COMMEMORATIVE CELEBRATION OF THE END OF WORLD WAR II AND THE LIBERATION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA 1945 BY THE

UNITED STATES ARMY

Town of Hostoun

Czech Republic

May 1, 2009

“OPERATION COWBOY”

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Picture courtesy of Don Stivers

Rescue of the Lippizzaner Horses

“Wild Western Cowboy Style”

1 May, 2009, the Town of Hostoun, Czech Republic, where the stud farm that housed the famous Lippizzaner horses to which about 650 German prisoners were taken, 670 horses-250 lippizzaner and 150 Allied POWs would be rescued from behind enemy lines by Troopers of Trp. A, 42nd Recon Sqd. 2^nd Cavalry Regiment.

Unveiling of a billboard outlining the darning rescue, information recovered from historical achieves from the historian, Keith Short of the Society of the Fifth Division, United States Army.

Records from the unit historical (CAAR) Combat After Action Reports.

Headquarters, 42D CAV RCN SQ (MECZ), United States Army

Some 61 years later a memorial was established to recognize the two Troopers who were involved in the darning rescue, who sacrificed their life, unknown to all who are free, help saved the Lippizzaner horses that today the whole world can see

Trooper - Pfc. Raymond E. Manz

Trooper - Tec-5. Owen W. Sutton.

Czech Veterans Association

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(Left) European representative, Society of the Fifth Division, United States Army, Czech War Veterans Association and United States Army Ambassador, (FTS).

(Right) Col. Ing. Miroslav, Lysina M.A, Plzen Regional Military Commander, Army of the Czech Republic. Col. Lysina is a graduate of the United States Army Staff College; Airborne qualified and was the Czech military liaison officer for NATO in Brussels for three years before his recently new assignment to the Plzen region..

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(Left) Plzen Regional Military Commander, army of the Czech Republic,

(Middle) European representative, Society of the Fifth Division, United States Army

Maj. Plescher, with wreath on behalf of the Army of the Czech Republic.

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Color Guard, 2^nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment

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Maj. Plescher, placing the wreath in front of the newly unveiled billboard.

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Acknowledgment:

Town of Hostoun

Town of Bela nad Radbruzou

Army of the Czech Republic

Czech Veterans Association

United States Army

Freedom Team Salute

2^nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment

Society of the Fifth Division, United States Army

2^nd Cavalry Association

Pictures provided by the Czech Veterans Association

A heart felt gratitude of thanks to veterans of all wars for their service and unselfish sacrifices for the freedoms that we enjoy around the world today.

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