European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 17, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday March 17, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 3in the Gulf a a r soldiers of the cavalry platoon of the 4th in 32nd Armor 3rd army div play a beaner a a game they invented to kill time while waiting in the Sands of the desert. A amps John Millaris invent game to kill time in the desert by John Millar Middle East Bureau Northern Kuwait the games called a a beanery and the players try to keep a soccer Ball in the air by a bean Inge it with their Heads. Its not Clear whether anyone actually keeps score but no matter. The object Isnit to win. Its to keep your mind occupied. Soldiers of a 3rd army div cavalry Pla Toon invented the game to kill time and ease the stress of desert living. It requires intense concentration and a Large amount of camaraderie. Beaner also helped the soldiers get their minds off their War experiences the onrushing iraqi tanks the masses of enemy troops. And for a while,.it keeps them from thinking of the two platoon members they lost or How Long its been. A amps John Millar pfc. Jeff Dausman kills time Reading on the rear deck of his Bradley fighting vehicle. Since they be seen their families and friends Back Home. The platoon part of the divisions 4th in 32nd Armor has been on the move since december they arrived in saudi Arabia from Germany on dec. 29 and were on the leading Edge of the division when it slashed at the heart of iraqis Republican guard in february. Spec. Lance Bowers a Bradley gunner vividly remembers having an iraqi t-72. Tank in his sights., a i was very scared a said the 21-year-old from Pecos Texas a when its coming right at you it makes your heart Stop for awhile. There were times when i definitely had flashes going through my mind that i Wasny to going to make it out of  when Bowers sighted in a Tow missile on the tank it was Only about 200 Yards away heading straight toward him. He said it took about three seconds for the Tow to reach its target. Bradley Driver pfc. Daniel Hornbeck said the explosion was so Bright he temporarily lost his vision. A the caught on lire a Hornbeck said of the t-72. A i never saw steel Burn before but it  the cavalry unit lost pfc. Adrian Stokes and staff sgt. Christopher Stephens when their Bradley was hit by an iraqi tank that appeared suddenly Over a Ridge. The tank was eventually destroyed hut the platoon did no to Advance Over the Ridge choosing instead to hang Hack and tend to their dead and wounded. Bowers said the unit rolled Over the Ridge the next Day and found traces of a Large iraqi Force. A if we would have pulled up on that Ridge the night before there a no telling what would have happened.�?T. First it. James Barker the platoon Leader said it took awhile for the deaths to sink in. A it Wasny to until the cease fire that was the beginning of the Healing process for us All first it. James Barker that we had a Chance to think about what had happened and the loss that had taken place a and that a when it really hit  the cavalry troopers gathered for a memorial service on March 3. A that was the beginning of the Healing process for us All a Barker said. A the Guys have always been tight but i think because of this we have a group of Guys you really  separate  with the Battle behind them the cavalry soldiers spend time like so Many did before the War. They dream about food and look Forward to mail Call. The soldiers have also tried to make their Sandy outpost More liveable. They dug a Large split level pit inside the semicircle of their five parked Bradley fighting vehicles the Call the Hole their living room and its a place to shoot the Breeze or write Home. Sgt. 1st class Dennis Mcmasters the platoon sergeant said he and Barker do what they can to keep the rumours to a minimum by telling the troops everything they know. A a rumours kill. They kill Hopes and they kill dreams a Demasters said. No one has a Good idea about when they will go Home Only that they All deserve to. A a they re doing Well now a Barker said. A a they be come to grips with what happened now they want to go