European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 5, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Pc Rolt Vanderport trim Ami tapers in the cramped quart an at his nearly 70-year-old. B-by-40 hop. Running the Barber shop Shore in he d reenlist begin phase iwo of sol Russ army career. Alter six years trimming inductees hair Vanderport had a second War on his hands Korea he picked up More Deco nations and written commendations Tor his work Selling up the first a Ray unit at divisional level in thai Heater Yih a medical Ojea ing company Patching up the walking wounded and shipping the bad cases Olf to b Mas h. When that War ended in 1953 in an uneasy Sta doll he returned to she United slates As a member of the medical detachment at fort Way ind and wound tip working some of his Oil duly hours in what else a local Barber shop. When another local Barber suggested the to became partners and open their own shop. Vanderport decided 23 years of army life were enough. To wanted to give the civilian world a try. Umlor Lanalely. Just after sol Russ Rel Rcd in i960, his would be partner changed his mind. No partnership to said bul Vanderport could work for him i was feeling Prilly Down he says and then one Day i saw the mils shop up Lor Sale. I bought it still have in. A Low months later trial older Guy had sold his shop and was working for me Vanderoord is ugh about one thing ii is a Small shop. Very so i. Some locals in his aging slightly Down Al the Heel. Southwest Detroit neighbourhood Daityn it s the world s narrowest Barber shop. Maybe they re right eight feel wide and 40 feet Long the shop looks even narrower. Lots narrower and Well. It cd in. Some might even say cluttered. In the front window a Rock painted with a message imploring you to turn it Over thanks with yet another message when you do a huh thanks that feels More humor from the same sol. Fluss whose business card Teffs you in big toilers this is a free ticket then warns you in very very Small idlers it s not Good Lor Eny Lhing but it s one Wail is my absolutely Lull from floor to 10-foot High Selling Wilh newspaper clippings bumper slickers the round Green on yellow Cactus Emblem of the 103rtj inf div a rubber fish that wags a Tail when you clap your hands rubber funny face masks picture postcards clocks and Bolo tics thai sol Russ hand paints and Sells and autographed pictures of local and National celebrities some of whom have gotten trimmed by fuss Soma of whom like Kenny Rogers Haven to but All of whom know him on the other Wall nearly As full More postcards still Mote Bolo ties and Western Bell buckles divisional patches trom several Armor and infantry outfits Combs for Sale Barber supplies and j collect a of Dusty Beer cans take your pick there s Bergman Mash Lave Brau Busch Biliy Buck Pearl Foster s and even a sars Apalla can for Hiramc the mirrors counters shaving Eream dispensers purple glowing sterilizing cabinets sinks and a very old fashioned Cash Register Hal predates the Sarge. A Iii of three classic Veteran Barber chairs Rich with wrought icon proc Etain and aging Maroon leather upholstery and fitted Wilh Strops or sharpening straight razors reaches Back rom the narrow window dividing the shop and separating Iho chaos of the two Walls the chairs Iko most of the other fixtures have been there Vanderport thinks Sinco Iho Lisl Barber shop opened in the building in 1920 beside those chairs Vanderpool and his iwo colleagues practice their Crall. Doing things that he says today s Barbers a sorry Sarge read that hair stylists can t do never Learned in school things Tike tapering and shaping Short hair raining sideburns with an old time straight razor or giving b close shave with it. Have a Good Brush Cul he says. Ii 9 hard to Lind a Good Brush Culler today and there s shall a lot of Call Lor go haircuts today. Course not like they do pm now none of Hal High n tight crap. But most Barbers am stylists now and they can t Cut Good brushes Ifrey can t gel in All even. I tried to teach a couple Olem to use a razor and Cut brushes but there was always chunks Oul missing looking age 70 in the Eye sgt. Russ shows no signs of slowing Down. This mile shop gives you a Nice living it makes you comfortable he says then adds Nal to plans to work As Long As he slays in Good health he s lost no in arose in the army or his old outfit either. He says he tries lot a veterans that one of hrs co workers was a korean War paratrooper who got All shot to hell Over a still attends 103rd in div reunions and the division s Green Cactus is a prominent figure on the Bolo lie sliders and clock faces he paints. He s working on a Large baked enamel version of in Loo which he and other former members of the division will Allik a Cal summer to a restored Monument in Saint die. France a town near spinal in the Vosges Region they liberated 44 years ago ask sol. Russ if he d change anything and he thinks Lor a minute. Ihen admits he s often kicked himself for not putting in his full 30 years of service. And no just because the retirement pay would be better bul because of the War in Vietnam of d have i raced to gel in on thai one too he says slightly grinning we always seemed to have it bolter in Comba you never saw the maps once you got Oul of the rear now go on a look 20 years younger gel Oul to Here and if you re Only 18. Don l worry sol Russ says that to everyone oven a 13-year-old Cus Lorr it. Russ in Buck aprils. 1998 the stars and stripes Paga is
