European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 31, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday May 31, 1977 the stars and stripes Page 9 retirement ends Long Liaison career German woman made honorary Pathfinder Zybra Durfee Salt writer bad Kreuz Nach Germany Sis frail Cate Stretcher who recently retired from her position As Community relations adviser to the commander of the 8th inf div Here could cover the Walls of her Home with letters and awards she has received Over the years. The most recent were received at a formal reception in her Honor at the offi cers club upon her retirement after a career that began when the French first occupied this City on the Nahe River just after world War ii. Among the accolades and presentations she received during the evening were a division medallion an Ehrens Kunde making her an honorary member of the Pathfinder division a Usa eur scroll of appreciation a monetary award for sustained Superior performance and a certificate of received another Surprise when the chief of police gave me a certificate a Patch and a badge making me an assist ant sheriff for the state of Rheinland Pfalz said Streiber. She also was Given on etching of the City from local officials maps depicting the area in the 1500s from county officials and the Book the birth of America from fellow workers in the Public affairs office. Streicher who celebrated her 60th birth Day april 27, was an interpreter for the French when they occupied the City and performed the same work Lor the Ameri cans upon their arrival Here. She became foreign language instructor at the Ameri can elementary school in 1933 and Community relations adviser for the division in 1966. The native bad Kreuz Nacher told How she has travelled in jeeps and helps went in the Field with the troops and at tended fancy social functions in the performance of her Job for the division. Two enjoyable events i recall working was the visit of nato general Andrews Goodpaster to the City and interpreting for mrs. Annmarie Rengor the presi Dent of the Federal parliament in 1973," working with the division she wrote the first 12-hour course in German language instruction. This was before head Start and the basis of that language program she added another part of her Job was briefing incoming pathfinders on the language and the customs of Germany. Streicher whose father was a doctor in a Small town in the county of bad Kcruz Nach. Learned French in a school in Geneva and English in German schools. A rela Tive married an englishman and when i Beate Streicher spends part of her bad Kreuz Inacy retirement Lime Reading to her grandchildren. Is. Perkins sgt s idea keeps radios working by Rick Maze staff writer bad Kheu Zach. Germany Sis a sergeant Here has designed a new wiring system for his unit s secure pm radios that saves Money and keeps the equipment working better. 8th inf div officials said set 1 c. Lyndon b. Howell. Liq and he co 8th signal in. Of Texas City. Tex., said. At one time about 70 per cent of the secure pm radio systems in Europe were not operational and the cause for this has been the said the wires sent by the radio manufacturer � re of a inure. I Iliev did t fam they Ocie great in a fixed s i. A. 1 1 the Garrison but Souie pm system used in the Field he said the life expectancy of one in manufactured Fork shaped wires was about two weeks. You just could t keep the equipment going that Way. And once the wires broke it a is almost impossible to locate the break and repair the wiring connects a Radii to secure equipment inside a radio Van one Large socket plugs into the secure equipment and three sockets connect to the radio. Howell said the three smaller wires on the radio end Are often the cause of problems if one of those smaller wires break the Prince 9, honorary Soldier i j j.i-.". Carl.,- Vin ii l l i. I i.,i . V. A turd j in ii it tie and n.ii-r.". Rrliuum1 and i s k p i a tier us a Titi tithe induction ceremony which kept a tradition of the spa Rush . Whole $160 Cable has to be replaced we just could t live with that. The equipment is useless if in does t Howell said. To replace the faulty wires. Howell uses an electrical connector much like a Wall socket when one of the sections of wire goes bad now. You just unplug to and put on a new he said. His Box and wiring Cost about 1130 a set., but without having to make major repairs every couple of weeks. Howell figures he is saving the army a considerable amount of Nancy. Mis system is already u in produced by a i , no Iii a in a nil army e . ii i hit it Rex Ivy any awards Lor Rny yet. Bill to a if 1 Don t i any. I m Jed �0111 to worry about it. 1 pc made work of Osier fur signal units and am keeping the equipment in said visited there i got Chance to practice my school English she teaching at the american Elemen tary school she wrote the German course for grades one through six. Three col leagues and i also prepared six workbooks for grades one and two said Streicher. The Multi talented woman who lives in the Brick Home in which she spent her childhood is also a published writer with her byline appearing in Rheinland Pfalz newspapers Many times Over the years during German Antrican Friendship week i wrote articles aimed at German ladies in the Community showing them some of the Good deeds performed by the american ladies showing them As part of the Community said Streicher. One article was tilled How do our american co citizens live in our City an other was. A Small portrait of six Ameri can big reaction Streicher said that she once did an Arti Cle about . Soldiers in the division who had German names. We received a lot of reaction from this Story and it led to sol Diers getting to meet some of their rela Tives. They found out a lot about their ancestry and the germans Here found out about their relatives in the Frau Streicher As she has been familiarly known throughout the division and at the school brought up two children by her self since 1944 when her husband was declared missing in action in of my boys is now a lawyer in Bonn and the other son is a doctor of internal Medicine Here at a bad Kreuz Nach Hospi Tal in 1965 she toured the . For three months and she tells How she Only spent Only one night in a hotel while visiting Washington. , every other night i was invited to stay with american friends either fellow schoolteachers i worked with Here or with families of old pathfinders said affection our family has a special affection for what you Call your peach state she said my son went to Oglethorpe University in Atlanta on a rotary club addition to the most recent tribute the reception and retirement party hosted by division commander maj. Gen. . Cleland. Streicher has received Many commendations and letters of appreciation from . Military and civic leaders local state and Federal officials Provost marshals chaplains and military Community. In one letter col. Charleyp East bum had this to say when i first came to bad Kreuz Nach in july 1951 As the commanding officer of the 2nd army div troops i frequently had occasion to do business with col. Vallaly the French Delegate or local governor of the French occupation forces and at times also with the German Burger Meister of the City. Ability admired i used to Marvel at the ability of col. Vallat s very charming intelligent and efficient Secretary. Mrs. Scale Stricher. To Converse fluently in three languages. Not Only were her translations accurate and prompt but she seemed to grasp every one s thoughts and impart exactly the right meaning and inflection to each phrase. I always left those conferences entirely satisfied that my ideas had been trans melted correctly. I know from Long experience with interpreters in various languages that this is a rare and difficult he also called her literally the key link Between the american. French and German authorities in bad of her retirement Streicher said she plans to enjoy my grandchildren. Also Lave a big Garden to take care of an i will now have some time to Rit not. And do some trawling " she added i m now a member of theah inf div and u to y Ever need any help they know they can Call on me i la be standing by
