European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 20, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                On the Road with the Usa eur band f like t by know Sousa Story and photos by Tony Nauroth Nurnberg Bureau Sweet notes of tool toot Tootsie goodbye ooze through the sound systems two sleek Silver Mercedes buses creep Oul the Gates of Patton Barracks i Heidelberg on their Way from Midnight to  s 4 . Aug. 1 a dark Friday morning and the Usa eur band Rolls out Ona tour Day weekend Road trip that will leave a Trai of Good will and symbolic american idealism in its diesel Wake. The first Slop is Hohenfels training area in southwestern Germany for Clos no ceremonies of the Usa eur marksmanship Competition. It s a a Flat Job Normal easy simple routine it s the Standard. Isl As the e3-Flat instrument is a band Standard. Staff sgt. Bruce Ubbens is at the Helm of the Lead Mercedes the animal  the smoking joking bus. The music is cranked up and a card game flourishes in the rear. The other bus the Dud bus is Only a bit More civilized. It s the one band director maj. Jack Grogan rides  relaxes on the bus. As if he s just another band member. He relaxes easily but the musicians know the Short switch like director s Baton he fiddles with during conversation can inflict heavy damage to a problem Soldier s career. One thing Grogan won t tolerate is tardiness. Our schedule is much too tight to allow for it he says. Ubbens drives. Staff sgt. Jimmy Easton talks although he comes to the front of the bus to get a soda he also comes to see How Ubbens is doing. How a Doin bus Driver Ubbens begins talking about the food situation and talk drifts to sports. Those Damn Yankees who Don t understand the True meaning of  s More going on Here. The musicians Shew an almost maternal concern for their Drivers. They Are mindful of the tragedy that befell a Royal air Force band near Munich last february when the Driver crashed into the Back of a Tanker loaded with 8.700 Gallons of aviation fuel. In an aun t8 news report a British Coroner ruled that the 14 service members consumed in the massive fireball were the victims of idiot Tinius to in i a a 14 Friday. September 20, 1985 the stars and stripes Page 13