European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 13, 1962, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Henry b. Kraft Ramstein Bureau that . Stamp you licked an slapped on a letter Home is probably an import from France. Well sort of anyway. It most Likely came through the $2.5 Mil lion stamp Money the 29th base Post office at Metz France has in account with the new York City postmaster. The 29th has la difference compared with other army and air Force Post offices. Yes it s full of letters and packages an people getting Money orders. But ,. La difference the usar Kur postal finance and Supply office is located there. And that s the outfit that supplies the postage Stamps stamped envelopes Posu Ards Money order Blanks and the other things every Good Post office needs. The 201 h s customers Are a army and air Force Post office on the continent in Britain afro a arid the near East the met station commanded at capt w. R Stanley has a Little kinship with a More glamorous relative too the Ameri can Post office in Paris. It helps the French collect customs duties. Capt William a Hinspeter postal finance officer runs the big business end. To operate his Section he needs Stamps and everything else sold at Post offices As Well As supplies and equipment for his customer Post offices. His $2.5 million account takes care of this. While Hinspeter has this big accounts a photos by Merle Hunter with the new York postmaster the Pott offices which his unit serves have similar accounts with him. As they use their stamp Supply and requisition More they must pay for what they have sold. At any hour of the Day or night someone is working at the Metz facility. The actual mail Crew starts when others on the base have either gone to see the second show at a movie or Are relaxing at Home just before bed. Burning the Midnight Oil if that s what you Call itt is what we have to do in order to sort the mail and get it on its Way says Stanley. Right Over there pointing to a pile of heavy sacks Are parcels which will have to be checked to see if duty has to he assessed he explained. For that purpose a special Section was established for Liaison with French Cus Toms. Merchandise including gifts sent from the states or from any country in the world for hint matter if addressed to americans military or civilian in France is subject to customs a by under the status of Force Firre pruent Stanley pointed out. When this Type of mail comes in. Member of the postal customs Section goes to downtown Metz picks up a French customs inspector and both go Over the parcels to inspect the customs  mailbag May be opened by an american postal clerk Only. Stanley explained. The tax if any is then assessed Fay the French inspector and a notice is sent to the addresses that the tax should be paid bar mail to the Post office in Metz. When the Money is received the customs Section pays the duty and obtains a release on the parcel which is then forwarded to its owner. Pvt Perry Johnson pfc Morius Venont Ond pvt John Boris sort letters at Metz poit office. French customs agent Alfred Ravasio checks in coming parcel for duty with sp4 owe