December 5, 1995
Web posted at: 12:25 p.m. EST (1725 GMT)
From Correspondent Siobhan Darrow
KAPOSVAR, Hungary (CNN) -- When the bulk of U.S.-led
NATO forces finally moves into Bosnia, it will be from a
military base being set up in Hungary. Former Cold War
facilities also will be transformed into a supply base for
U.S. forces on the ground in Bosnia.
To make room, hundreds
of Hungarian soldiers -- including some who received little
advance notice -- are being forced out of their barracks.
"We're determined to offer all the necessary facilities to IFOR (NATO's implementation force)," said Gen. Bela Biro, deputy commander of the Hungarian Army. U.S. Army troops arriving by train from Germany will be housed and fed before continuing to Bosnia, said Lt. Col. Mike Anderson. (102K AIFF sound or 102K WAV sound) A small advance party planning logistics for the mission already is in place, doing "considerable work" at Hungary's Taszar Air Base, said Capt. Steven Shapiro. (85K AIFF sound or 85K WAV sound)
Anderson and Shapiro said their hosts have been gracious, despite the inconvenience. Most of the Hungarian soldiers forced to relocate are conscripts, so training at a different base makes little difference to them. But for officers with families, the sudden disruption is tough. Andrea Pati had only one day's notice about her husband's departure. He trains conscripts, so when the order came to make room for the Americans, her husband was moved along with the soldiers.
"We didn't even have time to discuss our plans. I don't know how long he'll be away," Pati told CNN with her children by her side. But Pati, like most people at the Hungarian base, believes the American mission is one of goodwill, worth making a sacrifice for.
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