European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 14, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday december 14, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 9 5 As. Lynda spans. Each family is different spec. Jim Crosby i fasts. Lynda w. Bin to spec. Ivy Dejesus Yule with a retired fio ish lady its Lyndi spark pit. 2jmncsfiw". It won t be quite so lonely Lone a German families brightening go holidays by Crystal Laureano staff writer Mannheim. West Germany the months Fol lowing the end of world War ii were frightful ones for Young Luis . Ai u teen age refugee barely surviving in the unfamiliar Countryside she remembers shivering in fright when the american soldiers came. It would have been just a Lidle bit for Thorn to wipe us out she said. Instead the soldiers gave them porridge and soup. 1am so thankful to the americans. They gave us food Cvar Day. It kept a from  Contact Between germans and americans immediately after the War was restricted. Bui by and by it was allowed shul we have More Contact with americans  and now in is no problem today it take Little More than a phone Call to bring soldiers into the Homes of German families especially during the Christmas season. Programs sponsored by military communities match thousands of soldiers Wilh German families each year. The family of  s Daugh or is awaiting he Fiolli Soldier in five years to join their Holiday Ccle  1983 they answered an and in the local Mannheim newspaper asking for families to take in american soldiers for the holidays. The family has continued the tradition because h is so much fun daughter Erika Emmerich said. Ult Anweilder insisted thai she did not use the fond memories of the compassionate americans who be friended her about 40 years ago to influence inc family s decision. The younger generation does t know she said. You can t Tell the Young people Abdul that time. They think it is Boring and old that Only old people Tell about old times. It is Only in their heart that they feel that if some one is knocking at your door open in and let them  it is unconscious  the visitors have become a special Holiday tradition for the Emmerichs. Emmerich and her husband Ger hard considered forgoing the annual visit this year because of remodelling being earned out i n their Home but their sons Raphael 11, and Banc diet 9, pro tested. They said of no we must1" Erika said. I do enjoy it of course she said. We learn from in inv they learn from us. Everyone is a Winner Christmas visits has been an annual program in the Mannheim military Community for 10 years. Vilh a Large single Soldier population the Public affairs office matches Between 300 and -100 soldiers with families each year said Christine Gebhard Deputy Public affairs officer. ". Some families have one Soldier or some invite two soldiers if hey feel their English is not so Good she said others do in for years and invite new soldiers every  ". .-.-.-. To avoid awkward situations initial meetings are1 arranged a few weeks before Christmas so there i some familiarity Between inc Soldier and the family before the celebrations begin she said. Inge Gauss also called the Mannheim military Community Public affairs office to ask for an american Holiday visitor this year but she did l think her chances were very Good. Confined to a wheelchair she did t know if there were any soldiers willing to accept All set to invite a Soldier in for Christmas Are Gerhard and Erika Emmerich of Mannheim. With Lawm Are their two sons bid ill left9. And Raphael 11, and the children s grandmother Luis Ulton Eilder her special situation. However one Young Soldier had specifically requested a Holiday visit with a disabled person or a family with a disabled member. Last year 1 stayed with a regular family said spec. A Cilicia fun pcs of the 109lh trans co at Samelli bar Racks in Mannheim. That Holiday visit turned into a lasting Friendship we go visit their friends go Volks marching walk the dogs we. Always walk the dogs she said. This year t wanted to see what k is like for handicapped person during  with a Cousin restricted to a wheelchair because of Down s syndrome and with some experience with physically and mentally disabled children Fuentes has developed a special compassion for handicapped peo ple. There is a lot of running around you have to do Foric holidays and they just can t be doing All of those things As easily As other  Clauss was pleased that her offer of Friendship was accepted and she is eager to discuss Lite years she lived in Arizona receiving treatment and to use her in. Glishagain.,.,. "1 had intended to Al in touch with americans anyway she said. This was just one Way to do it. If you have Ever been in a foreign country for the holi Days you know what it feels  although not being alone for the holidays is an Adt. Vantage of the program spec. Jim Crosby claims no Lour in West Germany is Complete  have explored the local culture. Meeting families through the Holiday visiting program is a Good Start a lot of soldiers Don t like Germany and the car mans because they Don t speak English and they the soldiers Don l try to learn German said the s12lh maim co Soldier from Sullivan Barracks. They Don t try to get out and learn about the coun try i be found thai Overall the germans arc very Friendly especially if you Are Friendly to  Crosby is nearing the end of his second tour in West Germany. This willbe his fourth Holiday season with a German family. Each family is different he said. They usually ask you what you want to do or eat but always Tell them to do whal they always do. I Don want them to break their tradition Crosby has yet to cat a Christmas Turkey Here. "1 be had Duck Ham Venison but never a Turkey he said. Bui that s of spec. Ivy do Jesus will be spending he holidays away from her new husband who is stationed at for Hood Texas and although her parents live South of Munich she still will be visiting a German Home on Christmas eve. With 1� months of her tour Complete she said. 1 wanted to see How germans celebrate Christmas shews matched with a retired 60-ish lady. The later part of holidays will be spent with her parents. Pvt. 2 James ton has been Wilh the sl2 h maim co for Only four months and a plane ticket Home to bit lines mont., is definitely outside his budget. But since meeting the family he will spend the holidays with he does t seem to mind. Now it won t be quite so lonely he said aThe family with a teen age son and younger Daugh Ter seemed eager on their first meeting he said. Second Ollinz wat quickly set and there was talk if doing More things Tuch As Goin fishing. They Mohave Trout Here Fie told me Fox said my mom thinks it s a Good  he said. Her parents come from hero and she wants to come visit sometime. So she Lold me to learn my Way around. Holiday visiting programs similar to Mannheim s Are sponsored by Public affairs offices in most military communities in West Germany