The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC is saddened to inform that Mr. Karel Aster (97), bearer of the US Medal of Freedom, passed away on Captiva, FL. 

Karel Aster was one from a group of 14 Czechs who volunteered to join ranks with Filipino and US armies in November 1941. Many members of this group came from the ranks of Bata Shoe Company employees, the first ever Czech investment in the Philippines that started in Manila in 1930’s. Smaller part was formed by Czech businessmen, and Jewish refugees from the occupied then Czechoslovakia. It also included personalities working in or with the Czech diplomatic service at the Czech Consulate in Manila. While all of the Czechs became prisoners of war, their families had to endure a life in difficulties, surviving in the wartime Manila with only scant resources, often not to meet their husbands and fathers anew. 

Like many others the crew of 14 participated in the Japanese “Victory March”. Those who survived the march were placed in “hell ships” for weeks on end where they were held in wretched conditions.  Following the journey in the hell ships, Aster and his fellow shipmates still alive were encamped in the coal mine camps operated by the Japanese Army until the end of the war.

Karel Aster was born on 15 May of 1920, and was the last living survivor among the Czech volunteers who took part in the wartime activities against the Japanese Invasion during WWII. Aster was awarded the Medal of Victory and the Medal of Defense in recognition of his honorable civilian combat service in the Philippines by the order of the Secretary of National Defense on the year 2015. The Gratias Agit Award 2014, which is the highest civilian award bestowed by the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs to acknowledge prominent personalities who have committed themselves to work for the benefit of society, for the promotion of friendship among nations and for the promotion of the Czech Republic in the world was awarded to Aster a year before.

In a long letter dated 10 November 1945, Aster detailed his experience as a volunteer in the US Army Service in Manila and as a prisoner of war. He also depicted in his memoirs the fate that met other Czech volunteers—7 of whom tragically died either in the Bataan Death March or in the Japanese captivity. "The conditions were so terrible it is hard for me to describe them," he wrote in the letter to his parents. "We no longer behaved as human beings and the only thing that helped us survive was one's instinct for self-preservation. It shows the human can endure more than most animals." he wrote further.

The Czechs were the only other nationals that volunteered en masse and took part in the wartime activities beside the Filipino and US troops during the Japanese Occupation. Their memory is preserved with a special memorial at the Capas National Shrine in Tarlac beside the Philippine Scouts and US Memorial. No other nationalities are present here.

Survivors are: Michael & Jill Gerbec - son & daughter in-law of Carmichael, California, Lamar Hamilton Ellis, Jr. of Sea Island, Georgia, son-in-law, Grandchildren: Lamar Hamilton Ellis, III, of Atlanta, Georgia, Jenny Ellis Murray of Greensboro, North Carolina, Michael C. Gerbec of Berkeley, California, Alexander J. Gerbec of Berkeley, California.

Czech Defenders of Bataan were:

• ASTER Karel - Bata Shoe Company. Upon the surrender of Bataan, escaped by boat to Corregidor to continue with the USAFFE. Later forced into the Japanese Victory March through Manila. Imprisoned in Cabanatuan prison and Las Pinas but on 10/1/1944 moved to Hokusen Maru Hell Ship shortly before the Great Raid. Transported to Japan and used as forced labor in Fukuoka Camp #17 near Nagasaki. Last of the Czech volunteers, passed away in Florida on August 18 2017 at 97. Awarded Czech Gratias Agit Award on 6 June 2014 as well as the Philippine Medal of Victory and Medal of Defense on 25 April 2015;

• BŽOCH Jan - businessman, Trade Official at the Czechoslovak Consulate in Manila and representative of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute. Survived Bataan Death March. Imprisoned in Cabanatuan Prison GR3, on 12/13/1944 transported to Oryoku Maru Hellship shortly before the Great Raid. Survived Oryoku Maru Hell Ship bombing and killed on the Enoura Maru Jan 9, 1945 in Takao, Formosa as #352. Received US Medal of Freedom in 1945 and Philippine Medal of Defense and Medal of Liberation in 2004;

• DANČÁK Karel - Bata Shoe Company. Upon the surrender of Bataan, escaped by boat to Corregidor to continue with the USAFFE. Later forced into the Japanese Victory March through Manila. On 2/4/1945 Rescued at Bilibid Prison, Manila by American Forces. Received US Medal of Freedom in 1945 and Philippine Medal of Defense and Medal of Liberation in 2004;

• Dr. FUCHS Pavel (Paul Fuchs) - Survived Bataan Death March but died shortly after in Camp O'Donnel on 25 May 1942 alongside thousands of other Filipino and American soldiers. Received US Medal of Freedom in 1945 and Philippine Medal of Defense and Medal of Liberation in 2004;

