European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 27, 1963, Darmstadt, Hesse Along Berlin s water curtain going he l a nil Voln Braga it and sp4 Jam l pro a cob 385th my in Stuttgart. Of. Of piping rom i Idem at checkpoint Charity Volo patrol amp. 5a5 Pho Foi by Gene Bane by John o. Koehler a staff writer a powerful Cabin Cruiser Cut across Annie Lake in West Berlin. A Young american military policeman Hoodoo starboard peering through binoculars. A Beautiful blonde Clad in a skimpy Btl no stretched on the deck of a sailboat100 feet away obviously trying to attract attention. But the blonde s contours left the Mccold. He was observing something hotter a patrol boat of the communist East Ger Man Border police speeding along the communist Side of the huge take. The military policeman saw a Brown uniformed Border guard crouched behind a machine gun. Two More stood on Deckwith us in Chine guns Slung across thu or the red patrol after a refugee try ing to eur pc to West Berlin by swimming across the take we it after a went Lier Lin bout accidentally crossing into communist territory just before the communist boat reached the White buoys marking the Border it turned off and headed Back toward guess they were just fooling around but we have to watch every move they said Richard front one of the three Man Crew of the military police patrol have never had any trouble with them but there s always a Flatt time and we re ready the Soldier , the patrol would use Force acute it a communist patrol boat if it were to Cross into Western in Lars while trying to run Down a asked about it. Capt c. K. Jones. Said Only we Are authorized to act i such a Jones is officer in charge of the patrol although this is mostly a desk patrol members Ore armed Wilh pistols but the Bont Corrie heavier i Apons in Case of emergency. Numerous refugees have escaped by swimming across the Inke and the Havel River which flows through it but both american and West Berlin authorities re fuse to divulge any details for fear of Nunn Gering any future escapes. The military police boat patrol was is table need in 1945, when the . Army opened a recreation Center at wonn Aee. Its primary duty then was to ensure the safety of . Personnel using Secreu ton Center boats. When the communists lightened their Borders to prevent escapes the patrol assumed the additional Border duties. The patrol Are includes 12 Square mlle of Inke find about 30 Miles of Witter Way safety Hlll occupies much of our time Frost year the three Gin in cd More in in .10 person from ,., i Don t remember the t Xiii my snid modestly. I guess it is Between 35 Hotd 50." most of those rescued were occupants of Bonts which cup led and practically All were course our first responsibility is to americans hut you Don t Usk for a person s nationality when he s in Frost , our Job in pretty routine with uni much Frost we Honvo 11 Little excitement. Uke one any last year o boat carrying Hix children ranging in Uges from six to11. And a Man Rani de. My buddy urn Rumsey. Who id now a cop at it. I auder Dull Fla. And i jumped in the water a
