European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 21, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page b the stars and stripes saturday november 21,1987 from left. Spec. 4 Raymond Wilt and sol Michael Madziarek Natch for Monr Manl right East German observation Tower like this one we reportedly falling ind Dhuse. Volunteers get a tour on Freedom s front line st5 a Tott by l Efow null Law i or a Lone Soldier look eastward from observation Point Alpha. By Connie Dickey stall writer Fulda Germany the surround ing Countryside Given a Short reprieve from the rain stood quietly in the Over cast afternoon. But for the 50 soldiers at observation Point Alpha there was no reprieve from guarding inc Border. I will remember How serious it is Here. This is not a training situation but a real live situation. It brings everything Home to you. Of Why a Are Here in Germany said staff sgt. Frederick Brooks. The so Gissen soldiers from the 2nd in 32nd Field arty reel volunteered for the work and wanted to experience firsthand what they called a unique Opportunity. A Squadron of the Lith army Cav regt normally is responsible for of Alpha 16 Miles East of Fulda and Over looking the East West German Border. Bui because of the Squadron s training requirements the Giessen soldiers temporarily have taken Over the Border watch until wednesday. A Soldier s Day on the Border is one of patrols guard duty Tower duty and on Call duty. There s a lot of stress and it is hard to Deal with i he remoteness said lit i. Michael Bruce the officer in charge of the Giessen soldiers. But this group of soldiers has handled the situation real  the Field artillery soldiers said they will remember what in s like to be on the Border pulling patrol when the rain is pelting Down when the wind is scream ing through the open Fields when it is so dark ill night it is hard to see 2 feet in from of you. It s knowing that this is real. That this is a real situation that gets us up and out on patrol when we would rather be sleeping Bruce said. Before assuming their Border watch nov. It the soldiers went through a month of training. The noncommissioned officers had to be certified in Tower duty with eight hours of observing and reporting. In addition they had to be camera qualified participate in a patrol and Lead a patrol. All inc soldiers bad training and tests on aircraft weapon and vehicle recognition. Squadron members of the 11 the army Cav regt taught the soldiers and about five cavalry troops Are staying with the group at of Alpha. The volunteers representing All five batteries in the battalion Are mechanics nuclear biological and chemical person Nel communications personnel missile crewmen Cooks typists and medics. Half of us did l know each other before  sgt. Jim Daniels said. In three Days we were All working to Gether As a team. That s what i m going to  but sgt. Terry Stockton a former infantryman who switched to Field Artil Lery will remember the patrols. "1 was used to going out on foot to patrol an area. Here we go out in a jeep. I was on the Border in Korea and i wanted to see the difference. There s a lot More tension in Korea but the threat Here is just As  Bruce won t mind giving up the re  accountability. We have live rounds Here so if some one is on roving guard or on patrol and loses a round you can bet five of us Are going to be out looking Tor thai round he said. Spec. 4 Thomas e. Moffett a track Mechanic who spends his Days in the motor Pool said he did t understand All that was being done at the Border before going there. We have to keep Pur eyes and ears open for unusual sightings troop and vehicle movements. There is a lot of activity going on Here that you Don t think about until you arc  it makes me sad for the people on the other Side Brooks said. While t m on patrol t Sec these towns on the other Side All lit up with smoke coming from the chimneys but no people. I never see any one outside. That s when you Are thankful for your own  Senate panel votes to tie Aid to reforms in Panama Washington a the Senate foreign relations committee Friday voted 19-0 to Cut off All Vas Aid to Panama s military government unless sweeping reforms Are instituted and civilian Rule restored. This is a Clear message of support to the panamanian people said sen. Alan Cranston rxtalif., the sen ate s Deputy majority Leader and a committee member. This should be a Clear signal to the venal corrupt panamanian defense forces against the abuse of the panamanian people Cranston said. Cranston a Leader of the 1970s struggle to ratify the treaties turning control of inc Panama canal Over to Panama in the year 2000, said the Vole will do nothing to hinder or obstruct that process. He noted that Panama s Leader Gen. Manuel Anto Nio Noriega has told panamanians that it is the intent of the legislation to cause disruption which could be exploited by the United Stales at an excuse to reclaim the waterway. I want to assure the panamanian people and the american people that this is not a Correct statement Cranston said. The legislation now goes to the Senate floor where Early action is expected. The legislation would bar All . Aid to Panama unless president Reagan certifies there has been a sub Stantial Effort to assure civilian control of the armed forces and that Noriega and his commanders have been removed from non military posts. Oiler conditions include the initiation of an investigation of alleged abuses by members of the military a non military transitional government and restoration of Freedom of the press and constitutional freedoms. The legislation was amended immediately before the vote apparently to assure continued Freedom of action in Panama for the Cia. The change proposed by sen. Jesse Helms. , one of the principal authors of the Bill banned Cia assistance 10 the panamanian government Only but not to other elements of Panama s society. Spurred by riots outside the . Embassy in Panama cosy Las l june the Reagan administration sus Pended the 126 million . Aid program and instructed . Diplomats to shun Noriega whenever possible. The new legislation would make that suspension permanent unless the president certified the conditions set by the Bill had been met. Noriega look control of the panamanian defense forces in August 1983 and has become increasingly controversial. A series of published reports earlier this year quoted . Officials As saying Noriega was involved in pay offs and other corruption. The Senate passed a Resolution in june calling for Noriega s ouster the foreign relations committee acted a Day after congressional investigators alluded m their final report on the Iran con Ira affair loan offer by Noriega to undertake sabotage and possibly assassinations inside Nicaragua on a chair of the Reagan administration. The new York times quoted unnamed . Govern ment officials As saving Marine it. Col. Oliver l a nth then a while House aide accepted the Noriega Oiler on behalf of Cir adm. John Poindexter then the president s National Security adviser. But the newspaper quoted inc official As saying the plan was never put into action