European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 23, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday february 23, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 11 Ann Landers dear Ann Landers the Issue Here is stepchildren. I both my husband and i have them and we arc trying to be fair my children arc lots and his arc College age. Hank has to adjust to having Little ones around again and i must adjust to having kids old enough to do As they please. This is where we have trouble the big Guys have never been asked to take out the trash clean a bathroom or hang up their clothes. When Hank asks them to stick around and help out. They always have plans and leave. He says. On Well they re  i say. If they re so grown How come they Are still living with us and paying nothing Hank says his kids have a right to live Here just like mine. I agree but his Aren t youngsters anymore. I m Only eight years older than his oldest son. Why does t Hank Sec that his sons Aren t learning How to Junction in the real world when they enjoy All the privileges of adults and accept none of the responsibilities their dad has tried to get them to pay $ 10 a week to help with groceries. The 20-year-old has never Given us a dime and his dad has t pushed it. One Day last week. Hank lost his temper and threatened to put the kid s belongings on the porch if he did t Start helping out. Ten minutes later he went running after him and apologized be cause he did t want my to be mad. What can 1 do besides he patient and Hope they leave before i m on social Security stepped on in Florida dear Florida if Ever i saw a situation thai cries out for counselling la � our. As things stand everybody is sure to lose. Since the majority of second and third marriage fail ures Art caused by problems with the stepchildren i Uig Niesl that you make an appointment with a family therapist As soon As possible. Dear Ann Landers please say a word on behalf of All the lonely and rejected children who never gel invited to birthday parties. Children lend to ask attractive and popular classmates because they want to get on the Good Side of these  in a Way. It s a social bribe. Parents please encourage your children to invite two or three classmates who May not be at the top of their Friendship list. It would mean so much to the Youngsu is who Aren t outstanding or accomplished. I know because my 11 year old son is one of them. Caring Colorado mom dear mom you a made a splendid suggestion one that i Hope Hill be taken seriously by All parents who read his column. Children need to be taught kindness at an Early age. 1 can think of no belter Way than by pointing out thit they must include classmates and acquaintances who Aren i especially Rood looking or popular. This can make a big difference in the nay a child thinks about relationships throughout his or her life. Dear Ann Landers a Man i work with has a Lovely wife who is about 35. He keeps saying if anything happens to  he s going to Mam a woman Over 40. Because. They Don t veil. Thuv Don i Tell. They Don t swell. And they re grateful As  what do you think about this creep s reasoning South Bend dear South Bend the creep is mistaken. These Days women Over 40 jell they Tell and they also swell. And often their gratitude is expressed with a paternity suit. Letters combat suitability of women discussed i would like to respond to the recent letter regarding the combat role of the military police and perhaps place a different perspective on the role of women in combat. As an my company commander spend a great Deal of my time training these combat support soldiers. These troops according to the recent writer do not get involved in the fighting but engage in such non combat tasks As Clearing buildings with Rifle and Gre Nades and squad and platoon fire. These Are not Mere exercises. One of the most important my missions is to protect the rear if such a thing really exists from enemy threat. These threats Range from the Saboteur and terrorist through the air borne assault and enemy frontline breakthrough units. Capt. Linda Bray who led her platoon on a fire Mission in Panama did exactly what her Mission called for her to do. In another time and place that Kennel could just As easily have been filled with enemy paratroopers. The Issue of Low risk High risk is irrelevant the maps will be there. Maps fight by design and by doctrine. If you doubt this read the history of the tet offensive. Women Are a part of the military police corps and i will gladly take my women soldiers wherever that fight is. This writer needs to get his facts straight before he denigrates the abilities and dedication of an entire group of Fine soldiers. Capt. Stephen g. Daniels Bremerhaven West Germany i am an infantryman and Here arc my views of women in combat. I am not trying to downplay the important role that women play in the army but i show me a woman in the army today who can carry a 6-fool. 190-Pound Man to safety after being injured 2. Show me a woman who can make it even Hall Way through one of my company s it sessions and 3. Show me a woman who can carry a 