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Old 06-23-2008, 05:49   #1
Ret10Echo
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Joint Commission Observers (JCO) BH/RS

I'm not sure how many guys are wandering the halls here that spent time as JCOs in BH, but thought I would toss out the idea and see who has some memories or stories.

This is a result of running into the following blog that had some photos of the RS and Mostar....

I spent my time in the SOCCE and Doboj house.....


R10

http://www.michaeltotten.com/archive...oad-to-kos.php
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Old 06-23-2008, 08:02   #2
rudelsg2
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After my merciful release from the SOCCE; I spent the rest of my time doing some great OJT work at the Zvornik house.
Work that would come in handy way later down the road (just did not realize it at the time).

Digging through my box of junk or memories (what it is called depends on how much space it takes up), I found these items from that trip.
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Old 06-23-2008, 08:32   #3
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Ocuchani <sp>
Banja Luka
Bugonjo (The House of Pain)
Sarajevo

When it was all said and done I realized I had lived in BH for over two years.

The photos of Zvornik, were those before or after the Rpg attack?
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Old 06-23-2008, 08:44   #4
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I believe it was one or two rotation before.
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Old 06-23-2008, 09:00   #5
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Was that the RPG attack when the dive team was there?
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Old 06-23-2008, 09:06   #6
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Roger, Jim B. who was in the room that was hit, talked of the carrot going over his head as he lay in his bed.
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Old 06-23-2008, 09:21   #7
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Bet that was fun to watch.

TR
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Old 06-23-2008, 10:07   #8
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The guy in the bed was Howie (cannot remember full name, I was in Banja Luka that rotation) and yes it was the dive team (083/5) at the time.
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Old 06-23-2008, 10:28   #9
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I'm sure there were quite a few guys in that room. If I remember correctly there were only two sleeping rooms, the one down stairs and the one up stairs and both had guys stacked like fire wood living in them. Not the most spacious house, like some of the others.
I just know the Jim B. version; hell I may have it wrong, I have had a few concusions since then.

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Old 06-23-2008, 17:08   #10
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Dober Dan!! Sta ima danas??

I spent the first tour with LCE RObat in Zenica. Once the Romanians proved they could "handle" it without us Americans, I was dispatched to puzzle palace Central, CJSOTF-Sarajevo, for a lovely 2 months working with some boys with British accents, and some SEALS who mostly lived by their true motto: Sleep, EAt and Lift!! When that fun time was over, I spent time at the JCO house in Livno for one of the greatest experiences in my career .....up to that point.

The next years festivities saw our ODA assigned to MND-South, when the rest of our company was dispatched North. This initially caused some concern to our Team SGT. I went on the site survey, piggy backed after a JCET to Lithuania, and once I got to Buna (the JCO house outside of Mostar) I told him:
"joe, you're gonna have to trust me on this one.....THIS is the shits!!"

JCO Buna......swimming pools, movie stars!! and I'm not kidding! Not to mention frequent forays into the RS (Republik Srpska) to keep it real. There were very real tensions between East and West Mostar. We hunkered down the night the French defeated the Croats in the World cup for some "countercelebratory fire". We had "rioting in the Streets" of Stolac (an inside joke).....and of course frequent and nocturnal visits from "Heads of State" (also an inside joke). One of the most rewarding experiences ever!!
Wish you could have been there, Razor!!!
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Old 06-23-2008, 19:37   #11
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went out and had these made.

pic #1: our "quarters" at ROBAT in Zenica, BiH

pic #2: the pool in front of our "quarters" in Buna, BiH

pic #3: some random dork overlooking Dubrovnik, HR

I know...I know....we had it rough!!!
As far as the quarters in Zenica, they were bad, but the Romanian soldiers had it worse. Our Warrant absolutley refused to be housed with the Romanian Officers, who btw, didn't have quite so bad.

The pool pic is from one of our "Social functions" which were entirely legal and sanctioned for JCOs. Probably 4th of July, but it could have been one of several we hosted.
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Old 06-27-2008, 05:45   #12
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Buna, eh? I did some time there with the Humanitarian Demining Mission for DOS, just over the bridge over the Neretva River...

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Dober Dan!! Sta ima danas??

I spent the first tour with LCE RObat in Zenica. Once the Romanians proved they could "handle" it without us Americans, I was dispatched to puzzle palace Central, CJSOTF-Sarajevo, for a lovely 2 months working with some boys with British accents, and some SEALS who mostly lived by their true motto: Sleep, EAt and Lift!! When that fun time was over, I spent time at the JCO house in Livno for one of the greatest experiences in my career .....up to that point.

The next years festivities saw our ODA assigned to MND-South, when the rest of our company was dispatched North. This initially caused some concern to our Team SGT. I went on the site survey, piggy backed after a JCET to Lithuania, and once I got to Buna (the JCO house outside of Mostar) I told him:
"joe, you're gonna have to trust me on this one.....THIS is the shits!!"

JCO Buna......swimming pools, movie stars!! and I'm not kidding! Not to mention frequent forays into the RS (Republik Srpska) to keep it real. There were very real tensions between East and West Mostar. We hunkered down the night the French defeated the Croats in the World cup for some "countercelebratory fire". We had "rioting in the Streets" of Stolac (an inside joke).....and of course frequent and nocturnal visits from "Heads of State" (also an inside joke). One of the most rewarding experiences ever!!
Wish you could have been there, Razor!!!
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Old 06-27-2008, 08:36   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Firebeef
Wish you could have been there, Razor!!!
Me too, brother, if for no other reason than to listen to Joe's running commentary on the virtues of Gallic culture.
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Old 06-27-2008, 09:18   #14
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That seems odd that you could have dependents with you. The picture of your son in the third photo bears a striking resemblance of you!

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went out and had these made.

pic #1: our "quarters" at ROBAT in Zenica, BiH

pic #2: the pool in front of our "quarters" in Buna, BiH

pic #3: some random dork overlooking Dubrovnik, HR

I know...I know....we had it rough!!!
As far as the quarters in Zenica, they were bad, but the Romanian soldiers had it worse. Our Warrant absolutley refused to be housed with the Romanian Officers, who btw, didn't have quite so bad.

The pool pic is from one of our "Social functions" which were entirely legal and sanctioned for JCOs. Probably 4th of July, but it could have been one of several we hosted.
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Old 06-27-2008, 12:41   #15
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One word for all you that got stuck in crappy team houses or imprisioned at Tuzla...

Bijeljina

Or as we referred to it Babe-a-lina! It was in the NE sector of the Republika Srpska! We never did find out what they put in the water but it we were positive it enhanced the female bust line! So many nights out looking for a good Sitrep!

Also got stuck in Gradiska for a tour! Not as nice but a few of us made the trip back to Babe-town a year later! We were greeted like returning rock starts!

Oh, I just have to add the story about my buddy Tony C, out Jr. Charlie! We are driving around in our beat up Pajero and looks at me and says, "How do you know where you are going? All these signs are in Acrylic!"
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