European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 25, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday. December 25, 1985 the stars and stripes Page 3 . On. Sum we incl v corps commander talks ill troops at outpost India and. At right pfc. Paul Collins. 1 Ullh army c a reel stands guard near Chi Border us Rasdorf. Border Mission is Siw the same on Christmas is photo by Brenda hotter wooden Cross near Rasdorf along the East Hermanj West Germany Border stands in memory of those killed fleeing to the West. Cross near Rasdorf serves As reminder to regiment a father and his 12 year old son went seeking Freedom on Christmas night 10 years ago. As they attempted to Cross the Border from Bast Germany into West Germany near Insdorf the father tripped a land  a nearby Tower. American soldiers could Only watch As the a incr Lay bleed ing to death in the Snow. They could t Rescue the boy because they did t dare Cross the Border into no Man s land. The Border patrol took him away. A wooden Cross erected by the people of Rasdorf stands near the outpost with an inscription that reads in memory Cfall those who tried to get from East Ger Many to West Germany and paid with their  the Cross serves As a reminder to inc i Ullh army Cav Rygl soldiers of their purpose and of what can happen along the Border. Brenda Hosier Story and photos by Brenda bios tar staff writer pu1.da. Germany the Border. Nui Loo Many people would think of spending their Christmas there walking a barbed wire Fence line staring across no Man s land into the enemy Bunker scoping the Border for unusual enemy activity. No most people will be opening pre sents today singing Christmas songs with their loved ones and friends and perhaps enjoying a Home cooked Christmas dinner except for 1 50 soldiers who Are keeping the peace along the Border. The 1 1th army c a regl soldiers who Are patrolling the 22s Miles of Germany s Eastern Borders on this Day Only have each other to say merry Christmas to. It s harder for sonic than for others be cause it s their first Lime away from Home but. Somehow the importance of the mis Sion seems to be the Best Christmas gift of All. It s fulfilling said 26-year-old sgt. Steven Colden. I have a wife and a 3 month old baby i won t be spending Christmas with but this is the real thing Here. This is where it War will be. I m glad i be had the Chance to serve on the Border Christmas or  Golden from shr Veport la., works As the Tower no monitoring Border activity. Sgt. Antonio Corpening and his Crew of five men arc responsible for one of the dra Leys that stand at the ready along the Fence line at outpost India. Their Christmas wish was to be with their families. But we have a Mission Here and will do it said Corpening a 27-year-old from Cleveland Ohio. Pfc. Paul Collins is spending his first Christmas on the Border and said he was lonely but he knows hell be Home next year so it won t be so bad. When i first got Here Border duty was hard to comprehend but i know now ii s important. The germans Are glad we re Here. I d hate to think what it would be like if we weren to said the Kelso. Wash., native. I first . Paul la Lerosa. A platoon Leader for the 3rd so. 1 Atli army Cav regl. Said their threefold Mission along the Border is to provide peacetime surveillance be the first line of defense in Case of War and most importantly display the american nag. If something does happen they i Asl and West germans know we americans will slam behind the Western Lumpe a  he said. It. Gen. Sam wet Al. V corps com Mander visited the troops at three out posts in the i Ulda area yesterday. "1 go visit my Lodi cars every christinas he sail Hix Ause i like to  the enemy know we re Here and i want these Guys to know appreciate the Job they re doing these Guys have a Mission to train and maintain equipment and to protect the  Welcl said most soldiers Hae their Job to do. And do it Well hut of so soldiers must do both Well this kind of duty gives them the Opportunity to see the other Side As Well As train in the skills they need. I think every american should see the  he  id. To get an idea of what this Mission is  wet Al exchanged handshakes and Christmas greetings with the soldiers at Freedom s Frontier and extended his appreciation for a Job Well done. Nineteen year old pfc. Ludic Pritchell from Tuscaloosa ala., said it s Good to see him Here. Not 00 Many High ranking officers like to mix with us soldiers. We re glad he came to see us. It makes spending Christmas Here a bit  . Gen. Sam wet Al wishes a Soldier of the 1 Ullh army c a Rygl a merry Christmas