European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 3, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Gazing airman . John Coppedge of Denver Pentagon Tow guide it s like hey two body look at me ifu3tlov9 being in front ale Bunch of  Star spangled get Zinss Story and Philo by Chuck Vinch Washington bureaus hey o it to the Pentagon from a l Over  Tipora Titian 110.000 a year most arc common Folk Ordinary citizens can  heartland Here to sob the nerve cent i of a Mig Tity military Arsenal the command poet Lor a vast array of weaponry that pans the Globe defending Irce Dom against the dark forces Hal seek la Conva. Mankind s soul this is whew i All begins As. Star spangled Gray haired genuial1. Man Euver like master symphony conductors up  Iho proper series of codes and issuing in corrry.-1 Sals of orders to direct systems so High tech civil  most of these visitors can Only shake their h .-.rl1, in vender what Questi Orvi they must have As Alliey me into the building. Map mrs Al its immensely hungry for knowledge of How this hugs machine works. Why Here comes a Short Middle and Man now Wilh his Young son in his arms a burning query obviously Aboul to spill Forth Asho approaches Auman 1 a John Coppedge a no is leading this particular group on their wondrous journey. Us can Yon Tell me it there s a bathroom around Here somewhere the Man asks. And so Anol Hor Day begins for Coppodge and the other iwo dozen Lour guides assigned to Shepherd these flocks through some of Tho Pentagon s 17 Miles of Nowc like corridors luring a tour thai lasts from an hour to an hour and a half whal kind of Parson actually volunteers to Lead groups of bored Leen agora and Bone wean tourists through the defense Deparl Mcnol s Home base it helps tuesday May 3. 19b8 to tac an egomaniac a Trail o which capped be a 32 year old Denver native chec Lully a dents it s like. Any. Evorah Lofy look at in " to Myr i just Ove being in front of a Hunch of pupae " Mas of the limit anyway some visitors i Tio to and la Send chills up a Low guide s Spino incl Ifor , attn gel Cranky when i hair parents make the Pon Laynn tire la1 i mop on a i rec a. 78 rpm tra in of the notion s capital and Rowdy teens playing can you tap this Gro i1 out " Bui Coppodge Irtys Elo Mellary school ii i or u ten inspire the Moil dread " they re usually not  interested which Dikson l exactly fall within any Normal military Curcur path the guides coma Man Ull services the air Force and Navy pick their representatives irom their  military Honor guards Flie army Scondr iwo irom in Honor guard and picks others irom an a  Sudi a fort Belvoir or foil Myrtlie Marine corps  if urn its Headquarters Cadra copped the was originally heading form Ciui police duly Aller Hasic in among it was a . Last min ulc  to says of his decision to apply Lui the Honor Guatto already had order a for the Philiip fios. But they gave a  speech. Air Ira hew i nor guard duty helps your Carnei How Lioy could eve n Ricly your get orders Lor pc civic  looking Hack i can i say i be fowl an Oriu Lio Cor Gol an assign Mon Imp Cali it of Honor Ravia d tuly. Hot it tha Lime Tell Loril Scuyr Wilh a qom he was one of 20 App i cans Otil of 00 who Vio picked helped in no Small Par by his to it it it Iovu All people  i Coppedge. Who catch s in .11 Well Over sin feet he spent 18 month i in to Honor guard a Rich handles Bli Nate Al a Luglan Nahorai Carnoto y As no of its main missions. Got Rcd of Hal so when he / put up a notice last year asking for volunteers Lor Inq Pentagon hours. I wont Foi  to says Coppodge had Iho impression Attiat this six month Lemp vary assign Mon would in skate duly Everyll Xuy said of. It s Only a Liyo or sin hour duly Day out i m walking and lax my All the Timo. Usually i do two or Tiereo Tours a Day but once i did have in a Day and i was or Vid alternate. 1 his Jot does a num Boi on your Icet we be always got to be up. Loo can t 1� out on Lour All depressed and mumbling can t have Down Days " Wien he Lisl came on the Job. Tic was handed the Standard tour script to memorize within 12days,  did nothing to endear him to is a Ifo i practice on her All the Lime he says she could  Trio tour  on a Uwe s first few tries an old hand will Imil behind ready to help out it a no Bic forgets pan a Iho script of has problems. They re also Oval aging you. And in can be  to see somebody li.ici-. There scribbling  he says the routine can gel Bonny Oul once guides an checked out. Tiey Are rec to improvise 10 add Thorn ii and Annc riots about Vantus display on the nut Nuiji they dig up on choir own a tactic Coppedge frequently employs copped go is approaching  end of his Lour guide Slin  the air i had orders to Italy but they got cancelled i Don t want to go Back la Iho Honor guard a probably to in Washington another year bul i m nol sure what i la be doing i d live to stay in though. Trie air Force has been Good to Rno so  and when he leaves the Pentagon Vhal will he to Able to Lake Wilh him ram his gab As a Lour guide m what is affectionately known As the Pujic Palace let s see i be Learned to walk backward pretty Well copped go Gays with a laugh. The stars and stripes Paga 13