June 20, 2011
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Blog by Philip Atkins
Photo by Spc. Thomas Duval An Afghan army commando, U.S. soldier and Romanian service member stand shoulder to shoulder during a transfer of authority ceremony held in Zabul, Afghanistan, May 15. The three countries are working hand in hand in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In the summer of 2005 the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division arrived in Iraq and eventually their combat tour was extended from 12 months to 15 month. The artic wolves were the third Stryker brigade to serve in combat in Iraq.
I shipped vehicle parts to the brigade all over the country when the weather and religous climate permitted. I met several generals during my tour in Iraq and even the
Toby Keith country band.
Now the artic wolves are working with the former eastern soviet bloc country Romania in Afghanistan.
I visited Krakow, Poland {photos} in the summer of 2008 and it's very exciting to watch these former soviet bloc countries evolve as their armies work together throughout numerous NATO combat missions.
I've worked and traveled throughout Europe since 1979 and it's such a joy to witness the partnership that's currently unfolding in hostile combat zones between our allies. {link}
The news on television today is mostly doom and gloom and I feel deeply concerned for today's generation of young people who don't necessarly understand and are not taught about the importance of the European unification.
I personally know families that were seperated by the iron curtian that stood between east and west Germany until 1989 and the fall of the wall. What was initally a large red economic drain on the western bloc is now becoming a success story in today's news.
As a former career soldier all we ever want to witness in the world is peace and justice especially for the innocent.
Let's pray that we continue on this noble path and that this generation learns wisdom from our past experiences.
Philip Atkins is a freelance journalist who lives and works in Tacoma, Washington with his wife Diana and their two daughters.
Copyright 2011 Atkins & Assoc. All Rights Reserved.
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