Herman Geist, a U.S. Army First Lieutenant who entered the city of Pilsen on May 5, 1945, as part of the American liberation of Western Bohemia, has passed away at the age of 100. One of the last living witnesses to the end of WWII in Europe, Geist remained a beloved guest of the Czech Republic’s Liberation Festival for decades. His personal connection to Pilsen and its people endured to the very end, earning him not just medals, but the affection and gratitude of generations.