European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 20, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes july 1977 annual firing for its the big event Crete new years and the fourth of july seem to fall on the same Day for some of us Reurs air defenders that the Day they take up their posts for annual firing at the nato missile firing installation in the Tony Northwestern Shore of ii greek Island infantrymen Sci to fire Pic or and tankers and artillerymen can fire their guns at training Sites in said cant John commander of Gresson based c 3rd 6th Field Bui we cant Sling these things around the German Countryside when need he Palling the Lance his unit was preparing to fire some of this years shooting was Excel c Aid 1st Ada from Quern Helm claimed to be the first Nike Hercules unit in nato to score the 1st army dive 2nd s9lh Ada boasted 12 hits including 19 direct out of 12 Chaparral Alt year units come Here iwo or three at a time after practising All Range officials greek and units use the Range to fire Nike her Hawk and Chaparral Field artillery units fire the 1 Ince targets arc  drones or patches of sea watched by radar and com while a unit is evaluators Are de ducting paints far errors and safely Viola Kach unit starts with a score of isme Traufl a greek warrant has been an Oval Alor Here for three there has never been a per feel he most of the units score in the 80s or a poor score usually Means there were equipment and the Mai just gave up because of Wail impatiently a Unic missile from Faw cells unit checked out and crewmen wailed impatiently or the signal to begin the firing these Guys Are keyed up its almost like a football learn before a big the officer watching his some paced some told others Sal most of them have never fired a Lance Fawcett its important they see what its like so it wont totally mow their minds if they have to do it in at the signal or the firing the Crew flashed through its final prepare then ran to b nearby Bunker for the at the moment the Button was nothing an electrical Cable had after the wiring was the Crew again went through launch this time the Lance blasted Loose from its 5csfpropelled launcher with a in threw seconds it was out of sight on the Way 10 the screened during training the 2nd 59th aim and Iho urd inf ivs 3rd Btl Ada fired 12 Chaparral that kind of training Eosin a lot a Chaparral represents and the gun ners who pull the triggers Are screened during training or evidence of special supervisors also keep in mind the Ginial of spreading firing experience Chaparral Crews Caj annual service practice shooting actually Bals is Short for ballistic Aerial target a Bat is an Ift Footong missile that looks like a Long red when it takes missile Battery gunners act As if its a hostile woman Crews of gunners and squad leaders from the stayed near the Beach Wilh tracks armed Wilh four rockets the rest of the battalions us member travelling team hiked up the sur rounding which soon sprouted Lantos of blankets and Slicks to Ward off the blistering a cheering Section can increase the a a Halle upload Crew on the Bland o Crete to loading Hie  Chaparral to Esstle onto the rail during once year pressure to perform since members of several smaller units May be hoots and catcalls May Greet gunners who fail to meet the larger commands expect those Young men sitting inside the gunners compartment Are really Lone said Edmond commander of the 2nd 60th sit Ting up there in the Saddle by there on the spot because whatever Deci Sion they make toward firing that missile  have to live with Tor an entire for those who meet the the feeling seems hard toll was like 1 was the quarterback who throws the 60yard touchdown in the lost second to win a that How great ii feels said 4 Slevon Johns of Green whose direct hit helped c toils Lead off gunner for the was Steven dial of a bal Shol seconds licked then Diaz the heat seeking Chaparral swooped then to disappear in a Cloud of smoke that suddenly was it a hit asked a voice from the crowd on the just watch Diaz come out of that was the seconds later the is Vearold gunner a arms and let out a Jubi Lant be Eashoo that sounded like it might Creek army and Navy personnel command control show to Monitor and ship which May enter Range photos Lor Frank Pointer be heard Back at the unit in soon a second Bat took platoon Russ Bannister of counted Oft the seconds any time Chaparral gunners say they usually fire Between eight and 14 seconds after finding their and they sight Wilh their ears As Well As i hair a fluctuating Lone tells expert cars when Iho Chaparral is ready id soon another Cloud of smoke and an other Roar told spectators a Chaparral was Hunting but no puff of smoke appeared Over the Blue sea to boast a direct lie got a tactical said a voice on agreed and it counts As a but a tactical hit is like kissing your Range officers said a tactical some limes called a technical is counted when the missile explodes close enough to the target to damage the larget had it been on enemy Walt for ships Cluj shooting went on As the Sun Rose with the gun Crews in the air Condi toned tracks the Only ones enjoying delays to Load launchers and to wait for passing ships to Clear the 20 it Ute wide safety the battalion commander noted a 12ior 12 score want accomplished by gunners it was the systems the re the ordnance folks every Man working together and taking Pride in his contributions to the said a sunburned it Laurence Kenney of but gunners and squad leaders dont have the show to themselves the tactical communications chief of the sgt Carlon proved he could make radio Contact with Home Baumstem a 800 Miles away Wilh a jeep later the battalion showed Ken Neth b Deputy commander of that a Chaparral can be fired while camouflaged without setting the net Ling