G. Jerry Toole MCCP public affairs , Rudolf Bayer president MCCP, ( Third from Right) Mrs., Eliška Hašek-Coolidge, local regional government official to either side of Mayor Picka with his 2d Cavalry Stetson on. ( From Left to Right)
Patrick Biddy, 2nd Cavalry Association and Jan Salzmann .

Mayor Ing. Libor Picka and Patrick Biddy, Cold war veteran 2nd Cavalry Association member, Charlotte, North Carolina, unveiling the memorial marker in the area of the road block that was manned by enemy forces.

Biddy former Army Medic with the 2nd Armored Cavalry in German, who patrolled the Czech border with the Second Cavalry, provided Cavalry Stetson hats to local officials and monument organizers. The American White House Oval Office flag also was donated by Mr. Biddy and presented to Gaylord J. Toole, Society of the Fifth Division, US Army and spokesperson for the Military Car Club Plzen. Our sincere thanks go out to him for his kindness and the Second Cavalry Association for their support in this long over due memorial.

A warn hearted thanks to all families member of PFC Manz and TEC-5 sergeant Sutton who have been most helpful with providing information to make this memorial a living reminder for all the lives that were given in World War Two and in all wars .

Gaylord J. Toole, Society of the Fifth Division, US Army, MCCP, CVA and VFW, laying a wreath on behalf of the American people with hand salute.

Gaylord J. Toole, public affairs “Military Car Club Plzen” Life Member and European representative for the Society of the Fifth Division, US Army, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States member and Czech Veterans Association, placing an American flag on behalf of the American people for the memorial marker for the memorial to be unveiled 16 September 2006.

In memory of sacrifices of two soldiers who would lose their lives in “Operation Cowboy” to rescue the Lizzippaner horses and free POWS who were being held as prisoner.

A Trp 42d Rcn Sqd, 2d CAV Grp (MECZ)

MEMORIAL

PFC. Raymond E. Manz (KIA) Distinguished Service Cross former resident of Toledo , Ohio, USA

TEC-5 Sergeant Owen W. Sutton (DOW) Purple Heart from Kinston, North Carolina, USA

30 April 1945, German SS trooper attempted to make a counter-attack by setting up a roadblock to stop the American forces and reclaim Hostau.
Private First Class (PFC) Raymond E. Manz (19) still yet in his teens and 16 days short of his 20th birthday gave his life while taking out a enemy roadblock. His action was noted of his sacrifice by being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Private First Class Manz was killed in action on the 30th of April 1945; two days after the famous Lipizzaner horses had been rescued from the military horse stud farm in Houstau on the 28th of April 1945 .

PFC. Raymond E. Manz

PFC. Raymond E. Manz (19) DSC

Troop A, 42d Rcn Sqd, 2d Cavalry Grp (Mecz)
Born 16 May 1925, Toledo, Ohio US

Killed in Action 30 April 1945 Rosendorf, Czechoslovakia

Distinguished Service Cross	Grave of Pfc. Raymond E Manz	Purple Heart

Picture provided by: Mrs. Beverly Westrick, Pfc. Raymond E. Manz's cousin

Grave marker provided by customer service Mrs. Emily Finkel

Historical Woodlawn Cemetery

May 16, 1925 - April 30, 1945

PFC Manz attended Newbury School in Toledo and later transferred to Southeastern High School in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated and entered into military service in July 1943 to serve with a reconnaissance unit, Troop A, 42nd Squadron (MECZ) of the 2nd Cavalry Group.

On 28 April 1945, while eliminating a Nazi SS roadblock at Hostau in the rescue of the Lipizzaner horses, PFC Manz was slightly wounded. He was seriously wounded during a counter attack by the Germans that followed while trying to establish a more effective field of fire that resulted in a barrage eliminating German resistance there. On 30 April 1945 he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism.

Pfc. Manz body was interred temporarily at the US Quartermaster cemetery in Nurnberg, Germany, until burial space was available for burial in the American Cemetery at St. Avold, France. During December of 1948 his father requested that his remains would be returned to the United States to his home of record. On 9 January 1949, Raymond Manz was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio.

TEC-5 Sergeant Owen W. Sutton

Tec -5 Sergeant Owen W. Sutton (29)

Troop A, 42d Rcn Sqd, 2d Cavalry Grp (Mecz)

Born 16 May 1925, Toledo, Ohio US

DOW 1 May 1945 in a US Army field hospital in Germany

Purple Heart

Picture provided by: Mrs. Margie Evans, TEC-5 Owen W. Suttons niece

Technical Fifth Class Sergeant (TEC/5) Owen W. Sutton (29) would become yet another fatality from Trp. A. 42nd Reconnaissance Squadron. He would die the next day 1 May 1945 in an army field hospital in Germany from wounds that he had received while on patrol near Hostau.

