European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A Chinook stirs up a Cloud of Spray As it prepares to drop a combat support boat at the River crossing site near  the Rhine without a Bridge by Crystal Laureano staff writers amps photos by l. Emmett Lewis or. S pvt. 2 Scott Simpson Heads up the River ramp As he and his fellow troops from Allied Mobile forces return by raft from an assault. Cout helicopters hovered Over the Trees on the Western Shore of the Rhine River. Cobra attack helicopters poised for action in the Gray morning sky of Early Spring. Chinooks dropped off dozens of soldiers behind the tree line and they began to take the Shore North of Mannheim West Germany. The imaginary enemy was a Force on the Western Side that had knocked out a Bridge the Friendly forces on the East needed. It was ironic an army major noted that the Good Guys were on the East Side of the Rhine this Day. But no matter. The Mission last week was to Cross the Rhine without a Bridge. With the enemy subdued several boats carrying Bridge Crews moved toward the Center of the River As More chinooks appeared in the sky with Small motor boats Slung from their bellies. The Crews shuffled into the boats that were lowered to the water. Additional chinooks arrived carrying sections of Bridge. Each of the two Mobile ribbon Bridges a which done to really resemble Bridges at All a is comprised of six segments. They re floating platforms for ferrying tanks and troops motor boats push and pull the loaded Bridges from Shore to Shore. Sgt. James Fisher looked across the Rhine waiting for the go ahead so his Crew members and their 56? ton tank recovery vehicle could push off in the fast moving current. Quot in be done this before a said the tank commander from troop a 3rd so 7th Cav 8th inf div in Mannheim West Germany. A this is a heavy vehicle so the raft does no to Bob much. Its not a bad  but one of the onlookers hoping to stir up a Little excitement did no to want Fisher to think he was on some innocent amusement Park ride. Quot be sure to get life jackets for All your Crew he said. Quot these tanks go straight to the Bottom in no  Isher dismissed the comment with a nod and turned again toward the River and the opposite Shore. His tank recovery vehicle would be the first to Cross Al that juncture of the Rhine. Before the Day was Over about 50 vehicles would be ferried across the River at this location. About 50 More vehicles would at the same time Cross Over at a second Point just up the River. All engines would be idling during the crossing All soldiers would be wearing life jackets. Meanwhile military police and reconnaissance teams lined the route that would bring the rest of the Convoy to the River crossing. N Quot Security and reconnaissance is our business said sgt. 1st class Robert Casto of troop a 3rd so 7th Cav 8th inf div. Quot this Isnit different from anything else we do except this is More realistic than being on a Range that is structured like at Graf Grafe Wohr West Germany training Are with a designated firing Point to drive  indeed the Mission on this blustery morning was not new to the soldiers who had gotten up hours before Dawn to mane Veur at the Rhine. The helicopter pilots from v and Vii corps had plenty of practice Sling loading equipment. The Allied Mobile Force had infiltrated lots of enemy lines. The air defense and cavalry soldiers knew How to take positions. The engineers had built countless bring and the tank commanders had crossed Rivers. Bringing together More than half a dozen units an about 900 soldiers made the exercise different from Many other River Crossings said maj. Mike Betteker executive officer of the 565th engr in in Karlsruhe. The Only thing lacking was an enemy Page 14 a a a the stars and stripes