60-Pound Ruck three band leers of saw ammo and an saw for Miles on end. Just show me a woman who meets these three requirements and i will show you a woman i would gladly take for a Battle buddy in any War. Most peo ple May Sec this letter As being prejudiced. Ask any infantryman in my company and they will Tell you the exact same thing. Spec. John a. Wilaby Fried err West Germany i am writing in response to the comments made by an unnamed staff sergeant in the article soldiers divided on combat role for  Only thing i would be scared or worried about is being in a foxhole next to this Man. I would be scared about being killed because he would be worried about my nails or How much dirt was under them and not the enemy who was shooting at us. As a truck Driver myself. I spent All my Junior years working on an m35a2 2 i ten truck in the engine and under the truck replacing Jack shafts. I used hand cleaner to Wash my hands with the Guys at the end of the Day. That night just like my fellow male soldiers i had to use a surgical Brush in the Shower to get the rest of the grease from under my fingernails what was left of them. I never got upset Over dirty nails or broken ones. My Job As a Soldier came first. I am willing to go to War in support of my country. Yes there Are some females who Don t want to get their hands dirty and who get upset Over broken nails but he should not use the words All of them nor half of  there arc Many males who Are scared to go to combat and there arc some who joined the army Only for the educational benefits and who have no intention of going to Battle for their country. Staff set. Andrei n. Knowles Vic Raza Italy a recent article "5 senators urge combat badges for women who fought in Panama has caused me just a Little heartburn. Having served 27 Yean in the army 24 of those with infantry units i was a bit upset with the proposal of the five senators. In Reading their comments i find it hard to believe that they have the remotest idea of what it is like to serve As an infantryman in a combat environment. What puzzled me was that they singled out Only female soldiers. They did not men Tion badges for any of the other 17,000 non infantry soldiers who also served under fire in Panama. I would also remind the senators of the Many soldiers who served under fire in world War ii Korea. Vietnam and Grenada in Many non infantry occupations and who performed outstandingly. They also did not receive the combat infantryman s badge. Military police engineers artillery and Armor arc just a few of the branches whose soldiers were involved in direct combat roles during the Vietnam War for periods of at least one year and they did not receive the combat infantryman s badge. In ground combat actions during world War ii. It was determined that 85 percent of the casualties were sustained by 15 percent of those under arms. Those 85 percent were infantrymen. The combat infantryman s badge was designed to recognize that Type of sacrifice. The ground rules to earn the badge arc clearly defined and they should not be changed solely for female soldiers. Nor should they be changed for any Soldier. The comment that the United states army refused to acknowledge the service of the female soldiers who or Rcd in Panama is ridiculous. There will no doubt be a scr ice ribbon authorized for that action and All soldiers who served there will be allowed to Wear their unit Patch on the right shoulder of their uniforms. The army has never refused to acknowledge the serv ice under fire of any Soldier. Those five scat Gas owe the . Army and those who serve it an apology for that statement. Finally these senators need to be reminded that the combat infantryman s badge was designed to Rico Gnu a those who must face the most brutal Rigours of combat. The criteria for this badge Are clearly stated the dues to earn it Are High and it should not be awarded to any Soldier who docs not meet that criteria. Command sol. Major ret Robert f. I a Nasty Neu Ulm West Germany. The lib was created about 50 years ago for infantry soldiers who were under fire in a combat zone. It docs not specify gender however it docs specify Branch of service. As an infantry Soldier i respect the Many supporting roles women and men alike play while serving in a Branch other than infantry. Most everyone who has an idea of what the infantry docs in the Field in peacetime As Well As combat do not envy us. I would be proud to fight along Side anyone male or female who did envy us. I feel that women and men alike who were under fire in combat but who were not designated infantry men deserve an award. True they Are not infantry and currently the Only combat awards arc the lib and the combat jump wings. Thus there arc two options either give them an award that was created for the infantry or create a new combat award to Rico Gnu a their efforts. I propose the latter of the two. Let s not throw 49 years of the infantry s history on every Chest in the army who was shot at by the enemy. Joseph Campbell Erlanger West Germany Olmom an edition col. Oem e. 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