AMERICAN SERVICEMEN IN KANDAHAR PAYS RESPECTS TO A ROMANIAN CAMARAD KILLED IN ACTION

November 14, 2003

Mediafax Agency - Over 200 American servicemen from the Kandahar military base in Afghanistan attended a military and memorial ceremony to commemorate the death of Sergeant Major Silviu Fogorasi, a Romanian serviceman killed in action earlier this week. Sergeant Major Fogorasi Iosif-Silviu, 33-year-old, was mortally wounded near town of Spin Boldak in southern Afghanistan when his convoy of armored vehicles came under attack on Tuesday.

According to the spokesperson of the Romanian Ministry of National Defense, Lt. Gelaledin Nezir, only a delegation from the US command was initially supposed to attend the memorial service. The US Pilot of the MedEvac helicopter (medical evacuation) that transported Fogorasi to the Kandahar military hospital, after the attack, deposed an American flag and the US battalion plaque. The American servicemen also made a donation to the Fogorasi family to help it through this difficult moment.

The coffin bearing the remains of Sergeant Major Fogorasi arrived at Oradea airport (Romania) on Thursday evening aboard a Romanian plane BAC 1-11 and received military honors. Almost 300 people attended the military ceremony and the religious service organized at the airport.