A tour of Camp Bondsteel

As promised, here goes a description of where we are for three days.

Back in the '90s Melosevich and the Serbs invaded this area (part of the former Yugoslavia) and started mass killings of the local Albanians which are mostly Muslim. When the US moved in to stop the slaughter, this area became a central point of operations. When the Serbs were expelled, then the Albanians started their own retributions and it became apparent there needed to be a more permanent presence here to maintain civility. Hence the construction of Camp Bondsteel (and the neighboring NATO forces in Film City - blog below).

Camp Bondsteel currently has a force of around 2000 - mostly US Army - troops. Its Operation is known as KFOR. There really hasn't been any violence in quite a while and I'm told the locals here love our presence and respect the US a great deal. There is a lot of good will activity going on here.

Kosovo is a very poor country. The average income is $320/month and unemployment is over 70% so there are many many problems to work out over and above the complex political and social structure here.

As Bob says, "The time difference here is 7 hours and 200 years"

The living quarters here are actually called "living containers" and are metal pod structures lined up next to each other:



A closer look at my doorstep:



and inside:



This is the way all the personnel here live.

A stroll around the base showed some large helicopter hangers:



Where a lot of routine maintenance goes on day to day:



Further down are the camp operations offices:



There are protective bunkers everywhere for possible incoming:



Inside the bunker:



Going down towards the recreation area, Bob still thinks he is the band chick magnet:



We let him stay in his world.

There are also ammunition amnesty boxes:



Outside the dining hall:



Inside the dining hall there are warnings posted of the numerous land mines all over the area:






On a lighter note, to make the soldiers life more palatable there is a gym and workout area:





a recreation area:



Interesting that a UT banner was front and center there:



While a Titans penant was the only sign of NFL in TN hung among all the NFL teams:



There is also a souvineer shop:



a music store:



a massage parlor along with laundry, PX, seamtress facilities. All the amenities of home.

That's about it. The soldiers here have a real sense of good will and cooperation with the local people. They truly are in good command. I have met many who love their job here and feel they are doing something to better this little corner of the world.

We are lucky they are here and glad that we are here.

The show tonight is in the gym area.

Hope you enjoyed it,
Jerry