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TF Eagle completes mission in Bosnia

By Jason Austin
December 1, 2004

TUZLA, Bosnia (Army News Service, Dec. 1, 2004) -- Soldiers from Stabilization Force 15, along with commanders both past and present of Task Force Eagle and other multinational task forces throughout SFOR, gathered to bring a close to the final SFOR rotation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Task Force Eagle, the U.S.-led element of SFOR in Bosnia, came to an end during a disestablishment ceremony at Eagle Base Nov. 24.

"Just as the initial Implementation Force evolved into the Stabilization Force, this peacekeeping mission is transitioning to the European Union Forces," said Brig. Gen. T.J. Wright, the final commander of TF Eagle from the 38th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Indiana National Guard. "The European Force is well built on the foundation that has been forged for many years of progressive accomplishments of SFOR."

"This has been the U.S. Army portion of America's and NATO's Multinational Division and now Multinational Task Force North, both of which have provided a safe and secure environment in a large part of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the past nine years," said Gen. B.B. Bell, commander, U.S. Army Europe.

Bell served as the chief of staff for USAREUR Forward when TF Eagle took over the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia, Dec. 20, 1995.

"This ceremony officially marks mission complete and mission accomplished for this great Task Force Eagle which has honorably served as part of a NATO coalition of over 40 nations dedicated to ensuring that the people of this nation can move ahead from a war-torn past to a peaceful, promising future," Bell said.

"Since the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords . nearly 100,000 United States Soldiers have served to ensure a safe and secure environment for Bosnia and Herzegovina and deter a return to the hostilities that killed 200,000 people," Wright said. "The extraordinary lengths our predecessors have gone to, in order to set the conditions for a lasting peace, humble us."

The final casing of the TF Eagle colors was part of the completion of the SFOR mission and the inauguration of the European Union Force, which will occur in a separate ceremony in Sarajevo Dec. 2.

The EUFOR is a coalition involving 33 countries, 11 of which are non-EU members. Officials said EUFOR will reinforce the EU's political engagement, its assistance programs and its ongoing police and monitoring missions, to help BiH continue to progress toward European integration

"So now, here we are nine years later, November 2004, the nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina stands as an emerging member of the community of peaceful nations in Europe," Bell said. "It has free elections. It has a free media. It is able to secure its own borders and provide police to enforce the laws."

Helping the citizens of Bosnia has been a source of pride said Soldiers of TF Eagle, made up of both active and reserve components.

"Over the course of our nine months here, it has been my honor to assist the Bosnian people as they work for the common goal of a unified country with firm ties to the rest of Europe and international organizations," Wright said. "Since the end of the conflict that brought much sorrow, many steps have been taken to establish a peaceful, stable and democratic government.

"It has been an honor for the 38th Infantry Division to lead Task Force Eagle," Wright said, "as the final United States contingent of Stabilization Force."

(Editor's note: Jason Austin serves with USAREUR Public Affairs. See his related article providing SFOR history, Task Force Eagle leaving Bosnia.)