European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 24, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Gap pub Hippo up pm a Muhm him i pm a i " i Chi vim a vat " i Matching around with the wanderers by David Tarrant staff writer it took Only a few hours for spec. John Davenport to face the gruesome Miles out and 18 More to walk. He eased his right Boot off at the first rest Stop and gingerly pulled Down a sweaty Olive sock. A Large dark Circle the color of raw hamburger crowned the sole of his foot. It s looking a Little better he said. No one was quite sure if he was kidding or not. I can go it was 7 40 a.m., thursday july 21, the third Day of the four Day 100-mile Nijm Egen marches. The special troops in of Wiesbaden a West Germany a team of 16 soldiers who nicknamed themselves the wanderers had already lost one Man spec. Mark Lessman to a severe muscle pull Early into the second Day of the marches. Lose one More Soldier and their team would be disqualified. After almost four months of training during which they walked More than 1,000 Miles the wanderers were determined to finish As a team. Hell make it sgt. 1st class Jorge Rodriguez said quietly. He s a Good the 32-year-old Rodriguez a 13-year Veteran of the let his team sit for five minutes before getting them Back on the Road. All right let s go let s go he barked As the team trudged Back on a Rocky dirt farm path to continue the March. St a he shouted for special troops in. The team mustered up a hoarse yell in response. Hey aah mtg mimicked sgt. Roger Yarbrough referring to the popular music television show. At 33, he was the oldest of the team members. The frequent quips and wisecracks from him and sgt. Guy Quinn kept the team s spirits up. Going Down Rodriguez yelled when the team hit a Low spot in the Road. Of you re teasing me you re teasing me Yarbrough shot Back when the downhill Section turned out to be Only a Short slope in the Road. Spec. Jonathan Logan walking stiff jointed kept his eyes glued to the ground. Walking on these cobblestones is rough. I feel better when i sing. I Don t feel no pain when i with that Logan stepped out from the marchers and began a cadence. Mama mama can t you see. Nijm Egen is the life for me. No pain no gain. That s the name of this Here game. A 15-year-old dutch boy suddenly came up alongside the group. He Rode a dented Black Bike that looked As though it had been driven Over several thousand Miles of Muddy farm roads. That s Junior Rodriguez said. He married up with us on the first Day and has been with us Ever Junior whose name is Bert de Bruyn wore a set of old fatigues that he managed to obtain through a Trade with someone. A Jam Box sat tied to the Back of his Bike rack. Every morning he met the team As they started off on the Day s March. Although Bert helped divert the team s attention occasionally the Long route ahead the sore dogs and the Monotony of the Trail showed in the Strain on the soldiers faces. But around every Bend in the Road families sat out on the front lawns. Their claps and encouragement cheered the americans. Later after the third Day s March is Over the Blister treatment tent was once again booming with business. In Plain English they torture you in there said Yarbrough. Blisters Are lanced and sprayed with tincture of Benzoin an alcohol based medication that disinfects. I Call it death in a can,1 " said Yarbrough. It makes you Tell the truth added Logan. The Odyssey of the 72nd annual Nijm Egen marches began Back in March when the 48 Usa eur teams began training and paring each team Down to 14 marchers a Bike orderly and an administrative officer. Training was simple. Each Soldier walked hundreds of Miles in boots carrying a 22-Pound Rucksack the requirements for soldiers in the March. And they Learned to become a team. On the afternoon of the third Day of the marches Brig. Gen. Thomas b. Arwood commander of the 3rd support come which handled All the support facilities for the . Contingent walked among the soldiers at a rest Stop giving them encouragement. The objective is to Start As a team and finish As a team he said playing Down any rivalries. By the third Day Only eight soldiers were forced to drop off the teams. It s been outstanding so far he said. For about two months the dutch Central support group was Busy turning Camp Heumen Soord where the 8,000 soldiers from 35 participating countries stay into a miniature City. A 450-foot mess tent was constructed Telephone lines were Strung a Post office and souvenir shops set up. Thirty six temporary ovens were set up to heat the meals. Each Day four tons of food was distributed to the soldiers. The marchers included 35 . Marines from the 2nd Marine div Camp Lejeune . Marking the first time the marines have participated in Nijm Egen. The group was sponsored by the dutch Royal marines and camped with the dutch said maj. William t. Alexander who headed up the group. The dutch very much want to get More involved with the . Marines with our training Alexander said. This is just one More Way to get to know each Davenport and Brown Are both limping jaws clenched but staring straight ahead their goal in sight. In a steady downpour that leaves their packs feeling twice As heavy the wanderers Are closing in on the last leg of the last March Friday. Just about one More kilo mates yells a smiling British Soldier to the group. That s one Damn Long Kilometre one of the marchers grumbles. Rodriguez Hustles to the front of the team beside Davenport and asks him How he s doing. Davenport mumbles Fine and Rodriquez Falls Back to his position. At the last rest station the soldiers change into dry uniforms before marching the final four Miles past the reviewing stands. When they depart the Park area Davenport is still with the team limping along. So is Lessman who would not miss the final portion of the marches despite the muscle pull that feels like a hot knife slicing through his leg. Suddenly As the soldiers March out onto the Street a Roar As loud As a Jet taking off erupts. The crowd begins cheering the marchers. The dutch lined ten deep along the sidewalks Are making the soldiers forget for a moment their pain. Dutch girls jump up to give the passing soldiers Flowers. People Are waving from the rooftops. Children Scurry along beside the troops asking for souvenirs. Rodriguez who is carrying a Flower that a child gave him earlier sees an old woman in a wheelchair wrapped in a shawl and clapping in time to the soldiers Steps. When she sees the name emblazoned on his breast pocket she Breaks into a wide Grin. Rodriguez the name Rolls from her Mouth. He Steps out of the formation hands her the Flower and hops Back to his position with the team. It Only took a moment. Wanderer staff sgt. Charles Macneil has his feet checked for blisters by teammate staff sgt. Kirklen Brown. Two danish marchers left lend assistance to one of their teammates. Above even the spectators get tired. Second it. Constantine Costas left and spec. Mark Lessman Lead the wanderers on at Nijm Egen on the first Day of the March. Spec. Paul Roehl of the 78th engr in Karlsruhe cools is heels at one of the first Aid stations along the Way. Is photos by Dav Edidio let them March. This Fisherman would rather cast his line than watch the Parade of soldiers. Page 14 the stars and stripes sunday july 24, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 15
