European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday december 20, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 9 lonely Job generates some jolts by  Cruger Mediterranean Bureau Monte Vergine Italy. The Winter winds whip the air i orc communications site at Monte Var inc in fiercely that 2-by-4 planks have been driven through the sides of buildings. Snow piles up to roof height and helicopters have had to Airlift sorely needed food supplies o the installation on the Best of lava most of the 65 air Force members and 15 civilians who work at Moalc Var inc face a daunting 45-Minulc commute. The 11 mile Road from the Valley floor to the Sile snakes and climbs through a tortuous series of hairpin turns and switchbacks. The Road frequently is choked with traffic As religious pilgrims and sightseers make their Way to Ilie 13th-Century monastery of Monte Virgi about a mile below the site. But the thrills really begin when thunderstorms move into the area and he Mountaintop. He site s antennas and their wiring All wort like lightning rods. I be seen Blue balls of electricity come into the room dance around and blow the circuit  said master sgt. Patrick Bauer 40, the non commissioned officer in charge of wide band communications. In storms added Squadron maintenance officer 1st it. Sieve states a safety observer stands ready to kick workers off equipment if lightning hits. Last night i was working Lale when a storm hit and the Guys who normally work in the equipment room were hiding out in a nearby office storks said. They Don t like to come into the equipment room during a storm because some of the gear could explode or electrocute  so goes life at Monte verging Home of the 21 Gist comm so a pan of the air Force s european comm div. The Squadron occupies a Small site on the Moun Tain about 55 Miles East of Naples at an Altitude of 5,100 feet. The outfit s Mission is to provide Auto von service and acl As a focal Point for various forms of military communications throughout Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Most people assigned 10 the site live in 20 govern Mannl Lynsi h ill riling la the How of the Mountain in the Village of Tor Etc. Others live nearby in rented quarters in the town of Mercogliano. The air Force provides bus and or service to and from he towns but there arc 20hill rats who live in the on site. Dormitory. " iry to get off the site to have a meal in one of the villages or to talk to the locals every Day said sol. Sais Singh 24, the Squadron maintenance administration specialist and one of the ruts. But there Are Guys who have been Here for 15 months without Ever leaving he  the site ii self has limited facilities but the unit s Community Center in the City of Avellino. A few mites from the base of the Mountain has a Small Exchange and commissary Bur theater lounges and a Small gym. The facility is part of the Complex containing the two room Avellino elementary school with 16 Stu dents. Children in kindergarten through third Grade arc Laught in one room while those in grades four amid the dui a Snow i lit air him.1 Mem imitations Situ curries nut its Mission i h Abate the Childs in Montr Verrine in Nlaly. A Side. Mas Ter sri. Teddy Booker in he Hulst comm so uses a flashlight in Cheek Mil sum equipment in the station. Through six arc taught in the another. The older children Board a bus at 6 1s . Each Day for the Naples american High school. Tour lengths at Montr verging Range from 15 months unaccompanied to 24 months accompanied and most people choose to do Only one Hilch at the site. Staff sgt. Allen Kruzie 26, from Brandon fla., is a notable exception with six years under his Bell. I got to enjoy in and 1 just kept extending and extending. I married a local girl last january and we will be transferring to Germany after the first of the year said Knific an  Assurance c Valuator. The communication Sile uses so much electronic gear to accomplish its Mission that the entire com plex is heated by waste heat from the equipment. Four 350-kilowatt  produce All the Power and thai makes master sgt. Teddy Booker 38. He non commit