Tadeusz Buk
Tadeusz Buk | |
|---|---|
 Tadeusz Buk | |
| Born | December 15, 1960 Mójcza, Poland |
| Died | April 10, 2010 (aged 49) Near Smolensk, Russia |
| Occupation | Military officer |
| Years active | 1984–2010 |
| Known for | Commander of the Polish Land Forces; victim of the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash near Smolensk |
Tadeusz Buk (15 December 1960 – 10 April 2010) was a notable figure in the Polish military. Throughout his career, he was honored with several military and civilian distinctions, among them the prestigious Order of Polonia Restituta.
Born in Mójcza, Buk held the position of commander of the Polish Land Forces until his untimely passing in the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash near Smolensk.
Education
Buk completed his secondary education at Juliusz Słowacki High School in Kielce. He later graduated in 1984 from the Academy of Armed Forces Officers located in Poznań.
Military service
- Beginning in 1984, Buk served with the 29th Medium Tank Regiment stationed in Żagań, remaining there until 1991.
- In 1991, he pursued further studies at the Faculty of Land Forces within the National Defence Academy in Warsaw.
- From 1993 to 1995, his service included roles in units such as the 18th Airborne Assault Battalion and the 6 Air Assault Brigade.
- Between 1995 and 1998, he was assigned to the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade based in Tomaszów Mazowiecki.
- After completing a year-long post-graduate command course in the United States in 1999, he was promoted to deputy commander of his unit.
- He commanded the 34th Armoured Cavalry Brigade in Żagań from 2002 until 2005.
- During 2004 and 2005, Buk acted as deputy commander of the Multinational Division Central-South deployed in Iraq.
- Between 2005 and 2006, he fulfilled duties as deputy director at the NATO Joint Force Training Centre in Bydgoszcz.
- From 2006 to 2007, he held the position of Deputy Commanding General for the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan.
- On 15 June 2007, Buk assumed command of the 1st Mechanised Division headquartered in Warsaw.
- Subsequently, on 25 July 2007, he took leadership of the IX amendment NEC and Multinational Division Center-South in Iraq.
- President Lech Kaczyński appointed him as commander of the Polish Army on 15 September 2009.
- He tragically lost his life on 10 April 2010 when the presidential aircraft crashed near Smolensk.
Awards and decorations
- Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta awarded posthumously in 2010
- Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta received in 2005
- Commander's Cross of the Order of the Military Cross granted in 2008
- Silver Cross of Merit (Poland)
- Bronze Cross of Merit (Poland)
- Iraq Star campaign medal
- Silver Medal for Service to the Armed Forces of the Fatherland
- Silver Medal of Merit for National Defence
- Commander Degree of the Legion of Merit awarded in 2008
- Commemorative medal from the Multinational Division Central-South
- Badge of Merit from the Polish Veterans' Association and Former Political Prisoners awarded in 2008
Military Advancements
- On 15 August 2004, he attained the rank of brigadier general.
- On 10 July 2007, he was elevated to the rank of major general.
References
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