European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 17, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday september 17, 1990 the stars and stripes crisis in the Gulf forget the luxuries just give him an m1 inn a ionic in with 90 percent w by Vince Crawley staff writer in the Central arabian desert a staff sgt. Francisco Castillo a Marine Tanker was asked out in the Sands of saudi Arabia what his one wish would be. At first the platoon sergeant from san Jose Calif., did no to know. He said maybe something for his men. A in my occupation a said Castillo a member of the 1st tank in 1st Marine div a we can carry what we need in our vehicles. Life is not As bad As other occupations. We have plenty of water plenty of food. Plenty of ammo. You feel  finally after some thought he knew. A if i had one wish it would be an my  his platoon is composed of m60a1 Battle tanks that were first fielded in the 1960s. They have 105mm barrels and old fashioned aiming sights that work something like the Range finder on a 1950s-style camera. M1a1 Abrams use 120mm ammunition and have laser Auto focus sights. The 1st div Isnit due to get them for a few More years a procurement Money a been tight. If this persian Gulf crisis turns into a desert War the men of the 1st tank in expect  Square off against iraqis soviet built t-72 Battle tanks. Gunnery sgt. Frank Cordero said that the soviet tanks Are evenly matched with the american m60s. A either vehicle is capable of killing the other vehicle a he said. So it will come Down to skill and Crew training said Cordero who a a master gunner with the 3rd tank in out of Twenty nine Palms Calif. The 1st Marine div is it in a not going to get shot at. In a going to do the  a staff sgt. Scott Rice based at Camp Pendleton Calif. Cordero Felt that americans few Good marines  have any trouble out shooting iraqis desert hardened hordes. The 33-year-old from new York City has enough Faith in the marines to have the letters a us Mcm tattooed onto his left Arm. Staff sgt. Scott Rice whose Home is Tallahassee fla., agreed. A a in a not going to get shot at a Rice said. Quot in a going to do the  Cordero the master gunner got his title because he attended the army a three month master gunner course last year at the army a fort Knox ky., the academic Center of american tank studies. A the government spent $40,000 for me to walk through the door a he said meaning that there was no graduation quota. A the class can Start with 18 and end with  Twenty two started in his class including an egyptian and a jordanian. About half graduated. Its 100 percent hands on with 90 percent written tests a Cordero said. A and no multiple Choice. Basically you get to know everything there is about that  the Marine gives High Marks to army tankers. A we have a lot of respect for them As tankers a Cordero said. A the tank Community is very Small. So its not who a army and Marine. Its  still the army and marines Are not completely equal in his eyes. The marines have less. A the Only difference is i guess the marines take a lot of Pride accomplishing the impossible with nothing a Cordero said. In the desert they had nothing unless you count Castillo a food water and ammo. They live in and around their tanks except once every 10 Days or so when they might get trucked Back to the rear to Wash their clothes get a Long Shower and a Good nights sleep. But then said Cordero they re roasted up at a to to dark hundreds and trucked Back out to their tanks. A we came out Here and there was nothing and we accomplished this a he said indicating a line of tanks huddled in a Row in front of him. A right now we be got two battalions zeroed.�?�. A a zeroing Means making sure the barrel is pointing exactly where the sights Are aiming. The Thunder of the tanks stopped at midday Friday. The heat makes the air shimmer too much to get a really perfect aim. So the desert fell silent again except for the words men say to each other when they have nothing. Officers wife unveils mysteries of Arab life. I h by Amy Geiszler Jones . Bureau Raf Mildenhall England a the Best advice Leslie Bailor got before her two year stay in saudi Arabia was a a done to try to make it  from the moment she stepped off the plane in july 1987 at the Dhahran air base into the stifling heat she knew she Wasny to in America. She found herself immersed in the culture of a kingdom that does no to even tolerate miss Piggy of muppet show Fame. A i had to go in covered up with a Long sleeved dress because i had to be prepared to meet their standards As soon As i got off the plane a said Bailor the wife of a . Air Force officer. Her husband maj. Don Bailor who is now with the 3rd air Force served As the . Military a staff judge advocate in saudi Arabia and other Arab countries Between july 1987 to july 1989. The couple and their two sons were based at Dhahran. Bailor talked about her experiences in saudi Arabia during a recent support meeting at Raf Mildenhall for spouses of military members deployed to operation desert shield. Greeting her Small audience in arabic Bailor explained some of the mysteries of the country that is playing Host to thousands of . And other foreign troops in the operation mounted in response to iraqis invasion of Kuwait. Bailor also brought along a few items from the country to add detail to her talk. Those items included a strand of 33 prayer beads similar to those carried by moslem men Gold embroidered women a scarves a miniature Gold incense a a _ a amps Amy a Leszler Jones Forman no no the St Ole an two spouse Leslie Bailor demonstrates the practical qualities of the headdress worn by Arab men during her talk at Mildenhall a r j____4u/1 Ora teas one bitter and one Sweet that Are served in saudi Arabia. She also brought along the traditional garb for men the White and Gray pin striped thobe a Long flowing Robe a red and White Sutra that covers the head and an Gaal the Black circular Headpiece placed Over the Sutra. A believe it or not the sandstorms get so bad that they do serve a purpose a she said wrapping the Sutra around her face. A the Sand hurts. They really do have the right idea with their  in her talk Bailor also explained the strict approach taken to religion in saudi Arabia which serves As the custodian of islam a two most holy cities a Mecca and Medina. Holding up two White placards with a closed for prayer written in arabic and English she told the women about the frequent daily Calls to prayer. The placards with Black lettering Are placed in shops which close during prayer time. Religious police make sure shopkeepers adhere to the practice. Mosques can even be found in Gas  saudis holy Day is observed on fridays Bailor said so the saudi workweek runs from saturday to wednesday with thursday considered part of the weekend. Friday is also the Day of punishments and Public beheading Bailor said. Because islam dominates the culture the lifestyle is very strict she said. Women must always be Clad in the Black Bayyah. But Western women Are not expected to cover their faces and Heads As Arab women do. There is no touching in Public Between members of the opposite sex even among married couples. And no pork is eaten. Mail is checked to make sure no contraband such As alcohol or pornographic material gets into the country. Videotapes and tape cassettes sent into the country Are screened. A the reason we were Able to Cope so Well and were enjoying it so Well was because it was for two years and we knew we could do it for two years a Bailor said. But she said she would a go Back in a minute.�?�. Before ending her presentation Bailor offered one last bit of advice those with spouses in saudia Arabia a in addition to being a tense military situation now just being there is a real trial so love them when they get