Posted on 11/28/2005 3:36:25 PM PST by SandRat
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo (Army News Service, Nov. 25, 2005) – For Soldiers of the 40th Infantry Division deployed as part of the Kosovo Forces 6B peacekeeping rotation, Thanksgiving Day provided not only an opportunity for rest and reflection, but also a chance to share one of their traditions with the people of Kosovo.
While the mission went on as normal within the Multinational Brigade (East) area of responsibility – from patrolling city streets and rural towns, to providing medical check-ups in remote villages and conducting border and boundary patrols – Soldiers continued also fulfilled their role as peacekeepers in a special way Nov. 24.
Lt. Col. Clinton Moyer, deputy chief of Staff, Civil Military Operations, and his driver, Sgt. Hugo Macias, Task Force Falcon, began the day by visiting a nearby elementary school in Vrbovac/Verbovc, Kosovo.
Moyer read the Thanksgiving story, which highlighted the hardship and struggles of the Plymouth Colony pilgrims and early American life. As he provided the students an insight into the history, traditions and customs of the holiday, he also gave them a chance to experience a part of American culture, by sharing his thoughts and memories of Thanksgiving Days past.
Meanwhile, at Camp Bondsteel and Camp Monteith dining facilities, support staff ensured MNB(E) Soldiers would enjoy the holiday’s traditional festivities, despite being far from home.
As the servicemembers lined up in anticipation of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, stuffing, sweet potatos, cranberries and pumpkin pie, they found themselves served by officers of the brigade’s command group and staff.
In his opening comments, Brig. Gen. John S. Harrell, MNB(E) commander, recognized not only the gifts which have been received this year, but also those gifts which should be bestowed upon all nations.
“It is a time to give thanks for the blessings we have received this year,” Harrel began. “Kosovo also has adopted the tradition of a day of thanks. It all comes down to the same thought – create peace and harmony between all people.
“We are all one under the Great Almighty, and we need to respect each other and treat each other with dignity,” he added.
“It was a day of thanks,” said Sgt. Thomas Smith, a military policeman with Task Force Dragoon. Soldiers like Smith also took time to wish their families back home a Happy Thanksgiving. Smith noted the day is important because it is an opportunity to reflect, and to be thankful, for our freedoms.
“The workers here really did a great job on all the food and decorations. They put a lot of extra effort into it and they have done a wonderful job,” said Sgt. Marquez Adelio, a military policeman with Task Force Dragoon.
As they slowly pushed themselves away from the tables, U.S. KFOR Soldiers, agreed this year’s Thanksgiving dinner was a great feast. While they felt it was a nice opportunity to step back from the peacekeeping mission, for just a moment, they also agreed there is one thing that could have made it even better – being home, with their loved ones sitting next to them for the holidays.
MNB(E) is currently includes about 1,700 U.S. KFOR Soldiers, under the command of the 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized), California National Guard. Those forces includes Task Force Dragoon (40th Military Police); Task Force Med Falcon (322nd Medical Brigade); Task Force Shadow (1st Battalion, 1045h Aviation (Attack)); Task Force Sidewinder (1st Battalion, 160th Infantry (Mechanized)); and TF Tornado (1st Battalion, 635th Armor).
About 275 Hellenic Soldiers and a Polish/Ukranian Battalion (approximately 250 Ukranian Soldiers, 250 Polish Soldiers and 30 Lithuanian Soldiers) round out the MNB(E) forces.
(Editor's note: Sgt. 1st Class John Makamson serves with MPAD Falcon Public Affairs.)
Sharing a little bit of home and America with the children in Kosovo.
Balkans ping.
The only peace in Kosovo exists where the Islamofascists have run out of people to murder...
...and have yet to turn on each other!
Real peace will only return to Kosovo alongside the Serb Army.
And President Bush has the United States Army in Kosovo to make sure the Serb Army does not return for more of the ethnic cleansing, house looting, village burning, mass murdering "peace" it was imposing on the Kosovar populace the last time it was there.
And the US Army will either be withdrawn to allow the Serbs to do what needs to be done...
...or they will be alongside them, fighting our mutual enemies.
It will happen, and you will be able to do little more than post fiction on your Soros blog sites, eh marky?
Uh, FormerLib, the only fiction on this thread are your little fantasies about the U.S. Army cooperating with an Army of Serbian ethnic cleansers. There is a reason why President Bush and Secretaries Rice & Rumsfeld are blocking Serbia from entry into NATO, supporting the warcrimes trial of Milosevic with American personnel & $, have ruled out Kosovo's return to Serbia in its previous status and still have U.S. special ops forces in Bosnia hunting down Serb war criminals. And that reason is what the Serbs did the last time they were in Kosovo & Bosnia & Croatia.
Uh marky-boy, the only reality on this thread is your little fantasies about the U.S. military cooperating with an Army of Muhammedan ethnic cleansers. Kosovo is now Juden frei, marky. Be pround of what you have accomplished!
There is a reason why the current administration is assisting the Serbs in their efforts to secure their territory, including Kosovo.
It's called 9/11.
You remember that, don't you? That's when you lost 19 close friends and allies while the rest of us lost over 3000 of our countrymen!
FormerLib, I am a U.S. Army veteran who has fought in combat for America and against Islamists and I have lost a personal friend in the Pentagon on 9-11. I'll be damned if I have to put up with your personal slander and accusations of disloyalty.
BTTT
Any damnation would more likely result from your support of the Islamofascists, whether wittingly or unwittingly.
“Kosovo also has adopted the tradition of a day of thanks. It all comes down to the same thought – create peace and harmony between all people.
....and Mark Goebbels forgot to tell ya, that today the United States Army in Kosovo prevents Albanians of ethnic cleansing, house looting, village/church burning and mass murdering of all Non-Albanians in Kosovo...
ETHNIC CLEANSING OF SERBS IN THE PRESENCE OF 40.000 NATO TROOPS
Nice "peace" you got yourself there Mark Goebbels...
....and I quote:
The past year has witnessed an increase in serious ethnically-motivated crimes against the Kosovo Serbs, ranging from shootings, grenade attacks and use of explosives to arson and physical assault. During the inter-ethnic violence of March 2004, Kosovo Serbs were attacked, physically assaulted by aggressive crowds in their homes, from which they were forced out as these houses or flats were set on fire. Many had to be evacuated by KFOR, some from burning houses. Widespread looting and pillaging followed the arson and continued unabated for three days.
...snip...
The continued looting and attempts to destroy houses, churches, monasteries, religious institutions and public services that belonged to the Serb population for days following the departure of the displaced, sends a strong message of denial of the right to return, including and especially for those who had never before felt the need to leave Kosovo. This has adversely affected the Serb communities as a whole, halting or delaying voluntary return to Kosovo and prompting some departures of the remaining population. It is noteworthy that at the time of writing this report, vandalism and looting of damaged houses continues in many areas and is a source of serious concern.
It underscores and maintains the Kosovo Serbs in a constant state of fear. This is exacerbated by continuing violent incidents targeting individual Kosovo Serbs. In the most serious incident since the March events, a 16-year old Kosovo Serb was killed on 6th June 2004, in a drive-by-shooting.
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