European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 07, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Desert troops have a Good Man to follow Ron Jensen staff writer when i met sgt. Karl Dune he was standing beside a Bush that was the size of a one car garage and was Brown Brittle and supposed to be that Way. It was a scorching Day in the saudi arabian desert Well beyond 120 degrees. I was uncomfortable As hell having been in country barely 24 hours. Dune had been in saudi Arabia More than a month and was on his second assignment out in the desert. In his desert uniform Replete with the gear a Soldier needs to fight a War in Sand he did no to seem to notice the heat. But Only because he had Learned to Deal with it like soldiers do. A the desert is a harsh mistress a he said. A a it a like Alaska Isnit very Friendly. The Jungle Isnit very Friendly. A Well the desert Isnit Dune is a platoon sergeant with b co 1st in 505th Parachute inf regt of the 82nd airborne div out of fort Bragg . When the unit arrived the soldiers organized three to four hours of outdoor recreation. A while they were having fun they were also getting acclimated a said Dune. Around him the 35 or so men of the platoon have clawed out a Home in the Sand. Shallow depressions covered with ponchos or camouflage netting Are their Homes. As they move about they never take a step without their weapons either in their hands or Slung across their shoulders. If there is a War Here it will be dunes second. He spent a year in Vietnam in 1969, but then left the service. A after a Nam the army Wasny to very much fun to afoul it Vehe said but after three years in the civilian world he decided it was worse. A there was nobody in charge of that Bunch out so he returned to the army enrolled in jump school and by virtue of his age a he a 39 a he has become the old Man of this Crew. A teacher. His eyes follow every Soldier As they walk across the Sand. A they listen to the Sage advice a Dune says with a sly smile. A some Days i bite their Heads off. Some Days i Pat them on the he tells them to be satisfied with what they can control. Get pleasure from the mundane things like washing clothes. Laughing he recalls How some Fellows invented a Way of doing laundry. They turned a Waterproof bag inside out filled it with water detergent and their dirty clothes and then played football with it. A these troops Are wonderful. They a walk off the end of the Earth for Dune has an attitude of Confidence that made me like him right off. If i was going to War id want someone like Dune around. Dune want somebody like me around however. He prefers the Young men of Bravo company. A a that a the Only Way to go into Battle a 35 Guys around me that i Trust and they Trust and armed to the he later said a a it a real easy to lose sight of patriotism and a lot of these ideals you can to reach out and touch. But you can reach out and touch these that a what they a be fighting for then a each other. A was Long As they be got somebody so they can be miserable together it makes it better. So we joke and go on with the Dune spends his Days and nights reminding the younger troops not to gather in groups on the Roadway to drink their water even when they re not thirsty and to Wear their helmets even when they re just sitting around. A you can to Start getting lax about that stuff. As soon As you do something happens and you need Dune is now at a Point where he is thinking about life out of uniform. He has a wife and two sons Back at fort Bragg. A both of us Are sitting on about two years of College. Both of us would like to be Dune thinks he has pretty Good qualifications. A a in be been around 18-year-Olds most of my the american education system could do a lot our guest to plus Magazine has set aside space for guest columnists. If you have encountered anything amusing confusing frustrating or fascinating about life in Europe in the military or in general wed like to hear about it. This is not a place for gripes or letters to the editor a done to expect an official answer just loads of response from your friends. So sum up your thoughts in 500 words or less and Send them to be our guest to plus the stars and stripes Apo 09211. Be sure to include a Telephone number where you can be reached during the the first thing you re going to do when you return to the states from saudi Arabia pfc. Joseph Hall 567th trans co fort Sam Houston Texas first thing ill do is count my Money. Staff sgt. Larry Williams 1st in 41st Field arty 24th inf div fort Stewart a in a going to get in my car and drive to the Beach. I want to see water. Tech sgt. William Birt 438th organizational Maint so Dover fab Del in a hoping its raining and ill just lie Down in the rain and let it hit me. Then ill go Down to the school and pull my two boys out for the Day. Sgt. Paul milk cars 1st Aero medical evacuation so Pope fab . Ill probably Call my Mother and Girlfriend and Tell. Them in a Back safely. Spec. Patricia Terry 28th combat support Hospital fort Bragg . First thing in a going to do kiss my husband. Compiled by stars and stripes staff in saudi Arabi october 7,1990 sunday to plus c
