European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 28, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Americans go to town for training by Paul Cozby and Dick Hodgso Kaiserslautern Bureau Wal Mohr Germany it looked like a scene from a world War ii movie. A sea of smiling children surrounded the american Soldier who was heavily Laden with combat gear. The kids bashful at first but giving Way to their excitement lined up for packages of gum the Soldier handed out. One of the kids turned immediately and yelled daddy look what i  but daddy was Busy on the soccer Field As the Wald Mohr team took on a Crew of americans from Karlsruhe. It was wrap up Day for the Black lion Field training exercise held by the 249th engr in heavy combat of the 18th engr brigade from Gerszewski Barracks in Karlsruhe. In a break from Normal Field training two companies from the battalion said goodbye to life in the Pup tent and set up Headquarters in the town of Wal Mohr 15 Miles West of Kaiserslautern. During the five Day exercise Wal Mohr played Host to 160 soldiers. The 249th took Over a Gasthaus for its head quarters a Small sports Hall for billeting and the town s bus depot for vehicle repair. At fort Leavenworth they train now that if you set up in the Field you re crazy said maj. Brian Ohlinger 249th operations officer. You won t be doing that in the rear combat zone so Why do it in training it. Col. Melvin c. Lynch jr., 249th commander said the battalion accomplished several Aims by setting up in the town. Aside from giving our soldiers some More exposure to German customs languages and lifestyles we found out blending into a Normal German Community and using the existing German systems can be of real Benefit to our training efforts he said. We made All the arrangements for the exercise through local officials and various German Federal Agen cies. They contracted for our quarters arranged for our Supply support and so Forth. In fact this entire five Day operation Cost us less than $2,000. We never would have been Able to set it up that cheaply by  Lynch said that in a War Many units such As his head quarters would be operating in an Urban environment. No one knows for sure what life actually would be like in a real wartime situation Lynch said. And exercises like re forger Don t involve the German people and support systems nearly As much As this exercise does. By letting our soldiers integrate themselves into the Community and learn to use the services it offers we now know our German partners better. We be been Able to show our soldiers and the German people in Wal Mohr that if a War came we would t Only be fighting for the . Interests but for theirs As  Helga Stoehr the owner of the Wal Mohrer Hof where the 249th was headquartered said at first the soldiers seemed uncomfortable in their new Community. The first couple of Days they walked around like robots she said. And the townspeople stared a lot at the sight of soldiers walking Down the streets with rifles. But after two or three Days the americans loosened up a Little and we loosened up a Little and everyone found out that with their Little knowledge of German and our Little knowl Edge of English we could get along  Jack Hoffner a Karlsruhe Community Public affairs officer and bund Estehr Reserve officer said Many of Wal Mohr s residents were pleasantly surprised the Amer ican troops could speak German. Several of them started visiting a bakery in town to buy Groetchen hard Rolls right after they arrived he said. Now when they go in the owners give them  in time of trouble the he co of the 249th would coordinate rapid runway repair efforts of other companies in the Battal Ion at various air bases. One part of co a would stay with he co for maintenance and support of heavy equipment. And while Man Euver problems can be expected the biggest Gripe the soldiers faced was requests to clean their boots outside the hotel. The heightened Security in Europe since the american bombing in Libya seemed to cause few problems for the citizens. That first Day it came out that americans were going to be targets said maj. Bruce Howard 249th executive officer. The people were exceptionally Nice. They were nervous but we put out  at the sports Hall where sleeping bags lined the floor Wal Mohr children Hung around to help open and close Gates and to walk Back and Forth with the guards. The reaction was positive Here said Berthold Jung a town resident. There were very few problems it goes that Way when people Are Well  the exercise concluded a band concert followed the soccer game at Wal Mohr s stadium. About thirty Ger monday april 28, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 3 spec. 4 David Vasquez helps a Young Wal Mohr resident try out one of the army s Kevlar helmets. Is photo b y Dick Hodgson mans came to watch the game. Adam Kohl read about it in the local paper. There were absolutely no problems having the Ameri cans Here he said As a Long Corner shot put the Karls Ruhe team up 1-0. The action grew furious near the other goal then on a wild shot Karlsruhe tied the game 1-1, by scoring on itself. Kohl Shook his head and applauded politely. I m Here because i like soccer. It does t matter who s playing americans soldiers germans i la come  it was a Good Day for the locals. Wal Mohr took the game 4-2. U a " is photo by Dick Hodgso Harold Kern 13, spent Bis after school hours Manning the Gate to a vehicle storage lot near Wal Mohr s sport Hall