Washington, DC – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to meet with Missouri National Guard troops deployed to Kosovo. Skelton was accompanied by Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-MO), and Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam).

 “I’m certainly proud of the members of the Missouri National Guard and their successful efforts as part of the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo.  I want to thank Brigadier General Larry Kay, the Commander of the Missouri Task Force, and Colonel Randy Alewel, the Deputy Commander, for making time to meet with us at Camp Bondsteel.  Our entire delegation was grateful for the opportunity to speak with our soldiers about their mission and also find out first-hand how they are doing almost half way through their year-long deployment,” said Skelton.

 The delegation met with senior non-commissioned officers, met with individual soldiers from towns in their Congressional districts, and held a town hall meeting with several hundred Missouri soldiers. 

  Before returning to the United States, the delegation also visited the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy, to discuss professional military education issues and U.S. participation at the school.   

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Click here to see a picture of Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) meeting with members of the Missouri National Guard at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo on September 30, 2008.