BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY
By Maj. Craig Kingston (Australia),
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)

The legacy of war in south Lebanon - thousands of mines, unexploded ordnance and "booby traps" left behind by all parties to the conflict - continues to take its toll. Unfortunately, Lebanese civilians have taken the brunt in those killed and wounded. We can only be thankful that the Ukrainian, Polish and Swedish engineers of UNIFIL have not suffered the same losses as they continue their dangerous but necessary work.

The danger waits on the ground they patrol or lurks just below the surface. This thought is ever present in the minds of the military observers of Observer Group Lebanon. The observers - UNMOs - cover ground along the Blue Line that has not been patrolled in years. Points of observation are often accessed via safe routes cleared only recently. The danger is increased with the advent of winter rains and the incidence of mines "washing" onto previously cleared routes. No one appreciates the danger more than Major Steve Galjaardt, the Australian deputy team commander of Team X-Ray based at OP MAR.

Galjaardt came to Observer Group Lebanon from Observer Group Golan-Tiberias. He was on duty at an observation post when a Lebanese civilian, one of a group, disregarded warnings called out to him by the UNMOs and decided to take a "shortcut" about 70 meters south of the post. He stepped on a "shoebox" type anti-personnel mine. With great presence of mind, Galjaardt rushed from his post to render vital first aid to the injured civilian, who by then had been pulled by his friends out of the minefield.

This was not the first time that Galjaardt was in the right spot at a bad time. He had already proven his mettle at his previous station when he came to the aid of a soldier from UNDOF who had collapsed during a foot patrol. For his brave actions, Galjaardt was presented with a commendation. UNTSO Chief of Staff, Major General Franco Ganguzza, remarked that while he would expect an officer to go to the assistance of a fellow soldier as a matter of duty, Major Galjaardt's actions at OP Mar were above the call of duty alone.