U.S. Peacekeeper Found Dead in Kosovo

guardian.co.uk ^ | Tuesday January 14, 2003 9:50 AM | AP

[Destro]

U.S. Peacekeeper Found Dead in Kosovo

By Associated Press

Tuesday January 14, 2003 9:50 AM

PRISTINA, Yugoslavia -- A U.S. peacekeeper serving in Kosovo was found dead in his room at a military base, a statement from the main U.S. Camp Bondsteel said Tuesday.

The soldier was discovered Monday in the Camp Magrath near the town of Vitina, some 30 miles east of the province's capital Pristina. He was serving in the 1st Infantry Division, deployed with NATO peacekeepers in this southern Yugoslav province.

The name was not released pending notification of the next of kin. The statement did not give a cause of death.

"Military police are conducting an investigation of the incident," a statement said.

About 3,000 U.S. troops are serving as peacekeepers in Kosovo, which came under NATO and U.N. control after the alliance launched an air war in 1999 to stop former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic from cracking down on ethnic Albanians.

Many soldiers spend six months or longer on duty in the Balkans.

[Destro]

bump

[vooch]

Another tragic death in Kosovo. So far some 70-80 soldiers have died in Kosovo.

[blam]

Ricin?

[Tamodaleko]

geeez, you find out about US soldier's death in British gueardian ??? ts,ts,ts

[dfwgator]

Did Colonel Jessup order the "Code Red?"

[Angelus Errare]

Sounds like a KLA hit to me.

Of course, if this happens in Kuwait it gets front-page news.

[BenLurkin]

Why are we still there?

[Magnum44]

Why are we still there?

I am still waiting for someone to explain why we went there in the first place.

[wonders]

Why are we still there?

Because , thanks to Bubba, we grabbed that tar-baby and now we're stuck to it.

[Aaron0617]

Another tragic death in Kosovo. So far some 70-80 soldiers have died in Kosovo.

I haven't been paying attention and did not know this.

I heard a couple US soldiers committed suicide. Then the helicopter crash. Also 1 or 2 young girls were raped and killed by US soldiers, but I didn't know the number of US dead was that high.

Bring them home.

[Tamodaleko]

>>>>I haven't been paying attention and did not know this.<<<<<

How could you, when you need to rely on foreign media to inform you of US soldier's death!?

[Hoplite]

None of these deaths have been hidden from the American public.

All one has to do is look - since there is nothing to really differentiate these deaths from other servicemen deaths, they're not front page news nor of high national concern.

[AFCdt]

Unfortunately, it is most likely a suicide.

In the Air Force, suicide is the second leading cause of death behind accidents. In the Army through all of 1999, 65 soldiers committed suicide.

Loneliness, especially when deployed over the holidays, is a big problem.

Relationships destroyed by long distance are also an unfortunate cause of suicide. I for one am weary of young soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines getting married at such a young age. Too many stories of airmen jumping off dorms in Kuwait, or Security Forces personnel shooting themselves while on duty, all because their 20 year old husband, wife, girlfriend or boyfriend was lonely and found someone else while their partner was away.

In the end, it comes down to officers and NCOs talking to their troops. Suicide can be stopped, but someone has to get involved and show honest interest.

[MinorityRepublican]

So far some 70-80 soldiers have died in Kosovo.

Bull$hit. In Afghanistan, yes. But not in Kosovo.

[joan]

but I didn't know the number of US dead was that high.

The US dead isn't that high - 70 is the approximate total that Balkan Freepers have been able to tally, and includes Germans, Italians, British etc. The US dead is around 15 soldiers.

Last June there was a monument dedicated to KFOR soldiers who had lost their lives in the Kosovo mission, and they said there had been 68 soldiers who died. They also claimed that 13 of that number were US soldiers. However, Hoplite found the name of one US soldier that they missed, so we conclude that 14 had lost their lives as of last June, and the total number was 69.

http://www.nato.int/kfor/inside/2002/ik_020614c.htm

KFOR honored its soldiers who gave their lives in establishing a safe and secure environment in Kosovo with a memorial in Film City. KFOR soldiers came together Tuesday, June 11, to remember the 68 in a ceremony marking the unveiling of the memorial.

[vooch]

bullshit see post below for the complete stats on the 68 soldiers who have died in Kosovo

want will you be having with your humble pie ?

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

We know this young man personally...from our area. Initials are J.J. Cause of death unknown at this time. Any speculation about suicide, etc. not substantiated. Comes from a good family with strong support. No further comment.

[Destro]

NATO's memorial to its "accident" and or "suicide" victims.

[Destro]

God Bless.