FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA — The Salvadoran Cuscatlán Battalion, X rotation, celebrated the “Day of the Salvadoran Soldier,” here May 7.
The day recognized the contributions of the Salvadoran soldiers for preserving the freedom of their country and the democratization of others. It also served to commemorate the 184th year of the Salvadoran armed forces.
“We must remember our history,” said Col. Walter Arévalo, commander of the Cuscatlán Battalion, referring to the civil war El Salvador endured more than 15 years ago. “It’s important that we remember the contribution of those who have come before us. The work we do here is important in helping those who are suffering because of the insurgency in Iraq.”
The celebration featured a five-kilometer run, a unit prayer service, a wreath-laying ceremony, a bayonet charge and machete fighting demonstration. The battalion also competed against other Coalition partners in sporting events.
“These types of activities increase morale,” Arévalo said. “The ceremony offered an opportunity for our soldiers to hone their skills and for us to demonstrate the type of soldiers we have.”
The soldiers are proud to show their skills and of their service.
“Like everyone else, I am happy to be celebrating the anniversary of the armed forces of El Salvador. It is a very important day for every Salvadoran,” said 1st Lt. Walber Alfredo Rivas Rivas, a member of the Cuscatlán commander’s close security detachment.
“I am really proud to belong to the armed forces of El Salvador because it is an institution that the Salvadoran people truly rely on and trust,” Rivas said. “It’s really great to be here in Iraq. It is a place I have the opportunity to do my best and bring honor to the armed forces of El Salvador.
“The ceremony gave us a chance to show the different skills we have gotten from all the training we go through,” he said. “Since we don’t have a lot of high tech resources we have to make double the effort to be very good in traditional military skills.”
In addition to the ceremony, Arévalo used the day as an opportunity to show his appreciation to his soldiers for the work they are doing.
“You have to do things to improve the morale of the soldiers,” Arévalo said. “I gave them some small gifts, but it is a way to say thank you for what they do and the sacrifices they make.”
To date, five soldiers from El Salvador have died during the battalion’s peacekeeping support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and 32 have been wounded, Arévalo said. The Salvadoran army participated in the only known instance of hand-to-hand combat in Iraq while stationed in Najaf in 2004. El Salvador lost one soldier in that engagement, Pvt. Natividad Mendez, the first the battalion lost.
The Salvadoran armed forces were created May 7, 1824, though their origin began in the colonial Spanish era when Salvadorans acted on patriotism and nationalism to protect their country.
