Stryker Soldiers complete Dragoon Crossing, build bridges (Series Part 4 of 4)

By Sgt. Juana NesbittSeptember 21, 2015

Stryker Soldiers complete Dragoon Crossing, build bridges
1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Infantry soldiers with the Hungarian Defense Force move to provide security prior to an amphibious tank crossing in support of Dragoon Crossing, Sept. 17 at the Moson-Danube River near Gyor, Hungary. The weeklong tactical road march from Viseck, Germ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Stryker Soldiers complete Dragoon Crossing, build bridges
2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Hungarian amphibious tank reaches the bank of the Moson-Danube River near Gyor, Hungary, during a demonstration Sept. 17 at the Moson-Danube River near Gyor, Hungary. The event took place during Operation Atlantic Resolve on going series of trainin... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Stryker Soldiers complete Dragoon Crossing, build bridges
3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with the Hungarian Defense Force's 37th "Ferenc Rakoczi II" Engineer Regiment put together a bridge prior to the finale of Dragoon Crossing, Sept. 17 at the Moson-Danube River near Gyor, Hungary. The wet gap crossing was the first one of its... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Stryker Soldiers complete Dragoon Crossing, build bridges
4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Joseph Seres, crossing site commander with the Hungarian Defense Force, keeps things running smoothly in preparation for a bridge crossing Sept. 17 at the Moson-Danube River near Gyor, Hungary. The weeklong tactical road march from Viseck, Germa... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Stryker Soldiers complete Dragoon Crossing, build bridges
5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with the Hungarian Defense Force's 37th "Ferenc Rakoczi II" Engineer Regiment push the bridge landings onto the shore during a wet gap crossing Sept. 17 at the Moson-Danube River near Gyor, Hungary. The wet gap crossing was the first one of ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Stryker Soldiers complete Dragoon Crossing, build bridges
6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the Gyor community enjoy a static display featuring Hungarian and American vehicles and equipment following the culmination of Dragoon Crossing Sept. 17 at the town square. The event was a chance for 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment Sold... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Stryker Soldiers complete Dragoon Crossing, build bridges
7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A young man tries on a U.S. Army improved outer tactical vest during a static display event in Gyor, Hungary, following the culmination of Dragoon Crossing Sept. 17 at the town square. The event took place during Operation Atlantic Resolve on going s... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Stryker Soldiers complete Dragoon Crossing, build bridges
8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Nandor Varga, son of a Hungarian WWII prisoner of war, returns a U.S. Army spoon to Col. John Meyer, commander of 2nd Cavalry Regiment, during a community static display event Sept. 17, in Gyor, Hungary. The spoon was a memento of the respect and dig... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

GYOR, Hungary - After a weeklong road march through Eastern Europe, Soldiers with 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment completed Dragoon Crossing Sept. 17, with assistance from its Hungarian counterparts at the Moson-Danube River and a community static display in Gyor, Hungary.

The culminating event of Dragoon Crossing, was the challenge of a wet gap crossing, only the second one done in Europe since 1945, and members of the Hungarian Defense Force's 37th "Ferenc Rakoczi II" Engineer Regiment provided much-needed support.

Among those in attendance, was Colleen Bell, United States Ambassador to Hungary, who spoke of the importance of the exercise.

"It's wonderful to be here today," she said. "This exercise is a very important exercise as it allows us and our allies to work together to improve our interoperability and capabilities."

The wet gap crossing took place during Operation Atlantic Resolve, on going series of training exercises and community engagement events designed to build relationships, trust and interoperability between the U.S. and its NATO allies.

Following the exercise, a static display was held in the Gyor town square where members of the community explored the equipment and mingled with the U.S. and Hungarian Soldiers.

For Sgt. William Whisnant, of LaGrange, Georgia, senior medic 4th Squadron's Outlaw Troop, this was just another aspect of Dragoon Crossing.

"Dragoon Crossing is a whole bunch of different elements put together. We are able to work with several different forces along with utilizing those forces to get us from one point to another," he said. "It's not just about us doing this on our own, we are utilizing all of our allies in many different ways in order to get there."

Exercise Dragoon Crossing also strengthens the alliances between the U.S. and Europe on a personal level.

"It has also given us a chance to talk to the local people of each country that we visit and we are able to not only show them that we are friendly but also, give them a chance to explore and fill their minds with the wonder of what we actually do as the U.S. Army," said Whisnant.

As the Strykers Soldiers moved on to their next mission, Whisnant hoped this team has left a good impression in the hearts of the beautiful countries and peoples he's met on this journey.