Lithuanian soldier – about the most painful duty of the US military

– Over thirty years of work, you have traveled to many countries in the US Marine Service, participated in various military operations in Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Somalia, and have also seen the processions of farewell to the soldiers. How do you rate a farewell in Vilnius?

– I can say that I am really proud, as Lithuanians, the state has been united from the beginning to prepare the soldiers who have died for their last trip home. Commander of the army General Raimundas Vaikšnoras said that from the beginning, when he pulled the soldiers out of the swamp, the farewell process had already begun. And what I saw in Vilnius was absolutely wonderful – reminded me how respectful soldiers were in America.

– Dead soldiers have already flown to America. How will it go there? Will they be buried in a military cemetery or will the farewell ceremony take place?

– There should be. I don’t want to say something inaccurate because it all depends on their plans. But when a soldier dies outside America, they are first flown to delaver, where there is the largest funeral home in the army. There the warrior prepares for the last trip to the family. They have a satellite all the time – usually the same or slightly higher degree. He accompanies the family and is with her all the time.

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– You are a colonel of the Marines. How is the military service valued in the US? How does society look at officers? Is this great respect? What place do they take in America?

– Yes, really yes. I joined in 1986 and I can say that since then, after the « desert storm » military operation, the public attitude has changed. The Office is regarded as the greatest honor. In America, people often see a uniform or learn that you are serving, on the day of the veteran says, « Thank you for your ministry. » Even when I left the desert storm and sat in a restaurant, the waiter brought the drink and said that it was donated by man – sometimes it turns out that the person is also a veteran, only older. Really – ministry is highly respected. Americans sincerely show respect. Mostly I turn and say, « Thank you for support. » We serve them, we serve the nation. I am very grateful to them for that support.

– Both US leaders, generals and NATO leaders thanked Lithuania for a week -long, extremely complex search and rescue operation. How do you rate this operation?

– I am a specialist in armored vehicles – my specialty was exactly that. I can say that when the Lithuanian president himself came to the place and said that this is a really unique situation, I completely agree with that. I saw the brigade commander who said the same thing – he served for 24 years, saw nothing like it. Lithuania responded very quickly. Openness – from the President, the Minister of National Defense, the Commander of the Armed Forces – was crucial to me. Every day it was very open to what was going on. The press, the media made reports. They worked 24 hours a day and showed how the Lithuanians cared about it. Estonians, the Poles also arrived, showed that they would definitely look for it until the soldiers were pulled out and could return home.

– The tragic situation, four young American troops died. The rules are that only Americans are the first to publish information, to report dead troops. How is it in America, how do their families get that information?

– Sometimes you read, someone says you have not reported information about what has been killed because they have to report to families first. That’s the case. I can say that, without exception, a person arrives – no matter what his specialty, the infantry, the pilot, the armor’s specialty, but he has moved and training, has certain qualities and can communicate in such sensitive situations. He wakes up into the door, presses the call – along with the chaplain. Of course, it is very difficult for the family to see that they have come with uniforms, they know from the beginning. But there will always be face -to -face – there are no telegrams, phones, messages. The secret of time, until the families report.

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– Let’s talk about you – you were born and raised in America, you speak Lithuanian well, after graduation you settled in Lithuania. How do you rate our country, Lithuanians? How do you feel here?

– as your own. Here is the home. The first compliment is about the Lithuanian language – thanks to the parents. I was born in San Francisco, California, I did not learn Lithuanian. Thanks to parents, especially moms who said that we are talking in Lithuanian at home. It seems to me that we grew up knowing that we are very grateful that we are living in an independent, free state – America. But we realized that there were lands, states like Lithuania that have no freedom. We were so raised. San Francisco was a very large Soviet consulate – we protested there.

– And you came home. Do you feel great like home?

– Completely. I have said that in April 2006, I flew to Great Britain to talk to British Marines with whom I served in Afghanistan. After a while, I thought: Why did I travel around the world everywhere and I was never in Lithuania? I bought a ticket and arrived here in April, 2006.

– And you stayed to live?

– I still had the service to finish until 2017. I say I came back here – despite the fact that I was never in Lithuania. Here is the kind of thing that you don’t explain unless you feel it myself, but I felt like I belonged here.