Prague, Jan 23 (CTK) – A team of Czech medics who served for six months in a U.S. military hospital in Iraq received U.S. Army medals granted by U.S. Ambassador to Prague Stephen King on Tuesday.
In his awarding speech, King stressed their professionalism and sense of humour which both helped them deal with demanding tasks.
Czech military medics saved 55 lives in Iraq.
King told them they were what they called heroes in America.
He said the Czech specialists were selflessly assisting their U.S. counterparts in the fight against Islamic State (ISIS).
The team, which had five women in it, started its mission in December 2016. The Czechs returned home in mid-June last year.
“At this time a year ago, we were in the middle of a desert, in the middle of nowhere, but still we were not alone. We became not only collaborators, but also a family,” the unit’s commander Pavel Uher said.
“Our American family will never be forgotten in our hearts,” he added.
A number of Czech soldiers have been decorated for exceptional acts and bravery from the U.S. military.
King said one of the members of the Czech unit had been awarded as a Hero of the Week by the command of the coalition forces.
He received it for exceptional fulfilment of the tasks during his mission in Iraq and preparation for deployment.
The Czech Field Surgery Team (PCHT-I) took part in the Western throng of the operation Inherent Resolve in which Iraqi armed forces, backed by the allies, fight to liberate the areas occupied by Islamist extremists.
The team also participated in several mass treatment of the injured, called MASCAL. It treated Iraqi and allied soldiers as well as Iraqi children.
King noted that this year, the embassy celebrated 100 years since the establishment of contacts between the USA and former Czechoslovakia.
Cooperation in the sphere of security is one of the major topics of the shared history and the present, King said.
