European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 a a a the stars and stripes sunday january 20, 1991in the Gul warthogs Root out nests of missiles other targets in the first two editors note this article is based on information gathered by Pentagon Pool reporters at an air base in saudi Arabia by the stars and stripes . Air Force a-10 tank killers adopting a new role in the Middle East offensive have destroyed eight iraqi scud missile launchers. It the pilots headed into the pre Dawn sky toward Iraq shortly after fridays missile attacks on Israel and Eastern saudi Arabia. The seven missiles that landed in Israel did Little damage. The one directed toward saudi Arabia was destroyed by a Patriot missile. A normally we would be doing close air support for the troops but they figure Why have planes sitting on the ground and they changed Pur Mission to doing interdiction a said Gol. Sandy Sharpe commander of the 354th tac fighter Wing Aira All of the a-10s in saudi Arabia. 15 the a-10 thunderbolts known As warthogs because of their stubby unsightly appearance have attacked tanks artillery vehicles and o Days of this War. Capt. Mark Koechle a 29-year-old from Kokomo ind., and a member of the 74th tac fighter so 23rd tac fighter Wing said he destroyed two scud Sites before mid morning Friday. A you bet it was thrilling a he said. A i was apprehensive going to the target but once i got there i just went about my  Koechle said he used bombs Maverick missiles and 30mm guns to take out the Sites while encountering virtually no resistance. A a we be come to the conclusion Over the past few months that they Are not very smart a he said. Koechle was accompanied on his attack by 1st it. Don Henry 27, a former commercial Pilot who said he destroyed a third site on the raid. A i was elated a he said. A this is the most thrilling and satisfying thing knowing i could have saved Many Many lives.�?�-,a a a a a a a a a a a a a a the attacks represent the first time the a los have been used in combat. Also its the first time most of the pilots have seen combat. A a in be been training for this for years a said capt. Eric Malomson who flew four missions Over Kuwait on thursday. A a in a glad to have been Here since the first Day. In a proud to have dropped some bombs on these Guys. We n the a-10 May be the ugliest plane in the air Force Arsenal but it does t need Good looks to perform its lethal Job. A file could hardly wipe the smiles off our faces. A the Only Way we re going to beat these Guys is to keep All the jets flying All the time. I done to have a lot of hate for these Guys because i think they have bayonets at their backs. But our Job is to kill. I plan to reap terror out  a col. David a. Sawyer commander of the 23rd tac fighter Wing said his Wing and the 354th tac fighter Wing included Only about six people with previous combat experience. A by the end of the Day Friday almost All of our pilots were combat veterans a he said. Sharpe and Sawyer said their two wings had flown about 400 sorties before the end of the second Day of the War. They lost no aircraft but two planes were hit by anti aircraft fire encountered along the saudi Border with Iraq and Kuwait. Both planes incurred Only minor damage and were repaired by Friday afternoon. I the two men said the effectiveness rate of their a-10 pilots was about 80 percent. A a we re getting the Job done and we re not losing aircraft a Sawyer said. 11. A in the Gulf Wurzburg military Community cracks Down on nightlife to thwart terrorists m a Page 4 Cis have to Hustle after getting late Alert a a Page 5 Vii corps troops Are just biding their time Page 5 Nornberg Community offering round the clock help to worried family members a Page 6 military flights to help evacuate americans in saudi Arabia Bahrain. A Page 6 High tech arms proving to be a dazzling Success a pag8 7 jordanians Hopes Are lifted As Iraq strikes Back. A Page 8 _. Israelis making uneasy players in waiting game Page 8 even 4-footed troops benefiting from flood of Gulf donations by Janet Howells Tierney Washington Bureau Washington a three month Supply of dog food and one Jukebox Are on the latest list of donated items being shipped to saudi Arabia. The dog food All 6,000 pounds of it is being sent by Lams pet foods in Dayton Ohio to brighten the lives of the More than 100 military pooches serving As bomb sniffers and guard dogs. A Jukebox a gift of Wurlitzer in Long Island City n.y., will arrive at one of two saudi ports where its final destination will be decided. Nearly 425 people and companies have donated mass quantities of snack food Reading material and other items to troops in the persian Gulf. About 274 donations had been shipped As of Jan. 11. More than 1,120 offers of free merchandise have reached the defense logistics Agency since the troop buildup in the Gulf began it. Col. Henry Wyatt said. A the military has never had to Deal with this Type of thing before. There is no precedent a said Wyatt a Reserve signal officer called up in september to Deal with the crush of donation offers. His office gets about 60 Calls a Day from potential donors he said. Many Are rejected either because they May offend saudi arabian sensitivities or because they simply Are Nof Worth shipping to the Gulf. Those donations that Are accepted Are loaded on a military Container ship with regular cargo. The trip to either Dhahran or Riyadh takes about 30 Days Wyatt said. In saudi Arabia the shipments Are allocated on a geographical basis each area receiving a share based on its percentage of total service members he said. Most of the merchandise is directed toward rest and relaxation commodities in Short Supply now that War has begun. Thousands of games magazines and books donated while the Media were reporting on troop boredom continue to arrive on a regular basis. Other items Are meant to please palates dulled by the Bland military rations. Bruno Pepper co., of Lodi calif., donated 280 cases of pickled peppers. Beverage mix Popcorn pretzels cookies and Candy Are donated frequently. Those with the inclination can Strum one of 60 guitars sent from a amps Public relations in Northbrook 111. And to keep memories of americana alive two companies have donated More than 1. 2 million football and baseball cards to service members. A we sent out individual cards for them to Trade a said a spokeswoman for the pro set inc. In Dallas. A we wish they were bored enough again to enjoy  coverage of remains barred at Dover fab Dover Del. Up a the Pentagon said Friday it is barring reporters from covering the return of remains at Dover fab the military a largest mortuary. In a directive received by the base the department of defense said no services would be held at Dover unless it was the Home base of the unit involved. In the past casualties were escorted off the air plane by a service Honor guard and services were held. Base information officer capt. Chris Geisel said it always has been the decision of the individual serv ice Branch whether to hold a ceremony. The directive said a the location of individual memorial services will be deter mined by the families of the deceased. The decision on unit memorial services will be made by the units. No services Are planned at Dover fab unless Dover is the Home of the unit. A we do not expect to allow news Media coverage of remains transfers at Dover