European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 28, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes monday april 28,1986 40 years ago fhe first go families arrived by Brenda Hosier staff writer forty years ago monday 379 families of . Servicemen got their first glimpse of Germany from the deck of the Thomas h. Barry As it steamed into its berth at Bremerhaven s Columbus Quay pier. They were the first family members to come to the european theater after world War ii. About 30,000 wives and children of american military personnel were expected within 10 months. Forty years later the . Army in Europe has almost 161,000 command sponsored family members assigned. After 10 Days of Ocean travel a Day or two of processing at the port and several More hours of travel by train the family members joined their military spouses in their new Homes in or near the German communities of Berlin and Frankfurt and in Vienna Austria. Among those first arrivals were Marjo Rie Clay whose husband it. Gen. Lucius d. Clay was Deputy military governor of Germany and Naureen Clark and her daughter Patricia. Clark was married to Gen. Mark w. Clark commander of . Occupation forces in Austria. What was the Ocean trip like for these women and children the stars and stripes reported in its april 29, 1946, edition that Many of the wives had a rough time because the ship tossed around like a Cork during two Days of heavy seas and that they were relieved the Long Ocean trip had ended. The boat Shook a bit coming Over newly arrived Alve Brooks told the stars and stripes. But it never Shook the Way i m shaking now with  Brooks the wife of 2nd it. Richard Brooks was married for just a month when her husband sailed overseas the newspaper reported. She re joined her husband at bad nauheim. The youngest of the wives aboard was 17-year-old Mary Ann Orr who was going to join her 19-year-old husband pfc. Robert g. Orr in Vienna. The stars and stripes reported May 1, 1946, that German measles contracted while on Board ship put three of the first family members in a Hospital and severe colds confined three others. Officials said morale of the occupation forces was the key element in the decision to bring families to the european theater. The question arose As Early As july 1945, just two months after the Allied Victory in Europe. While the theater commander thought consideration of the matter pre mature the army planning for the occupation always took into consideration the shipment of family members As a Long term morale measure for the future. Life was different for these first families in Germany. Then As now facilities and services available to them varied from Community to Community. In such places As Berlin where Man Sions once occupied by nazi leaders had been appropriated by the . Military Many families lived in relative luxury. In other areas such As Giessen which was 70 percent destroyed the Best quarters available were rental Barracks built Dur ing Germany s Industrial expansion. Homes were assigned on the basis of rank and the size of the family. The wives Learned that Many of the Little luxuries they would not have included thick carpets drapes and pictures. In some areas of the theater Coal burning and Wood burning stoves provided heat and some appliances mostly refrigerators were not available. All . Families had German labor when they arrived in 1946. Each enlisted family was provided a maid and two enlisted families shared a Gardener. Company Grade offi cers were authorized a maid and a Gardener and Field Grade and general officers were authorized two maids and a Gardener. Additional help was available but the families had to pay their salaries through the German labor office. The germans could be dismissed but they could not resign. German Cooks earned about 80 pfennig an hour or about $20 a month. . Currency was not allowed in occupied Europe and there were no commercial banking facilities. All . Currency was exchanged for occupation currency. Traveler s checks Money orders certified checks and Bank drafts could be cashed for occupation currency but no personal checks were accepted. Each family had a charge account at the nearest commissary with an initial allow Ance of $75 to Stock Staples. They were Al Lowed $35 per month per person for the first two people in the family and $30 per month for each additional family member. The families were advised not to eat in German restaurants or buy German milk or produce. While they were cautioned that the milk was not pasteurized and the produce fertilized with human excrement another reason was Paramount the Ger mans could not produce enough food for themselves and since the americans had commissaries it would be unfair for the americans to compete with the germans for food on the Economy. A ration card gained the families in trance into the army Exchange sales store where limited selections of clothing were available. An american family could have a car. Shipped to Germany although it might take As Long As three months to arrive if it was t on the same ship with the family. Gas and Oil could be purchased with occupation currency at those stations operated by the Exchange service or with coupons at those stations run by the quartermaster and ordnance corps. American autos had special License plates costing $6, and liability and prop erty damage insurance was required. Americans were not allowed to Purchase vehicles from the germans. Autobahn Speed limits were also in effect when the first families arrived 50 Mph for sedans and 40 Mph for jeeps. All rail transportation in .