MOUNT IGMAN, Bosnia-Herzegovina - The Maryland Air National Guard's 175th Civil Engineer Squadron has nearly completed work on a memorial to three Americans, who died here during the Bosnian civil war officials said today.
Seventy-two members of the Maryland Air National Guard are in Bosnia taking part in two civic construction projects under the auspices of the National Guard's State Partnership Program.
As the name implies, the program partners U.S. states with foreign governments to establish long term military-to-military contacts to promote interoperability and support democratic institutions.
Maryland is currently one of the few states that is partnered with two countries: Bosnia and the Baltic nation of Estonia.
The project here at Mount Igman involves 10 Maryland engineers repairing a 4,500 foot long road, performing erosion control at the memorial site and along the road, masonry and concrete construction and minor carpentry work.
The memorial honors Joseph Kruzel, Robert Frasure and Air Force Col. Nelson Drew, all members of a U.S. diplomatic delegation in Bosnia to discuss an American peace initiative, and their French driver, Caporal-Chef Stephane Raoult.
It is located at the site where their armored personnel carrier came to rest after tumbling from a treacherous mountain road on Aug. 19, 1995. It was originally dedicated in 2001.
The other troops are renovating an elementary school in the town of Vlasenica, located about 60 kilometers northeast of Sarajevo.
"We've got 72 people split between two locations," said. Lt. Col. John P. McVicker, the squadron commander. "Obviously, most of our effort is being put into getting the school up and running. What we're doing here is something the local community could never afford on their own. It will make a huge difference for the children here."
The unit arrived in Bosnia on July 13, and most members will stay through July 25, when troops from California will take their place. About 15 of the Maryland engineers will stay on to provide continuity and see the projects through to completion.
This is the second major humanitarian assistance deployment the Maryland Air National Guard has conducted to Bosnia under the State Partnership Program. In 2006, the 175th Medical Group deployed to the Srebrenica area of Bosnia, where they provided medical care to more than 2,000 civilians at 14 remote villages.
McVicker said the Maryland Air Guard intends to return to Bosnia to help with additional projects in the future. "We're looking at a five-year plan," he said. "We need to assess the things they'd like done and see where we can help out."
Mount Igman, which is located near Sarajevo, was used as a transit route in and out of the besieged city during the 1992-95 war and was the scene of intense fighting between Bosniak and Serbian forces.