European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Of cry my my my cuu ii amp is of paint bails Astley leave the barrel. \ Story and photos by Jim Derheim staff photographer 1 / a  re dead. At feast momentarily. The victim has just been hit by biodegradable dots of vegetable Oil and Gelatin goo the ammunition of paintball. The Bullet propelled by c02, Don t Hurt when Tivey hit unless you count the damage to a Soldier s Pride when he the one leaving the Field with a tunic covered in Pink yellow and Blue. But they do make for a game that combines strategy and cunning with Good old fashioned marksmanship. Last weekend several teams of pain gun toting warriors converged in the Woods near Schwet Zingen Germany for a tournament that had teams of 15 camouflaged men and women rolling in the dirt diving for cover and coming up to pump off a dozen Quick rounds. Quot there he isl Quot someone yells and it s  rounds Bounce off Trees until one finds its Mark. A hit in the shoulder. Good enough you re  Battle for the other team s Flag a just a strand of rope a is Quick furious confusing and most of All very exhilarating. Everything is just like the War movies \ Al air Force  Phelps fires through a Chronograph velocity tester which measures the Speed unt balls 1 a these Guys grew up with except there s life after paintball. Quot we started out As just a group of Guys just wanting to have a Good time Quot says air Force staff sgt. Mike Phelps of the Eifel Blitz Riegers paintball club one of the teams participating in the tourney. Now his group numbers More than 100 adrenaline addicts hooked on a game that is not quite military exercise but More intense than a sport. Paintball is like War in every respect except one. With goggles masks and protective clothing being Standard equipment paintball warriors Are More Likely to Hurt themselves shaving than in a Battle with these gumball sized globs of gunk. The players Are Well equipped for an hour Long War in the Woods. Some have fast loading magazines that hold More than 100 rounds. A few of the More expensive guns like the $250 Piranha Long barrel pain gun that airman 1 St class mat Tenczar carries use a can of compressed air that can propel 200 rounds at a muzzle velocity of 300 feet per second. Before Battle each player must shoot his weapon through a Chronograph velocity tester. A Safe limit on How fast the pellets travel is set by the sponsoring organization. Usually this is just enough so that the Pellet Breaks open on Impact spilling its Bright guts but not enough to Hurt. If Only real War were this painless. Paintball is becoming an International event with world cup style events and hundreds of clubs. A couple of magazines Are devoted to paintball enthusiasts. In the United states the enthusiasm for paintball is especially evident in California and some of the new England states. According to airman 1st class Paul Hosking the players Are equipped with paint splattering arsenals that include grenades landmines machine guns bazookas and even helicopters and armoured vehicles. It s a Kinder gentler warfare that is fast evolving into a multimillion Dollar Industry. Quot i be been involved in it for a year Quot Hosking says. Quot and i m amazed at How far the sport has come just since  those interested in joining or starting a paintball club can Contact airman 1st class Paul Hosking 52nd cars Box 2286, Apo 09123. A regulator covered in warpaint a ses his arms and surrenders. Two members of the regulators team their weapons ready creep Forward in the Early stages of baffle. A victorious Blit Krieger shows off a length of rope that served As the fallen opposition s colors