European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 29, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday december 29, 1990 the stars and stripes a a crisis in the Gulf  unload Black Hawk helicopters from the Nassau registered freighter asyl cygnus at a port in Eastern saudi Arabia. Sis Koncul Lusan. Cruise or not by Ken Clauson Middle East Bureau Eastern saudi Arabia most Vii corps soldiers fought Snow and ice while preparing for their deployment from Germany to saudi Arabia but spec. Steve Easlick basked in the Mediterranean Sunshine swam in the red sea and called his mom on Christmas from the persian Gulf. It was All just part of the Job for Easlick a 26-year-old 3rd army div tank Driver. After All someone had to take the cruise from Europe to saudi Arabia to keep an Eye on the trucks and tanks and helicopters packed into the hold and on the top deck of a cargo ship. Easlick and 10 other soldiers All volunteers joined the Canadian Crew of the Nassau registered freighter asyl cygnus to make a trip tourists usually pay big Bucks for. From a dutch port the soldiers headed through the Atlantic Ocean then the Mediterranean sea Suez canal red sea and finally the persian Gulf / most of the thousands of combat and support vehicles Vii corps is shipping to saudi Arabia Are being transported by commercial vessels from ports in Bremer hav ii in Northern Germany Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Antwerp Belgium the ships Are arriving in Eastern saudi Arabia almost daily and offloading teams of soldiers Are working around the clock to stage the vehicles and aircraft for arriving units. A a it was rough the first couple of Days but after that it was pretty smooth a Easlick said of the 20-Day voyage. Once the ship sailed into the red sea it was warm enough for deck top sunbathing and swimming in the ships Pool said Easlick who said he volunteered for the trip because he had never been on a ship before shipboard duties for the soldiers were pretty Light he admitted. Each Day the soldiers checked the military equipment for Oil and fuel leaks and made sure the tie Down cables were tight. They also helped out the ships Crew when needed even picking up brushes and joining in the traditional grungy work experienced by All sailors painting the superstructure but the soldiers had plenty of much appreciated time to relax and even make a couple of phone Calls to the United states Easlick said a a i called my mom twice a he said. �?�1 called once from the med and called on Christmas Day from the persian &Quot,11 v \ a it Quot \ a a a a a a a a a. A a a a a a -s4s Ken Clauson spec. Steve Easlick normally drives a tank but volunteered to cruise with equipment from Europe to saudi Arabia. Gulf. I just said everything was All right and that i m of. She a worried about me but she understands what we re  Quot. A. Because the soldiers could not make Calls to Germany Easlick smother then called his wife Shelly and 3-year-pld daughter Megan who Are waiting for him in Gellhausen Germany. A i have no worries he said of his family in Germany. A a they re going to be taken care  a a a a the cultural highlight of the cruise was probably the trip through the Suez canal he said. A that was really a Shock because we saw All the anti aircraft guns and camels along the  1 the trip also gave him time to reflect on his upcoming Job of driving a tank for troop a 3rd so 8th Cav regt he a driven tanks in the desert before but that was in the Mojave desert in California and the desert outside fort Bliss Texas which he just left in March. Desert shield driving will Likely be much different he said a it gave me time to prepare myself. I had a lot of time to think about what s going on and had a Chance to get my mind in the right Frame for this a at mealtime aboard the ship the soldiers and 23 Crew members Drew together like family and often talked about the Gulf crisis and the role of ame rican soldiers in the Region. A what made Al Good was the support of the ship s Crew. They talked to us every night and told us what they thought. They re really supportive of us and that made me feel Good a Easlick said. A that support really helped us a. Jot knowing that someone from another country supported what we Are  a. Now Washington a amps Telephone Calls from saudi Arabia to Germany Are now possible using an at amp to calling card and us direct. Since the us direct service was first offered in the Middle East on oct. 3, serv ice members have been Able to dial 1-800100 to reach an operator in the United states. Now by dealing the same number troops can be connected to Germany. A this will make it easier for military Perr sonnet to keep in touch with their families in Germany a said Margaret Barrett at amp to a International consumer services director. A 10-minute Call from saudi Arabia to Germany costs $27.12, said Lynn Newman an at amp to spokeswoman. Callers will be charged $4.91 for the first minute and $2.19 for each additional minute. A $2.50 Standard fee is added to All us direct Calls Newman said. Earlier this past week at amp to officials apologized for mistakenly Billing about 25.000 people for phone Calls that the company promised were for free. Between nov 20 and 27, troops in saudi Arabia were allowed to place free Calls to the United slates. More than 140.000 phone Calls were placed during the Campaign. A massive computer foul up caused the erroneous Billings and officials said no one in operation desert shield will have to pay the Bills. If families in the United slates were billed their accounts will be credited and they should ignore the Bills officials said. A a it Sas if it never happened a said Rick Wallenstein at amp to spokesman. A a there a no Way we re going to charge people for our  n