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Mo. Guardsmen Meet IDF During Visit

By Sgt. 1st Class Mark Bell  

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - Missouri Army Guardsmen deploying to Kosovo next month got their first taste of international diplomacy during a visit with senior Israel Defense Force's leadership Wednesday here.

Brig. Gen. Larry Kay, Kosovo Forces rotation 10 commander, and his staff spent nearly an hour with IDF's Brig. Gen. Guy Zur and several Israel military leaders to discuss the task force's upcoming scheduled deployment to Kosovo.

Kay reminded the small group during the breakfast that it was a Missourian, President Harry S. Truman, who first recognized Israel.

"It was President Harry S. Truman who knew it was the right thing to do when no one else thought it was right," Kay said. "That great man recognized the great state of Israel."

President Truman grew up in Independence, and deployed to France during World War I as a captain in the field artillery, the same battery deploying to Kosovo today, Kay said.

During the three-day visit here, the small international contingent visited with Guard and Reserve Soldiers who make up part of the 1,300 member task force which will eventually be renamed Kosovo's Multi-National Task Force (East).

"We've met with your Task Force Med and were very impressed with your Soldiers," Zur said of the Army Reservist from Texas. "They have an excellent attitude and believe in their mission to Kosovo."

As Kay displayed a map of the United States, numerous dots speckled the projection screen from the east to west coasts.

"As you can see, we come from all parts of our country and we truly are an American task force," Kay said of his multi-service task force.

Shaking his head in almost disbelief, Zur asked Kay how he did it.

"We did it through intensive communications with all the units involved," Kay said.

Kay said communicating with the numerous units was easier than communicating with his own family.

Zur laughed and said, "The hardest communication I have is with my wife."

He also said that during his visit, he recognized a commonality between the IDF and the task force - the presence of strong leadership.

"They are very motivated and want to serve their country and the leadership has been great - SALUTE," Zur said.

Kay said the success of his task force rests in the hands of his non-commissioned officers and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Liderle.

"We will be ready because of our NCOs," he said. "They are wonderful and intelligent leaders who will lead us to success."

As the meeting closed, it was sealed with the long tradition of all Soldiers across the globe - a simple, yet firm handshake.

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com