Memorial Day 2007 Irish Veterans Memorial Project Remarks made by Brig Gen Padraig O’Callaghan, GOC 4 Western Brigade, at the 5th Annual Service for Memorial Day, 20 May 2007, St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, Athlone, Co Westmeath. Introduction Speaking in Dáil Éireann in 1963, a mere five years after Ireland had embarked on its first peacekeeping effort in support of the United Nations, President John F. Kennedy said “from Cork to the Congo, from Galway to the Gaza Strip, from this legislative assembly to the United Nations, Ireland is sending its most talented men to do the world’s most important work – the work of peace”. In the intervening 44 years the Irish Defence Forces have participated in 58 missions that has seen the transition from peacekeeping operations to the more complex and robust peace support operations of today. I am both honoured and privileged that I have been asked to speak to you at this, your 5th Annual Memorial Service. It is especially significant for me to have been asked, as I have served with many of the soldiers both at home and on Overseas Missions, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of peace on three different continents, and who we remember here today. As we are all aware, when we deploy, on overseas missions we become very focused on the mission in hand and we build our own support systems with our comrades in theatre. The Irish Defence Forces have learned from experience, and recognised, that it is also of paramount importance, that the organisation maintains a support network with the families that remain at home. Without the support from our families at home, the difficulties with foreign deployments increase substantially. Loss The loss of a loved one is tragic at any time, but it is especially difficult when the loved one dies young, and outside the family circle, on foreign soil. It is difficult for the families to come to terms with their loss, as they can only imagine the conditions in which their loved ones have fallen. Closure, is an essential part of the grieving process, and to this end the Defence Forces instigated a policy, whereby family members, when possible, are brought out to the location of their loved ones death, and shown the legacy that their sacrifice has left on the local people whom they served. This has been a tremendously positive experience for the families as it shows them that their sacrifice has not been in vain. It highlights for them that on peacekeeping operations regardless of the uniform, that there is a bond between all soldiers and a desire to help one another. The renowned journalist of the London Independent Mr. Robert Fisk said recently “Over two decades, there is no doubt that many hundreds of Lebanese are alive because Irish troops risked their lives, and sometimes gave their lives, as peacekeepers of Southern Lebanon”. We always depart for foreign missions with the hope that we will all return home safely, and it is therefore with great sadness that we remember those who are missing, and to whom families never had the chance to properly say goodbye. Occasions as our own here today are most worthwhile, but can be tinged with sadness, as they are a reminder of tragic loss associated with military service. Risk We as soldiers accept the inherent risks involved with overseas deployment, and endeavour to train for all possibilities, which we may encounter. We accept that we deploy only in areas of conflict, and to assist in the resolution of such conflicts. The former Secretary General of the UN Mr. Kofi Annan once said “Peacekeeping is not a job for soldiers but only soldiers can do it”. As Ireland increases her standing amongst the nations of the world, so too has the requirement for the Defence Forces to serve in an ever-increasing number of areas of conflict. As your organisation remembers the thousands of Irish, who have served in armies throughout the world, and fought with great courage, we too recall with great pride the members of the Irish Defence Forces who have served likewise. Liaison System In the Irish Defence Forces we have a family liaison system, which brings with it it’s own unique set of difficulties. In many cases the traditional family unit is not as it used to be, and liaison teams have to deal sensitively with the needs of all stakeholders in a very different social and religious environment. To assist this process, the Defence Forces have in place a system whereby families are brought in to barracks with their loved ones prior to deployment, in order to highlight many of the issues that may arise during a deployment, and inform them of how best to address particular situations. Our Personnel Support Services (PSS) travel out to the unit while serving overseas, to debrief the troops prior to returning home, in order to assist the troops with settling back in to their family situations. We can all appreciate the difficulties that can arise when we try to assume our role within the family structure, having relinquished our domestic responsibilities for a prolonged period overseas. The Defence Forces from humble beginnings some 20 years ago, whereby officers and NCO’s were tasked as liaison personnel, we now have a very professional attitude to this most important dimension. All Personnel Support Service personnel are qualified to third level standards, and work in conjunction with our social welfare system, which is a major asset to families of personnel serving overseas. It is the experience of our Personnel Support Service staff that, it is essential not to force liaison with the families, but have them remember that we provide a service for them at all times but which is particularly helpful in times of death or injury.  