European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 22, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                It 1st class Kenneth Dawkins arrives in saudi Arabia with Vii corps hoops from Stuttgart Germany. Dawkins says he a feels Good Quot and that his soldiers a feel they can perform the  Page 14 a the stars and stripes a \ a a a a. A. A a amp a saws. A sir f f Tois a it soldiers from Europe make their Home in a warehouse in saudi Arabia for several Days while they wait for their equipment to arrive. Once its there they move on out to the desert and resume training. A or t \ a lzygrfc13t a of 1 Ait t Vic i ii >11 i i i i pc Lwy High a a ill Row a 1 11 i i a i. We ii a i i la 1 Kansas it s not but there Are Beds of a sort a a a cots. Ana he frets will do Fot breakfast at an intermediate staging area in saudi Arabia where this sign greets newcomers. Story and photos by Debra Fowler special to the stars and stripes. To not Home but Vii corps soldiers Al a port in saudi Arabia Are doing their Best to transform football Field v sized warehouses into places they can Call their own at least for  As they wait for ships to Dock with their equipment the a troops have built chairs and ramshackle dressers out of packing crates set up a camouflaged Chapel and created a Christmas tree from Green Kitchen scrubbing pads and water bottle Caps. A. A a a a a a once their tanks helicopters and other equipment arrive a the soldiers will move into the saudi desert Many . The port. But for a week or two a and sometimes longer Quot a a a they live in warehouses lining the shimmering persian Gulf. A under a Clear Bue sky. A. A  a a. A a. Quot these troops came Here from the Airfield Quot said master sgt Robert Coleman of the 1st inf div fed which is responsible for port operations. Task Force 4ih in 16th inf from go Pingen Germany had claimed part of a. A warehouse and was unloading ships. A a. A p. A. The warehouse setup is a bit startling at first. Each. Building is lined with Row upon Row of cols where soldiers a Steep almost shoulder to shoulder. A. A a. In some warehouses troops have put together hut like. Structures for More privacy. On one a Home a sign hangs welcoming visitors to the Quot Hyatt Regency saudi  the outdoor showers sinks and latrines May not be Hyatt a Standard but the soldiers Are clean and dust free for their first weeks in the country. A ,. During the Day when there Are no ships Wun Foad. A Quot soldiers fish in the Gulf or feed the fish they read play cards a or football and wait. A. A a Quot its not too bad a said pfc Donald Moorash with Sqq a Quot this is a big adjustment but we re mosf7-Aid-Back today waiting for the ships to come  a. A. As for the fish Moor said they a Tike or is Tetter than we grunts  a a. I. A. Quot this is shocking at first Bull think most people Are in pretty Good spirits Quot said 1st i. Stacy Grams with the 793rd my in from Nurnberg Germany. Grams hovered Over one of the outdoor sinks As she a washed her clothes nearby clotheslines were full of a. Uniforms. A a a a. A. A a a a a. K a a Quot we re trying to make it As comfortable As possible Quot she. Said. A \ t a Quot in a doing of Quot said pfc Randall Harris of cob 4th in 16th inf. Quot its been an adjustment to five Here but in a  each warehouse has a mayor who essentially runs the a warehouse Community and All the units in it. The mayors a Confer every evening. A. B r in Coleman s warehouse the mayor a a lieutenant. \ colonel battalion commander a has set up private dressing areas for male and female soldiers privacy is a much a a a. Treasured thing because there Isnit much. Quot if the leadership is Good the troops will understand and will do anything they re asked Quot Coleman said. Quot Here the. Leadership is Good. The emphasis is on the welfare of the. The 4th in 16th inf As port handlers runs a 24-hour operation when there Are ships to be unloaded. Quot the soldiers Are so occupied doing what they re doing and the intensity gets so great that they can t worry about. A a things Quot Coleman said Quot sometimes they work 12 to 15. Hour Days so this situation can be worse on the wives Back in Germany because they have More time to sit around and  a a a Quot a a a  a. As Coleman walked through the warehouse several Vij corps soldiers sat playing cards or talking in Small groups. A a makeshift Christmas Trees could be spotted Here . A Quot i think a lot of troops feel that Evert if they done to have a great Christmas if their folks at Home have a Good Chris i Mas then that s Good Quot Coleman said Quot the soldiers. Know  have their Christmas false. Their concern is that they Don t want  Back Home worrying about them. They re doing . ,. Fowler is a writer photog rapier or the . Army Europe 8 command information program tents Are Home for soldiers arriving in the desert from the 2nd army Cav regt. Across from their tents is a Row of showers. Saturday. December 22,1990 the stars and stripes k h k Page 15