Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Maj. Robert Federigan, medical operations officer, Headquarters Headquarters...... read more read more
CAMP MARMAL, Afghanistan – German officials presented U.S. Army Col. Daniel Williams, commander of the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, International Security Assistance Force, with the Silver Bundeswehr (German military) Cross of Honor for outstanding meritorious service Feb. 26.
Williams, who has led the 4th CAB from the front lines, flying his first mission within one week of arriving in country, accepted the award, Germany’s second highest military decoration for merit, on behalf of the soldiers of the 4th CAB, Army aviation and III Corps.
The cross was founded in 1980 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Bundeswehr. It is uncommon to award foreign soldiers with this symbol of brave service and excellent soldiership, in this instance it is meant as a sign of gratitude and acknowledgement of performance in terms of cooperation and comradeship.
“The honor signifies the effectiveness of both the presidential surge and the partnership with our allies,” Williams said.
Germany and the U.S. are two of 16 nations contributing to the 11,000 soldiers in Regional Command (North). They partner with Afghan National Security Forces in order to provide a safer nation for the Afghan people and develop governance and socio-economic programs.
German Army Maj. Gen. Hans-Werner Fritz, former RC (N) commander, highlighted the close partnership between Germany and the U.S. during a U.S. Department of Defense news briefing Jan. 4.
“They came down, they recovered the wounded, and then they started again,” Fritz said, describing the actions of two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crews from the 4th CAB after an insurgent attacked a German position. “And obviously, being in the air again, they became aware that there was a dead soldier on the ground. And they came back under fire, they recovered the soldier and they said, ‘we are taking home a fallen hero.’ This is the quality of the cooperation we are talking about.”
“Our partnership with the Germans has been based on mutual respect,” Williams said. “With shared sacrifices and shared triumphs.”
German Army Lt. Gen. Rainer Glatz, commander of German Operations Command, presented the Silver Bundeswehr Cross of Honor signed by German Minister of Defense Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg. In addition to Williams, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Sean Mulholland, deputy commander of RC (N), and U.S. Army Col. Willard Burleson, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, were also honored.
In a separate ceremony held at the 4th CAB headquarters Feb. 27, U.S. Army Maj. Robert Federigan, medical operations officer, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 4th CAB, 4th Inf. Div., ISAF, received the gold German Military Skill Badge for medical personnel, further emphasizing the partnership between the U.S. and Germany at Camp Marmal.
“This award represents the hard work of all the personnel in the brigade who assisted in training the German Medical Task Force and who contributed to the evacuation of patients,” Federigan said. “I accept it on behalf of the brigade.”
Commander of the German Medical TF presented the joint-level badge which is worn by select members of the German army and the U.S.’s Army, Air Force and Navy. The gold badge represents the highest level of military medical proficiency in the Bundeswehr.
“I don’t think people realize how many hands of different nations a patient goes through,” Federigan said.
He received the award for increasing cooperation between the German Medical TF and the 4th CAB, which was evidenced by assisting the RC (N) Patient Coordination Cell and assisting the German Medical TF in MEDEVAC training.
“From injury to appropriate level of care, there is a large corps of people who only have one thing on their mind – to save the life of this person regardless of their rank or nation,” he said.
The honors, Federigan added, represent the deep bond between the U.S. Army and its NATO allies and also the multitude of missions the 4th CAB has been entrusted with. Both represent hundreds of hands that go into achieving mission success.
“It is an honor to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with our allies from 16 nations and our Afghan partners,” Williams, who also attended Maj. Federigan’s award ceremony, said. “And an even greater honor for our soldiers to be recognized for their contributions.”
| Date Taken: | 02.26.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.01.2011 03:44 |
| Story ID: | 66274 |
| Location: | CAMP MARMAL, AF |
| Web Views: | 380 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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