TALLINN- The first Estonian has received the NATO Meritorious Service Medal. Major
Eero Kinnunen, head of the infantry company's mission in the south of Afghanistan was
decorated for his commendable service commanding ESTCOY-5, a part of the
International Security Assistance Force.
Major Kinnunen has been in the defense forces since 1994 and served in Bosnia
Herzegovina as well as platoon commander in Iraq
and company commander in Afghanistan.
According to Bonjour l'Estonie, he
has been appointed infantry inspector with the Army Staff effective from June
2008.
Units of the Estonian defense force units have been deployed as part of the
NATO mission since 2003. Of those, three Estonian soldiers have been killed and
28 wounded.
First awarded in 2003, the NATO Meritorious Service Medal is a way to praise
NATO staff whose personal initiative and dedication went beyond their duty to
make a difference both to their colleagues and NATO.
