European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 28, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A amps photos by Ken George defense agreement will allow air Force rc-135 recon aircraft and Tanker planes to operate out of Souda on a temporary basis. The bases military population counting those assigned temporarily for As Long As two months could expand to 450 during Busy periods Sterling said. Asa Souda Bay takes up 110 acres on a greek air Force base where the hellenic air Force operates a-7 aircraft. The bases 11,850-foot-Long main runway can accept anything in the . Aviation inventory. The Asa is on the North Side of Souda Bay a huge deep water Harbor sheltered by Hills and mountains on Crete a Northwest coast. Quot its one of the Best harbours in the world and could accommodate the entire 6th Fleet Quot said Sterling a former navigator on the Carrier Theodore Roosevelt. . Navy support ships routinely make use of a greek naval facility on the Bay s South Side. Its Quot a very strategic place Quot said Sterling. An old Church left perches on a Hillside in the immediate Vicinity of the . Navy a Souda Bay facility on the greek Island of Crete above a View of the Beach on the outskirts of the resort port of Chania photographed from the Balcony of an apartment two Navy enlisted men rent. Prime time1 in the med Byj. Kin Cruger Mediterranean Bureau if you seek Bright lights and big City better give a pass to the . Naval support activity at Souda Bay Greece. The installation on the Island of Crete can be walked end to end in minutes. Its tiny quiet and offers Only Basic amenities. The majority of sailors live off base and most of the few still in military billeting have to move out to make room for an expected increase in transient personnel. People either love or hate Souda Bay. Barracks rats uniformly hate it because there is virtually nothing to do on base. Transients and personnel who live off base sing its praises. Quot our people love it for the tourists and the beaches. Its one of the prime places in the Mediterranean Quot said it. Cmdr. Dave Fay 43, a Mission commander aboard one of four p-3s deployed to Souda Bay in August. A prices Are very reasonable. A meal costs As Little As $4. We just wish we could spend More time having fun Here Quot said Tom Littlefield 29, a p-3 anti submarine warfare operator with patrol so 11 out of Brunswick Maine. A a it a incredible. There is so much to do on this Island. Each Beach has a different mood and you can go to a different Beach every Day Quot said Gail Hudak the morale welfare and recreation activity director. Hudak who transferred to Souda from the italian Island of Sicily less than a year ago said tourists come from All Over Europe to taste the delights of Crete. A the tourists Start showing upon april 1 and stay into october. The Winters Are quiet  Quot i love it in the Winter when the tourists go away and the prices plummet Quot said chief Petty officer Stephen Coffelt a contract inspector at Asa who is serving his third tour at Souda. Coffelt a wife Rosula a native of Crete has joined him on his current tour and the co Felts rent a Small two bedroom Villa overlooking Souda Bay. Rent is $290 a month. Asa Souda Bay is 10 Miles East of the resort port of Chania pronounced Hanya. Built by the seagoing venetians in the 15 the Century Chania has fortified Walls a twisting and listing medieval Section and a Renaissance Harbor. Cafes line the paved waterfront opposite a Long breakwater of Golden Stone ending in a delicate Lighthouse. It s a Delight to Dine on the Harborside fronted by gently Bobbing fishing boats. A huge meal of the freshest seafood need Cost no More than about $20, wine included. Petty officer 1 St class Dave Wood and Petty officer 2nd class James a. Davis Are two Souda Bay sailors who love life on Crete. They share an apartment right on the Beach at Kalamakis seven Miles from Chania. During the summer Wood s 14-year-old son David stayed with them while on an extended vacation from his Home in Morgantown . Wood 33, and Davis 24, have extended their Tours to remain at Souda Bay. Quot this place is an endless Beach. I la stay Here As Long As  let me Quot said Davis of Houston who is assigned to the Security office at the Asa. Petty officer 1 St class Debra Pohlod 29, an electronics technician from Wichita Falls Texas has had previous assignments at bases in the Mediterranean. Quot i was at Rota and Simonella and Souda Bay is the Best f have just extended Quot said Pohlod who pays $270 a month to rent a two bedroom apartment atop a Cliff overlooking the sea. Sasouda Bay gets support from the air Force s Iraklion air station a two hour drive to the East. Sailors assigned to Souda Bay travel to the air station for serious shopping and for dental treatment. Most of their health needs Are taken care of by Soudan a Branch medical clinic. The clinic staffed by three Independent duty corpsman provides Quot mom Medicine Quot according to chief Petty officer Gary h. Mahneke the senior medical representative at the clinic. Quot it s what mom would do at Home Quot said the 45-year-old from Beaufort . As the Tempo picks up at Souda Bay opportunities should increase for space available travel aboard military flights to Crete. Although base Access is tight and is controlled by the greek military travellers can obtain permission from the Navy to get on and off the base. Friday september 28,1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 17