Much More - Summer of Tanks = page 8.

When I did get back to the W Square I did notice that down below in front of the stares to the National Museum was sitting down on the ground several thousand Prague's citizens.
What they were doing there I had no idea.
My biggest concern was to locate my friend who's mission was to locate a contact for the underground  radio station.
I became to be very disappointed when I did not found him to be waiting for me at our meeting place.
He did wnow well that I had long distance to walk for no public transportation what so ever.
And so I did begun to wait.
=
I am not sure for how long I have been waiting before I did get idea to go look for him in the case he did join all that crowd in front of stairs to the museum.
=
When I did reach there I did found my self in big trouble. First I had to be looking in front of me so I would not step on anybody and then all around to see if I will see face of my friend. It was not easy.
Eventually I did wine through the crowd almost all the way to the museum steps. When I did spot to my right side one friend I knew from Staromak. ( Old City Square )
I knew that this friend did know the friend I was looking for so I made my way through people all the way to him and ask if he did see our body.
=
Friend was sitting in circle of twenty or thirty people. In front of them were laying down number of by human blood covered Czechoslovakian flags.
I did told my friend everything about my experiences from the Business Consulate. And he told me about that he and his friends in the circle were covering dead Prague Resistance members with Czechoslovakian flags and now were getting ready to go to Hradcany ( Royal Palace ) Where was located the Presidential office. To show our president what kind of help Russians did bring us.
=
My friend did begun to be convincing me to join him in this task.For some time I was resisting that idea because all that effort I did invested in to my trip to Business Consulate would have been for nothing.
But eventually realizing that I was all alone confused by all events of the day I did give in.
=======================================================================
As soon as I did agree my friend did told to everybody to get up.
Next thing with him I was standing in front of some filmmakers who were placed on the steps to the museum.
I did not know about them because I did never look up there on my arrival.
=
I have seen my sel. on TV here in Vancouver when CTV were showing 2 part television documentary - Prague Spring 68 Summer of Tanks.
I do have that movie now but my pictures are not in it ??????????????????????????
=======================================================================

mr Robert Hurst did never keep his promise. All I did want to have my picture from that documentary so I could frame one picture from my self and give a copies to my children. I still not have any.
====================================================================
And so we did begun marching from Prague center uphill to Hradcany.
When we did reach the gate to the Presidential Palace we were unwelcome by amounts of the Russian tanks what were restricting access to the palace.
=
At the beginning there was just a stand off but eventually there begun again shooting.
Time to be diving in front of bullets again.
=
After certain time I did found my self in court yard of one Pragues building. It was about twenty of us all burned from all events of the day.
We were all leaning with our back in against the wall.
=
Suddenly in out of the building did appear two old grandmothers = one did hold jar of water and other one platter loaded with sandwiches.
=
When they did reach me I did grab the glass and drink it to the last drop. I could not remember when the last time I had anything to drink.
=
But when it did come to the food I did start saying. I did not was my hands I need to wash my hands!
This was because from carrying with human blood covered flag I still had on palm of my hand sticky feeling.
But I was so burned out that I was not able to move even if someone would give me a chance.
=
As from another dimension I did keep hearing a voice talking to me.
=
Eat it will give you an energy. You need an energy. Eat!
=======================================================================
I DID GRAB MY SANDWICH IN TO TIPS OF MY FONGERS AFTER I DID SEE THAT THEY WERE BLOOD FREE.
AFTER THAT I DID BEGUN TO EAT AND SAYING. - i AM AN CANNIBAL WORST CREATURE ON THIS EARTH.
EVERY BITE DID TASTE TO ME AS i WAS EATING HUMAN BEING.
=
i WAS TRULY BURMED OUT.

Much More - Summer of Tanks = page 7.