Communication Many of us have served on deployments in an era when the only communication home was through the postal system, or through official military lines of communication. This system was the only one available at the time and it allowed the authorities to remain in control over the release of information, be it positive or negative at any given time. In this era of modern communications, information home is almost instantaneous and again this brings with it difficulties, as such information may not have been verified correctly to validate it’s accuracy. This can lead to the transmission of inaccurate information at a very sensitive time, when families are in shock, after receiving the difficult news of injury to or the death of a loved one. Threat The world is ever evolving and more complex today than ever before, and as a consequence so too is military service. All conflict is interlinked, and with the increasing threat of global terrorism, regional conflicts are brought to a global stage. The Israeli-Palestinian situation, along with the Afghanistan situation, and the growth of Al-Qaedaism are perfect examples, of the instability created within an entire region. Battle lines, which were once easily defined, have now become unclear. No longer are regional disputes, neatly packaged, and kept in the one area with precise battle lines between opposing forces, the threat and the battlefield are more complex and confusing than ever. The proliferation of Improvised Explosive Device’s and suicide bombers have made the job of the soldier a much more complicated and dangerous one. We in the DF have always prided ourselves, in our ability to mingle with the people of war torn countries, and to try to understand their difficulties; now we must be cognisant of the fact that, what was once our strength, may also be a weakness ready to be used by those who wish to usurp our honourable intent.   Current DF Situation In recent years it has been a policy in the Defence Forces not to get involved in long-term missions as we had done in South Lebanon, but to deploy for shorter fixed periods of time. Our role has changed from ground holding, to a more mobile and robust posture as typified by our mission in Liberia. As some of you will remember, the Defence Forces used to deploy Units, which were a composite of all Bdes, but in recent times and in line with best practice, the Defence Forces uses what is now known as the Lead Bde Concept! This in essence means that Units, have as their core, troops drawn predominantly from the same Bde. This year the 4 W Bde, my Bde, were the lead Bde for the 96 Bn deployment to Liberia, which is in the process of returning home as we speak, the current deployment of the 35 Inf Gp to Kosovo and the forthcoming deployment of the 38 Inf Gp to Lebanon in October later this year. The Bde also welcomes its most challenging role yet as the lead Bde for the Defence Forces involvement as part of the EU Nordic Battlegroup. The Irish Defence Forces will provide a specialised Improvised Explosive Device Disposal Unit of Coy (-) Strength to a Nordic Battlegroup led by Sweden. This Battlegroup will also consist of troops drawn from Norway, Finland and Estonia. The EU Battlegroup, which became fully operational on 01 Jan this year, will allow the DF, based on the Helsinki Headline Goal 2010, place the emphasis on rapid response and deployability and further develop it’s military capability. Conclusion I would at this stage like to compliment the Irish Veterans Memorial Project on your work to date, and wish you every success in your endeavours. There is a special camaraderie amongst all soldiers, regardless of the uniform that they wear; it binds us together in a greater military family. Times of remembrance are especially poignant for families, however they are essential for those of us who have served, as it shows that our loyalty to our fallen comrades has not diminished with the passage of time. Within my Bde it is a matter of pride to us, that on several occasions this year alone, services of remembrance have been held in Barracks and Posts throughout the Bde with the families of deceased members. Although we may have come to terms with our losses it is important that we never forget the contribution our fallen comrades made. Personally I am very proud to address you today, and I am very conscious of who I represent. Unfortunately conflict, struggle, and war, are with us since the creation of man, and as I have outlined in our 2007 commitments to Liberia, Kosovo and Lebanon the ideal world is not yet upon us. Our Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern said in a recent interview “the question of future deployments on overseas missions will be looked at in mid 2007 in the context of the available resources”. It is obvious therefore, that Ireland’s contribution to world peace, and security, will continue in to the future, with all its implications. It is not necessary to over elaborate on those implications to my audience here today.  I would like to thank the committee and in particular Declan Hughes for this kind invitation to speak with you today. I would also like to say a special word of thanks to the Reverend Graham Doyle for making his most beautiful and historic church available to us today and allowing me to address you all. May all our fallen comrades rest in peace with God. Go raibh mile maith agaibh go leir.