Schofield troops return from mission in Bosnia

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

About 60 soldiers returned yesterday from the 25th Infantry Division (Light's) mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina with stories of a beautiful country still bearing the scars of war.

Spc. Michael Hall, left, of the 65th Engineer Battalion, reunites with wife, Robin, daughter Kaitlyn, 2, and son Kevin, 4, at Schofield Barracks after returning from Bosnia. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I just love being home," said Spc. Michael Hall, 29, at Schofield Barracks after getting an extended hug from his wife Robin, son Kevin, 4, and daughter Kaitlyn, 2. "I've been waiting for this since the second day I left the island."

"It was a learning experience," said Hall, who is with the 65th Engineer Battalion and was in Bosnia for about five months. "People were genuinely happy that we were there. They're finally getting some peace now after (war for) so long. We were actually thanked a few times for giving their lives back to them."

More than 1,000 Schofield soldiers deployed to Bosnia on the 25th Division's first mission to Europe as part of Task Force Eagle/Multi-National Division (North).

The peacekeeping mission, known as Stabilization Force 11, began in April.

Additional soldiers arrive back in Hawai'i in the next month, followed by the final group in October.

Those arriving yesterday morning were greeted at Hickam by the Army Band and a handshake from 25th Division commander Maj. Gen. Eric T. Olson.

"The entire Stabilization Force 11 deployment has been extremely successful, and we all feel honored to welcome these soldiers home and serve with them in Hawai'i," Olson said.

Sgt. Aaron Burgess of the 65th Engineer Battalion, reunited with his wife, Allyson, yesterday at Schofield Barracks. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

"The country is very different," said Farrior, 44. "Just seeing the things we take for granted — the friendliness of the people. When you see the kids out there that are less fortunate, it makes you feel that you are actually doing something worthwhile."

Master Sgt. Ute Harris, 41, who worked for the Task Force Eagle/Multi-National Division (North) chaplain as the noncommissioned officer in charge, said she was able to see Sarajevo and different U.S. camps.

"You see a lot of horse carriages as you drive by. They had no highways, no freeways in the area of Bosnia where we were," she said. "It was a different experience. It was definitely beautiful countryside with nice mountain areas."

Harris said she never had any negative experiences with the people there, some of whom are very poor.

Certain areas still very much exhibit the destruction of war, and bullet holes in buildings remain, she said.

Built up as succeeding U.S. peacekeeping forces occupied it, Eagle Base had pre-fabricated metal and wooden living quarters, two dining facilities, and a Burger King and Baskin-Robbins ice cream store, Harris said.

During the deployment, the soldiers took part in the first-ever "Active Harvest," in which weapons were collected door-to-door.

Thousands of weapons, landmines and other ordnance were collected and destroyed.

A helicopter crash in early June resulted in minor injuries to two 25th Aviation Regiment pilots when their OH-58D Kiowa Warrior struck high-tension wires and went down.

The Schofield soldiers were part of a group of more than 4,500 soldiers, sailors, airmen and women, Marines and civilians from 14 countries.

With Stabilization Force 12 expected to be smaller, some Schofield soldiers weren't needed to familiarize new forces, and were able to come home early.

The NATO alliance in June said the entire stabilization force would be reduced by the end of the year from 19,000 to 12,000.

Task Force Eagle was formed in 1995 following the NATO-imposed cease-fire that ended the four-year Balkan war.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.