Latvian Army

Photo By Melissa Garcia | CAMP VIRGINA, Kuwait (July 16, 2006) --- Pvt. Ritvars Kristapans, Pfc. Martins Polumicka and Pvt. Raimonds Obolevics: three troops from the trail party from Company B, 2nd Latvian Battalion, who have been left to finish the last details of their redeployment.  

CAMP VIRGINIA, KUWAIT

07.17.2006

Courtesy Story

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CAMP VIRGINIA, Kuwait (July 16, 2006) -- "They understand the price of freedom," said Maj. Tim Zack, a Task Force Gator country officer who liaisons with Latvia. "They understand the mission in their hearts, in their souls."

The Company B, Second Latvian Battalion, has recently redeployed to Camp Virginia and will then return to Latvia after six months in the heart of Iraq.

Under command of the Polish army, the Latvian company provided convoy escorts and security in the Al Quadisiyah and Wasit areas of Iraq, said Capt. Vents Lapsenbengs, commander of the Company B, Second Latvian Battalion.

The mission was hard, Lapsenbengs said. They received mortar attacks, were ambushed, and saw a lot of Improvised Explosive Devices, but Latvia has no plans to discontinue the mission.

"They have no doubts about being there," said Zack about the Latvian army. "They want to help Iraq become a democracy," because other countries helped them when they were under a dictatorship. "They fought for almost 60 years to be freed from the Soviet Union."

Being a part of the coalition is important to them, Zack continued. It's a part of being a democracy. "They are well disciplined, well trained soldiers dedicated [to the cause]."

"We are ready to do anything the commander needs," said Lapsenbengs.

"They have no plans to pull out," said Zack. "Their support for the U.S. is open-ended," renewed every six months with each rotation.

As an infantry company, they patrolled to show military presence and offered protection to the Polish team training the Iraqi army, said Lapsenbengs of his company.

They learned a lot about Quick Reaction Force tactics from the Polish army, Lapsenbengs continued, especially helicopter disembarkment, and they also performed live fire drills from moving helicopters.

"Every day, every exercise, we learned something," he said. "It was a good experience for my soldiers."

The Latvians do not complain about the situation in Iraq, said Zack. They feel that they are there to do an important mission and they just do it.

There were no deaths, only minor injuries, Lapsenbengs said. "Everyone is happy to be alive."

"We've seen a lot of trouble [in Iraq], and will be very happy to go home" he continued. "We know we will go back at any time."

• Date Taken: 07.17.2006
• Date Posted: 07.17.2006 16:28
• Story ID: 7208
• Location: CAMP VIRGINIA, KW