ADAZI, Latvia - As paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade arrived in Latvia for their rotation for training in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the brigade’s 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regt. left their NATO allies with a personal donation to their nation’s Latvian Fallen Heroes Memorial.
During a rotation of forces ceremony, Aug. 8, Capt. Jonathan Patten, commander of Troop C, 1st Sqdn., 91st Cav. Regt., presented the Latvian Land Force Infantry Brigade with a €1,355(Euro) check representing personal donations voluntarily collected from his paratroopers.
"It was a tremendous honor to give a gift of that nature," said Patten, a native of Detroit. "Many of our paratroopers, having served with Latvians during Operation Enduring Freedom, lent a personal touch to the gift. It's much more meaningful than everyone chipping in to buy something. It really cut to the core of what we're trying to do here in Operation Atlantic Resolve," said Patten. "More than the tactical military partnership was the community outreach and engagement, both formally and informally."
In addition to recognizing the departure of one unit and the arrival of another, the ceremony provided paratroopers from 1st Sqdn., 91st Cav. Regt. an opportunity to thank their Latvian hosts one last time.
"It was to show our appreciation for their hospitality and their commitment to us and the NATO alliance," said Lt. Col. Kyle Reed, commander of the squadron. "There was a big sign at the entrance to the camp itself talking about the commitment and sacrifices made by those lost in the Global War on Terror. We wanted to make a long-lasting contribution."
Paratroopers with 1st Sqdn., 91st Cav. Regt., based in Grafenwoher, Germany, were in Latvia for Operation Atlantic Resolve, dedicated to demonstrating commitment to NATO obligations and interoperability with allied forces. Approximately 600 paratroopers from the 173rd Abn. Bde., based in Vicenza, Italy, are spread throughout Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland for Operation Atlantic Resolve.
As the paratroopers prepared themselves for their next mission, Staff Sgt. Paul Zadzura, native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, looked back fondly on his time in Latvia.
"It's been great training in the Baltic States," said Zadzura, a medic for 1st Sqdn. "We've done a lot of amazing training with our allied nations out here. If we're called to come back, we look forward to seeing them again."
For Latvian Col. Vilis Bauska, the feeling was mutual.
"We've made really good friends here," said Bauska, chief of staff for the Latvian Land Forces Infantry Brigade. "I've been talking to the Soldiers and they would like [the paratroopers] to come back to Latvia."
| Date Taken: |
08.12.2014 |
| Date Posted: |
08.25.2014 11:27 |
| Story ID: |
140278 |
| Location: |
ADAZI, LV |
| Hometown: |
DETROIT, MICHIGAN, US |
| Hometown: |
SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: |
542 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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This work, Paratroopers offer Latvian army token of gratitude, by SSG Michael Crawford, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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