European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 23, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Just like old times Tony Duggers childhood buddy was taking him to the Only this time it was in the Hole. Dugger a sergeant with cob 503rd support in in Kirch-g5ns, was one of eight soldiers visiting the prison in Butzbach West Germany to play a Little basketball. A we grew up together a the 30-year-old Jackson tenn., native said of the prisoner who had just driven past him to the Basket. A a we re from the same neighbourhood same High school. We were stationed at Kirch Gons at the same time he was a Good kid. Its hard for me to believe he a ended up in something like something like that is the Butzbach prison a Burnt Brick late 19th Century fortress that holds prisoners for crimes like murder rape and dealing in drugs. Among its inmates Are 32 americans. Prisoners interviewed for this Story did not want their names used. A a they re americans and maybe they be done something wrong Here or there but we can to lose sight of the fact that they once served in the army Over Here a said sgt. Anthony Moore Leader of the group of visiting Kirch-g6ns players known As the outlaws. A a we re like the Only family they have Over the basketball games Are part of Butzbach a extensive sports program that is aimed at getting prisoners to mix with outside society. The program includes a soccer league with 24 teams that plays a six month schedule and a world cup style tournament. It also includes Feather Ball handball and track and Field. But so far there is no pole vault Competition. A i am not going to say what you would like to hear a said Wilfried Stumpf prison athletic director when asked about pole vaulting. A there have been serious talks about getting the pole vault equipment. But this is very expensive and there Are not enough prisoners who would like to do it. Security has never been a reason not to get the pole vault in the Walls Are 16 feet tall and almost 5 feet wide around the prison topped with three Rolls of barbed wire. Said Stumpf a the pole vaulter must have won 10 Gold medals to be Able to get Over the meanwhile inside those Walls the gis Are taking on the prisoners. The first game is rough. There Are fast Breaks but no breakouts. Prison referees Arentt exactly known for calling touch fouls. A Soldier elbows one of the prisoners under the boards. A they we need to Slack up a sgt. Robert White of the 5th in 5th Cav regt cautioned during a timeout. A you done to know what they re going to do. We can to run off or anything. We re in a prison that hit Home the first time spec. Rodney Lockridge visited the prison. A we were out on the basketball court and All the prisoners were looking out into the courtyard through the barred windows a Lockridge said. A they just sat there looking then five minutes later everybody came running out. It scared but the prisoners weren to about to attack the soldiers they were just coming out for their free time to play sports. A i thought the prison would be different than what it is a Lockridge said. A you hear about guards with machine guns but its a whole different lifestyle Here. The prisoners have televisions books stereos. They get to come outside and play Ball. It can to be All that bad they just can to see the outside White has played Ball against prison teams in the states. A there it seems More relaxed compared to an american prison a White said. A the Way they control the prisoners it seems like they have More Freedom. In be never seen outsiders get to come in and participate in activities. Or have women come Down and be in the Yard with the those women were members of the Ameri Story by Tim Boivin and Helge Thiele photos by Gus Schuettler can women a club of Taurus whose prison visitation committee is chaired by Patricia Marun. They visit the prisoners once a month bringing them magazines Home cooked goods and Friendly talk. We provide Money for one soft drink on our visit a pack of cigarettes and we bring them Christmas and birthday cards a Marun said. And during the game Debbie Hite a typical Indiana Hoosier basketball fanatic leads the cheers for the prison team even throwing in some coaching tips from the sidelines. These Are not the Only times women have been in the prison. A group of All stars from american College women a teams played the prisoners As part of a Christian tour in 1987. Stump said visits like these keep the prisoners spirits up. One member of the prison basketball team a yugoslav serving a 2 i year sentence for robbery agreed. I be made some new friends. I just enjoy meeting with the people on the outside. They bring some of the Freedom from the outside and share it in our lives a he said. An american prisoner who is serving five years for manslaughter also welcomed the visits. A a it a Good to see the Brothers come a he said. A the conversation in Here gets stale. They come in and give us a taste of a former Giessen Soldier serving a life sen tence said he looks Forward to the basketball games. A it shows the army Community cares and we re not being forgotten. And the american women a club visits make us feel human. I love to speak with the ladies and i want to make sure i Haven to lost my Moore a member of he co 2nd in 32nd Armor has tried to get other military basketball teams to go to the prison for basketball games but with Little Luck. A we wanted to have a tournament but a lot of Guys i talked to when you mention prison they say no Way a Moore said. A i tried to explain that if there was any kind of fear we would have never gone Back Over and Over and Over to those who have gone inside the Walls a voluntarily a Are glad they did. They Are pleased they Are Able to help. A i just want them to know that we understand the situation they Are in and Hope the time will come soon that they can go to the outside world Quot Dugger said. A i want to let my Homeboy know i Haven to forgotten about him that in a praying for him and hoping he leaves prison for More information on the basketball program Contact sgt. Anthony Moore at hic 2/32nd Armor Apo by 09045. Tim Boivin Helge Thiele and Gus Schuettler Are stars and stripes staff members. The visiting team arrives ready to give inmates a Many of them americans a some spirited Competition and Contact with the outside world. Sunday c Page 7
