U.S. army unit hailed for assisting in Albania explosion

HEIDELBERG, Germany – Lt. Gen. Gary D. Speer, acting commanding general, U.S. Army, Europe, hosted a ceremony in his office May 20 to recognize members of the U.S. army who provided assistance to Albania in March and April.
The group, including specialists in environmental science, engineering, explosive ordnance disposal, civil affairs and mortuary affairs, responded to what U.S. ambassador to Albania John L. Withers II termed a disaster – a series of explosions March 15 at a weapons demilitarization facility in Gerdec where stockpiled weapons were awaiting demolition by a commercial company. The precise cause of the explosions remains undetermined, but according to published reports the blast was heard up to 100 miles away.
In a letter to Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, EUCOM commanding general, Withers wrote, “Your team, under the inspiring leadership of Colonel Chad Sparks, made a real difference here…my deepest thanks to you and each member for your care and concern for this small Balkan country, which soon may become a NATO ally. You know of Albania’s stalwart support for the U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thank you for returning that support through the professionalism of your team.”
The group in Albania consisted of six U.S. military officers, six enlisted U.S. service members and two Department of the Army civilian employees. Speaking to ten of the team members present for the May 20 ceremony, Speer thanked the entire team for their performance in what he termed “an incredibly important mission.”
“You showed the Albanian people what our Army can do,” he said.
While he praised Sparks’ leadership of the team, Speer also singled out the enlisted members for recognition, saying they “showed the level of competency of NCOs in our Army.” Army Sgt. 1st Class Steve Chenault, team noncommissioned officer in charge, said the team’s relations with Albanians at the site were good.
“They were very grateful and hospitable to us the whole time we were there,” Chenault said. “I think the most important thing we were able to do is help get the people back into their homes or shelters as quickly as possible.”