European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 6, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday april 6, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 9kaiserslautern area water polluted by Peggy Davidson Kaiserslautern Bureau Kaiserslautern. Germany a people who live on two caverns or in military housing on the East Side of Kaiserslautern have been warned not to drink the water because of accidental contamination. Workers were replacing lines and valves on the water lines at Danner Cavern when part of a line in the same system broke at Kleber Cavern on March 28, said John Purdy Deputy director for engineering and housing for the 29th area support group. The broken line was repaired by the next Day and people served by the line were warned not to drink the water until it could be tested. The water lines which legally must be a meter and a half about 5 feet above the military sewer lines were contaminated with dirt and mud. After testing the water the environmental health officials from Lan Stuhl army regional medical Center determined that the water is not Safe to drink. As part of their testing health officials found that serious sewage contamination existed in the water in the Barracks at Danner Cavern Purdy said. He said the sewage contamination was not caused by the broken line but rather by soldiers who attempted to rid their Barracks of the smell of sewage. V some of the Barracks still have old German sewerage systems that do not include traps to keep sewage from backing up Purdy said. To solve the problem Soldier attached hoses to nearby faucets put the other end in drains in the floor and turned on the water. If the water was turned off whatever was in the Drain would Back up into the water lines Purdy said. Engineering officials have no idea How Long soldiers at Danner have been using this method or whether soldiers in other Harracks Are using the same method Purdy said. But officials will be checking All the Ijar Racks to determine the condition of be plumbing. Purdy said that eventually All the drains will be updated with traps to eliminate the  contamination in the water is strictly bacteria and carries no traces of Lead or chemicals Purdy said. There have been no reports of anyone getting  because of the contamination said a spokeswoman for the 29th area support group. Lisa Kendall a spokeswoman for the 29th, said soldiers who live in the Barracks at either Cavern or in military housing along Mannheimer Strassl can safely Shower As Long As they have no open sores. Purdy added that the water should not he used to Brush Teeth or be splashed in the eyes. People who want to use the water for Cooke a or drinking should boil it for at least five minutes he said. Residents of the housing on Mann Cimer Strasse will not have any water on today Purdy said. German contractors were to begin Flushing out the system today. The system should be Back on line by monday or tuesday Kendall said. Purdy said the project to replace the valves and pipes was conceived last year during the dry summer. The original valves have been in place for More than 50 years he said. A we re suffering from 50 years of neglect with this  Parachute team accepting applications fort Bragg . The army is taking applications for tryouts for its Golden knights Parachute team. Applications must be received by the team no later than july 1, to obtain an application Active duty soldiers meeting the teams prerequisites can write to the commander . Army Parachute team attention tryout no . Box 70126, fort Bragg  28307. Corps birthday nears Heidelberg Germany a the army corps of engineers will celebrate its 216th birthday with a Ball on May 17 in Heidelberg. A the Cost per ticket is $25 or 36 German Marks. The Castle Ball is open to Active duty Reserve and retired corps of Engineer officers warrant officers and civilians As Well As Engineer unit sergeants major and first sergeants and the spouses of engineers deployed to the Middle East. Those interested in attending should Contact their local Engineer  Ball set june 29 Heidelberg Germany the 1991 euro Pearl regimental signal Ball will be held june 29 at the Heidelberg officers club signal corps officers warrant officers Field artillery 53 specially officers signal unit command sergeants major and civilians in grades gs-13 and above Are invited to attend the event which begins at 5 30 . Gen. Crosbie e. Saint the Usa eur commander is the guest speaker for the Ball. Those interested in attending should Contact their unit signal representative or Call capt. Rick Howard or 1st it. Kris Kirchbaum at ets 3252728,2790 or 2775 immig Rati on filing fees will Rise starting thursday Frankfurt Germany a filing fees at . Immigration and naturalization service offices worldwide will increase substantially on thursday immigration officials in Frankfurt said. Applications most commonly filed by military personnel and the fees include the new alien registration card increasing from $35 to $70. Petition for alien relative from $40 to $75 application for parole of an alien into the United states from no fee to $65 application for advanced processing of orphan petition from $100 to $140 petition to classify an orphan As an immediate relative from $75 to $140 application to file a petition for naturalization from $60 to $90 application to file a petition for naturalization on behalf of a child from $50 to $80 and application for a certificate of citizenship from $60 to $90. William l. Bryan officer in charge at Frankfurt said an average of 50g military members file petitions for alien relatives each month in Frankfurt. Most Are serv ice members whose spouses Are not american citizens. Curtain closes on 26th Wing As we Brucken unit inactivates by Deedee Arrington Doke Kaiserslautern Bureau we Brucken a Germany a Donald fluff was a 19-year-old air policeman at Toul Rosier is a France in july 1965 when his base activated a new unit the 26th tac recon Wing. On Friday Huff was on hand to watch the wings Banner sheathed the 26-year-old Wing inactivated at we Brucken a. Huff now a chief master sergeant is the 26th Security police Sqq a operations superintendent at we Brucken where the Wing had been stationed for the past 18 years. A you really done to think about it until it comes up on you a Huff said. A you hate to see it close Down but its done its Job a v the Wing provided Day night and All weather tactical air reconnaissance. It also distributed intelligence information concerning the strength movement and other activities of Friendly and hostile forces we Brucken a is scheduled to close by sept. 30 As a result of defense spending cuts announced last year Mal Gen. James e. Chambers 17th air Force commander commented at a ceremony Friday on the wings contributions which included helping to win the persian Gulf War and end the cold War in Europe. The Warsaw pact Long considered natos key potential adversary dissolved this week Chambers pointed out a what More fitting testament can there be for How Well you did your Job a Chambers said.  received the air Force s outstanding unit award during the ceremony for the period from aug 1, 1989, to March 31, 1991. It was honoured for a Model base closure plan and efforts in the Gulf War among other accomplishments. The 26th tac recon Wing received the award seven times in its 26-year history. Although most of the wines 20 Rf-4c phantom ii aircraft already have left the base a number of person Nel will remain Over the next six months. By May i 1,470 people will be left but that will drop to 796 by july and 76 by september the Wing s closure also Marks a departure from Active service for eight of the aging phantom is one of the 12 that was sent to Bergstrom fab Texas held special memories for it. Col. Michael Mechsner a Pilot assigned to the 26th. It was the first phantom ii he Ever flew As a Young Pilot at Shaw fab s.c., in 1974. He flew the same plane on his final Mission last week. V a Mechsner is disappointed that six of the 26th�?Ts planes will be relegated to Battle damage training at Pitburg and Ramstein air bases in Germany and Aviano a Italy. Such training includes battering the planes and then having Crews fix the damage As practice. A a they re perfectly Good flyable air planes a he said. A you hate to see that happen to a plane a Crew chief polished up for 20 years. Its not a fitting  Huff was More philosophical. A you know weapons systems Are going to change a he said. A a it a got to change.�?�. A big hug for daddy for Sis Doug Curtit or. Sgt. William o. Saavedra gets a Welcome Home hug from his wife Melanie and 2-year-old son Joseph after returning from the persian Gulf. Saavedra was one of two dozen members of the 8th inf dives 25th chemical co who returned to bad Kreuz Nach Germany wednesday after almost five months in the Gulf. The company was attached to the 24th inf div and was involved in action near the iraqi City of Basra