Moldovans Save Lives in Iraq
CentCom Coalition Bulletin [pdf file]
The fifth Moldovan contingent, consisting of an eight-soldier Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team and three staff officers, has been deployed to Iraq for more than three months. Attached to the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division in Multinational Division-North (MND-N), the mission of the Moldovan engineers is to conduct explosive ordnance reconnaissance, destroy articles of unexploded ordnances(UXO) that would threaten Iraqis and coalition forces lives, and instruct local population about specific actions that they must take in case they locate UXOs. According to Moldovan Army Lt. Col. Alexandru Galasan, the contingent commander, since their first deployment to Iraq, Moldovan engineers have collected and destroyed more than 18,500 UXOs. They also conducted explosive ordnance reconnaissance of 23 square kilometers. Galasan, who is on his second deployment to Iraq, said: “What we are doing here is a very dangerous job, and we are thankful to Iraqi people and coalition forces, without whose help we could not have accomplished our mission. Iraqis cooperate with us on a daily basis, this way helping us and making our job easier.” Asked if Iraq has changed since his first deployment, Galasan said: “Yes. I am very impressed how this country and its people have changed. They are very confident in themselves and work hard towards achieving something – a democracy that was denied them during Saddam period. They are building their future and believe that one day everything will be different”. In addition to working with the Iraqis, Moldovans operate side-by-side with American, who are responsible for their security, and Bulgarian soldiers. “It is a great opportunity to work in an international environment since we learn something from them, and they are learning something from us”, Galasan said. Away from home, Moldovan engineers are saving innumerable lives. They all look forward to accomplishing their six month mission in Iraq and returning home safely.
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