Photo By Staff Sgt. Tegan Kucera | Iowa governor, Chet Culver, received a tour of Kosovo from Lt. Col. Matthew Pitstick,...... read more read more
By Spc. Tegan Kucera
111th Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - For the first time in half a dozen years a state governor visited Kosovo to thank the Iowa troops who are over in Kosovo.
"I'm here to thank the troops and as the commander and chief of the Iowa National Guard I'm really honored to have the chance to come here to thank the Iowans serving on the frontlines," said Gov. Chet Culver, the governor of Iowa. "Given the historic events of the last couple of months here, with Kosovo declaring its' Independence on Feb. 17, I thought it was fitting to come here and thank them for their peacekeeping mission. We're really proud of our troops here in Kosovo."
Iowa Soldiers represent about a fourth of the American Troops stationed in Kosovo as part of Multi National Task Force-East. The Soldiers are stationed at Camp Bondsteel and their mission is to provide a safe and secure environment within their area of operations. They have been here for over six months, and most recently involved when Kosovo declared its independence.
"There's never been a more critical time in terms of recent history for our presence here because of all the changes that are happening. I told the troops that they were helping to write a new and important chapter in the history of Europe," Culver said it was pretty amazing that it was Iowa Soldiers who were a part of it.
Culver along with the adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard wanted to see how their Soldiers were doing and what they have done while deployed to Kosovo. Along with them, the chief of the National Guard, Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum also visited the Iowa troops.
"I really enjoyed visiting, this was my first trip in theater and it gave me a new perspective as a governor. Even more than before, I appreciate the scarifies that the Soldiers make," Culver said he was able to spend time with his Soldiers in the area they operate in which allowed him to see what they do on a day to day basis.
"I got to see how important their mission is and was able to meet a lot of the citizens; it really gave me an important perspective. Its one that I'll be able to take back with me to Iowa, so that we can continue to make sure that these troops and their families are taken care of," said Culver.
He added his thoughts on how Kosovo is an important region of Europe, and as a former history teacher he loved the history that it represents. As the first United States governor to visit in many years he said he is happy to be a small part of the history.
"This has not been a regular trip but because of what has happened here in the last couple of months it's been elevated in term of important places," said Culver.
While he was here he met with many of the troops who make up the 1-194 Field Artillery, made up of Soldiers from all across Iowa. Besides visiting with the troops and walking in their area of operation, Culver also visited with the local government leaders who govern the area they work in.
"Him being here shows that they're interested in what we're doing and how we'd do just about any thing for these people," said Pfc. David Thoren a mechanic with Bravo Battery from the 1-194.
He said that Culver really seemed to care what he and his fellow Soldiers had to say. Thoren went to breakfast on Sunday to hear all that the governor and TAG had to say and to hear answers to some of the questions that were being asked.
"There visit was important to us, I've noticed that with the state of Iowa, they try to do whatever they can for their troops," said Thoren.
This was not his first time to meet Culver since he was able to meet him when he was still the secretary of state. He said it was nice to meet him again and thinks that Culver will make many more trips overseas to meet with the many Iowa Soldiers who are deployed right now.
Aside from Thoren, for others this was the first time that they were able to meet their state governor.
"It was actually kind of a shock because I was one of those people that didn't know we had a new governor due to being out of country at the time when he got elected," said Spc. Jason Ommen, a gunner with Alpha Battery 1-194th Field Artillery.
Ommen attended the Camp Bondsteel town hall meeting to listen to what Culver and some of the other visitors had to say. He said there where many issues discussed but the one closest to his heart was the amount of time he would get at home before being deployed again.
The other subjects discussed were recruiting, multiple deployments and the supply of everything. Ommen said it was even nice to be told that they are doing a good job over here.
Overall, the Soldiers who are deployed to Kosovo are not forgotten, not only by their families but also within their chain of command.
"I think it shows that they're aware of the fact that Midwest National Guard Soldiers are deployed. It also showed they're actually military friendly when it comes to politics and things we need to ensure we are taken care of," said Ommen.
| Date Taken: | 04.15.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 04.18.2008 09:21 |
| Story ID: | 18554 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 669 |
| Downloads: | 596 |
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