European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 01, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday tuesday january 1/2,1990 the stars and stripes Page 3 service members in Europe Rode a Seesaw of changes by Crystal Laureano and Janet d Agostino staff writers it was a decade of opposite. In 1980, . Officials said the soviet threat was at its highest level Ever. By the end of the decade the Pentagon was speaking of the soviet  the 80s also were the decade of nato missiles entering Europe and superpower missiles leaving Europe. Here s a Brief look Baci at some of the events that affected Servic members in Europe during the 1980s. The missile debate actually traced its beginnings to the end of the 1970s. In the decade served As a stage for terror by the red army faction in West Germany which targets its acts of terrorism at Western capitalism and German-. Solidarity. 1979, nato decided to deploy Short and medium Range missiles to counter existing soviet ss-20 medium Range Rockes. But the two track decision also included negotiations with the soviets. When the talk failed the missiles moved in. The decision caused West Germany s peace movement to swell. At one Point to mobilized a 70-mile human Chain link ing two proposed pc Shine missile Sites and collected nearly a million protesters on the Bonn University Green. The first missiles were deployed in Europe in 1983. Protest demonstrations continued but they lost their former drive. When the soviets saw that the nato decision would prevail they offered to return to the bargaining table in Geneva to discuss removing missiles on both sides of the Iron  december 1987, president Reagan and soviet Leader Mikhail s. Gorbachev signed an agreement to eliminate All medium Range missiles in the superpower arse nals. The Issue had now come full Circle. The intermediate Range nuclear forces treaty Calls for the elimination of land based nuclear missiles in Europe with ranges of 300 to 3,400 Miles. The United states had 572 medium Range weapons in Europe while the soviets had about 450 ss-20  missiles arc being methodically dismantled and destroyed. They must be eliminated by May 1991, three years after Senate ratification of the treaty. Missiles were not the Only Point of pro tests experienced by . Forces in Europe. In january 1988. After More than two years of Long complicated and sometimes tense talks Spain asked the United slates to remove from Torreon a the 72 f-16 fighters of the 401 St tac fighter Wing. Torr Jon is the largest air unit in the Mediterranean area and a designated backup Force for the other countries Italy Greece and Turkey on nato Southern flank. Plans Call for the 72 f 16s to be moved to Croton Italy. Con Gress is intent on having nato allies share the Cost of the , talks arc stalled on the future of . Bases in  also marred the 1980s in Europe. The world s worst air show disaster occurred at Ramstein a. West Ger Many on aug. 28, 1988, killing 70 peo ple and injuring hundreds. The tragedy occurred when three planes in the italian air Force s Fri acc Tricolour stunt flying team collided and one slammed into the ground near the crowd. And the decade served As the stage for terror by the red army faction in West Germany a group that grew out of the student movement opposed to the Viet Nam War. The group targets its acts of terrorism at Western capitalism and Gcr-Man-. Solidarity. In August 1981, it claimed responsibility for a bomb at Safe Headquarters at Ramstein a that injured 18 americans and two West germans. One month later two grenades were fired at the car of Usa eur commander Gen. Fredrick Krossen slightly injuring him and his  1985 brought a car bomb at Rhein main a West Germany that killed two americans and injured 13. The night before terrorists killed a 20 year old Soldier to obtain an id card to get on  activity was not restricted to the red army faction however. Ameri cans serving in Greece Italy and Spain also were targets of attacks throughout the decade. One . Sailor and four italians were killed on april 14, 1988, when a car bomb exploded outside the Uso club in downtown Naples. Italy. In another attack on a Uso facility one Sailor was killed and nine were injured on dec. 26,1987, in Barcelona Spain. The . Military attache to Greece a Navy Captain was killed june 28, 1988, when a powerful bomb in a parked car blew his Armor plated Auto off the Road As he drove to work in Athens. Three months earlier in Athens a bomb explosion at a bar popular with american injured four  from Hill Chi Kon a and nine other  on april 5, 1986, a West Berlin disco popular with Scricc members was bombed killing two . Soldiers. Authorities blamed Libya for the bomb ing that injured 230 people including 88 americans. Ten Days later . Air Force planes in England and the Mediterranean hit selected libyan  . Officials credited the attack with subsequent relative Calm on the terrorism  Between the superpowers was High in 1985, when a soviet guard shot and killed maj. Arthur Nicholson or. A .army officer attached to the . Military Liaison Mission to East Germany. But by the end of the decade Theu Sarteur commander was exchanging the decade in review visits with the commander of soviet forces in East Germany. The 80s were also a time of Joy an Celebration. The holding of american hostages in Iran and their much overdue release dominated the news in the opening months of the decade. After 444 Days of Captivity the Day of Freedom for the 52 hostages arrived on Jan. 21, 1981. And thousands of americans flocked to Rhein main a to Greet them. The sex hostages spent about a week at the air Force regional medical Center in Wiesbaden for medical evaluation before head ing to the  matters also unfolded during the  june 1980, cafes facilities and commissaries became Penny Pinchers of sorts. The facilities stopped using pen Nies and started rounding off paces to the nearest  month later Usa Keur officials said the promotion of $2 Bills and Susan. Anthony Dollar coins was successful and predicted the demise of the is Bill within 18  when West German commercial Banks decided to Olter a 43 percent lower Exchange rate for the Coin 1 Mark forthe Coin and 1.75 Marks for the $2 paper Bill sen. William Proxmire a wis. Decided to protest the  december 1980, the paper Dollar was  far As Money issues went Scricc members who were in Europe on feb.26, 1985, will Long remember the Day. That s when the Dollar set All Tim highs against the British Pound. Italian lira and other european currencies. On that Day i Pound Cost  and a Dollar was Worth 2,167.50 lira. The Buck also reached its highest Point in 13 years in West Germany fetching 3.45 Marks at military banking  of us who weren t Here can Only dream. Heroes of Panama invasion . Soldiers distinguished them selves during the Panama invasion that began dec. 20. Capt. Linda Bray left photo of 988th my co fort Benning ca., Lud her unit in an As Sault that resulted in the capture of enemy soldiers and a Cache of weapons on the first night of fighting. In the photo at right. Gen. Carl Vuono army chief of staff congratulates ski. Michael Alexander after pinning the Brone Star to his Chest on Friday. Alexander won the medal for heroism when he killed five of the enemy with a grenade launcher while directing his unit during a firefight