Tribute to a Coalition Partner ~ Bulgaria

Tribute to a Coalition Partner

Bulgaria

Bulgarian 3MP-23 Tank in Iraq

Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces visited service members of the 451st Air Expeditionary Group and Bulgarian forces at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, July 7, 2007.

(U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jennifer A. Evans)

Bulgaria is a valued Coalition partner. Bulgaria is a small Balkan country - about the size of Tennessee - with a population of approximately 7.9 million people. It is bordered by the Black Sea, Turkey, Greece, Moldava, Serbia & Montenegro and Romania.

The Republic of Bulgaria’s contributions to the Global War on Terrorism have been significant. The former Warsaw Pact state has troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has generously allowed the U.S. use of its airspace and infrastructure - strategic assets given that the country is located in Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea.

“Bulgaria is a small country, but we try to participate like a strong partner,” explained Col. Cvetan Colov, the Bulgarian Senior National Representative to US Central Command.

“We are in the Coalition against terrorism from the beginning with 480 military personnel. Now we are committed 260 service members to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and we implemented many civilian projects. We have trained a lot of people and we give logistics support.”

The following Soldiers have given their lives in Operation Iraqi Freedom:
Jr Sgt Paun Georgiev
Jr Sgr Tsvetan Kamov
Officer Candidate Marin Milev
Pvt Gurdi Gurdev
Pvt Preslav Stoyanov
Jr Sgt Valentin Donev
Sr Sgt Valdimir Pashov
Sr Sgt Dimitar Dimitrov
Capt Georgi Kachorin
Jr Sgt Anton Petrov
Sr Sgt Ivan Indzhov
Pvt Svilen Kirov
Lt Nikolay Angelov Saruev

With our gratitude to Bulgaria for their participation in the Coalition in the War on Terror.

To Read about other Coalition Partners, click here.