Exercise Blue Cord, 44th MechlnfBn, Havelte, December 2025
Report of a veteran.
Blue Cord, 9 December 2025, Havelte.
The day before the physical challenges starts with a meeting of 118 participants in a large cinema for the screening of the documentary "In the service of peace", a production that has been created in close collaboration with the VVL Foundation. Under the inspiring leadership of 2 Lebanon veterans, the participants have become acquainted with the film and there were remarkably few responses to our questions, probably because of the masses.....
In the course of the day, the participants will visit 3 more meetings where all kinds of information will be shared. A veteran, supported by footage, tells how their vehicles are ambushed and come under heavy fire during their return to base. A driver is very seriously injured and is later flown back to the Netherlands by plane to be operated on and rehabilitated. When asked by the audience who the wounded person was, the veteran indicated that it was him. Then he was asked about the severity of the injuries and it became quiet when it was announced that his lower leg had been amputated. Apparently no one had seen that he walked around without any problems with the help of a prosthesis and that the active military career of this veteran had ended because of this attack.
After a quiet night, there is a gathering at 8 o'clock and the groups are divided and sent on their way. Most personal material is collected centrally and left in groups under tarpaulin and under security. The rest is carried along and the veterans walk with a group or man a post where the groups have to carry out assignments and answer questions about the regiment, the battalion and/or the people involved in missions or wars.
The YP 408 is used to move the teams at some locations. The neck also drives around the site, not always successful with the (too) deep ruts. Heavy equipment from the Ministry of Defence is available on call to rescue the neck from its predicament. Fortunately we still have the photos....
After all locations have been visited and all assignments and questions have been completed, the participants can go to their night location in the field. After setting up their sleeping place and a short night, they are woken up by the veterans – if they are not already awake. A short walk led by the BA after which, in the presence of a large part of the battalion, the 117 blue cords are handed out by the veterans present.
After the call-up: 44 – ALWAYS – the entire battalion answers – AT FRONT! After this, the battalion drink is consumed and everyone continues with their daily activities.
The veterans take a group photo at the monument and say goodbye with a "see you next time". The old greenery can be washed when you return, the shoes in the closet after a cleaning and the story on paper.