Behind the corner at the next block I did sit down on the sidewalk and lean in against the building. All I did was repeating learned license plates in my head and was wasting my time.
When I did assume that it would take me to Protetika checking the boilers I did decide to my return. At first I did untie one shoe lace on one of my shoes. And after that I did begun to be walking.
=
When I did reach the ramp to the under ground garage I did step down on my loose shoe lace and faked almost loosing my balance.
=
Four men were still around that same vehicle. No doubt that they were KGB.
=
In the garage was very dark for me to read the license plate and I was not able to go down to read it or see better what those men were up to.
And so slowly doing my shoe lace I did keep sterring in to the garage when I could hear behind my back approaching military boots.
=
I DID STAND UP AND DISCOVERED BARREL OF MACHINE GUN CARVED BETWEEN MY SHOULDER BLADES.
=
My first thoughts were = will I be able to disarm man behind me ? I did know how to do it so I did begun to guess How tall he may be and so on.
But in my secondary thought was. How I am going to get in out off here.
Behind my back I had whole bunch of soldiers with machine guns. On my right side possible KGB. On my left side about 8 tracks of rail extending brom the Bubenech Train Station.
I was in big trouble.
=
And so as if from above I did begun to react.
I did slowly turn around look straight in to the soldiers eyes and begun to be talking some nonsense in Russian. After that I did begun to be walking as nothing had happen away.
=
You can imagine a stress of my situation.
Every step I made it did felt if someone would be loading 100 kg of load on top of my shoulders.
I was waiting from behind command to stop and raise my hands.
=
My stress did leave me bye the time when I did reach the guards in passage in between two tanks who did let me in.
Guards did give me whole bunch of Russian propaganda what I did begun To be destroying in front of as as soon as those guards were behind my back.
=
Reaching the corner of the street I did take all those papers - whistle toward the guards. Throw pares in to the air and begun to be running .
=
In minute I was without me expectations in front of Chinese consulate what was guarded by bus loads of Russian soldiers.

Much More = Summer of Tanks. = page 6.

I

I became to be very stunned by all that I have seen. But to my luck I did run in to my first friend that day on the square. He was standing beside the radio what was placed on the open window ledge of one building.

He said that Radio Prague did relocate in to the under ground and did begun to be broadcasting again.

In main time we did shared all our experiences of that day.

=

Radio station did begun to be broadcasting about that Soviet forces were using their diplomatic vehicles in arresting our people because our resistance was targeting their military vehicles.

=

On my way to work every day I had to be walking every day in around Sovietske Obchodni Zastupitelstvi ( Business Consulate ) where I did see large number of their diplomatic vehicles to be parked beside the sidewalk.

=

And so I did sugested to my friend that if he would be willing to look for the connection with the undergound radio. Then I would go to the BC to see if I could get some license plates of their diplomatic vehicles.

=

He said yes and I was on my way.

=

I could not do much running in down town for not to be arrested or shot by Russians. But by fast walking further I did get more safe I did feel. After Letenska Plan I did close up in ulice Pod Kastany on to Soviet Consulate. For high wall and large garden I was not able to see anything in there at all.

So I did keep walking till I did reach proximity of Bubenecske Nadrazi ( train station ).

And I did came face to face with two Russian Tanks what were blocking the street. (I could see that in between them was small opening just for pedestrians what was guarded by several armed Russian soldiers.

=

For the moment I did regret that when they did transfer me to special school that they did removed Russian language as my subject.

But still I did get my guts and with my obcansky prukaz ( id ) I did approached the guards and with my poor Russian I did begun to be convincing them that I was a boiler operator at Protetika Praha and I was in need to go check out pressure of my boilers.

=

Today I think that those soldiers were not too skilled in Latin as I was not in Azbuka and so did buy my story and I was on my way. 

=

As soon I did get beyond the guards I became to be happy to see first vehicle parked in their usual place.

Well I knew that I was not able to take a note book in to my hand and start writing all the diplomatic license plates. Memorizing them was only my solution.

And to my luck they all were very simle and easy to remember. I can still remember them to this day.

XX 00 03  XX 00 05  XX 00 26 - - - - -

=

I did walk slowly on sidewalk all the way to the ramp leading in to the underground garage. Ramp was on my left side but vehicles on my left.

I did take quick look to my left and I was able to see four men dressed in leather jackets walking around one larger vehicle. What they were doing was not clear to me.

I did decided that on my way back I will create some diversion so I'll be able to take better look.

And so.

XX 00 07  XX 00 09 - - - -

=

When I did reach the end of the building on the grass field larger then soccer field I became to be welcome by dozen of giant military tents.

Around them was laying around or doing something at least hundred soldiers. By every tent I could see machine guns with loaded clips in to them.

= 

Since I did feel safe for the wire fence between me and those soldiers I did keep looking there and kept walking till I did reach the end of the compound.

Much More - Summer of Tanks = page 5.

