January 16 was a joyous day in the Lithuanian Land Forces. Major Viktoras Kucenko, Head of the Communications and Information Systems (G6) Section of the Lithuanian Land Force Headquarters, was the first Lithuanian officer to be awarded with the Bronze Star Medal of the United States of America.
The decoration was bestowed on the Lithuanian officer by U.S. Major General Paul La Camera, ISAF Regional Commander South, for exceptional and meritorious service while deployed to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan as head of Communications and Informations Systems Service at the Regional Command South Headquarters at Kandahar Airfield.
"Communications and information systems support to C2 is one of the key capabilities for ensuring a speedy and reliable exchange of information enabling a successful completion of allied operations", Maj Gen Paul La Camera underscored presenting the decoration. The U.S. General also accentuated the superb qualification, qualification-related knowledge and impeccable leadership qualities that Maj V.Kucenko had demonstrated during his tour of duty by implementing complex tasks in support of security and operation of the largest allied NATO forward base.
Kandahar Airfield where Maj V.Kucenko was serving for the latter six months is the largest airfield throughout Afghanistan supporting approximately 700 daily flights, ensuring completion of surveillance tasks with unmanned aerial vehicles and air support to ground operations. It also accommodates one of the two strategic and operational-level communications and information systems components in Afghanistan providing a spectrum of services for the allied forces in the area of operations and connecting operational-strategic level headquarters in other countries and continents via communications networks. Approx. 12 thousand military and a similar number of civilian personnel is ensuring daily operation of the base.
The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest individual military award and the ninth-highest by order of precedence in the US Military.
It may be awarded to both, U.S. and foreign military, for acts of heroism, acts of merit, or meritorious service when serving with or alongside a service branch of the United States Armed Forces.
Captain Mindaugas Neimontas, PAO of the Lithuanian Land Force, cell phone no. 00370 640 45 380
Photos from the personal archive of Maj V. Kucenko
