European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 11, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday december 11, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 9over Here Welcome that soft touch by Ron Mckunn Fly staff writer Lan Stuhl Germany the transatlantic Council of the boy scouts of americans looking for a few Good women. With operation desert shield depleting its corps of scoutmaster the boy scouts Are taking advantage of a policy change two years ago that made women eligible to serve in any troop capacity so far two women a Karen Schaberg of Lan Stuhl s troop 243 and Judy Daum of troop 177 in Hillesheim a have taken Over As scoutmaster in the absence of their husbands who have deployed to saudi Arabia. The 33 scouts of troop 243 were All for Schaberg. A she has All the qualities of a Man a except better a said Nathan Trammell 12. Craig deeds 14, said Schaberg could be As Tough As a Man but a she knows when to be soft.�?�. There was never any question who would take Over the troop when her husband staff sgt. Eric Schaberg a flight medic with the 236th med co received orders to deploy. She had worked with the troop As an assistant scoutmaster going on the monthly Camp outs or doing paperwork during the 18 months her husband had been scoutmaster. A your troop was about dead until they came a Trammell said of the Schaberg. Schaberg knew she was needed when she saw the boys struggling with the cooking chores during Campous. A i got tired of All the meals we had a burned grilled cheese. I had to change that one a she said. A the decision to allow a woman to take Over As scoutmaster Wasny to a difficult one for col. Bob Webster chairman of the troop committee. V a she was the perfect person the most Active of committee members. We decided that Karen had the Best rapport arid the most experience with the troop. Plus she was willing a Webster said. More than just willing Schaberg Felt she needed the scouts As much As they needed her. A i Felt that in be worked hard for it and its my Way of dealing with him being gone. It keeps me from going nuts a she said. Schaberg a first duty As scoutmaster is this week when she accepts a conservation award from the Lan Stuhl mayor on Karen Schaberg of land Stuhle a troop 243. Has Token Over scoutmaster duties from her husband. A amps flon Mckinney behalf of the scouts for their clean up work earlier this year after Germany a fierce windstorms. .1 also in the plans Are Christmas activities a hiking trip at Heidelberg and the Klondike Derby at Garmisch in february. Being a woman  be an Issue in determining if a person is qualified to be a scoutmaster Schaberg said. A that should t come into the picture. If you have the boys Trust they will work wit you. They learn from me and i learn from them a she said. A it Wasny to such an easy transition in Hillesheim for Daum when her husband sgt. Adrian Daum a chaplain s assistant with he co 11th aviation brigade received notice of deployment. A Daum who has sons in the troop was t a unanimous Choice despite her nine years of involvement in scouts including one position As a girl scout troop Leader. ,. The committee Wasny to sure it wanted to let a woman take Over troop 177, said chaplain it. Col Dennis Whitaker the troops unit commissioner however they eventually chose Daum Over two men a a a a a Whitaker said she was the Only candidate who met All three criteria that the applicant remain in the Community despite operation desert shield have appreciation for boy scouts Aims and ideals and have a demonstrated ability and interest in working with boy scouts. V a we did consider what the boys redaction would be. And to a minor de ree what the parents reaction would e. Because she a already worked with these scouts and the parents have a seen How she works with scouts they were More accepting a Whitaker said Daum said she was also concerned f about the reaction of the 36 boys in troop 177 and. Got their approval before she considered taking Over As scoutmaster. Their concern was More that it was someone they knew than that she is a woman. A and top on the list of course was camping a they were thrilled. As Long As i take them camping they did no to care a Daum said. Even though she a taking Over while her husband is away Daum does no to believe a woman should be a full time scoutmaster. She said men should be teaching scouts because the boys Are learning the responsibilities of becoming  that Daum sees Only one change Shell have to make it a now i have to get a uniform Quot she said. A the boy scouts Are really big on  Baum older issuing desert shield spouse cards by Peggy Davidson Kaiserslautern Bureau r Baum older Germany when Shannen Hancock a husband leaves for operation desert shield Shell be carrying an extra id card to help her through the Tough times. The Baum older military Community is issuing desert shield spouse cards to those left behind the cards Are intended to help the spouses confronted with red tape car woes or similar problems said Jennie Barr the morale welfare and recreation worker who helped design the  the cards give the remaining spouse some sense of Security knowing they can get help a said Pamela Samms another morale welfare and recreation worker card holders will be Able to Cut through red tape officials said. / for example the card will entitle a spouse to get a temporary Extension in a private vehicle registration even if the title is held Iii he name of the deployed spouse. And it can be used to get an Extension of a regular id card while the sponsor is in saudi Arabia several mar agencies Are planning specials aimed at the card holders she said the Auto crafts shop will provide towing services at a reduced rate for example other agencies including Legal person Nel and the Provost marshal will try to offer More assistance to spouses unaccustomed to dealing with military paperwork the program is the brainchild of Dennis Menard chief of Baum older a army Community service. The cards which Are the same size As a military id card will Bear the Community a desert shield logo instead of a photo and the Deputy Community commanders signature. Distribution Wilt be strictly controlled. In Ramstein a Germany a amps a a fire in a mail truck headed for Ramstein a Over the weekend damaged 44 pieces of mail. More than 500 other pieces of mail were not damaged. A the truck travelling frown Frankfurt to Ramstein on autobahn 6 saturday afternoon was carrying space available first class second class and express mail. The mail run was an extra delivery to help ease the heavy volume of mail being received at Frankfurt an unidentified american Driver noticed  fire and signalled the army Driver to pull Over near the Enken Bach Altenborn exit East of Kaiserslautern within minutes German firefighters arrived and put out the fire outside the rear of the trailer according to air Force officials when the Driver opened the trailer he found the mail on fire. He began throwing out the burning mail and the firefighters extinguished the flames before the mail was destroyed. / a some pieces friction from a locked up rear wheel Assembly apparently ignited the fire which damaged 28 express Mait a a letters and packages in All 40 pieces of mail were damaged by fire and four were damaged by water. Ramstein information management workers were called in to remove the mail from the damaged truck and account for each piece. People whose mail was damaged can Contact the Ramstein postal Section for assistance abets 48q-7857 or civilian 06371-47-6165