European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 15, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday january 15, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 3 Usa eur announces ifs nominees for Greaf american family awards stories by Mary  stuff writer the to mumber Martinez family of Worms meets once a Sci k to Sham Lime and work out family problems. The Dixon family of Heilbronn includes inc Only woman to coach n men s military Community basketball Cam. The rib family of Stuttgart has a motto do your own thing have fun but do one More thing fur the  these Are three very different army families in Germany. Gui All have a Strong record of Community involvement and a reputation for caring. They also were selected this week to represent Usa eur in the great Amer ican family awards program. Their names will be forwarded to the 4 year old american family society. First lady Nancy Reagan is chairman. After final judging of nominee from communities across America this Spring six families will be honoured at the White mouse in june. Safe will nominate a family in Early february. The three army families were thrilled 10 be honoured by Usa eur after being selected by their communities and then by major commands. I have been crying Ever since i heard Victoria Dixon said. I am so excited. You Don t expect things like this a lion you do things from your  our family is not perfect but Whai is award says is at least we Are on the right  Willayne Martinez said. It makes me feel we Are doing things  it was a Nice Surprise Lottie Raab said. No one goes into volunteerism for a pal on the Back but everyone needs recognition once in a  the i rec families were selected by a six member committee from eight families that had been honoured by major com mands in Europe we re promoting family values and family ideals in the army today and in keeping with Tinl. I think it is really important to Honor families who exemplify those ideals said Florence Ferguson Usa eur family action coordinator. The three families will be special guests at a luncheon March 13 in Heidelberg during the family action planning con Ference. In addition gaffes will give each family a package including a 5250 gift certificate. Ai re will award each family a weekend at in arc facility of the family s Choice. The other five families nominated by Usa eur in Jar commands arc it. Col. Mason Bransc Lucr of Vilsick. Ger Many his wife Marein and their four children chief warrant officer Jerry Lawhorn of co Vorden Netherlands his wife Kathy and two children Moj. James Nam cd of Gln Hauson Germany his wife Ann and four children sol Michael Bol Torff of Vicenza Italy his wife Milanic and one son anti Sec. Manuel Maldonado of Darmstadt Germany his wife Diana and three children. The Raabs when 15-year-old Gregg Raab was selected to participate in his High school brain bowl Lottie Raab grappled fora Way to help him prepare. The children already had a tradition of receiving Little messages from mom in their lunch so she decided to substitute questions. Even though the brain bowl Competition is finished she still sends questions because they Are such a hit with other students. They love it she said. They All want to see what the question of the Day is. Sometimes when it is Tough seme run up to the Library to find the  the Raab family also includes la. Col. Larry Raab commander of the Stuttgart criminal investigation div carry 19, and John 17, who Are attending College in the United states Kim is and Joshua 9. Laary Raab serves As basketball coach for dependent youth activities and is involved with Community and High school athletics. Lettie Raab is on the Board of governors for american women s activities Germany. She frequently gives speeches on Volant chrism and has held training conferences. She also serves As chairwoman for two committees of the North Stuttgart officers wives club is an officer of the German american women s club of Stuttgart and is a member of the school advisory Council. The children All arc involved in school activities. Gregg is a member of the Model United nations and is one of 13 Slraight a students in the High school Kim a former cheerleader is a member of the varsity dance and Drill team and the varsity band. Gregg and Kim Are officers of students opposed to drugs alcohol and smoking. Joshua is a cub Seoul and is involved in sports the Dixons Victoria Dixon holds the distinction of having served As Heilbronn Community basketball commissioner last season the Only female coach for a men s team. Her husband staff sgt. James Dixon. Played Center. I would Bench him and when it was All Over 1 would Cook and care for him she said. The couple also shared pulling their lives and family Back together while he was recovering from alcoholism. Mrs. Dinon Learned her husband was an alcoholic when she joined him in Europe in 1933. When we married we said we would stick together no matter what and we did she said. He is an example that you can make it. United together we made in the Dixons now speak to Church and other Community groups about alcoholism and How