European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 17, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday june 17, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 9over her airmen Are in tune at Remote turkish site by Dave Walczak staff writer Karatas Turkey a its easy to see Why everyone at Karatas is on the same Wavelength. With Only one place to eat one place to sleep and one building in which to work the 16 unaccompanied airmen assigned to det 11, 2006th radio relay so have an identity All to themselves. The location of Karatas adds to its distinctiveness. A single narrow Road links the compound to a main Highway a Quarter mile away. Inside twin billboard like antennae Shade the site. The 20th-Century creatures Overlook Cotton Fields where turkish Farmers carve out a living similar to those of their forefathers. For All its isolation Karatas pronounced care a trash is linked to every air Force installations amps Susan Harris throughout Turkey and beyond. As part of the defense communications system those assigned to the site maintain a variety of electronic equipment helping Complete the communications net that links All . Military Sites in Turkey. Karatas also serves As the Point of entry for incur Lik a communications into the network. Without it for example an airman at in Ciurlik could not Call Izmir to find out when the general is due to arrive. Inside the wire enclosed compound guarded by machine gun toting turkish soldiers people like staff sgt. Tim Lyons spend their time ensuring that the Sites High frequency communication gear functions. He said the units common Mission combined with 16-hour workdays Breeds camaraderie. A you just make friends with everybody whether you like them or not a Lyons said. A i think you wind up being a lot closer than on a larger  staff sgt. John Dunham the Sites non commissioned officer in charge of ground radio maintenance agreed. A you get a lot closer. You know everybody on a personal basis. At a big base. You might know who people Are and where they work but you done to have any  Many friendships at Karatas done to last beyond 12 months. Karatas is one of about a half dozen Small communications Sites throughout Turkey that air Force officials designate As Remote. Unaccompanied airmen assigned to places such As Perhac Elm Dag Balik Esir or Karatas serve one year Tours. Airmen allowed to bring their families serve two year stints at those Sites. The nine married airmen stationed at Karatas also get to live in base housing at in Ciurlik. Capt. John Cook who commands the Karatas contingent said that dealing with the constant turnover is the hardest part of his Job. A we see a lot of people right out of tech school. Their experience is Low but the Mission goes  the air Force included women As part of the Mission for the first time last september. Today four women work at Karatas. They and 12 men live in the Only dorm on the site which was completed 18 months ago. All have single rooms and share a bathroom with one other person. Social life revolves around the lounge where Dunham said a a there a not a whole lot of  the living room sized facility located on the second floor of the dorm features a to video recorder ool table and two video games. Residents can buy Eer for 50 cents or mixed drinks for 75 cents. Profits Are returned to the units morale support und. A you play a lot of Pool and watch a lot of movies a Lyons said. A i never played Pool that much before i got Here. In be gotten pretty  sgt. Mark Huff said adjusting to the limited social life at Karatas Isnit easy. A i was kind of depressed when i first got Here counting Down the Days. I came from California. At first it seemed like there just Wasny to anything to do.�?�. Meals Are limited to the dining facility which serves both the air Force contingent and 25 turkish soldiers and five cos who provide Security for the site. A amps Jim de Hoim social life at the radio relay station in isolated Karatas Turkey revolves around the Well equipped lounge. Airman 1st class Wayne Roach left and airman Bob Watt spend some free time watching television. A amps Jim Derheim sgt. Mark huffs amps Jim Derheim sgt. Shannon Stevens a amps Jim Derheim staff sgt. Tim Lyons a amps Jim Derheim two of the four antennae at the compact site Tower Over the airmen a quarters and the main radio building. Airmen must now leave the base to shop. Cook said that cafes officials closed the Small Karatas base Exchange May 1, because they could no longer afford to pay a cashier. Most of those assigned to Karatas shop at in Ciurlik a a 45-minute trip via shuttle bus. The three Days on three Days off work schedule enables those assigned to Karatas to visit in Ciurlik every week. The bases Bowling lanes no club by and other air men Are appreciated by those stationed at Karatas. A a it a real hard to have a social life unless you know someone on base a said sgt. Shannon Stevens who arrived at Karatas three months ago. A you done to want to Date anyone out  Lyons agreed. A social life there a none. Karatas its Here. That a