European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 7, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday february 7, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 7 War in the Gulf a 1 1 a a 1. V a. 1 a i a. A a a a a 6 a -.,. T _. A. A / a. _ a a. A a a a a. A. Marines gird for Landing in Kuwait by Kathy Evans the associated press aboard the Okinawa in the persian Gulf a thousands of . Marines wait in the bowels of ships to perform the missions they be become legendary for a wading ashore under fire to secure beaches or Landing by helicopter behind enemy lines. A senior Marine commanders say an amphibious assault if it comes will be the most complicated and dangerous task in the combined offensive to retake Kuwait. The marines like the ground forces in saudi Arabia say waiting is the worst part. Those aboard the amphibious assault ship Okinawa expect that when the order comes their assignment will be securing Kuwait City. A a the cities Are More dangerous. You never know where anyone is at you be got to find them a said 21-year-old Lance Chi. Thomas fix from Michigan. The marines he added have for months been making simulated attacks to take the City building by build-., ing. A a a a a it a   aboard ship the marines train endlessly. On the Okinawa Days Are spent in classrooms and ii dismantling weapons. \ the Battle for. The City is expected to pit the marines crack units against the Best of Iraq its Republican guard. Most expect the Battle to be fierce. The marines fighting spirit will be critical says their commander 42-year-old col. George Flinn of new Jersey. A a a a a a a. A a a a a a a the guards have a reputation but that reputation has been earned by fighting different forces than they will face now. I think their reputation might  marines say that once they have gained a foothold they believe the Battle will swing their Way. A fall we have got to do is keep coming at them Quot said Alabama born Lance Cpl. Rod Sturkie. Quot we understand the Republican guards Are a Cut above the rest but then so Are the  the men say they Are prepared for casualties. A most of the people realize they will have heavy casualties but no one likes to talk about it ,�?� said Sturkie. A Over t a a months Quot we got close and a lot of friendships Lvove developed and so we. Don t want to talk about our friends getting  men on the Okinawa have already had a taste of action. L he were there when the tiny Sandbank Island of Al Mara dim was taken last week and the kuwaiti Flag hoisted once again. Quot iraqi soldiers defending the Island had  Days before. In that helicopter assault Large quantities of iraqi weapons and machine guns were Takeh. Marines on the Okinawa Are now training to handle the Kalashnikov the iraqis left  Hussein a notorious look alikes a billboard along interstate 80 in South Hackensack nj., depicts iraqi. President Saddam Hussein with two other notorious world figures. Pictured alongside Saddam right Are two dictators of world War ii notoriety Adolf Hitler of nazi Germany left and Josef Stalin of the soviet Union. This billboard is one of ii in various . Cities through which the Gannett outdoor company is proclaiming its support of american troops in the  s Nephew enlists As army medical aide by Larry Rosenthal the associated press new Haven Conn. A 21-year-old Nephew of president Bush has enlisted As a medic in the army reserves in Hopes of serving in the Gulf War. Training however will keep him stateside for at least 41/ months. Jonathan j. Bush jr., a Junior at Wesleyan University in Middletown Conn., said he signed up Jan. 26 with the 819th army station Hospital out of West Hartford after getting permission to take the semester off. A i just Felt that if everone More Soldier died because there is one less medic Over there i would not feel Good about my self a Bush said tuesday in a Telephone interview from new York City where he is working at his fathers investment firm. The president sent him a note saying he a supports my decision and is proud of me a said Bush a trained emergency medical technician. Amp the son of Jonathan Bush sr., of kill Ingworth Conn., reports to fort Jackson s.c., on feb. 19 for eight weeks of Basic training. He must take 12 weeks of advanced training after Boot Camp before he would be eligible for activation. Bush asked if he could bypass the advanced course so he would be eligible to serve overseas so once according to an army source who spoke on condition he not be identified. The source said Bush was told that Wasny to possible. Bush took a paramedic training program before transferring to Wesleyan from Boston University. I a got experience last summer As a Driver emt emergency medical treatment with the new Orleans health department. A it seemed like Bernie Shaw of can was looking right at me when he said there was a shortage of pm tsp in saudi Arabia Bush told the Middletown press he will apparently be the first enlisted Man in the family Bush said. His father was an army officer and president Bush was a Navy Pilot whose plane was shot Down during world War ii. Lie said that amp Hen he told his parents of his decision a a a they were not altogether thrilled but having explained it to them they were  Bush said he backs his uncles policies in the persian Gult