European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 9, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 a a a the stars and stripes tuesday october 9, 1990 an israeli Soldier shows an elderly couple in far Yona Israel How to test their new Gas masks left while another Soldier helps a Mother fit her son with a Gas mask. Israel begins distributing Gas masks Yonne am Israel apr in this town overlooking the plane of armageddon israeli civilians have begun picking up the Gas masks their government is distributing to counter a feared iraqi chemical attack. Government officials launched the program sunday in Yonne am where the Bible says the Battle of judgement Day will be waged and in two other Small towns. They say they will provide the masks to All 4.7 million israelis which is expected to take several weeks. Despite the ominous biblical resonances officials tried to promote Public Calm As residents trickled into instruction centers in school classrooms where soldiers showed How to use Gas masks and Poison antidotes. The classrooms were festooned with the Handiwork of pupils and children received coloured Gas masks to help ease their fears. A a it a colourful and pretty so the child should not get afraid a said a female instructor holding up a red and yellow Gas mask for infants. A a it a troubling a said Aliza Artzi after putting her 2-year-old daughter through a plastic anti Gas tent for infants. Her daughter Tali seemed unfazed. Artzi said she hoped the kit would never be needed but believed otherwise. Asked whether she believes War is Likely she said a i think  officials said that within Days they will have handed out masks to the 30,000 people of Owakim far Yona and Yonne am. Israelis have already paid for their Gas masks through their obligatory National insurance  army says most palestinians in the occupied territories will not be Given the Protection kits since they do not pay National insurance. However they will be Able to Purchase the kits at Cut rate prices of about $20 each. The government announced the program a week ago during an escalation of tensions in the 2-month-old persian Gulf crisis. Iraqi president Saddam Hussein has threatened to draw Israel into a War if his country is attacked and he has threatened to use chemical weapons. Yonne am a Hilltop town of 7,000 about 40 Miles North of Tel Aviv has problems that extend far beyond fears of chemical attack. Indeed it is a microcosm of israelis setbacks As Well As its successes. An immigrant town it was a showcase of the jewish melting pot a thriving Community of moroccans russians kurd romanians iraqis bulgarians and native born sabras. But this summer its biggest employer the sol Tam munitions Plant went under and the work Force has fallen from 4,500 to 150. Sacked workers who occupied the building were ousted by guards with attack dogs leaving Yonne am deeply embittered. A now with unemployment at 15 percent russian immigrants Are pouring in a 400 so far this year. Some of them were shopping in the supermarket on sunday before heading up the Hill to the or Anim school to pick up Gas masks. A they done to really understand what its All about a said Eva Maman a Saleswoman. A they have other  at the school sat a Cross Section of Israel an elderly Man in a Skullcap a Young woman in a designer to shirt and sunglasses a Middle aged couple perspiring from the exhausting Uphill hike to the school and the Artzi family their Little girl sucking furiously at her pacifier As the instructor described symptoms of Gas poisoning a trembling bodily secretions inflamed eyes. A this is the injection. Orange up Green Down a barked the Tough looking instructor in Olive Green uniform a How do you remember easy. Orange a the Sun a up Green a the grass a  the army instructors also handed out leaflets in hebrew arabic russian and English. Hebrew and russian placards decorated the Walls. There was no hint of panic. The schools were empty for the jewish festival of sukkot so no classes were disrupted. Yonne am snooze away the hot afternoon hours. Uso in . Gets jump on 50th-birthday fete re John  Iasi fila Tran us a. A _. By John Tierney new York not the Uso in new York began celebrating its 50th anniversary on sunday with a new sense of Mission Courtesy of Saddam Hussein. The deployment in the Middle East has meant More United service organization volunteers More donations and More tasks a such As persuading members of the american armed forces on their Way overseas that new York City is probably no More dangerous than the persian Gulf. A a they re pretty wary when they get Here a they be got their id cards in their boots a Mary Leventhal said. She and other volunteers were Busy on sunday at the Uso office at 587 seventh ave., near 41st Street carrying out the tradition of offering directions and Solace to visiting members of the armed forces. A a they re More scared of the people in times Square than of going to face that madman in the Middle East a said another Volunteer Mason you. Quot i try to Tell them its Media hype. I say As Long As you look like you know where you re going the muggers wont bother  the Uso a private non profit organization founded in new York to support the troops at Home and abroad operates 150 centers at airports cities and military bases around the world. The festival in times Square on sunday was part of a National Celebration leading up to the 50th anniversary of the Uso on feb. 4, Best known for its overseas shows featuring Bob Hope and Beauty Queens the Uso is planning to Send comedians Steve Martin and Jay Leno to entertain the troops in saudi Arabia. A people done to tend to know the Uso is around until something happens like the Middle East crisis a said Jim Chalker a staff member who was Selling Uso sweatshirts on sunday at a seventh Avenue Street fair. A was soon As Saddam acted up things started popping for us a Chalker said. A a we be been getting Calls from people who want to Volunteer people who want to Send things  there were comedians dancers and singers at the Uso Street fair on an unseasonably warm afternoon. Sylvia Tosun wearing the Crown of miss Uso was there to sing and afterwards she talked about another Uso tradition providing wholesome company to servicemen away from Home. She and several friends had recently gone on dates a fully chaperoned a with sailors chosen by lottery. A they were perfect gentlemen a she said. A there was no kind of smut or anything. We talked a lot about world affair. I made it a Point to be interested in them because when you Wear a Crown and a Banner people assume that you re used to getting All the attention. It was so much fun to show them new  volunteers at the new York office also try to bolster morale with letters to the troops overseas. Tara Mccormack who began volunteering after american troops were sent to saudi Arabia has been Send ing letters seeking lonely soldiers. The members of the armed services who stopped by the Uso office on sunday All seemed to appreciate the support. Min i a a f r. This place is Nice a us a said Robert s and of a Sanctuary for. Jivinski an army ser Geant from fort Monmouth n.j., who brought his wife and five children for a Day visit to new York. It was Brian Vanausdle a first visit to Midtown Manhattan and his first Stop was at the Uso office. Vanausdle an army private from _ port Townsend wash., Learned about the free tickets available to Broadway shows got instructions on using the subway and seemed somewhat reassured about the City a safety although he was reserving judgment. A from what in be seen it looks All right a a he said. A if you walk around with a map sticking out you might be in trouble but it looks to me that if you stick to yourself and walk around like you re a new yorker you re probably of. I guess ill change my mind if i get