An oral history interview conducted by Dayanara Torres with John Petlicka.
This video is an interview with College Point resident, John Petlicka, about his experience growing up in the Czech Republic during World War II and the Soviet Era.
The story of John Petlicka, born in the Czech Republic during World War II, is one of resilience throughout hardships and someone truly reaching their “American Dream”. During his childhood, his father was sent to a concentration camp. The years following the fall of Nazi Germany, the Czech Republic was dominated by communist rule. John eventually left his home, and after traveling through Europe, ended up settling in Queens.