How did I get on outside of the barricade is beyond me. All I can remember from that time is that I was in deep psychological shock.
I can also remember well that I did told my self to join the resistance where ever I could.
I did not know where to go or what to do. On one corner of the W Square I did run in to several people who were standing beyond two tanks. One of young guys among them was holding newspaper in under his arm. In the minute or two guy with the newspaper and another young guy did approached one of the tanks from behind.
Every tank had on it's back strapped two barrels of diesel and then on one side strapped long chain pick and shovel.
Young guy without the papar did unstrap the pick and with sharp point made hole in to the barrel with diesel. As did liquid begun to leak out other guy did lit his paper and throwed it on to the escaping diesel.
=
Shortly after whole tank wascovered with flames.
BANG.
=
Next as soon as the high flames did go down top cover on the tanks did open up and to death terrified Russian soldiers did begun to climbing in out of the tank shooting with their machine guns at anything that moved.
IT WAS FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT DAY WHEN I HAD TO BE DIVING TO THE GROUND IN FRONT OF BULLETS.
=
Because I did noticed that those soldiers were shooting also at people on other side of the square I did scream on the two young guys. WE ARE KILLING OUR OWN PEOPLE.
But guys did not pay anny attention to me and were off to select for them new target.

Much More - Summer of Tanks = page 4.

One thing. Since we were in under the occupation there was not any public transportation and so I had no other choice but to get to down town on my two feet. Well I was young only 22 years old and so few kilometers here and there did not mean too much for me.
I did found my barricade off the Vaclavak ( Wenceslaw Square ) in front of Radio Prague building. I was anticipating brick barricade as I have seen resistance building in 2nd world war plus people with machine guns and so on.
But instead I did found a wall of tracks and street cars blocking a evtrance to the radio station.
============================
In Memory of Frantisek Novak.
==
On the outside of the barricade were all ready standing Russian tanks and armored transporters. Still I did found me a passage on to inside by the building where was a walk way for the pedestrians.
When I did made it on the inside I did found my self among several hundred Prague citizens. I did ask guy next to me what were we doing and what was our mission. He told me that Russians were trying to take over our Radio Station and by it silence the voice of our nation.
This was the good enough reason for me to join the cause. And so I became to be an part of the human barricade.
=
And so as everyone else I did just begun standing and waiting for what is going to happen next.
Looking around for if I will see any familiar face in the crowd I did noticed one young man who was  dressed in brown leather motor bike outfit. He had on him leather jacket exactly as my father did buy from somebody brand new in the pub. And I did manage to bum that jacket from my father so I had at home exactly one like that.
=
Next we all begun to hear increase of motor rumble on other side of the barricade. And then on my side one of the Russian tanks did made a attempt to get over our barricade.
We all were cheering when he did not make it.
Next thing how ever one tank further for me did. Then tank on our side made another attempt and after that he was among us.
There had been increasing panic among us growing as everyone was trying to get away from the steel monster rumbling toward the gate to the Radio Station Building.
=
Looking at this scene I did noticed as young man in leather jacket did fail on to the ground and did begun to be disappearing in under the tank.
I did froze who knows for how long. I did want to jump to the tank and free that man from under neath of it but I knew that it was not humanly possible.
Then when I did begun to see that this tank did begun to steering in to my direction I did begun to thing about saving my own skin.

Much More - Summer of Tanks = page 3.

By being still very tired I did found my self quiet seat on the train and dosed off again. I did tried to pay my attention to the train stations so I would get off on mine. We were still in outskirts of the city when I did hear announcements made by our ticket man that our train was not allowed to go any further or won't be returning.
This on the order of the commander of Soviet occupational forces.
=
What commander ? What occupational forces ?
=
In no time that ticket man was in face to face with me and did ask me to leave thae train as everybody else.
=
And so like in my dream I did walk through train station on to the street and froze in disbelief.
=
AM I ON SOME MOVIE SET AGAIN ?
=============================
Where ever I did look were tanks soldiers and Prague civilians in argument with those soldiers.
To my right not far away from the steps to train station on what I was standing I did notice soldier what I could recognize as Russian who was holding a traffic sign. He was surrounded by Prague civilians. I did decide to go investigate there for me on what was going on ?
=
We are in under the invasion. Then one man in our group said something about that in downtown people were making a barricades.
=
This was good enough for me.

Much More - Summer of Tanks= page 2.

