![[Bartoszuk Photo]](Bartoszuk_R1.JPG)
Richard Bartoszuk
Iraq War Veteran
Polish-American On The Front Line
Rank/Name: Major Richard Bartoszuk - Army (1st Brigade-Combat Team, 3rd ID, Task Force Liberty. Deployed to Iraq since mid-January 2005.
Post Eagle: Please tell me your association with the Polish-American community.
Major Richard Bartoszuk: I grew up in a Polish-European neighborhood in Indiana. There I attended Polish mass and language school. Both of my parents are Polish and my father was actually a member of the 2nd Polish Corps of the British Army in WW II and ended up fighting at Monte Cassino. As far as speaking Polish - I tried keeping it up at home, but a language is a perishable thing.
PE: Did your father's military service have any effect on your decision to pursue a career in the Army?
MRB: Growing up as a child l found it interesting. My father spoke very harshly against war and the idea of romanticizing it. He was disappointed of me for joining because he felt it a waste of my degree, but eventually saw the benefits of what I do and accepted it. All the men in my family have served in the military.
PE: Do you still practice any Polish cultural traditions?
MRB: Christmas and Easter are very big - the food and customs of course. I think being exposed to some Polish-American organizations has helped kept it going.
PE: What role do you currently play in Iraq?
MRB: Public Affairs Officer - First Brigade, Third Infantry Division.
PE: Have you had any interaction with other coalition troops?
MRB: I've only had the opportunity to meet other Iraqi soldiers. We are training them to become a new modern force. We are stationed in Tikrit; on the Tigris River.
PE: What do you think of the role Poland is playing in Iraq and the greater War on Terror?
MRB: I am glad they're participating in this war. Helping Iraqi people out after years of dictatorship requires external help. It'd be wrong to ignore Iraq - glad they [Poland] stood up to help the coalition.
PE: In your personal opinion, what's the greatest challenge facing the United States military in Iraq today? And what are we doing to solve that problem?
MRB: In my opinion - the biggest difficulty is building relationships with the Iraqi people. There are three different kinds: those who actively and willingly work with us, others who represent the insurgency, and I would say the majority that are 'fence-sitters', waiting to see what happens. lt's hard for them to commit to one side and that is difficult for us.
Our thanks and praise goes out to Major Richard Bartoszuk, and the thousands of others that serve this country and secure freedom every day. God Bless Them.
Source: The Post Eagle, Oct. 2005