The Perfect Gift: Freedom’s Legacy

Ross Hedvicek, a Czech immigrant who fled Communism in the 1980s, gave his grandchildren an unforgettable Christmas gift this year. A legal and naturalized United States Citizen since 2005, he compiled ancestral DNA results, historical records, and family stories to chronicle the rich and turbulent history of the Hedvicek family.

The family’s journey from Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia to the United States epitomizes resilience and hope. His life, marked by daring escapes and relentless pursuit of freedom, now serves as a legacy for his family and a testament to the American dream.

Hedvicek handed each of his grandchildren a beautifully bound book chronicling their family journey on Christmas morning.

“I wanted them to know where they come from and what their family endured,” Hedvicek said from his Florida home.

His work retraces his family’s roots back to 13th-century Belgium and weaves through centuries of European conflict, including battles against both Nazis and Communists. The latest chapter chronicles his life – one focused on seeking and achieving the American Dream.

DNA: The Map of Ancestors

Hedvicek’s journey began with DNA testing. His results traced a lineage that spanned northern and southern Europe.

“Our ancestors started in Belgium, moved to Sweden during the Thirty Years’ War, and eventually settled in Moravia,” he explained.

DNA evidence highlighted connections to the Scandinavian Vikings and Celts, with some ancestors leaving their genetic footprints as far as the Azores and southern Hungary.

Remarkably, his results showed no direct Slavic ancestors in the male line.

“We’re not Slavs by blood,” he emphasized.

Instead, his Y-DNA revealed ties to ancient Dinaric populations in modern Croatia, with some migration to Scandinavia thousands of years ago.

Family Stories: A Living Legacy

Ross didn’t just rely on DNA; he tapped into oral histories from his father, Rostislav, and other relatives. These stories captured the humor, heartache, and resilience of generations.

“My father would always say, ‘We’re survivors.’ Whether it was war, famine, or politics, we found a way,” Hedvicek recounted.

These tales include family members who fled Nazi conscription, helped neighbors during the Holocaust, and rebuilt their lives after losing everything to Communists.

One poignant story involved an ancestor who escaped forced labor under the Nazis only to hide in plain sight as a factory worker. Another ancestor, a miller, was known for secretly helping resistance fighters during World War II.

Historical Records: Courage Against Tyranny

However, the family’s role in resisting authoritarian regimes is the most inspiring part of the story.

One of Ross’s ancestors, Eduard Hedvicek, served as a bodyguard to Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss in the 1930s. Eduard unsuccessfully tried to save Dollfuss during a Nazi assassination plot in 1934.

As punishment, Eduard was later imprisoned in concentration camps, including Buchenwald and Dachau.

“He paid a high price for standing against the Nazis,” Ross shared.

Eduard’s resilience earned him an Austrian military honor but left an indelible mark of sacrifice.

The Hedviceks faced Communist oppression after World War II. Under the new regime, family farms were seized, and relatives were labeled class enemies.

Ross himself experienced firsthand persecution before making a daring escape from Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia in the 1980s.

“I knew I couldn’t raise a family in a system that crushed freedom,” he said.

A Life of Defiance: Ross Hedvicek’s Daring Battle Against Soviet Oppression

Ross Hedvicek’s life reads like a gripping novel of resistance, survival, and escape. A native of Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia, Hedvicek faced relentless persecution for defying a repressive regime. This Christmas, his grandchildren received the gift of that story—a living testament to courage and resilience.

A Brush with Death at Zagan

During his mandatory military service in the 1980s, Hedvicek was stationed in Prachatice and later sent to Zagan, a Polish military training area infamous for its history as the site of Stalag Luft III—the setting for the famous escape of Allied POWs during World War II.

Hedvicek narrowly survived death during joint military exercises with Soviet and Polish troops.

“In Zagan, I faced a firing squad under orders from a Soviet officer,” Hedvicek recounted.

The accusation? Minor insubordination, amplified by the Soviets’ disdain for perceived dissidents. His life was saved by an unlikely hero—a known alcoholic Czech officer.

“He traded two bottles of Polish vodka for my life,” Hedvicek said.

The Soviet officer accepted the vodka and dismissed the execution as an act of “družba,” or friendship in Soviet jargon.

Interrogations and Persecution

Upon returning to civilian life, Hedvicek attended language schools and immersed himself in Serbo-Croatian and English studies. His growing knowledge of foreign cultures made him a target of the feared Czechoslovak State Security Police (StB).

Serving as an intelligence and counter-intelligence agency, the StB dealt with any activity considered opposition to the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia and the state.

Between 1982 and 1986, Hedvicek endured 25 to 30 interrogations at a StB facility in Přerov.

“They accused me of being a U.S. intelligence asset,” Hedvicek said.

The evidence? Visits to the U.S. embassy in Prague—visits he categorically denies ever making.

“The interrogations were based on lies, but that was the StB’s method—fabricating charges to justify their brutality.”

Despite their efforts, the StB could not find evidence to implicate Hedvicek in wrongdoing. But their harassment had consequences: his passports were confiscated three times, cutting short his travels to Yugoslavia, where he practiced his Serbo-Croatian skills.

Once, at the Komárno border crossing, Hedvicek was accused of smuggling Beatles records and “insulting the authorities.”

The ordeal resulted in a Kafkaesque arbitration process that eventually restored his passport—but only temporarily.

