European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 15, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Stories and photos by Effie Bathen spec Suzette Mer win a 21 Yoa old pregnant unwed Soldier in Furth. West Germany wanted to keep her baby the lather also a Soldier left Germany. And Gol out of the army two weeks before Merwin s pregnancy less came Back positive so he was Oul Elihe picture. She did t  that marriage was the solution anyway and Hal left her with three choices keep the baby give in up or adoption or abort it. Bui ii 1ar As to Riri was concerned bal h abortion and adoption were just put o he question abortion because i Don t believe in it  adoption because i could never do it she said.  with a second concern  face  arc As a civilian or As a sol Cicer. You have thai option to gel Oul if you get pre Grian and i could t because i would lose my go  said Xuemin. Who needed another 14 months on Active duty to Lull ill Iho contract she made Tor go Bill bin fits when she enlisted. Plus just the idea Al trying to go Homo and raise the baby Wuh to Money Rush out c the service  to sound so promising,1 said  clerk wifi . Lbs army Oil s 123rd support in Al  a Racks ust outside Nairn Borg so it was stay in the Surv Leea go Home and to on i Sifari do Pregoni soldiers arts unwed mothers be dog in the army. I Don hotel that 1 belong in the military As a Tingle Mother Bui i Havo no Choice Merwin Saul some people have a Altitude that if he army would hate  to  family they Irv Ouid have issued you oof by you can l Slop life from going on sensitive to charges of sexual discrimination from Bolh the Malo and female standpoint some commanders in Ihen Urnberg area say they have a dilemma. One said to Houg Mulhal there was no double that pregnancy had a negative effect on Iho military Mission. Another said Inal it a pregnant Soldier married or not has Modica instructions stating she is to avoid hazardous working conditions it can t help but Afleck the unit s Mission a company commander gave the example of How he could t use an a Ray technician tar almost iwo years. She had iwo babies to said and pregnant women Aren t allo ived near x Ray machines  Foo commander said he could t assign pregnant  to a if machine shop because of the Lumos however a praised the professionalism of the women in his command. Overall the problem is not Likel to be solved easily. In support , who 6 some 50 percen of the sold ers  women. The biological Feo tily is Llinat somerday gel pregnant but As Merwin said you have everything that. Affects Mission ii somebody plays football and Breaks his leg thai affects Mission. If you have a truck Hal Breaks Down that a flecks Mission.". Merwin  Dale fell within regulation. Guidelines or Early reassign Cal to the United Stales so she put in a request for that. Her paperwork was being processed when her sergeant major called her to his office he told her to Tomk it Over i isl. Back in the states Sho could end. Up in a of Fri where the military Chain of command was nol As supportive As the one she had now. She was also already established Here and medical care was lined up Jor Botn her and Hei baby. To was the hardest decision of my whole life. You want to go Home so badly especially in this position Vas my Mol Hor s first  so she prayed a kit she said and decided to slay on Active duly in West Germany but when a preen rent single Soldier makes the decision to stay  army Sho faces a Dattlo Diller enl f 6rn.bny she army has trained her for surviving As a Singla Irio Lher. Advice is available from company commanders who Are required to give a pregnancy counselling As soon As a Soldier s pregnancy is confirmed soldiers also can seek counselling Al social work services. In the Nornberg military Coro manily women can seek help from friends for Lite. The local Chapel pro life group. One of the first problems is finding a place to live. Babies Are not allowed to live in the Barracks. Then the Soldier must arrange Tor Basic allowance for quarters and overseas housing allowance and snarl making preparations for child care. Anyone in the military knows How Long paperwork can take. Babies however have a More definite deadline. In Merwin s Case she Lel the Barracks alien she was about seven months pregnant. Friends for life arranged or a Home where she could stay for six weeks until she found a Small apart men. She wound up in a paperwork shuffle or More than a month arid had o lace but an army emergency. Relief loan to pay her first month s rent. She paid the second Hersell. That s when her daughter Destree was bom and Merwin went from pregnant Soldier to single Parent. And or any single Parent Money is Light Merwin s monthly expenses included repaying the loan for the rent a student Toan and a loan she. Incurred gelling the apartment set up. She counts Hersell   a woman to provide child care for less than the going rate of $200 per month. She also had to buy a Carlo transport the baby to her baby Sitter and get to work on time. After More paperwork Merwin managed to get her convalescent leave extended from Lour weeks to six she had Only returned to work Lor a Lew weeks when her tiny daughter suddenly had to be hospitalized. That was a scare she said but it gave her Lime to reflect i had to think that she might die she thought As she waited in the Hospital alone. It made her oven More certain she had made the right decision ill never regret  i Madoche right Choice Ell a flown it Froe Feree Willet living in Kirth. Jul Germany. One woman Choice keeping her baby Susiene Merwin i Don t feel that i belong in the military As a single Mother. But you can t atop life from going  Page 16 the stars and of ropes saturday april 1s, 1989