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Multinational Division
(North) (MND(N)) and Task Force Eagle’s history began in 1995
following the NATO-imposed cease-fire, halting the destructive
four-year Balkan conflict.
After the General Framework Agreement for
Peace was signed on 14 December 1995, the United States 1st
Armored Division, as part of NATO's Allied Command Europe, Rapid
Reaction Corps, was ordered to Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of
Operation Joint Endeavor.
Task Force Eagle was formed and assumed
control of its area of responsibility on December 20, 1995.
After the historic bridging of
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the
Sava river on December 31, 1995, the Old Ironsides Division,
with supporting Forces from the Fifth U.S. Corps, was joined by
Nordic-Polish, Turkish and Russian Brigades - in total: 12
Nations. These nations include Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Poland,
Denmark, Lithuania, Norway,
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Sweden, Russia, Turkey and the United States.
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| Task
Force Eagle, one of the most powerful formations ever fielded,
enforced the cease fire, supervised the marking of boundaries
and the zone of separation between the former warring factions,
enforced the withdrawal of the combatants to their barracks and
the movement of heavy weapons to designated storage sites.
Task Force Eagle also supported the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's efforts to
administer the country's first ever, democratic national
elections.
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| On November 10,
1996, the 1st Armored Division transferred authority
for command and control of MND(N) and Task Force Eagle to the 1st
Infantry Division. The 1st Infantry Division deployed
as a covering force to allow the safe return of the 1st
Armored Division units to their homes in Germany.
Shortly thereafter, demonstrations in the
villages of Celic and Gajevi tested the resolve and ability of
the newly arrived Big Red One. On November 12, 1996, an armed
altercation between the former
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factions could have hindered the fragile peace process.
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soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division skillfully
intervened and quickly brought this very intense situation under
control.
Upon completion of the covering force
mission, the 1st Infantry Division continued to
ensure all military aspects of the Dayton Peace Accord were
accomplished firmly and fairly.
On December 20, 1996, the Implementation
Force mission came to a successful conclusion and the 1st
Infantry Division was selected to continue serving in Bosnia as
part of the new Stabilization Force (SFOR). This decision
brought to close the mission of Operation Joint Endeavor and has
been the beginning for the current operation known as Operation
Joint Guard.
Through careful planning and skillful
execution of every mission, the soldiers' of the 1st
Infantry Division and those of our multi-national allies, have
continued to monitor the militaries of the former warring
factions and provided a climate of stability in the war-torn
land of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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On October 22, 1997, the 1st
Armored Division again assumed command of MND(N) and Task Force
Eagle. Soldiers from America's Tank Division , familiar with the
mission and Bosnia-Herzegovina, quickly adapted to the role and
the challenges of establishing a
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environment in MND(N).
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the NATO-led SFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina transitioned to a
slightly smaller follow-on force led by the 1st
Cavalry Division, America’s First Team, from Fort Hood, Texas.
The United States agreed to provide a force of approximately
6,900 U.S. personnel to maintain a capable
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force in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Simultaneously, Operation Joint
Guard ended, and Operation Joint Forge began. Operation Joint
Forge will continue to build on the successes of Operations
Joint Endeavor and Joint Guard. No timeline for the duration of
Operation Joint Forge has been established. The mission will be
assessed periodically and the force commitment will be adjusted,
as circumstances require.
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On August 4,
1999, the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)
assumed command of MND(N) and Task Force Eagle.
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| The 49th
Armored Division (AD) of the Texas Army National Guard assumed
control of Multinational Division-North during a Transfer of
Authority ceremony held Tuesday, March 7, 2000 at Eagle Base.
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The 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Georgia takes control of Multinational Division-North at a Transfer of Authority ceremony held on Thursday, 5 October 2000.
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