European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 1, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Downrange from Bavaria the Only place to be Rita Lane fright and a Friend Arp a among the sad faces bidding troops goodbye. I its amps vines Crowley Quot there was no Christmas Holiday this year for thousands of Germany based soldiers fahd their families. Within weeks of getting the word to go to saudi Arabia the troops of the 1 St armed a and 2ntfarmd Cav regt based in Northern Bavaria a had packed their bags said their farewells and were moving out. By Christmas most. Were gone. R a in Bundlach just North of Bayreuth tankers lined up to Board Airport buses and one trooper joked Quot this is really a top secret army vacation. We re going to the. . A a a a a a in other parts of the parking lot wives cried and fathers hugged their children goodbye. Quot it was an emotional roller coaster for leaders soldiers and family members Quot said it. Col. Scott c. Marcy who commands Tother unit the 3rd so of the 2nd army Cav regt headquartered in Amberg East of Nurnberg /. Quot everybody worried and instantly thought Well what would combat in the desert be like a Quot before last year s collapse of the communist governments Irb system Europe the cavalry regiment s Mission was to patrol the czechoslovakian and former East German Borders. Marcy said that the Job in saudi Arabia would be similar Quot the Mission is the same Down there deterrence it worked real Well on the continent of Europe and we re hoping it works real Well on the arabian . If deterrence does t work the soldiers said they were a ready fora showdown with Iraq. A a Quot no . Pc rce a said maj Gen. Ronald Griffith. Commander of the Ansbach based 1st army div Quot has Ever faced the prospects of combat More ready than the ground Force which has been assembled in the persian  a. A a. V a. Quot when the americans arrive Quot Marcy added Quot Popio pay attention. They Only pay attention because Wear big we re Well equipped we re Good at wha we do. Nobody really wants to fight americans.  How we a achieve lasting  like most soldiers the Squadron commander said he a was t looking Forward to the possibility of fighting. But o. Saudi Arabia he  Quot the Only place to be at this time. There is a feeling of duty and sense of responsibility and considering yourself  among the jest . A t /. Quot most do not really want to be in a shooting fight Quot Marcy said. Quot but with 450,000 great americans Down there the sidelines is not a place to  a. A Effie Bathen Vince Crawley a a a a. A staff writers. A amps Effie bother clockwise from top members of the 3rd so 2nd army Cav regt gather in Amberg Germany to say Farewell to local officials the division Flag of the 1st army div is readied for its trip from Ansbach to saudi Arabia troops from the 2nd army caves 2nd so in Bamberg Board a plane at Nurnberg. Tuesday january 1, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a a Page 13