US troops get warm welcome to Poland
Andy11M sends us a link to the Associated Press report that the Poles have welcomed US troops in their country. Troops from the 3rd Squadron of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment drove their unit through Eastern Poland this week and the Poles seem grateful to see the Americans on their soil;
“This really means a lot to us. We see that we are not alone, that there is someone to defend us,” Zdzislaw Narel, 60, told The Associated Press. “This is really a historic moment.”
“You make us feel like movie stars,” a U.S. soldier was heard saying from atop a Stryker.
The “Dragoon Ride” convoy of dozens of armored vehicles started last week from Estonia and passed through Latvia and Lithuania before entering Poland, on a 1,700-kilometer (1,000-mile) return journey to a base in Vilseck, Germany. They took part in the Atlantic Resolve exercise intended to demonstrate NATO’s readiness to defend its members.
If I’m not mistaken, this is part of the new strategy to station equipment in Poland while rotating troops in and out of the country to demonstrate our support for Polish democracy as well as the other regional states. Funny how most of the world sees US troops on their soil as guarantors of their freedom. How many other nations can boast that?
Category: Army News
I think the Poles have been friendly to the US for a long time, even before the Berlin Wall came down, from my recollection most Poles viewed the US favorably.
Poland’s history with both Germany and the USSR reminds me of an old Cold War joke: If Poland could attack in both directions, West towards Germany and East towards Russia, which way would they go first?
Answer: West, of course. Because Poles always take care of business before pleasure. 😉
On a totally unrelated note, this is the first time I’ve seen the OCP camo pattern being worn outside of the Afghan theater.
2CR or SCR has been wearing it since coming home from thier last trip in goatland
Thanks Skippy! Goatland!!!!!! Now I have to clean off my monitor and get another cup of coffee!
Your welcome sir Lol…
Of course our military will help defend their freedom! …if we can just keep our GOVERNMENT out of the way…
To be a little more precise, perhaps instead of ‘government,’ I should have used the term ‘politicians’?
Bingo!
So this means, I’ll lay off the Polack jokes from now on. Good for them to make our troops feel welcome, wanted and needed.
Addendum: I wish with all my heart we could infuse the true appreciation of the American military the Polish people have, into the minds of first, the American populace consumed with Tweeting about what kind of sex Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are having or what murderer or terrorist to name a university building after and second but just as important, our own President.
Exactly
The best ambassadors this country has are its ordinary soldiers. It’s a combination of their good hearts and their can-do attitude.
The majority of Poles like us, and have no use for Russia or communism.
The Russkies and communism were not kind to Poland, and they are not going to forget that time.
Hell, many of them still harbor a dislike and distrust toward Germany due to the 1939 invasion and WW2.
The Polish are treated like shit pretty much everywhere in Europe if we give them a little bit of the respect they deserve they will be an unwavering ally.
As I recall more than a couple of Poles fought for this country. Two guys you may have heard of: Tadeuz Koscuzko and Casimir Pulaski. Its only natural that we help them. God Bless and Preserve our two nations.
Good morning, sir! We just came by to drop off some bear repellent.
Best troops other than our own that I’ve served with.