Foreign Troops Get Taste of Home in U.S.

Associated Press ^ | 12/22/03 | DIRK LAMMERS

[TexKat]

TAMPA, Fla. - It's not home, but international members of the coalition helping in the Iraq war say MacDill Air Force Base isn't such a bad place to spend the holidays.

"America is always a nice country," said Army Lt. Col. Mohamed Robleh from the East African nation of Djibouti. "Even though we're away from our home countries, we're OK here."

Nearly 300 troops from 68 countries act as liaisons between their armed forces and U.S. Central Command, which controls ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and is headquartered at MacDill.

Robleh misses his family and talks to his wife in Djibouti City by phone each day. Still, like many of his foreign colleagues, he enjoys the cultural exchange the unique situation offers.

On a recent day, some 500 U.S. and coalition soldiers flocked to a Nordic Christmas celebration hosted by the contingents from Norway, Finland, Sweden and Denmark.

While Frank Sinatra and the Beach Boys crooned Christmas tunes in the background, troops in fatigues filled their plates with salted leg of lamb, salt- and sugar-cured salmon, Swedish Christmas ham and flat bread. They washed it all down with cans of Norway-brewed Mack beer.

Maj. Geza Boros, a Hungarian Air Force officer, said his stay has allowed him for the first time to meet people from Far East and Arab cultures. Although the flags on their uniforms differ, their sentiments this time of year match.

"We all miss our families. We all want to go home," said Boros, 31. "And when we are home, we all want to go somewhere else."

For two years in a row, Pakistani Army Col. Muhammad Sardar has celebrated the Muslim holy month of Ramadan without his loves ones. Last year, he was at the India-Pakistan border.

"For soldiers, we are prepared to be away from our family," Sardar, 45, said. "For them, it is more difficult."

On Nov. 25, Sardar joined fellow coalition soldiers in prayer for Eid al-Fitr, a day Muslims give thanks to Allah for allowing them to enjoy the blessing of Ramadan. That same week, he gathered with U.S. and coalition troops in downtown Tampa to share a Thanksgiving meal of turkey.

"It's good to see the various cultures," he said.

On Dec. 1, Romanian Army Cols. Dan Grecu and Catalin Marius Tarnacop threw a party for Romanian National Day, which commemorates the unification of Moldavia, Wallachia, Transylvania, Bukovina, Bessarabia and Dobrudja.

"It's our Fourth of July," said Grecu, 45.

Instead of beer, though, the drink was Romanian wine. But American fare replaced the traditional dish of meat rolls in sour cabbage.

"We cannot find here the right chef to prepare it," he said.

A week later, troops were at it again — for Finland Independence Day.

"It is like that throughout the year," said Norway Maj. Brede Hertzenberg. "You have so many nations and they all celebrate their national holidays."

Hertzenberg has been the coalition's public information officer since October 2002 and is preparing to return home soon to take a civilian position. Officers typically spend four to six months in Tampa, although many have been stationed much longer.

Hertzenberg said he can't complain about his stint, though.

"Florida is not the worst place to be."

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On the Net:

Central Command: http://www.centcom.mil

[Ken522]

After reading something like this you'd think the only consistent activity at MacDill AFB is "parties."

Like the old song says, "Fight for your right to party!"

[SevenofNine]

OHH That sweettt

How cutee Alright cool well is cool least Foreign troops would feel less homesick if they not alone in US without their families

[xzins]

The leg 'o lamb has my interest. :>)