European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 11, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                                H.1 Beauty is where you find it according to some Sage or other and to 17 . Army men Beauty is a place called Hawaii. No. It s not the Island in the Blue Pacific but rather a communications site on a 1,750-foot Peak along the Rhine River Valley not far from Heidelberg. The site is nicknamed Hawaii demo for demodulation and its part of the seventh army communications come. The Only feminine companionship around is Suzie a 3-year-old German Shep Herd adopted by the outfit. Said s. Sgt. Carroll b. Higgins of Madisonville ky., Coic at the site Suzie is our official sweeter no i Queen of Hij explained and the car door i a bit of a in ing message. That Means pm May not have l just As Beau Tiiu gets cold and \ is photos by Scott Gates scenery around Hawaii demo May not include Breakers but Pine Trees lofty Hills help make up for the Lack of Ocean. Fri rank of the visitor. She is really lors Are frequent at the it a he Lawoys surprised when Suzie opens uth. Kwh buttons obviously Are for the site is of course keep hours a Day seven Days a week. A for everyone said Higgins we at our Mountain Hawaii but it s the summer As on the Island. It Winter  Bill Neal Suzi Ebasco greets some of Hernds at Hawaii demo. Nin charge at site is sgt. Higgins Rig there chatting with assistant Coic sgt. Larry e. Jones at Entrance to Headquarters. Point of it All Hawaii radio and relay Mast juts sharply in Iky As Sun Burns Down on site. Is Vichue  chaplain Wright and assistant spec. 5 Timothy Carr examine Bell prior to putting it on a plane for Vietnam. A Beautiful Chapel Bell seem san unlikely gift to the men in the Dusty . Outpost of Dong a Forward Home of 3rd Marine div elements along Vietnam s demilitarized zone Doz. Nonetheless through the efforts of deceased Serviceman s parents an army chaplain and a generous German Wellmaker the present will arrive shortly at the homely tin and Plank Chapel in Dong  cast in heavy Bronze the Bell bears the inscription in memory of our fallen  it is a gift to the 1st in 44th ally from the parents of spec. 4 Robert w. Skarphol 20, a casualty of the Delta fighting at Rankie March 8,1967. When news of their son s death was received or. And mrs. Erwin Skarphol of Hayward calif., wrote the Only per son Liev knew in Vietnam chaplain capt Arthur f. Wright and inquired How they could assist the . Efforts there. Wright a relative of friends of the Skarphol pointed out that the Chapel he and his men had constructed at Dong a was without a Bell. The Skarphol a deeply religious lutheran family recalled their son final letter before he departed for Viet Nam where he explained his reason for participating in the conflict. He said simply that he had Felt strongly about. And believed John 15.13 greater love hath no Man than this that he would Lay Down his life for his  his parents agreed that Chapel Bell would be an appropriate memorial and sent $100 for its Pur Chase. Skarphol has been employed As an aircraft Mechanic at . Naval a station at Alameda calif., since 1943. Throughout most of Southeast Asia Japan Hong Kong and Hawaii Wright and friends looked for a Bell to go inthe Chapel but the Oriental varieties they located did t seem suitable. When his Vietnam duty ended in october 1967, Wright returned to san Francisco s Bay area and searched for a proper Bell but found Only Small ship s Bells. His trans Continental trip took him into Mexico by Perry Flippin staff writer still seeking a Chapel Bell but without Success. Finally following his assign ment to he 548th arty up at Mann Heim Germany he discovered the Rincker Brothers foundry which has been producing belts since 1590, at sinn Germany. Wright described the Bell he wanted and asked for a Price  Cost would be $300 to cast it. At the time the firm was finishing another Large Bell destined for Weihnacht Kirche Christmas Church in  Bells have gone All around the world but none to Vietnam. One month after Wright s visit the Rincker delivered to Wright s office a 95-Pound Bronze Bell fully designed cast tooled and engraved with an invoice for 399 Marks $100with the firm it self contributing the difference. He memorial Bell was due in Sai gon in april via embassy courier flight and was to be moved later to Dong a where it will be placed in artillery me Morial Chapel. The Chapel was constructed by servicemen last year wit materials gathered from the Seabee. Candle holders Light fixtures and other furnishings in the Chapel Are made of surplus Shell casings and inert 106mm artillery  his actions in Vietnam Young Skarphol was awarded the Bronze Star medal and the purple heart posthumous Lyas Well As the Republic of Vietnam military Merit medal and Gal Lantry Cross with Palm. His last letter was written to his parents on March 7 one Day before his death and spoke of losing a real Good Friend yesterday when a Viet Cong mine exploded Amon them on a covering Mission. In announcing the Call to worship atthe lonely outpost the elder Skarphol hoped that the memorial Bell would serve to help bring our Gallant men to the  they feel As their so Felt very glad that we Are Able to  spec. 4 Robert w. Skarphol Page 12 Thi stars and stripes 1968 the stars and stripes Page 13