Ladislav Jindra
Ladislav Jindra (June 1921 – April 30, 2026), also known as Leonard Jindra, was a Czech-born American World War II veteran.
Life and career
Ladislav Jindra was born in June 1921 in Koňkovice near Světlá nad Sázavou. Due to the growing political tension in Europe during the 1930s, he traveled to New York in 1938 to live with relatives. He adopted the first name Leonard due to the difficult English pronunciation of his given first name.
Jindra attempted to enlist in the Army after the start of World War II, but was not accepted. He was accepted in his second attempt to join the Army in 1943, but had to sign a naturalization petition confirming a preliminary application for US citizenship. As a member of the 115th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division, he participated in the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944, at Omaha Beach.[1]
He was wounded three times within a few weeks.[2] His last injury was serious, and occurred in July 1944 during the liberation of the city of Saint-Lô. After a difficult operation and recovery, he only served in rear units for the remainder of the war.[1] His decorations include several Purple Hearts, and the Bronze Star.
After the war, Jindra received American citizenship, and in 1948 he married Věra, whose parents had come from Bohemia to New York before World War I.[1] He had a daughter, Diana,[3][4] and a son, Lawrence, an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon, and a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps.[4][5][6] He lived in the states of New York and New Jersey,[1] moving to the Floral Park borough on Long Island in 1951.[4]
Jindra received the insignia of Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor from the French Reserve Officers Association. In 2014, the Czech Minister of Defense Martin Stropnický awarded him the Cross of Merit of the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic.[2][4]
Jindra died on April 30, 2026, at the age of 104.[3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Klůc, Jiří (May 28, 2024). "Americký hrdina narozený v Československu: Bojoval na krvavé Omaze, zemřel v nedožitých 105 letech" [American hero born in Czechoslovakia: He fought at bloody Omaha, will celebrate his 103rd birthday in June] (in Czech). Reportér Magazín. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- 1 2 Kabrhelová, Lenka (June 6, 2014). "Den D zažil i Čechoameričan Leonard Jindra. Vzpomínky by raději vymazal" [Czech-American Leonard Jindra also experienced D-Day. He would rather erase the memories]. iROZHLAS.cz (in Czech). Czech Radio. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- 1 2 "Zemřel hrdina druhé světové války Ladislav Jindra. Zúčastnil se vylodění v Normandii" [World War II hero Ladislav Jindra has died. He participated in the Normandy landings.]. CNN Prima News (in Czech). Prima F.T.V. May 20, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Miglino, Elaine (August 23, 2014). "American Hero: Staff Sergeant Leonard Jindra". Long Island Press. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ↑ Farinella, Paul F. (2022). "Father & Son Take the Oath" (PDF). The Officer Review. Vol. May–June. p. 25. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ↑ Sixta, Miroslav (August 21, 2014). "Oční chirurg, loutkohorec a studentka: spojila je čeština" [An eye surgeon, a puppeteer and a student: they were united by Czech]. Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media. Retrieved May 24, 2026.