European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 27, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday december 27, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 3 a Yfe crisis in the Gull saudi based gis keep Yule celebrations Light by Joseph Owen Middle East Bureau in Eastern saudi Arabia what a a fitting gift for a Soldier who May be forced to travel Light at a moment s notice members of the 12th aviation brigade awaiting a Call to War on Christmas eve had several answers. Quot the Christmas gift of Choice Down Here now is the  said capt. . Weintraub a staff officer for the brigades task Force Warrior. Weintraub displaying his pocket sized shortwave radio said he and other officers who own such radios Wake up to the British broadcasting corp. And go to bed with the voice of America. It is their chief link to the outside world. News from Home was the  warrant officer 2 Ronald r. Smith provided for fellow soldiers. The oh-58d scout helicopter Pilot assigned to 5th in 158th aviation regt enabled some 20 soldiers to talk to family members in Germany and the United states through the military affiliate radio system or Mars by 9 30 . Monday. One caller Learned that his son was born on Christmas eve. A we got to Patch Hin Vinto the Hospital. He got to talk to his wife and got to hear his new baby cry Quot Smith said. The command gave Smith a week off to go to Germany retrieve 420 pounds of radio equipment and coordinate contacts with a Mars station in Hanau. A this is my own equipment. The Only thing the government supplied is the plywood a Smith said referring to the makeshift table holding All his gear. Out in the darkness away from the brigades main building a few dozen members of the 588th direct support Maint act exchanged gifts in their tent. Sgt. 1st class William Murray opened a Box containing a package of tissues and a homemade souvenir album in which soldiers had written notes of appreciation. He read some aloud at a Brief gift Exchange among unit members monday night. Pm a  a a a. A. A. A is amps Kon Clou Ion sgt. Romeo Montehermoso admires a special chair made for him As their unofficial Barber by fellow 12th aviation brigade soldiers. A it is because of you that i am now handling this situation. I cannot begin to repay you for the Little things you be done forme a Murray said Reading a message from pfc. Antra Randle. His voice wavered a bit. A use the tissues a yelled sgt. Leonard c. Wrice jr., prompting a burst of laughter. A / a a a a a other homemade items changing hands included personalized operation desert shield wooden plaques framed saudi one Riya notes nameplates a wooden audio cassette tape Holder stained with m-16 machine gun Oil a Small wire Camel made of nails and a Model of a howitzer made of nuts and bolts. Old newspapers toilet paper and Silver engine wrapping replaced fancy gift paper ribbons and bows. Spec Christopher Walsh Drew laughs for his a shaving kit Quot a a hand Mirror attached to a Board that featured drawings of a cat and a bottle of milk an apparent reference to his sparse facial hair. Sgt. Romeo Monther Nicoso got the Only non portable gift a a Barber chair made from scrap lumber Complete with electrical cords and outlets for plugging in appliances Montehermoso cuts hair for the whole detachment. Quot in a the Only one who knows How a the Guam native said. A i used to Cui my kids hair when they were Small a. The Celebration was a a kept nearly As Short As the soldiers hair that a the Way. It has to be brigade commander it cot. Paul e. Muelha said. A i done to Tell a Soldier to relax and enjoy the holidays. In be already been in Battle a Murtha said recalling his wartime duty with the 1st air Cav div in Vietnam. A a there a no relaxing going on Here a he said. Quot those soldiers Are ready to go to Battle tonight. Were Home for Christmas by Deedee Arrington Doke Middle East Bureau a Eastern saudi Arabia when senior airman Rodney Smith awoke Christmas Day he found several Small gifts on his bed. The Sheet Metal repairman soon Learned that a lieutenant colonel who shares the tent with Smith and other airmen had played Santa Claus in the Early morning leaving each Man Little remembrances of the Holiday. A you done to expect that Here a said Smith 21, As he waited in line outside an air conditioned tent for his Christmas dinner. A most of the time everyone Here a worried about themselves. Its kind of Nice to see someone think about other  Smith is assigned to the 1st tac fighter Wing normally based at Langley fab a. He arrived in saudi Arabia Only 10 Days ago four months after Many coworkers joined operation desert shield. A we expected ii a Smith said of his deployment to the Middle East. A but we were Lucky. We were Able to have a Little Christmas before i left. We had four months More than these Guys  individual gestures took on added significance this Christmas. Those plus a hot Holiday dinner and a for a fortunate few a Telephone Calls Home were the Only highlights in an otherwise sunny Sandy unremarkable Day in the desert. A a a a greetings of a merry Christmas took on a surreal Quality Given the Lack of visible Holiday trappings the absence of  the typical Arab workday. Some saudis passed along Holiday greetings to americans apparently ignoring signs in arabic that exhorted them to neither talk to the a a sinners nor wis them a merry Christmas. Fears of a possible terrorist act led officials to restrict military personnel to the base according to some airmen. They did not know when the restriction would end. A spokesman at a Central come joint information Bureau would not comment a no women no Beer no off base a what would you do for Christmas a asked staff sgt. Rick Tucker a Crew chief in the 1st tac fighter Wing. But a Little bit of Christmas spirit flourished anyway Christmas dinner was served at 11 . In a tent decorated with Silver garlands coloured lights and paper Bells. The troops feasted on Turkey Ham Sweet potatoes Rolls vegetable Sticks Green and Macaroni salads shrimp cocktail a chocolate Yule log cuke soft ice Cream and  diner received Christmas cards from folks Back at Langley fab and a printed greeting from it. Gen. Charles a. Horner Central air forces commander. The troops began lining up for dinner 45 minutes Early. Usually one can walk right into the maintenance dining Hall without waiting. A the chows great a said staff sgt Tim. Green us the 366th Security police so Mountain Home fab Idaho Green cheery and joking with others Hail talked to his wife and children in the United states earlier in the Day. A a it a a Little hard to talk when you re on the line but you feel Good afterwards a Green said. I be said he told his wife to a hit me if you Ever hear me yell at the kids for bringing Sand in the House again. Everything Here has Sand in  but others were bitter about their Holiday in the desert. One technical sergeant who would not give his name said he resented politicians seasonal visits a for a big piece of the publicity pie a he also Felt betrayed by visiting congressmen a con tinned urging that economic sanctions against Iraq be Given time to work a a they re not Here for 16 hours a Day. They come and go. If they came Here and had to fill sandbags for four months they a be ready to go to War Quot the sergeant said. /. \ a a several vowed they would not spend Christmas 1991 in saudi Arabia. A a you May see a Bunch of us hijacking a bus and heading for the Border of Bahrain a a Young enlisted Man joked. / another said �?o1 May be at fort Leavenworth a military prison in Kansas but i wont be