“Veterans Day is not only an opportunity to remember the heroes of the First and Second World Wars, but also those of today. They participate, just like those before, in the struggles so that we can live in freedom, peace and security. It is therefore an honor for me to continue this tradition and to thank the nominated veterans at least symbolically by handing over a commemorative medal,” said Governor Rudolf Špoták.
Awarded war veterans
colonel gst. Ing. Jiří Kasparek
He graduated from the Military High School of Jan Žižka from Trocnov in Bratislava and the University of the Ground Forces in Vyškov, majoring in motor shooting. In the course of his military career, he served in commanding positions at motorized rifle and mechanized units and at the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic. In 1997-1998, he commanded the Czech contingent in the SFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He ended his military career in 2000 as Deputy Chief of the Combat Training Section of the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic. After leaving the reserve, he worked in catering and in the State Land Fund. He is currently the regional coordinator of the Caring for war veterans project for the Karlovy Vary region.
Lieutenant Colonel Ing. Petr Benes
He graduated from the Military Academy in Brno, majoring in construction of ground and underground structures. During his military career, he served in command and staff positions at the units of the engineering and railway troops, military transport, logistics and military administration, and the regional military headquarters. In 2002-2003, he was deployed in the UNGCI mission in Iraq. He ended his military career in 2006 as chief of staff of the Pilsen Regional Military Command. After leaving the reserve, he worked at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. He is currently its curator.
Lieutenant Colonel Ing. Jaroslav Prochazka
He graduated from the Military Secondary Vocational School in Valašské Meziříčí, majoring in military chemistry, and the Higher Military School of the Ground Forces in Vyškov, majoring in military chemistry and chemical technology. During his military career, he served in the military units of the ground forces. He was a founding member of the first professional unit of the Army of the Czech Republic – the 9th Chemical Protection Company in Liberec. In 1990-1991, he was deployed in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, in 1993-1994 in the UNPROFOR mission in Croatia, and in 1999-2000 in the SFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He finished his service in the army at the Department of Chemical Troops of the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic. After leaving the reserve, he worked in private companies. He currently works in the field of control.
Lieutenant Colonel Ing. Jan Vištiak
He graduated from the Military Technical College in Liptovský Mikuláš, majoring in command and engineering. During his military career, he served in the command and staff positions of the liaison troops in the ground forces. In 1993-1994 he was deployed in the UNPROFOR mission in Croatia and in 1996-1997 in the IFOR and SFOR missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He ended his military career in 2000 as the head of the department of the cipher service center. After leaving the reserves, he became a police officer of the Police of the Czech Republic, worked in managerial positions at security agencies and was an educator in the prison in Bory. He was an active reserve soldier for ten years. He is currently the director of Charity Sušice.
Major Jaroslav Horák
He became a professional soldier in 1972. After graduating from a two-year officer school, he served in reconnaissance units. In 1995-1996, he was deployed in the peacekeeping mission of UNPROFOR and UNCRO in Croatia. He ended his military career in 1996 as a company commander. After leaving the reserve, he worked in the civil sector. He is currently retired and works at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen.
major Mgr. Bc. Josef Pycha
He graduated from the Military Secondary Vocational School in Nové Město nad Váhom, majoring in operational engineering. He later completed his education by studying at the Military Academy in Brno – field of radiolocation. During his military career, he served in command and staff positions at the units of the liaison, radio engineering, reconnaissance and anti-aircraft missile forces and the air force headquarters. In 1997, he was deployed in the SFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He ended his military career in 2019 at the Department of Combat Training of the Air Force. After leaving the reserve, he became a teacher at the Sokolov Integrated Technical and Economic High School, where he still works. He is an active reserve soldier.
captain Ing. Jana Hošková
She joined the army in 1991. During her military career, she served in command and staff positions in the units of the liaison and radio engineering troops, personnel and logistics. In 1997-1998, she was deployed in the SFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She ended her military career in 2022 as head of the group of the economic department of the Logistics Agency of the Army of the Czech Republic. After leaving the reserve, she joined the 142nd Repair Battalion in Klatovy as a property clerk, where she still works.
first lieutenant Milan Kalousek
He graduated from the Military Academy in Martin, majoring in artillery. During his military career, he served in command and staff positions at motorized rifle, artillery and training units and the Regional Military Command. In 1999, he was deployed in the SFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He ended his military career in 2022 as a senior staff member of the Pilsen Regional Military Command. After leaving the reserves, he works in technical professions.
sub-ensign Antonín Hošek
He became a professional soldier in 1996. During his military career, he served in technical positions in the liaison army. In 1997-1998, she was deployed in the SFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He ended his military career in 2002 as the head of the workshop of the liaison battalion. After leaving the reserve, he became a self-employed person and still works in the field of gunsmithing. He is a long-time active reserve soldier.
Captain Tomáš Marek
He became a professional soldier by profession in 2001. During his military career, he served in the military units of the ground forces and the air forces. In 2003 and 2006, he was deployed in the KFOR mission in Kosovo. He ended his military career in 2023 as a senior driver of the 142nd repair battalion in Klatovy. After leaving the reserve, he started gardening, where he still works.
At the end of the ceremony, which was also attended by representatives of the Plzeň Regional Military Command, the Ministry of Defense, the Association of War Veterans of the Czech Republic, the Czechoslovak Legionary Community – Plzeň Unity, those present observed a minute’s silence in memory of the soldiers who fell on military missions. “Since 1989, there have been 30 soldiers. We remember two of them from the Pilsen Region, namely Nikolaj Martynov and Patrik Štěpánek,” added Rudolf Špoták.
