COMMANDER U.S. EUROPEAN COMMAND COMMEMORATES D-DAY

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

Right:  Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division, along with allied troops from multiple countries, participate in a parade through the streets of Carentan, France, June 4, 2014. The town is hosting several events commemorating the 70th anniversary of D-Day operations conducted during World War II. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. A.M. LaVey, 173rd Airborne Brigade 

Breedlove Pays Tribute to Sacrifices Made at D-Day
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

CARENTAN, France, June 5, 2014 – The sacrifice made by World War II veterans is reflected in the legacy of freedom they left following their success in the “greatest endeavor ever undertaken in the name of liberty,” NATO’S Supreme Allied Commander Europe said.

Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, also commander of U.S. European Command, traveled here to participate in a series of French-hosted commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion of Normandy during World War II. Breedlove saluted the veterans for their courage in liberating Europe.

 “The French said ‘thank you’ today as they gave [veterans] the [French] Legion of Honor,” Breedlove told American Forces Network yesterday.

“Well, you just can’t buy this,” he said, referring to French gratitude for what the allies did by liberating France and Europe as part of the 70th anniversary of D-Day. “You can’t put it in a bottle. To see the nations -- all of them -- represented around this town, this country, this host nation, coming out like this in the hundreds and thousands to thank our soldiers and thank our veterans -- it’s amazing. It’s a great feeling.”

Breedlove added, “You don’t know what it’s like until you watch these little kids and their parents, and their grandparents waving American flags, waving French flags, waving [British] flags, all the nations represented.”

The French citizens’ emotions illustrate “what it means to these people [regarding] the sacrifices that our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines made for this country,” he added.

Breedlove reflected on the hard choices Army Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower -- the D-Day invasion commander -- had to make in order to carry out the operation.
“Can you imagine what he was thinking as he sent so many of our nation’s sons ashore knowing what was waiting for them?” Eisenhower knew what was going to be required to achieve success, Breedlove said, and he knew the sacrifice that would have to be made.

“It’s probably the most incredible decision of our military,” the general said. “And he stood up to it and sent these forces ashore, and they accomplished their mission.”

Breedlove said he learned, from talking to veterans, that none of them made the decision to fight based on what was in front of them.

“They made decisions about standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their fellow soldiers, sailors and airmen. “Shoulder-to-shoulder with those who cared. And their mission was to get the job done and take care of each other.”

It was the cohesion, camaraderie and esprit de corps, Breedlove said, that got them through some pretty tough times.

“They all gave so much. But what we owe all veterans is our freedom.”
Speaking about freedom as the legacy of those who fought in World War II, Breedlove referred to a speech from a young French woman during an earlier ceremony where veterans received the French Legion of Honor.

“She wrote about that freedom that was purchased by the bravery and the sacrifice of our soldiers,” he said. “So all we can do is just say, ‘We thank you and we’re lucky that you were there to stand for us.’”

Walking down Carentan’s streets, the general also lauded veterans serving in today’s formations, and the families who support them.

“I say thank you to the families,” Breedlove said, “and to those veterans who are marching right in front of them who also served in multiple wars and multiple places around the world.

“We have lots of veterans that we owe dearly,” he continued. “Thank you to all of them.”

NATO COMMANDER IN EUROPE SPEAKS ON IMPORTANCE OF SPECIAL OPERATORS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Breedlove: Special Operators Provide Decisive Capability

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2013 - Special operators, working together through the NATO Special Forces Headquarters, have provided the decisive edge during NATO missions in Europe, Afghanistan and Africa, and continue to improve their capabilities across the land, air and sea domains, the senior U.S. and NATO commander in Europe said today.


"These 'quiet professionals' provide unique current and emerging capabilities that enable our team to respond rapidly and precisely in ways no one else can," Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe and commander of U.S. European Command, noted in a blog posting. "As our military teams across the alliance find more efficient and effective ways of providing the right forces at the right place and at the right time, we will increasingly look to our special operators to get the job done."

Breedlove praised the role of special operators after presiding today over the NATO Special Forces Headquarters' change of command ceremony. Air Force Lt. Gen. Frank J. Kisner passed command to Navy Vice Adm. Sean A. Pybus.

Breedlove recognized the operational support the headquarters has provided more than 2,200 allied and partner special operations service members serving in Afghanistan under the International Security Assistance Force mission. Meanwhile, the NATO Special Forces Headquarters has provided special operations expertise to Operation Unified Protector in Libya, Operation Ocean Shield off the Horn of Africa, Operation Active Endeavor in the Mediterranean Sea and other NATO missions, he said.

The general attributed much of the success of these missions -- and future ones -- to the NATO Special Operations Forces Training and Education Program. This initiative is "the centerpiece of building and sustaining allied and partner SOF capability," he said, with more than 3,500 special operations personnel from 34 nations graduating from the program's 26 courses that span the spectrum of special operations capabilities.

Breedlove singled out examples of these capabilities across the region. Members of U.S. Special Operations Command Europe, based in Stuttgart, Germany, "are accomplishing great things every day on the ground, in the air and on the seas across the European theater and beyond," he said.

New aircraft arriving in the theater will bring additional capability, specifically in support of crises response, disaster preparedness and emergency airlift missions, he noted. The first of two CV-22 Osprey aircraft at the British Royal Air Force base at Mildenhall, United Kingdom, represent "a first for U.S. special operations aviation in Europe, providing transformational vertical-lift capability to our theater," he said.

Also arriving are the first of 12 MC-130J Commando II aircraft, "uniquely capable of low-visibility, low-level aerial refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft, as well as infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of ground and maritime special operations forces," the general said.

"These aircraft bring new capabilities to our theater that are welcome additions," Breedlove said. "These important upgrades will allow our special operators to fly further, faster, higher and longer than ever before, dramatically increasing our theater special operations capabilities and range of modern support to our European partners."

Meanwhile, Special Operations Command Europe continues to focus on expanding theater-wide SOF capabilities. Efforts to train, develop and enable European allies and partners "thickens our lines," Breedlove said.

In Afghanistan, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force's Combined Special Operations Task Force 10, led by the only U.S. special operations forces serving under NATO operational control, includes special operators from Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Breedlove recognized the contributions the element is making across nine Afghan provinces, with "profound effects on enabling the Afghans to assume full responsibility for their national security."

Navy Special Warfare Unit 2, Special Operations Command Europe's maritime element, also remains heavily engaged in Afghanistan, Breedlove noted. Teamed primarily with Romanian and Polish forces and Afghan law enforcement officials, they are "bringing some very bad people to justice," he said.

Meanwhile, the unit has built strong relationships with allies from Greece and Denmark and Norwegian navy special warfare teams to create "a theater maritime response capability second to none," Breedlove said.

Looking to the future, Breedlove said coalitions will remain the cornerstone of international military missions. Just as in current operations, he said special operators will be looked to "to get the job done."

"From what I have seen thus far, our quiet professionals in NATO and Eucom are exactly the right people to meet this challenge," he said. "They are a special breed, and I'm grateful for what they bring to our team."