28 ID soldiers observe Lithuanian Iron Wolf Brigade anniversary

Photo By David Overson | Lithuanian Army Lt. Col. Viktoras Bagdonas, chief of staff for the Lithuanian Army "Griffin" Brigade, stands outside of the Lithuanian Tactical Operation Center during Allied Spirit VII, which took place at the U.S. Army's Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Nov. 18, 2017. Approximately 4,050 service members from 13 nations are participating in exercise Allied Spirit VII at 7th Army Training Command’s Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Oct. 30 to Nov. 22, 2017. Allied Spirit is a U.S. Army Europe-directed, 7ATC-conducted multinational exercise series designed to develop and enhance NATO and key partner’s interoperability and readiness. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. David Overson)  

HARRISBURG, PA, UNITED STATES

06.03.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Doug Roles 

28th Infantry Division

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania National Guard’s State Partnership Program nation, Lithuania, is celebrating the 23rd anniversary of the formation of its Iron Wolf Brigade. Pennsylvania Assistant Adjutant General Brig. Gen. George Schwartz and 28th Infantry Division leaders participating in the Saber Knight 2015 exercise in Lithuania joined Iron Wolf Brigade Commander, Col. Raimundas Vaiksnoras, and Danish Division Commander, Maj. Gen. Flemming Mathiasen, in a celebration ceremony June 3, 2015 at the Nemencine training area.

The brigade was officially designated the “Iron Wolf” Brigade on June 6, 1992, after Lithuania regained its independence in 1990, though its history dates back a few years earlier.

“The name ‘Iron Wolf’ itself has deep roots back in your history,” Mathiasen told the soldiers in formation for the ceremony. “It goes back to the legend of Grand Duke Gediminas in the 14th century. During a hunt he had a dream about an Iron Wolf that ran over a hill. It stopped running on the hill and you could hear it howl all over the world.”

The legend purports that Gediminas was told the dream meant he should build a city where he saw the wolf, in the area that became Vilnius. The Iron Wolf has since become a symbol of national pride to Lithuanians. The mechanized infantry brigade of the same name was affiliated to the Danish Division on Aug. 31, 2006.

“Danish and Lithuanian units have been working together for 20 years, training and deploying together. At this moment two Lithuanian officers are serving in the Danish Division headquarters,” Mathiasen said.

Following the formal ceremony, Brig. Gen. Schwartz, deputy drector of Saber Knight 2015, presented Col. Vaiksnoras with a set of the 28th Infantry Division colors.

“The 28th’s ‘Iron Division’ soldiers and the Lithuanian Iron Wolf Brigade share a dedication to training and readiness,” Schwartz said. “Our continued partnership serves to sharpen us both.”

• Date Taken: 06.03.2015
• Date Posted: 06.04.2015 07:55
• Story ID: 165447
• Location: HARRISBURG, PA, US