Mike's Kosovo Picture Page:

I was in Kosovo in February 2000 as part of the U.S. K-FOR and NATO Peacekeeping Mission. I originally landed at Skopje International Airport in Macedonia. We took a 2 hour bus ride through the Balkan Mountains to get to Urosevac, Kosovo, the regional support base for the U.S. Forces in Kosovo. I lived in a tent at Camp Bondsteel, 8 miles north of Urosevac for a week, before being sent back to Camp Able Sentry, Skopje, Macedonia. I would make several more trips up to Kosovo as part of my job. Every time I was there, was a new adventure filled with new discoveries.

Kosovo is a devastated province in the Yugoslavian State of Serbia. Thousands of Kosovar Citizens (both Ethnic Albanians and Serbians) have been killed and many more have been run from their homes and towns by fighting between Serb Police/Military, and the K.L.A. (Kosovo Liberation Army). Driving through Kosovo you see hundreds of burnt out homes and many others riddled with large caliber bullet holes. The most devastating thing that I saw during my travels in Kosovo was the hungry and homeless children. You'd see them on the side of the road begging for food or money. But the worst site of all was to see them digging through ruins and trash heaps for food to survive. Ultimately the war between the adults have hurt the children the most.

After being exposed to the destruction and the events leading up to the war, I have found there to be crimes and atrocities committed on both sides of this conflict. Unfortunately the Serbians and Kosovars (Ethnic Albanians) are so deeply divided that peace will be hard to keep, and will be short lived. The hate and discontent both sides have for each other is indescribable from an American point of view. This is such a tragedy, these people are so proud of their heritage, and have such a rich and colorful history. They are some of the nicest and most hospitable people around. This area of Yugoslavia is so rich in culture, architecture, agriculture, and scenery. Unfortunately for both sides, their future is uncertain and filled with tragedy.

May God grant both sides the light and desire to find peace with each other and rebuild their lives, culture, history and country to its previous glory. 

"Bog Blagosloviti!" (God Bless)

Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo:

   Aerial View of the Base.

       New Troop Quarters.

Pictures from around Kosovo:

  Kosovo in the cold snow of Winter.

 Small Kosovar City on the way from Skopje, Macedonia to Urosevac, Kosovo.

Looking towards the Macedonian/Kosovo Border

Armed Border Crossing into Kosovo.

The real "Victims of War"...The Children:

U.S. Troops with Children.

Teens on the way to school.

Kids in front of school.

The one of the major divides between Serbs and Kosovar's...Religion (Serbian Orthodox & Muslim):

Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo, which is primarily Muslim. However the Serbian Orthodox Church has very old, strong religious ties to the Kosovo area.

English Peacekeeping Forces are on guard 24 hours a day at local Serbian Orthodox Church.

Typical Mosque in the Balkans

Military Pictures from Kosovo:

One of my Military Buddies at the Kosovo/Serbian Border.

Russian Troops on Border guard duty in Kosovo.

Another Border Guard Station.

Some of my Military friends out to eat at a Kosovar restaurant in Urosevac.