-occupied Germany and Austria was free although there was a mess charge for food. Family members were permitted to use govern ment vehicles but their sponsors had to be with them. Parents were advised that the schools in Germany were not the same Quality As those in the United states but the teach ers were qualified and the equipment Ade quate. High schools were in Bremen Ber Lin Frankfurt Munich Heidelberg and Erlanger. In some cases students had to make dormitory arrangements during the week. Not All communities had elementary schools because they did t have enough children that age to warrant a school. Of course the children could attend any other . Elementary school in the Thea Ter although their parents were responsible for arrangements including transportation. In 1947, the monthly school tuition was $4 a child for children of noncommissioned officers and $8 a child for children of officers and civilians. Special services the predecessor to morale support activities offered recreational Tours. Ski lessons were available and Hunting and fishing opportunities abounded although women could not Hunt without a male escort. Swimming was allowed Only in pools. Any number of clubs were open to the family members including officers clubs and no clubs in most communities and red Cross clubs. Most communities had at least one theater where for 15 cents for members of the military and 30 cents for civilians a current or classic film could be seen. And the stars and stripes Cost 5 cents. Note source materials for this article were obtained from issues of the stars and stripes and the Book an introduction to Germany for occupation  . Institutions expatriates altering habits because of terrorism by the associated press fearing terrorists and seeking obscurity american institutions businesses and expatriates in Europe have begun changing their everyday habits. Since the . Air strikes april 15 on Tripoli and Beng Hazi in Libya some schools and cultural centers have removed name plaques from their Gates and companies Are doing away with identifying insignia. In some countries . Embassies consulates and Busi Nesses have issued guidelines to americans to reduce their chances of becoming terrorist targets. We feel threatened said a business executive in Frankfurt whose company has stepped up Security Mea sures. Echoing the sentiment of Many expatriate Ameri cans she added i believe i be been taking precautions subconsciously  i feel self conscious Reading the International Herald Tribune time Newsweek any american publication on the metro said a free Lance writer who has lived in Paris for More than 20 years. I Don t want to attract attention. It sounds As if i m not proud of being an american which i am. But i Don t particularly want to flaunt it. You never know who s on the subway trains these Days she said. Like most other americans she spoke on condition she not be named. She said she would go through with planned trips to London Malta in the Mediterranean and the United states but would not Fly on . Carriers. People Are not going places in packs and Are not hang ing out at Mcdonald s or spending a lot of time at Ameri can express said an american Mother living in Vienna Austria. She said bilingual children Are being told by their parents not to speak English. Everybody is altering everything they do and everybody wants to go Back to the states. I Don t recall a social situation in the last two weeks where talk has not been dominated by  in Rome Many americans who normally Cash checks or pick up mail at the american express office in the Center of the City Are known to have made alternate arrangements. There and in other cities americans with . Automobile License plates Are applying for european plates. In Amsterdam Netherlands trans world airlines spokes Man Rene Tolenaars said the airline has removed Twa emblems from two cars used by its sales personnel. A dutch company that leases tourist buses to Twa Beuk travel consultants said Twa emblems have been removed. Pan american world airways is asking the . And european governments for permission to add a $5 sur charge on its trans Atlantic flights to help finance in creased Security costs. American companies represented in Europe have Gener ally reinforced Security measures often under the guid Ance of . Diplomatic missions. The . Mission to the United nations in Geneva Switzerland met recently with about 40 representatives of american firms in the Region to discuss tighter Security measures. In Germany the . Chamber of Commerce has advised its 2,000 members that the danger of men women and children becoming targets of terrorists has increased since the . Bombing of Libya. In Rome the . Chamber of Commerce and the american club an organization of . And italian Busi Ness people cancelled their april luncheon meetings Fol lowing the air strikes. American schools around Europe in addition to removing their names from entryways have revised programs and taken other precautions. The american school in Arivaca which is located out Side Madrid Spain sent its 700 students Home Friday after a bomb hoax. In Paris . Ambassador Joe m. Rodgers met with representatives of american institutions. One of the major purposes was just to get people to Gether and talk said Philip Brown the . Embassy spokesman. One of the things we found was that people Here Are concerned but reasonable. We did t  Finland s assistance in making anti soviet films criticized Moscow up the soviet Union s major afternoon newspaper has criticized neighbouring Finland for allowing american and British companies to film anti soviet movies on its territory. Izvestia warned one should listen to the opinion that such Cinema does not contribute to strengthening the spirit of Good neighbourliness Between the two  the paper listed Gorky Park and White nights As anti soviet films shot in Finland. Both were popular american films involving intrigue corruption and defectors in the soviet Union. A British company reportedly filming the fourth protocol in Finland also came under severe criticism. Number of aids cases in Europe jumped 159% in 85, Agency says Geneva Switzerland up reported cases of aids in Europe Rose by 159 percent in 1985, the world health organization has said. There were 2,006 cases reported As of dec. 31 compared with 762 at the end of 1984, who said. All were in West european countries with none in the soviet Union and other Eastern nations it said. Data received showed that the epidemic is continuing to spread particularly among intravenous drug abusers who said. France headed the list with 573 cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome More than double the 260 at the beginning of 1985. Germany was in second place with the number almost tripling from 135 at the end of 1984 to 377 at the end of1985, who said. Cases in 3rd-placed Britain also nearly tripled from108 to 287. There was a huge Rise in 4th-place Italy from 14 to 140,the Agency said