European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 27, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 8 a a a the stars and stripes Friday april 27,1990 a former . No James Carroll left of Levelland Texas and former soviet sgt. Luba Androse Rakov reminisce wednesday in front of the Bridge across the River Elbe in Tougau East Germany where they met 45 years ago. Soviet . Vets reunite of Elbe 45 years after dividing Germany Tougau East Germany apr soviets and americans met again by the River Elbe this week marvelling at the imminent Unity of Germany exactly 45 years after they helped Cut it in two. Under Gray skies and a Light drizzle about 100 world War ii veterans watched a solemn ceremony wednesday As a Wreath was Laid in the Grassy River Delta where the armies of two invading nations came together. Soviet and . Veterans wearing medals from the historic military Campaign clasped hands embraced and traded War stories in the first Elbe reunion held on free German soil. Both armies invaded Tougau As they drove through Germany from opposite ends formally linking up april 25, 1945. William Robertson 66, was credited with leading one of two . Army scout patrols that made the first Contact with the soviet forces. Quot to us veterans its a very big Deal but it probably Isnit to most americans a said the retired physician from Culver City Calif. A but the Elbe meeting touches something very deep in the hearts of the soviets a he added. The last such reunion was in 1985 and Drew about 25,000 people. It was orchestrated by the soviets and the then communist East German government. The United states criticized it As a propaganda extravaganza. The gathering wednesday was More Low key and attracted a crowd of Only about 2,000 people to the Manchester England apr the longest prison siege in British history ended wednesday when the last five inmates at Strangeways prison abandoned their rooftop stronghold. The five prisoners gingerly walked Down the Slippery slate roof and stepped into a Hydraulic lift that carried them the 150 feet Down to the prison courtyard. The surrender was shown live on the British broadcasting main evening newscast. Prisoners had taken Over the grim overcrowded victorian prison in a riot that began april 1 during sunday Chapel services. About 300 prisoners overwhelmed guards took the jail keys and released the rest of the Battles raged in the prison in Northern eng River Bank on the Edge of this aging town 75 Miles Southeast of Berlin. Veterans marvelled at the peaceful revolt that ousted East Germany a hard line government. The popular uprising opened the Way for democratic government and eventual unification with West Germany. The reunion wednesday was planned in june 1989, when such events were unthinkable. Quot its very confusing for some of us older people. There has been a lot going on a said soviet Veteran Nikolai Sago Ruko 76, a former member of a soviet mine sweeping Force. A but we think Good things Are happening and Hope it Means soviets turned out in their Green red army uniforms their chests packed with medals and one Little . Flag. Americans wore baseball Caps and Blue and White jackets. Two Small american scout troops made Contact with two Small soviet patrols along the River on that historic Day in 1945, but it was the group Robertson led that set up the meeting of commanders from the two armies. Quot the others were first but we got the glory the newspaper clippings a said Robertson. Quot they had communications problems and nobody knew they made Contact until the next the veterans gathered at a cemetery to Lay a Wreath at the Graves of soviet soldiers killed in Tougau. They later placed a Wreath on the grave of Joseph Polowsky an american Soldier who won unusual acclaim in the soviet Union with his efforts to arrange the periodic Tougau reunions. Polowsky a new York City cab Driver who died in 1983, insisted he be buried at Tougau. Quot he just thought it was so Beautiful Here a said Bill Beswick 65, of West Point va., who was a pallbearer at Polowsky a a funeral and one of the first soldiers to reach the Elbe. Land for about four Days and prompted unrest and violence in jails throughout the country. In the weeks of negotiations that followed inmates complained about conditions in the prison where they had been held three or four to a tiny cell allowed a Shower and change of clothes once a week and provided with a bucket instead of a toilet. During the siege inmates built and rebuilt barricades and planted Booby traps to keep out authorities. But nearly All of the 1,650 prisoners had surrendered by the time More than 100 officers in riot gear moved in wednesday prisoner died As a result of injuries in the riot and one prison officer died in the Hospital during the riot because of an existing heart condition. Military round pal gets soldiers medal for heroism during fire Kaiserslautern West Germany a amps a after receiving the army a highest peacetime award for heroism a motor Pool sergeant said a i really did no to think i did anything to deserve the soldiers sgt. Robert Davis or. Of the 41st Ord co at Rhine ordnance Barracks was honoured wednesday afternoon. The citation said he risked his life a by entering the burning quarters initially to extinguish the fire and twice again to Rescue the building administrator and his wife at great personal risk from flames and Gen. Crosbie e. Saint Usa eur commander pinned the medal on Davis before More than 50 members of the company. The fire occurred june 19. Davis said he and his wife Debra were spending a quiet sunday afternoon playing dominoes when a neighbor came running m with a warning of a fire. After ensuring that his wife and two children were safely out of the burning housing unit in Kaiserslautern he went Back in. A i went Down to the basement apartment searching for the administrators wife and i got strangled by the smoke a Davis said. A i thought about sergeants time and. I got my protective mask and went Back in. I stumbled Over him on the Way out. I just picked him up and carried him out and the paramedics took Over from sergeants time is a five hour weekly training period for soldiers. The administrators wife escaped the smoke and fire through a window Davis said. A it happened so fast and was Over so fast that i did no to even think of my own safety a Davis soldiers inducted into sgt. Morales club Kaiserslautern West Germany a twelve soldiers from the 21st theater army area come have been inducted into the sgt. Morales club. The new members Are sgt. 1st class Russell Sadler of he det 70th trans in sgt. 1st class Edward r. Diggers of 598th trans co spec. Armand j. Provencher of he co 60th Ord group staff sgt. Roger a. Collett staff sgt. Edward l. Rowe and sgt. Kasandra f. Saunders All of he co 21st theater army area come staff sgt. Randy g. Fischer of 78th trans co and sgt. Robert j. Thurston of cob 70th trans in. Also staff sgt. Roger d. Macon of Wacker Heim my co staff sgt. Walter o. Morales of he co 1st personnel come sgt. Marcus k. Anderson of service Btry 4th in 3rd Field arty and sgt. Earl Marshall or. Of co a 249th engr combat in. The sgt. Morales club is an honorary club for selected soldiers in the . Army Europe. It is named after a fictitious Ideal sergeant. Soldiers nominated for the Honor by their commanders must face a Board of senior non commissioned to receive last ets phone Hookup Rhein main a West Germany a the last ets Telephone switch to be installed in Europe will be turned on with a ceremonial ribbon cutting at 1 30 . Friday at Rhein main a. While callers have been Able to reach Rhein main by ets callers from the base have had to use one of Only 27 Auto on circuits to Cal other military installations in Europe said maj. Gene Boedigheimer the 1945th comm group Deputy commander. With the ets circuits installed Rhein main callers will be Able to use the system to make european Calls to military installations and the Auto on circuits will be increased to 40, Boedigheimer said. The first ets prototype was introduced at Mcgraw Cavern in Munich in 1983. The ceremony will be held at the Telephone operations building building 107. Strangeways 5 holdouts surrender
