Tragedy during military maneuvers in Germany. A 21-year-old from the Netherlands died
The tragedy took place on the night of April 9-10, during multinational exercises Bastion Lion. In German Altmark, soldiers from the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium trained joint activities in case of east threat.
Delano, because his name was, he was a first -grade private. He belonged to the 13th light brigade with the Oirschot of the Royal Dutch army. IN He took part with thousands of other soldiers. Crossing rivers, urban struggle, simulated attacks. This is what these maneuvers looked like, but that night something went wrong.
« It hits everyone »
– It touches us all deeply. Our thoughts are with his loved ones-said General Gert-Jan Kooij, the unit commander. Exercises were immediately interrupted. The German police and the Dutch military gendarmerie are investigating. It is still unknown what exactly happened. The Ministry of Defense only says: « Most likely – a tragic accident. »
In the black and white photo published by the army, Delano has something that hurts even more today. Peace, ordinariness. It was not someone created until death.
In the comments under the post, a lot of people thank you for his service. One of the women wrote: « Thank you, Delano, for your efforts for peace. You are a hero. »
Mass and silence
The day after death, a funeral mass took place. Among the soldiers were his mother, sister, brigade colleagues. There were no salvos. There was silence and a few words that fell deeply:
– Delano made a final sacrifice. For the freedom of the Netherlands. For the freedom of Europe. His loss was not in vain. Never, said General Kooij.
The military chaplain talked about a bond that did not disappear with the uniform. About Delano, not as a fallen, but as a man who was one of them.
In the shadow of a real war
The death of a young Dutchman happened during exercise, but in the shade of an increasingly real threat. March 25, in a separate training incident in Lithuania, Four American soldiers were killed. Earlier, on the other side of the same eastern flank, Mateusz Sitek, a 21-year-old Polish soldier pushed by a migrant on the border with Belarus, died.
(Sources: NL Times, Bild, Facebook/13 Lichte Brigade)
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@13 Lichte Brigade / Facebook
The farewell ceremony of the tragically deceased soldier in his unit took place on April 10.
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@13 Lichte Brigade / Facebook
The soldier Delano died during NATO exercises at the German Altmark. His colleagues from the unit agreed that the 21-year-old photo would be shown in public.
