Czechs who escaped into West Germany in rebuilt armored car wave from atop
vehicle on arrival in New York. In light trench coat is Vaclav K re jcirik. Others,
from left: Joseph Pisarik, Vaclav Uhlik and wife with children and Walter Hora.
HOME OF THE FREE
Am tried it a bright new,
world for the Vaclav U li
nks and their throa compan
ions who crashod through tho
Iron Curtain from Czecho
Slovakia in UMik't robuilt
armorod car. They're living
in a big, tight-room houso
in Springfield, Mass., and en
|oying ovary minutt of it. Tho
city "adopted" thorn last
Docombor.
Within two days aftor thoir
arrival, tho Czochs wora
equipped with virtually every
thing found in an average
American home, all donated
by the people of Springfield.
When they're not devoting
their time to tho house and
to studying English, they're
out making rodio and TV ap
pearances aiding the Crusade
for Freedom and Radio Free
Europe whose broadcasts in
spired their escape.
In the beginning, the Uhliks
and their companions, Joseph
Pisarik, Walter Hora, and
Vaclav Krejcirik, all unmar
ried men, who live upstairs,
were quite baffled and con
fused by all the shiny new
things in the house. Espe
cially Mrs. Uhlik. She had
never seen a gas stove and
electric washer before. In
Czechoslovakia she slaved
over an ancient wood-burning
stove and that's where she
heated the big tub of water
for the washing.
However, the Uhlik children
Vaclav Jr., 6, and Eva, 4,
have no problems whatever.
While they haven't the first no
tion of Englishnor their young
neighbors the slightest smidg
eon of Czech, everybody un
derstands each other perfectly
in the one world of childhood.
Mr*. Maria Uhlilc, ot neighborhood supermorket, buys more food then ?b?Fever hdd at one time.
A neighbor, Mrs. Lailia Johnaan, arrival with badclothing; it graatad by Emll Ronp
dorf. inter era tar for tha Uhliks. Har doughtar, Ruth Ann, < is graatad by Evo UUA.
jmmmf. mmtm m m
Aw to mot it woshar bofflat now ton on H. From UK Vaclav Uhlik, bending,
Jotoph Pwarik. Woito* Mora andMw. UbMuTtwy HmIW go* M geiaa.
Neighborhood boy* help Mr*. Uhlik unpack torn* of the
donated article*. Little Eva it pwxWd by the egg beater.
| Tho Uhlitii onjoy on* of (hair pooteit luxuries ? bononoi. Nona of
k party ovor totted a banana, 4wy taij, until Hi?y orrivad in Amorica
Quick friendship sprung up between Eva Uhlik and her neigh
bor, Ruth Ann Johnson. Ruth is giving Eva ono of her dolls.
Uhlikt tall of Amor ieo'? wondof* on top. r .cording for broodc<i.f.ngov.r Radio Fro.
Eurepo. Emit Ronidorf, int.rpr.tw ond RF E ottoch., holdi mile. for Evo.
TM. WmIi'i Wtun ?HOW *f N?wrfMMTM.