Posted on 06/13/2007 4:36:58 PM PDT by SandRat
These partners shared a rare opportunity to meet the Estonian Minister of Defense Jaak Aaviksoo here June 8.
During the visit, Aaviksoo talked with Estonian troops and Soldiers from Troop B, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment – who work alongside the Estonian soldiers every day. Aaviksoo also exchanged gifts with senior leadership in the 1st BCT.
In a presentation at the Camp Taji Theater, Aaviksoo took part as Estonian troops and Soldiers of “Garryowen” presented each other with awards—with the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment presenting traditional Cavalry spurs to their Estonian partners while several Garryowen troops received the Estonian Distinguished Service Medal.
“The traditional earning of the spurs comes with service in the cavalry as the organization goes to war,” said Lt. Col. Kevin MacWatters, upon presenting the spurs to the Estonians. “Wear these spurs with honor.”
“You can definitely see a good interaction between our two countries, and this is very important to our nation,” said Estonian Army Col. Neeme Vali, the chief of the general staff for the Estonian army, who presented Estonian Distinguished Service Medals to Soldiers in Garryowen. “Now it’s time for the Estonians to say thank you to the U.S.”
Following the ceremony and a briefing on the Estonian and Garryowen mission in Sab Al Bor, the minister took the opportunity to speak to those in attendance.
“We’re not very numerous and our country is not very big, but we suffered under totalitarianism for 50 years and we don’t want that to ever be repeated,” said Aaviksoo during his opening comments. “The modern world is getting smaller all the time and the ideals of democracy are just as important to us as they are to the local Iraqi people here.
“This is not an easy mission here, and you know that better than I do,” added Aaviksoo addressing his troops and the Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment. “But the goal of the joint multi-national forces is to help bring peace and democracy to Iraq. I have seen your focus and commitment to that goal.”
In cordon and searches, mounted and dismounted patrols and other joint operations with U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces, the Estonian troops have assisted in the detaining of more than 37 insurgents. They also assisted in the conducting of convoy operations and traffic control checkpoints along with the finding of many weapons caches and improvised explosive device-making materials. In all, they have been on 148 patrols, some of which were up to 48 hours long.
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