[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING SLOVAK EXPLOSIVE ORDINANCE DISPOSAL (EOD) MAJOR BARTAKOVICS 
                              AND EOD TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2011

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Slovak Explosive 
Ordinance Disposal, EOD, Maj. Roland Bartakovics and the entire Slovak 
EOD team for their role in resisting an assault by armed insurgents on 
Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar. I would like to recognize the Slovaks 
for their bravery during a failed enemy attack on the base.
  The camp in Kandahar, which houses the Kandahar Provincial 
Reconstruction Team, KPRT, was attacked by four armed insurgents with 
rocket-propelled grenades and small fire arms. The attack lasted nearly 
11 hours, and was ended by the Afghan National Police supported by 
coalition forces, including the Slovak EOD team. Thanks to the 
determined professionalism of the Slovak unit, at no point did the 
attackers gain access to the compound.
  I would like to offer my condolences to the families and loved ones 
of those killed and injured during the attack. The heroic leadership of 
the entire Slovak unit will forever be remembered. Their service and 
dedication has brought great pride to their nation, families and 
communities.
  Echoed throughout Afghanistan, the KPRT reflects a productive 
civilian-military partnership. The United States stands with the Afghan 
people and their government in pursuing the mutual goal of a stable and 
prosperous Afghanistan. The United States owes a great debt of 
gratitude to Maj. Roland Bartakovics and the entire Slovak EOD team for 
putting themselves in harm's way in the pursuit of freedom.

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