Louisiana National Guard participates in Operation Cobra Gold
KORAT, Thailand - Soldiers with the Louisiana National Guard recently traveled here to participate in a month-long Department of Defense joint multinational training exercise.
Their time in Thailand began with a welcoming ceremony on their first day. Soldiers enjoyed traditional Thai cuisine and local beverages and desserts with their Royal Thai Army counterparts as they got to know one another.
"The ceremony was an ice-breaker," said Col. Jacques Thibodeaux, deputy commander of the combined armed forces for the exercise. "It gave us a chance to learn about them, and it gave them a chance to learn about us, so that we can all be better prepared for the next week and a half of working together."
This year's overseas duty will consist of a computer-simulated command post exercise, field training exercises and humanitarian and civic assistance projects, which includes Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia and the United States as participants.
The soldiers will also participate in bilateral exercises including medical training, map reading and land navigation, setting up traffic control points, urban warfare training, hand to hand combat training, sniper training and jungle warfare.
On May 13, Thibodeaux and Lt. Col. George Kranske, commander of 2nd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, along with Col. Tharakom Thamawintom, commander of Thailand's 23rd Infantry Regiment, honored fallen Soldiers of each other's regiment.
The ceremony was held at the Kla Klang Samorn or "Great Courage in Battle" monument, which was established in 1983 in remembrance of the 125 Thai soldiers killed in action from 1971 to present.
"For us to pay joint respects to each other was very heartwarming and it was a privilege to participate in something so solemn," said Kranske. "To see our banner on the wreath placed beside their regimental wreath at the memorial is hard to put into words. It is truly a great honor."