Sad news coming from Brussels to Pilsen, Louis Gihoul, a Belgian war veteran who regularly participated in Pilsen’s Independence Day celebrations, died at the early age of 99. An unmistakable man with a prominent mustache, he was a soldier of the 17th battalion of Belgian gunners. As part of Patton’s army, he participated in the liberation of western Bohemia in May 1945.
Back in May of this year, Louis Gihoul was an honored participant in the Freedom Celebration. In a jeep, he completes the popular Liberty Convoy, which goes through the city center, as he has done many times before. He enthusiastically greeted Pilsen residents in Republic Square, handed out autographs, shook hands with a number of people and even danced with girls in traditional costumes. Along with other veterans, he was present at a number of memorials at the memorial, including the largest at Thank You, America!
Sunday, May 8, 2022, 2:10 p.m.
The Freedom Celebration returns to the metropolis of West Bohemia in full splendor after the coronavirus outbreak. Today’s Liberty Convoy, in which hundreds of historic cars participated, was the icing on the cake for the few days celebration. Biggest success with viewers…
“I really like Louis, he was always in a good mood during visits to Pilsen and the Freedom Festival and has great energy. Even in his nineties, he was able to drive from Brussels to Pilsen. He will be sorely missed.” former Pilsen mayor and current culture minister Martin Baxa (ODS) commented on the sad event. “We will remember him with love and we are grateful that we can meet again in May at the Independence Celebration…Louis Gihoul, Pilsen’s hero and liberator, will always be in our hearts.” the city of Pilsen announced on its website.
Louis Gihoul was born in 1923. During the war he began to study technology, but in 1942 he refused to work in Germany. Instead, he joined the resistance. After Belgium was liberated by American soldiers, he joined the 17th Rifle Battalion as a volunteer, which was deployed along with the 3rd American Army. In May 1945, he reached West Bohemia (Holyšov). He also became an honorary citizen here in 2008. After the war, Gihoul completed his studies and worked in the colonial government of the Belgian Congo until 1962. He then moved to Canada, from where he returned to Belgium in 1992.
In addition to Louis Gihoul, American and Belgian veterans George Thompson, Herman Geist, Richard Pieper and Valère Gustin, who also liberated Bohemia and western Pilsen in May 1945, took part in this year’s Independence Day celebrations in Pilsen.
Last November, American war veteran Marion Kirkham of Oregon, who was also a regular participant in Pilsen’s liberation celebrations, died at the age of 99. During World War II, he was a member of the Bomber Air Force. This year, just before Independence Day, Domažlice and Pilsen liberator James Herbert Cavanaugh Duncan, a veteran and member of the 2nd Infantry Division, died in the US at the age of 97.
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