• HERMANN Leo - Upon the surrender of Bataan, escaped by boat to Corregidor to continue with the USAFFE. Later forced into the Japanese Victory March through Manila. Imprisoned in Las Pinas Camp, On 10/1/1944 moved to Hokusen Maru Hells Ship as #202. Extremely weakened died Feb-March 1945 in Fukuoka Camp #17 near Nagasaki, Japan. Received US Medal of Freedom in 1945 and Philippine Medal of Defense and Medal of Liberation in 2004;

• HERMAN Bedřich (Fred Hermann) - Bata Shoe Company. Survived Bataan Death March. Survived the war. Received US Medal of Freedom in 1945;

• HIRSCH Otto - Upon the surrender of Bataan, escaped by boat to Corregidor to continue with the USAFFE. Later forced into the Japanese Victory March through Manila. Imprisoned in Las Pinas prison. On 10/1/1944 transported to Hokusen Maru Hell Ship as #203 and moved to forced labor in the Japanese Fukuoka Camp #17 near Nagasaki, survived, moved to California, Received US Medal of Freedom in 1945;

• HRDINA Jaroslav - Director of Bata Shoe in Manila. Upon the surrender of Bataan, escaped by boat to Corregidor to continue with the USAFFE. Later forced into the Japanese Victory March through Manila. Imprisoned in Cabanatuan Prison Tent GR as number #353. On 12/13/1944 moved to Oryoku Maru Hellship shortly before the "Great Raid". Survived it bombing but killed on Enoura Maru Hell Ship 9/1/1945. Received Philippine Medal of Defense and Medal of Liberation in 2004;

• LENK Hans - fled from Dachau Concentration camp. Survived Bataan Death March. Rescued at Bilibid Prison, Manila by American Forces 2/4/1945 with a strong tuberculosis, his immigration to the US had to be solved by a specific Act (read TIME magazine on him).

• LENK Fred - fled from Dachau Concentration camp. Survived Bataan Death March. Imprisoned in Cabanatuan prison tent GR3 as #354. On 12/13/1944 transported to Oryoku Maru Hell Ship just before the "Great Raid". Died during the Oryoku Maru bombing. Received US Medal of Freedom in 1945 and Philippine Medal of Defense and Medal of Liberation in 2004;

• MORÁVEK Arnošt (Ernest Moravek) - businessman and Czech community leader in Manila. Upon the surrender of Bataan, escaped by boat to Corregidor to continue with the USAFFE. Later forced into the Japanese Victory March through Manila. Imprisoned in Bilibid prison, Received US Medal of Freedom in 1945. Returned to Czechoslovakia.

• SCHMELKES Norbert - deputy Consul of Czechoslovakia in Manila, businessman, after almost dying from malaria fled from Bataan Death March to Manila where he joined the resistance. He acquired a contraband shortwave radio, printed and distributed flyers. Wanted by the Japanese, he escaped to Mindanao in 1944 where he worked with the American Resistance fighters and even though a foreigner, became US Lt. Col. After the war received US citizenship and became National Vice Commander of the American Legion. Large text dedicated to his activities in a book "Code Name: High Pockets" written about the wartime resistance activities in Manila.

• VAŘÁK Josef - Bata Shoe technician. Skillful technician helped the group of Czechs to flee the Japanese after the US surrender on Bataan. After repairing a boat engine he transported them to Corregidor Island to continue with the US Army there. Imprisoned in Cabanatuan prison from where he was transported on 12/13/1944 to Oryoku Maru Hell Ship as #355, just before the "Great Raid". Survived its bombing. Died on the Enoura Maru Jan 9, 1945. Received Philippine Medal of Defense and Medal of Liberation.

• VOLNÝ Antonín - (Anthony G., or Tony Volny or Volney) - Czech diplomat, worked 9 years at the Czechoslovak Embassy in Tokio. During the war also Bata Shoe Co. representative. Fluent speaker of Japanese has served for US intelligence (? probably interrogation of Jap. prisoners) in Mariaveles. Survived the Bataan Death March. Imprisoned in Cabanatuan prison from where he was transported on 12/13/1944 to Oryoku Maru Hell Ship as #355, just before the "Great Raid". Survived its bombing. From written testimonies known to actively help the US prisoners, was shot by a Japanese soldier while seeking permission for the other prisoners to get out. Died on the Enoura Maru Jan 9, 1945 on his birthday.

• GERBEC Ludvík, CEO of the Manila branch of Bat’a Shoe Co, should also be honored even though as a hemophiliac he was not able to volunteer. Gerbec was imprisoned by the Japanese for financing the resistance in Manila. He barely survived the war with serious health problems, died young in the USA.

The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC would like to thank to Jan Vytopil of the Czech Embassy in Manila for cooperation.