06 March 2001
U.S. soldiers secure Macedonian border
 
 

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo (Army News Service, March 6,
2001) -- Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division were posted
Monday along the Kosovo-Macedonian border after three soldiers
from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were killed
there.
        Two Macedonian soldiers were killed and a third injured
March 4 when their vehicle hit a land mine.  Another Macedonian
soldier was killed in the same area by a sniper, officials said.
        Reaction forces from 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne
Infantry Regiment deployed to the town of Debelde Monday
afternoon in response to the increased violence along the
border.  Troops from the Polish Ukrainian Battalion also moved
to positions along the border.  Officials said their mission was
to stop innocent civilians from entering what was termed a
dangerous area and to keep anyone bent on violence out of
Kosovo.
        "We are taking the necessary steps to prevent this
violence from spilling over into Kosovo," said Task Force Falcon
commander Brig. Gen. Kenneth J. Quinlan.  "We are informing
(Macedonian) authorities and the U.S. embassy in Skopje of
activities along the border."
    The soldiers are operating traffic control points,
patrolling in the town of Debelde and observing activity along
the border, officials said.  Although the area has been quiet,
soldiers have reported hearing sporadic gunfire across the
border throughout the week.
        The border crossings at Globocica and Djeneral Jankovic
were closed.  The Multinational Brigade (East), commanded by the
1st Armored Division, positioned temporary checkpoints north of
these border crossings to inform travelers of the closings and
likely travel delays.
        A U.S. aero-medical evacuation helicopter from Camp Able
Sentry near Skopje, Macedonia, twice attempted to evacuate one
of the injured soldiers of the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia.  The soldier died, however, before the medical
evacuation mission could be completed, officials said.
        "My condolences are with the families of these FYROM
soldiers," Quinlan said. "This senseless violence serves no
purpose."

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