European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 8, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                3 a g a \ it a it Quot a a a a a Jav Ltd of a. -. A a a a . I 1 a i a St amp ii a i vat a so a a i Quot. Avs to. A a t y for a v v it a i pm a a Asun in a a it a a 1v 5v a Quot in 11 it Ija jct 514w \ Al a a Ltd it nip a. T a for. J a it a >7ssg0t men of co a 1st in 35th Armor 1st army div fire with a Quot borrowed Quot 3rd inf div Mia 1 Abrams tank at Grafen Wuhr combined arms training  away in a borrowed Lank i t was cold enough that  sat Over the  of their m1a1 Abrams Fanks to keep warm. At least that s something they probably won t have  in the desert. A. _ a a while fog has been known to shroud the Sands of saudi Arabia and Kuwait on occasion it Isnit freezing fog. At worst temperatures in the desert will be higher than the frigid 28 degrees the  experiencing in Center. A. A a. But the morning freeze and fog did make the co a 1st in. 35th Armor soldiers stationed at Erlanger much like those already in saudi Arabia like the troops they will 7 soon join in the Gulf the 1st army div soldiers had time to think while they waited a a a a a a a a a. The same questions ran through their minds As in the r minds of those already serving with operation desert shield. Will they be going to War does their training make them better than the iraqis will their nation stand behind them a a second it. Will Whatley and the rest of his tank Crew were waiting for the fog to lift from a Grafen Wuhr Range. 7 when it cleared they would blast their Way Down a tank Crew gunnery qualification course. It would be the last time they would train in a tank before going to the Gulf. It was a borrowed tank. The m1a1 really belonged to the 3rd inf div the 1 St army div soldiers had already loaded their tank onto a flatbed Railroad car bound for a port and a ship headed for the Middle East. But that f did no to matter Whatley said a it s More of a Crew familiarization rather than getting used to your own equipment Quot the tank commander said Whatley his gunner sgt. Reginald Curry and Driver spec. Victor Davis had been together As a Crew for a scant four months. Their loader pfc Glenn Bonadio. Joined them just last week. Together they would go to the. Gulf and possibly into combat a a \ a a Whatley s Crew is not unlike others in the tank ,. Company. Quot we have a lot of new people in Thea company Quot he said. Quot we afro have some Guys who Are a _ real Rusty at it too who Are just coming in from other  but that s Why the unit was at Grafen Wuhr to a train Crews who Haven t been together and qualify the Crews in  a. Ifs a Good Chance for us without a lot of pressure to get a lot of training done Quot Whatley said about the. Gunnery. Quota a a a v a. Curry too thought it would help Quot we be got some Good up training and Well go Back and talk about the mistakes we did make out Here Quot he said. \1 though his troops Are primed to join the multinational forces participating in desert shield Whatley said he has to wonder about someone who did t feel at least a Little apprehensive about it. Quot its a weird mixture of feelings. There a a ittle bit of anxiety but you re also motivated to a do your Job. A a a a Quot there s a lot of practising to get the players ready. Because the game s getting ready to Start. And its not a game you play every . A. A. Still he said everyone he stalked with Quot feels we re better trained and better equipped and Yves be got better  he said his troops have Oser motivated Quot since the crisis began. Its our Job. What we get paid . And when the bullets Start flying that will be even More of a . Davis the Driver said he knows mane vering the 60ton vehicle in the Sand will be different from what he s used to in Germany and though he has t had much Opportunity to practice Sand driving he feels Betler off than some soldiers. / a a a a Quot for a lot of  soldiers. Most Are coming out of Basic training and facing like a draft Quot Dayis said Quot Quot they re probably having it the hardest. They be had no time for a Garrison lifestyle in the army they re just going straight to it at least we be had time to got familiar wit the . A t v a Bonadio said most everyone is worried about the Home front and wondering if the family will fall apart during a soldiers absence. He said he Hopes National support does t crumble either. A a "1 think they should make sure the  a going on in saudi Quot Bonadio said. They should a know our Mission there our purpose  7 likewise soldiers should know Why they Are going Curry said. He does no to feel All of them do. Quot everybody signed up  a  the gunner said. Quot i Don t think we All got a definite explanation As to Why we re doing  he said letting All of the soldiers know what s going on and Why Quot would Clear their minds. They be got the Basic idea but they need the inside Story Quot All of the Crew members displayed a sort of quiet attentiveness As if leery about not knowing what was around the next Corner. Yet when asked they All seemed As optimistic As Curry Quot i think everything s going to work out All right. Well come Back with our Heads held. . A j , dec Ember 8, 1990 the stars and stripes fag 15