30. April 1945 during the cool misty early morning about 0700 hours while Tec-5 Sutton was on the same patrol as Pfc. Manz that German SS soldiers hidden in the woods would open up on the American patrol, as they ran into the ambush that had been set up at a roadblock. Sutton would be shot and died the following day from his wounds he received after being evacuated to a US Army field hospital in Germany. In the first few confused moments of the initial enemy contact the platoon was taken by surprise and had sustained casualties, so immediately the patrol pulled back to regroup so that they could get into position to execute a flanking maneuver. Pfc Manz had been tasked with trying to possibly get to a nearby house, occupy it and set up a cross fire using his BAR (Browning automatic rifle). During the course of making his way to reach his objective he would be wounded in the shoulder, but continued on to take up a position where then he brought automatic fire to bear on the enemy positions as directed and, largely through his courageous effort, his platoon successfully eliminated the enemy and reduced the road-block.

Without a doubt Pfc. Manz had deliberately exposed himself to obtain a better field of fire. His devotion to duty, exemplary conduct and courage beyond the call of duty reflect the highest credit to his memory and to the service in which he so gallantly served, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism.

December 08, 1916 - May 01, 1945

Owen W. Sutton was born at 02:50 hours, 8 December 1916 in the township of Mosley Hall to George H. Sutton and Rachal (Hodges) Sutton of Lagrange, North Carolina in Lenoir County. His father George Sutton was a farmer and he and Rachal had three children. Owen Sutton married Beulah Dare West October 1935 in Lagrange.

TEC/5 Sutton died of wounds he received on 30 April of 1945 in an army field hospital in Nuremberg Germany on 1 May 1945. He had been wounded in a counter attack by German SS troops during Operation Cowboy to rescue the Lipizzaner horses. He was temporarily interred at the US Quartermaster Cemetery in Nuremberg, Germany, and later, when space was available, buried at the American Cemetery at St. Avold, France. His body was finally returned to America to be buried at Westview Cemetery in Kinston, North Carolina, where his wife Beulah is now also buried.

Westview Cemetery, Kinston, North Carolina

Wounded in Action “Operation Cowboy”

42nd Reconnaissance Squadron, 2nd CAV Gpr (MECZ)

A Trp 30 April 1945

S/Sgt. Fred R. Foyles (SWA)

TEC-5 Sergeant Malcolm Rhodes (LIA)

Both soldiers would received wounds during the ambush by the Germans SS

A Trp 2 May 1945 at Hostau

Pfc. Lloyd E. Tunnell (LWA)

Would be wounded at this place at the very end of World War l l

World War Two Casualty Codes

KIA-Killed in Action;

FOD: Finding of Death;

DNB: Died, None Battle;

DOW: Died of Wounds;

DOI: Died of Injuries

M: Missing

LIA = Lightly Wounded In Action

Dy = Duty
LD = Line of Duty
LWA = Lightly Wounded in Action (not believed life-threatening)
MIA = Missing in Action
RTD = Returned to Duty
SWA = Seriously Wounded in Action (believed life-threatening)

United States Army Second Calvary Group (Mechanized) memorial erected

May 9. 1990 in commemoration of the 45^th Anniversary of Peace

1945-1990

28. April 1945 C Troop 42d Rcn Sqd, 2d CAV Grp 9MECZ) was located at Ujezd Sv. Krize.

A command post had been established there with surrounding towns occupied by elements of the Squadron. B Troop remained in position pulling patrols to the Eastern side of the forest. Result of the day’s operation had the squadron advancing forward capturing nine towns in Czechoslovakia, taking approximately 650 German prisoner’s alias code name “Lipizzaner Horses” of course not documented.

The memorial was erected at the Zinkovy Castle which was the last position of the Second Cavalry on Czechoslovakian soil. It might be noted that this was the first memorial that was installed after the fall of the wall in the Czech Republic in both Czech and English.

Bela nad Radbuzou

Monument marker – Picture gallery

click here for photogallery

Acknowledgements to:

Mrs. Beverly Westrick, Pfc. Raymond E. Manz's cousin

Mrs. Margie Evans, TEC-5 Owen W. Suttons niece

David Gettman, 2nd Cavalry Association, Tacoma, Washington
Patrick Biddy, 2nd Cavalry Association, Charlotte, North Carolina
Keith Short, Historian for the Society of the Fifth Division, US Army
Gaylord J. Toole, Society of the Fifth Division, US Army, VFW, CVA
Emily Finkel, Historical Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo, Ohio
Carol L. Barwick, City of Kinston, Kinston North Carolina
Mayor Libor Picka, Bela nad Radbuzou, Czech Republic
Rudolf Bayer, President Military Car Club Plzen, Czech Republic
Vaclav Tauer, VLTAVA-LABE-PRESS, Domazlice, Czech Republic 
Seth Robson, reporter for Stars and stripes European edition
Ing. Miroslav Schubert MS-soft, IT webmaster
Jan Salzmann, VIP conversational translator
Veronika Burešová, VIP conversational translator / writer

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Operational report , Daily Staff Journal and After Action Report

CAVS-42-0.3 (31912) Master Unit History - 42d Cav Rcn Sq (M)

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