by Pvt. Melissa R. Bernazzani
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo (Army
News Service, June 30,
1999) -- Out of a Chinook helicopter and onto a field of tall
grass, 40 former refugees of Kosovo arrived here June 19, as
military interpreters for Task Force Falcon. When the group
touched ground, they took a moment of silence in memory for
their fallen comrades.
For many it was their first
time back in country since
the recent fighting began in their homeland. They all
volunteered out of the refugee camps to work for the military as
interpreters.
"I want to help and the
best way is to be a translator
for Task Force Falcon," said Valdet Zuzaku an Army translator
and a native of Kosovo. "Task Force Falcon is here to help and
is against no one."
Like many other recruited
interpreters of Albanian
descent, Zuzaku is very grateful for NATO peacekeeping efforts
in Kosovo.
"Task Force Falcon is doing
a great job," Zuzaku said.
"They are the only solution for the refugees to settle down in
peace."
According to Zuzaku, Task
Force Falcon is the Kosovar's
last hope for peace, and without NATO's help they would have
lost all prospect for a better future in their homeland. "Task
Force Falcon is here to help all civilians who lived in Kosovo,"
said Zuzaku.
All Kosovar translators
come from different professional
backgrounds. They are currently being placed into different
Army units according to their abilities to help Task Force
Falcon interact and communicate with the Kosovar population.
They range from doctors and chemical engineers to teachers. All
are eager to help Task Force Falcon just as they are being
helped by the task force's operations.
(Editor's note: Bernazzani
is with the 1st Infantry
Division, Public Affairs Office at Task Force Falcon.)
