American soldiers attending mass

Josef Vlach spent the end of the war in his hometown of Pilsen, where he met many American soldiers. He truly appreciated the approach of their commissioned officers, who proudly served as examples to common soldiers. They were always front and center in the battles, making them most vulnerable to enemy attacks. Such an exemplary approach was reflected in the design of their helmets. The ranks of US commissioned and non-commissioned officers were marked by stripes on the rear side of the helmet. Therefore, the rank insignia was visible only if the officer moved ahead of his troops. Witnesses often recall American soldiers for their generosity and love affairs with Czech women. Though Mr. Vlach points out that an often ignored aspect of their life was their devoutness. "It was fantastic to watch American soldiers attending mass in the Redemptorist Church on the first Sunday after May 5th, 1945. They still had their helmets and rifles. While kneeling, they were holding the rifles, the helmets placed close to them. They brought their own chaplains, who were recognisable only by a tiny cross.’