European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 10, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse The stars and stripes a a a Page 9 Over Here school to soldiers in the Field by John Millar Wurzburg Bureau Fulda West Germany a you done to have to look far for Jim Wolfe a inspiration Winston Churchill hangs no More than five feet from his desk. In the portrait that Wolfe owns Britain s wartime prime minister sports a military uniform and his trademark Cigar and clutches a Box of wooden matches in his left hand. The civilian Wolfe decked out in a pair of near regulation fatigues also clutched wooden matches As he sucked life into a battered Brown pipe with a Black Stem. A Winston Churchill there he idol a Wolfe said Between puffs a the Guy i try to fashion some of my ideals ideals aside Wolfe could be accused of trying to dress the part. The education services officer for the 11th Cav regt Wolfe has worn assorted military uniforms to work for the past decade. And like Churchill Wolfe visits troops in the Field often driving a Olive Green land Rover that bears plates Reading his office also fits the role. Military crests Mottle the Wall. Model warplanes and tanks sit on shelves and end tables near souvenir ammunition Shell casings helmets and flags. A a done to get me wrong in a not a warmonger a he said. A i detest War. But i happen to believe that what Churchill said was right that democracies will Only remain free so Long As they remain there was a time during his student Days at Michigan state in the 1960s, when Wolfe would have burned a uniform be Over the Hood of a humvee at Grafe Wohr training area West Germany Civ right talks to spec. Jay Johnson about applications to medical schools. Fore wearing one. But that changed. A a couple of close friends of mine got drafted and went off to Vietnam and got killed a he said his Auburn eyes suddenly fixed and serious. A i had a lot of guilt about that and my values started to armed with a degree in interpersonal communications and a a lot of powerful feelings a Wolfe first went to work for the As a Counselor in Kaiserslautern West Germany. �?o1 very quickly realized a Portu Nim Cav regt _ available to them even in the a amps John Millar listen As Jim Wolfe explains educational Field. This was some Way to pay my country Back for not having served in Vietnam a he said. Wolfe did no to take his educational efforts to the Field until he signed on with the cavalry in 1978 and the unit invited him to the Field to see a what they really a i did no to know As much about the As i thought i did a he admitted. A and i started to develop a much greater appreciation for the sacrifices these people on his first trip to the wild Flecken training area Wolfe also Learned that sacrificing Pride can have its Reward. One night at about 2 a.m., he found himself in an awkward position in an aging outhouse. A Why they made a Hole that big. Ill never know a he said. A but i fell through with Only a foothold and handhold Wolfe said he find the leverage or the strength to pull himself out and eventually dropped into the pit below. A there i was standing in you know what up to my he stayed there until the night Baker chanced by. The Soldier was at first startled but then summoned the Squadron sergeant major and others. After taking pictures and having a Good laugh they lowered a rope and got him out. A you know that one incident brought me closer to them than anything else i could have done a he said. Wolfe wore jeans and a pair of construction boots the first time he went to the Field. A somewhere along the Way someone said a if you re going to come to the Field with us you a better put a uniform so i started wearing fatigues. And it developed from although regulations allow him to Wear uniforms Wolfe said he a not permitted to Wear military insignia. He does no to with one exception. On the left shoulder he sports the same Blackhorse Patch worn by All 11th Cav regt soldiers. Instead of military rank on his Collar cloth tabs identify his civilian Ratingofgm-13. He also wears the multinational insignia he got after a six month stint setting up an education Center for the Sinai peacekeeping Force in 1986. A if i show up in Garrison in a three piece suit and ask commanders and first sergeants to Send their soldiers to College they relate to me at one level a Wolfe said. A when i show up at Grafe Wohr with mud up to my Knees or my Mustache froze. I become part of Wolfe spends most of his time in the Field coordinating courses and programs a amps John Millar Ilian education services officer Jim Wolfe that will take place when soldiers return to their Home base. A if i waited until they got Back a he said a it would take me two or three weeks to get that stuff on line before we could execute. And these Guys done to get an awful lot of time to go to he also provides education and training support courses to units in the Field or at the Border. During a recent Grafe Wohr visit for example. Wolfe set up specialized courses for medical soldiers in the treatment of Poison victims. When he takes members of his staff to the Field Wolfe can set up a full learning Center Complete with technical manuals Field manuals and video tapes. Soldiers can also study for College courses or Bone up for the High school equivalency exam. A basically everything we did in Fulda head bring Down Here so we done to miss classes a staff sgt. William Esqueda said during a recent training exercise at Grafe Wohr. An operations no for the regiments Headquarters Esqueda said he also likes Wolfe a military look. A the blends in wearing a uniform like we Are. I can relate to him better. And in be seen him everywhere on tank trails and the regiments executive officer maj. Daniel Williamson said Wolfe a uniform gives the education officer a Little panache. A it s a Little eccentric but it works. Jim Wolfe gets into relating to soldiers relating to officers a he said. Offering education services in the Field often Means strange hours. More often than not the Best time soldiers have to talk to Wolfe in the Field is about 9 30 . A the s available a said spec. Jay Johnson a Driver who Hopes to attend medical school someday. A i done to think lies got any objections to 12 of clock Midnight. If you re serious and that s the Only time you can meet him hell be Wolfe downplays the hours a being a Soldier in the is a very Tough Job. They work More hours than Many of us Ever see for comparatively vei7 Little pay. They re separated from their families they re moved every three to five years and we just done to Tell them How much we appreciate educating the . Army requires a a pro Active approach he added. A they have too Many missions a tactical missions administrative missions missions to support their families. Its important for Guys like me to go out and bring education to them. A otherwise they get lost in the
