Return Home from Iraq

Gen. Dr. Tibor Benkő summed up the significance of the Iraqi mission by saying that “We consider the Iraqi mission as one of the most important commitments of the Hungarian Defence Forces, because in our opinion, problems must be solved where they originate, and we must not wait until their effects reach Europe and Hungary. Help is needed at the places where refugees start from, so that they don’t have to leave their homeland".

Maj. Mátyás Hodoniczki told us that they have carried out training and force protection duties over the last more than six months. “The colleagues I have served together with are well-trained, enthusiastic and dedicated soldiers. Everybody tried to do their best, and executed their tasks to the best of their abilities" – this was how the national contingent commander assessed the work done by the members of the mission.

The ceremony continued with the presentation of recognitions. Minister of Defence of Hungary Dr. István Simicskó presented a token of appreciation to Maj. Mátyás Hodoniczki for his professional work in his position over a lengthy period of time. In recognition of his outstanding performance and exemplary service, on the occasion of completing his tour of duty, the Chief of Defence presented Capt. Róbert Kiss with a “Memorial Medal for Outstanding Performance".

Maj.-Gen. János Huszár, Commander, HDF Joint Force Command presented tokens of appreciation to Maj. Szilveszter Frankó, Capt. József Attila Balogh, Capt. Mihály László Battonyai, Capt. Lajos Nagy, 1st Lt. Róbert Gergő Vitári, SFC László Doma, SFC Szabolcs Kiss, SSgt. József Lebák and SSgt. László Osztroluczki. He thanked the work done by Cpl. Ferenc Ruck, Cpl. Balázs Szilágyi and Cpl. Ádám Dávid Virgoncz by handing over memorial certificates to them.

The homecoming ceremony of the contingent was attended, among others, by Brig.-Gen. Dr. Ruszin Romulusz, Commander, HDF 5th Bocskai István Infantry Brigade and Zoltán Hegedűs, Vice-Mayor of Hódmezővásárhely.

The Hungarian Defence Forces are doing service in Iraq again as part of a US-led international coalition formed upon the request of the Iraqi government to the UN member states. On 14 April 2015, the Hungarian National Assembly made a decision about the Hungarian participation. Under Parliament’s decision No. 17/2015, the maximum 150-strong HDF Iraqi Training Support Contingent is deployed in Kurdistan, Iraq. The mandate of the contingent runs until 31 December 2017, and may be extended with another parliamentary decision. The HDF ITSC provides support for international trainers and trains the Peshmerga – Iraqi Kurdish fighters – at squad, platoon and company levels. The staff of the contingent is stationed in the area of responsibility of the Erbil training center.

Photos by the author