European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 5, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday october 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 3 crisis in the Gulf a ,. Quot a a a amp we Trovi Vvs a d3m soldiers from the 101st airborne div practice some tense House to House searches during Urban combat training at a Dusty crumbling ghost town in the saudi  gain Street smarts amid ruins by David Tarrant staff writer with the . Forces saudi Arabia a pvt. Joseph Aycock crept along the Wall of a rubble strewn courtyard clutching his m-16, ready to Dart through a darkened doorway. A a what a going on a shouted staff sgt. Walter Haralson As he crouched with three others behind another Wall a few Yards away. A doorway at 12 of clock. Window at 9 of clock a Aycock yelled Back. On a rooftop overlooking the Yard pfc. George a cat fish Washington and pfc. Wayne Jones peered Over their m-60 machine guns ready to provide cover. Aycock and the two others with him crawled through Stone and Sand under the window and then hurled themselves through the doorway. A few seconds later came a Cocks cry a room Clear a and so it went earlier this week As a squad of . Troops took an ancient desert Oasis Street by Street building by building. This time it was a training Mission but next time it could be Kuwait City. The desert is probably the last place you a expect to find . Forces practising City fighting. But that a what these infantrymen from the 101st airborne div air assault have been doing at an old Arab ghost town. Troops from co a 3rd in 502nd inf regt from fort Campbell ky., had been in their Forward operating desert base a few Days when 2nd it. Lance Patterson found the Oasis during a reconnaissance Mission. The platoon Leader knew right away that the deserted Village was perfect for practising City fighting. When the saudi government gave the of the unit marched into a place that resembled a set on the old a death Valley Days to show. The Village is More than 200 years old. Once known As the Gateway to the kingdom of saudi Arabia it was abandoned about a dozen years ago when the saudi government built the residents a new City. Little is left to reveal the towns storied past. Its crumbling buildings including an old mosque have been blistered by the Sun and pitted by the Sand As though strafed with artillery fire. Chunks of Wall Chip and break off easily. Empty doorways and windows open into Rock strewn Dusty dwellings. The Only sign of life is a clump of Palm Trees. Patches of ashes rusting beverage cans and remnants of a Goat carcass Are evidence of previous visits from wandering bedouins and their Goat herds. In Short it was the perfect place for hardcore Charlie company As the unit Calls itself. Although Urban assault training is common at the units stateside base the Oasis offered several obvious advantages. A we can train in the desert and the Urban dwellings Here Are typical for this area a said capt. Marty Martin the company commander. A a there a also plenty of water Here a he quickly added. And troops can cat their meals in the Shade of a Palm tree. The unit has appropriately named the base a Oasis a also the name of a 101st base in Vietnam. Platoon Leader Patterson  speculate whether the training could be part of a plan to liberate Kuwait. For now at least a a everything a defensive a he said. A the Sun blazes Down on 101st airborne div troops As they walk across the abandoned Village once known As the Gateway to the saudi arabian kingdom