crrrrr =  My alarm clock did begun to ring. I did drag my self in out of my bed half way dead. If I had two hours of sleep that night then it was way too much. I did manage to get to the city bus station to get a bus to the Kladno train station.
When the bus did arrive I became to be slightly surprised about that was empty except for a single passenger who was sitting close to the driver and talking to him in quiet voice who knows what about.
Morning bus to the train station had usually quiet few people in it. But that day I was happy that it did not.
This give me a chance to climb to the end of the bus to get me bit snooze till our arrival.
=
AM I ON THE MOVIE SET ?
======================
Gate to the train station was open as usual because we early morning riders were buying our train tickets to Prague on the train.
And so I did walk directly to the platform. Where I begun to stare in shock to my surroundings.
=
I don't know if you did ever see the exodus of Jews in outbrake of WW2 in Europe ?
=
There in my hometown Kladno on platform was standing group of Orthodox Jews. There were no Orthodox Jews in my hometown. They were in Prague but not in Kladno.
Then I did noticed on the bench bye the train station group of Slovak women who were usually selling their ( ostepky ) smoked sheep cheeses on the streets of Prague.
In Prague yes but in Kladno never.
What were they all doing here >
I did begun to look around for the movie crew and cameras but they were not there also,
What is going on ???
=
This surreal scene did wanish when 5am train to Prague did arrive.

Much more then = The Summer of Tanks - Page 1.

To this day I truly wish that Spring of 68 would never end. And so one day I was sleeping in my bed at Kladno's my parents apartment waiting forward to next morning when I will catch a morning train to Prague. It all did begun just as any other ordinary night. I went to bed in about 11pm because I had to get up in around 4am so I could be at work at 6am in Protetika Praha.
=
I was sleeping in around the midnight what very low above our rooftop did flew some kind of large airplane. All my mother's vine glasses and dishes did begun to rattle in the kitchen.It wake me up. Very shortly after that another large without the doubt military airplane did flue low above our rooftop.
WHAT THE HELL ?
I did scream over the kitchen to my parents bedroom.
Go back to sleep it may be just a military fly above replied my mother to me.
Not long time after that I could hear someone from the street screaming something from their full lungs. But I could not understand what.
I did had to get up early in the morning so most important to me was to catch as many minutes of sleep that was able to.

Much more then - page 5,= Prague Spring of 68.

When did Prague Spring did arrive I was on top of my world. As much as before most of my friends were bad guys now most of my close friends became to be university students.
I did became to have my first song lyrics played in Kladno by one Kladno Student Rock band.
After that when I finished my evening school I did quit my job in forests realizing that I was not born to be logger and prospects for getting higher were slim.
So I did go to Prague where I did my self ordinary job. And in the evening I did start to study Songwriting and Music Business.
I became to have girlfriend in Prague.
And to this day I belief that 1968 was a best year of my life.

Much more then - page 4.

And so before I knew I was 19 years old and having my draft orders in hand I did board the train to East Slovakia where in city of Kosice I did begun my military carrier.
From the day one army did teach me one thing. I did learn that I was much more physically stronger then I thought of my self.
Also that from woods I was able to endure walking or marching better then majority of my booth camp fellow soldiers.
I was still in the booth cam when I did learn that our army base had a Dog Squad. And it is in the booth camp when majority of new soldiers are trying to stash them selves in to some position with in. Cooks Drivers what have you?
Everybody knew that ordinary soldiers will get most undesirable orders.
=
In our Forest Animals course we had two subjects. Introduction to hunting dogs and most important subject in what you had to be able to graduate in was VETERINARY .
=
And so I figured out that these two subjects should help me to get in to dog squad. And they did.
I became to be first new soldier to be excepted and also to be send for training tn to Dog Master School. After I was sent back to Kosice received the rank and did begun to serve.
=
Army had great change on me. I knew well from before that I was able to fully memorize scientific definitions. Thanks to that I did graduate in Dog Master School on top of my class.
In addition back at my base I did begun to read books written by classic writers. It did surprised me bit that on top I was able to understand them.
=
I stayed in the army only for fifteen monst and I did managed to get released.
=
Finely this did get me an opportunity to get enrolled in to evening school so fer ever I could shake down that curse of Special away from me.
=
After years of struggles with inferiority complexes I was able to feel normal In the army I did also begun to write poetry.

Much more then - page 3.

I did became to hate that word Zvlastni ( SPECIAL ) from all my heart. And I did staied there only for one year.
At that time my only solution was to run away from home and from that cursed on to me place.
When I was captured by the Police I was allowed to leave the Institute. But new problem for me became to be what next ?
I was not physically well developed for the hard labor jobs. I was what you may say Nerdy Kid.
But because of luck of education my prospects were slim.
=
I did made two additional attempts to run away from home. Till on my
last capture I did get inspired to take the Kurs v Myslivosti. = Forest Animals Management Course. My Special School past  had no effect on it at all.
And so in one year I did had my diploma. One thing it was the first thaing that I did ever accomplish in my life.
My grandmother did buy me a brand new shut gun my aunts brand new 10/50 bon and my father book Krasy Myslivosti what I have in Canada till today.
=
Finely that word Special was not so harsh to me.
.