to overcome it. James Dixon who is communications sergeant for co a 38th signal Del is Community soccer commissioner for youth activities. Victoria Dixon is equal Opportunity officer far Hail Bronn and shared an award last year with another officer for Best Edo for Vii corps communities serving 500 to 1,000 soldiers. She teaches sunday school and works evenings for big Bend Community College As a Basic skills instructor. She also is president of the school advisory Council and is adviser to inc Heilbronn noncommissioned officers wives club. Their children Angela 4, and James jr., 7, arc involved in sports activities. The Martinezeb members of the Martinez family have Good reason to Meel weekly. If they did to the Active 10 members would rarely be together. Their sunday night meetings include an opening and closing prayer a lesson that will Benefit the family such As Why they should nol quarrel and a review of who will be doing what in the following week. We re so Busy. Everyone is involved in different kinds of things. It is difficult for everyone to be  Wil Laynce Martinez said. But sunday evening no one goes anywhere else. It really Fosters love and Unity within the  her husband staff sol. Frank Martinez is noncom is Dren Are slephan.-,Sica 10 Miriam 8 Kelcey 6 Sara 21 months and Rachel 2 months. Frank Martinez serves As a coach in various sports for dependent youth aet Vilies As youth sunday school teacher in the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day saints and us cub scout master for pack 137 of Worms. Willayne Martinez is publicity director for Trump 137 and Secretary for pack 137, directs the Church choir and leaches sunday school. She also is chairman of the Worms school advisory committee and is vice president of the Pat. The children Are Active in sports programs Jessica was chosen As a Princess for the German american Spring fast of 1985 and Stephanie and Jeremy were part of the Community s production of South  americans on ship feared kidnapping fuja1ra, United Arab emirates a twelve american passengers on the president Taylor tuesday said they feared that the iranian marines who boarded and searched the . Freighter would Kidnap them we heard about hostages so often that we were scared of becoming captives when the gun toting iranians boarded the ship Frances Kirner of Belmont calif., told the associated press. She and her husband Harry both in their mid-60s, said that they were in the Cabin just below that of Robert Reimann Captain of the 19,203-Tan freighter when it was intercepted sunday 20 Miles off Oman. The Kitners said six armed iranian marines boarded while a seventh stayed on the gunboat that pulled alongside the 610 foot Long freighter. The iranians said Good morning to us " she said. They were polite smiling but not Friendly  mrs. Kirner said she overcame her fear picked up her camera and started shoot ing snapshots of the intruders who did nol object. Her husband who identified himself As a former . Marine major said what happened was very stupid very frighten ing. The interception was pointless be cause the ship was carrying nothing but food to most of the countries that it visited. There were no arms  the ship was carrying a Load of Grain from Pakistan to Fuja irn when in was intercepted. Its agents said it was to Lake a shipment of soybeans to India and indo Nesia after a we Weck stay. The freighter dropped Anchor late Sun Day. The Captain and 44 american crewmen spent a Day on Hoard As the . Ambassador to the United Arab emirates George Quin Cey Lumsden jr., interviewed them. The 12 american passengers checked into a hotel where they were interviewed by the a. Their voyage originating in Seattle on sept. 29, was perfectly peaceful until the iranians boarded just before they entered the Strait of Hormuz. Crew member Joseph Valverdi of new York said two iranians spoke fluent English and one who acted As interpreter said he was educated in South Carolina. The ski year old Valverdi said when it comes to iranians you cannot possibly know what they Ore going to do so we were scared. Now that in is Over i can say it was an exciting experience. When they came Many of the Crew members thought it was All a joke. The Captain furious to hear that some passengers had described the iranians As polite shouted polite How polite to me it was an act of  Reimann of Mledd Latown. R.i., said the iranian boat was nine Miles away when they talked on vhf radio and ordered me to Stop for inspection. We Kepi on talking for 10 or 15 i nulls. I old them i can t Stop. I am a merchant vessel in International Waters. They threatened that drastic action would be taken unless i slopped then came closer with their i7i-fool-Long Cor cite and 50-caliber twin guns and repeated they would take drastic action unless i stopped so i stopped and allowed them to come aboard Reimann said the iranians come to thu Bridge and tried to apologize which did not accept. I considered this an Uci of  they checked the cargo Manifest then the chief Steward escorted them when they opened three containers in which they found Cotton the Captain said