Description
Camp Bonsteel is the main base of the United States Army under KFOR command in Kosovo. Located near Ferizaj at the base from “Big Duke” Mt. Ljubotenlooming looms over Camp Bondsteel in the eastern part of Kosovo. The base serves as the NATO headquarters for KFOR’s Multinational Battle Group East.
The base is named after Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient United States Army Staff Sergeant James L. Bondsteel. After leaving Vietnam Bondsteel was posted to West Germany from 1970 to 1973 and held various other postings until his retirement in 1985 after 20-years of service. After his retirement from the Army as a Master Sergeant, he worked for the Veterans Administration as a counselor at the regional office in Anchorage, Alaska.
The camp occupies 955 acres of land. To construct the base, two hills were flattened and the valley between them was filled. In August 1999, 52 helipads were constructed on the facility’s west perimeter to handle helicopter aviation.
Camp Bondsteel was constructed by the 94th Engineer Construction Battalion, augmented by A Company, 864th Engineer Battalion, and the 568 Combat Support Engineer Company, together with the private Kellogg, Brown and Root Corporation (KBR). The planning, design and construction management of the project was completed by the Construction Management Section of the 130th Engineer Brigade and a team from the Baltimore District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. KBR is also the prime contractor for the operation of the camp.
Camp Bondsteel has many facilities on base, all built with aid from the US military which are used by the soldiers and civilian employees who live and work there, and can hold up to 7,000 soldiers which makes it the largest US base in the Balkans.
Minted in nickel and given antique silver finish, this coin is imbued with bold colorful enamel on the obverse and a photo insert of snowy mountains on the reverse.
This coin measures 1 3/4 inch (44mm) in diameter.
This is a surplus NWTM item. Packaging may vary.
