Lee Van DeBery Operation Joint Forge, Bosnia correspondence, 1998 June 23

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Summary

Creators:

Abstract:

This collection contains one correspondence from Lee Van DeBery to Nate Boird during while in Sarajevo, Bosnia as part of Operation Joint Forge in 1998.

Extent:

.01 Linear feet (1 folder)

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Lee Van Debery Operation Joint Forge, Bosnia correspondence (2017.073.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains one correspondence from Lee Van DeBery to Nate Boird during while in Sarajevo, Bosnia as part of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force during Operation Joint Forge in 1998. Joint Forge was the last of three peace keeping operations in the region after the Yugoslav War from 1991 to 1995.

Nate was a student at Sage School in Phoenix, Arizona writing to soldiers overseas, prompting this response from Van DeBery, who opened his discussion by talking about US History as a subject. He then goes on to explain that he is a radio operator and repair man at an Army base in Sarajevo, Bosnia called Ilidza and that he works closely with the Navy SEALS and Army Green Berets. He goes on to describe how beautiful the country is, laying in a valley between mountains that "if the trees were pine instead of hard woods it would look just like Asheville, N.C.," Van DeBery's hometown.

Van DeBery's last paragraph addressed his participation in Bosnia:

"Yes, war is a horrible thing, that is why we are here, to prevent the people of Bosnia from experiencing it. They have lived with war for too long it is time for them to have peace. It is my duty to put my life in danger so the people of my country do not have to. It makes me feel good to know Iam appreciated."

Acquisition information:

Gift of Craig Scheibel.

Physical location:

This collection has been physically arranged with Cold War collections due to the thematic timeframe.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Siege of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina : 1992-1996)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
North Atlantic Treaty Organization -- Armed Forces
Yugoslav War (1991-1995)
Names:: Scheibel, Craig
Places:: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Access and use

Restrictions:: This collection is open for research.
Terms of access:: There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.