A Gift of Freedom: From Soviet Chains to American Dreams

After years of enduring Communist oppression and constant surveillance by the StB, Hedvicek made the life-changing decision to escape.

Fleeing with his wife and children, Rostislav (Ross) Jr. and Martina, they sought refuge in Austria, where they stayed briefly in refugee camps.

“We spent a week in the refugee camp at Traiskirchen and then moved to Thalham near Salzburg,” he said.

In Austria, Hedvicek was offered political asylum—a recognition of the danger he faced under Communist rule. Yet, he declined. “I didn’t want to live as an asylum seeker,” he explained. “I wanted to start fresh in a country where my family could thrive.”

With help from the Canadian embassy in Vienna, Hedvicek secured “landed immigrant” status. The embassy even lent him money for the family’s plane tickets, which he repaid within a year of settling in Canada.

“I didn’t take anything for free,” he emphasized

The Hedviceks arrived in St. Catherines, Ontario, near Niagara Falls, and began rebuilding their lives. Hedvicek juggled full-time work and evening classes, studying computer science at Niagara College and Conestoga College.

“I had missed years of education under the Communist regime. I was determined to catch up,” he said.

From Canada to America: The Ultimate Destination

After nine years in Canada, the Hedviceks felt the pull of warmer climates and greater opportunities. In 1996, they legally moved to Florida, where they have owned homes for many years.

“Florida was a dream come true,” Hedvicek said. “We loved Canada, but we wanted to embrace everything America had to offer.”

The transition wasn’t without its challenges, but the Hedviceks thrived. Ross continued his career as a systems administrator while his wife, Marie, supported the family at home. Their children, Ross Jr. and Martina, excelled in their studies, earning degrees in computer science and law, respectively, from Florida Gulf Coast University.

Four and a half years after obtaining green cards, the family achieved their ultimate goal—becoming United States citizens.

“The day we took our citizenship oath was the proudest moment of my life,” Hedvicek recalled. “America represents everything we had been searching for—freedom, opportunity, and hope.”

Building a Legacy in the Land of the Free

For the Hedviceks, American citizenship was more than a legal status; it was a chance to contribute to a nation they deeply admired. Hedvicek immersed himself in his work, his writings, and his art.

Over the years, he published hundreds of articles in English and Czech, highlighting the perils of totalitarianism and the value of liberty. His paintings, displayed in private collections from Las Vegas to Kojetín, Czech Republic, reflect his creative spirit and deep appreciation for life’s beauty.

The next generation of Hedviceks continued to build on this legacy. Rostislav Jr. became a computer engineer and started a family, while Martina pursued a career in law and eventually opened her own firm. Their accomplishments embody the opportunities that America provides to those who work hard and dream big.

Ross lost his wife Marie to cancer in 2010, which he believes is related to exposure to the Chernobyl fallout in 1986, while the family had just fled the Iron Curtain. Despite personal challenges, Hedvicek remains optimistic about the future.

“Marie loved America as much as I do,” he said. “She believed in this country’s ability to inspire and uplift.”

In 2017, Hedvicek remarried Jirina Korcakova, who also became a US citizen, further cementing the family’s roots in the US.

A Beacon of Freedom

Today, Ross Hedvicek reflects on his incredible journey with gratitude and pride.

“We left everything behind to embrace freedom,” he said. “And this country gave us a chance to rebuild and thrive.”

Ross loves his country, and it is evident in his art. He shared with me the engraving for his painting titled “Raptors flying ‘Missing Man’”:

He was Force Recon and did not die … he was so bad ass he pursued his enemies into the next life to make sure Eternity was hell for them. There are no virgins waiting for them on the other side, only pissed off Marines. Semper Fi.

As a final gift to his family, Hedvicek is documenting his uncensored memories, ensuring that future generations will understand the sacrifices that shaped their lives.

“These stories will remind my grandchildren of where we came from and why freedom is worth fighting for,” he said.

The Hedviceks’ story, from Soviet oppression to American citizenship, is a testament to the enduring power of hope and determination. For Ross, it is a reminder of how far they’ve come—and how bright the future can be.

“America isn’t perfect,” he said, “but it’s still the greatest symbol of freedom in the world. And I’m proud to call it home.”

The Christmas Surprise

Hedvicek handed his grandchildren a beautifully bound book and a digital file on Christmas morning. The book included maps, charts, and photographs documenting their ancestry.

“It’s the story of who we are,” he told them.

The gift also included a handwritten letter urging them to cherish their freedom and never forget its cost.

His grandchildren, ages 2 to 12, were awestruck, at least the ones old enough to understand.

“Grandpa, this is better than any toy,” his youngest grandson, Dylan, said.

For Hedvicek, this was the ultimate reward.

“They don’t teach this in school. It’s up to us to pass it on,” he said.

A Message for Future Generations

Hedvicek’s gift is more than a family history; it’s a testament to the enduring spirit of freedom.

“We’ve seen what happens when tyranny takes hold,” he warned. “Our story reminds us to stand up for what’s right, no matter the cost.”

As he reflects on his journey, Hedvicek remains hopeful.

“If my grandchildren understand where they come from, they’ll be better prepared for where they’re going,” he said.

This Christmas, Ross Hedvicek didn’t just give his family a gift; he gave them an identity and a mission to honor it.

If you have any questions (in English or Czech), you can contact Ross Hedvicek directly at [email protected].