Fallschirmjäger-Lehrkompanie
Ardennen 1945

Oberjäger der Fallschirmtruppe
Otto 'Tony' Nemec

Otto 'Tony' Nemec grew up in Prague, joining the Luftwaffe in the summer of 1943. Originally he was scheduled to attend pilot training, but due to the acute gasoline shortage many facilities were closed. Rather than assignment to the FLAK or the Hermann Göring Division, he volunteered for the Fallschirmjäger. After testing in Gardelegen (near Stendal), he attended the Sprungschule in Freiburg, southwestern Germany, just north of Basel.

In January, 1944, he was assigned to the 12./FJR10, 4. Fallschirmjägerdivision. In his own words, "At first I was in a Mortar Squad and later on I was a Melder, which by the way was not a choice assignment. The invasion of Sicily was just before my time. I was involved in the battle for Monte Cassino, but in the Nettuno (German name for Anzio) sector."

During the war, Tony attained the rank of Oberjäger, and earned the Iron Cross First and Second Classes, the Parachutist's Badge, the Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge, and the Anti-Partisan Badge.

Captured by American troops, Oberjäger Nemec spent the remainder of the war at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. After the war, he could not return to Prague, so he sought out family members in Frankfurt am Main and finished college. In the 1950's, he returned to the U.S. because he liked what he learned and experienced here. At a Halloween costume party, he met a lovely American girl named Eleanore, and they were married soon after. He became an executive for the Mobil Oil Company, which took him all over the world building oil refineries.

We are honored to have him as a guest.