European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 19, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse 11m Gulf War May have widened Gap Between military and civilians editors note David Wood National Security correspondent for Newhouse news service spent six months reporting and writing these stories. He interviewed More than 100 military men and women from the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff to privates in the persian Gulf from nuclear bomber pilots in North Dakota to recruits and Drill sergeants at Basic training in the. Pine Woods of South Carolina. Spec James Edward Pattle was ready for action when he and fellow members of the 12th aviation brigade from Hanau Germany departed for saudi Arabia in David Wood Newhouse news service with a flourish of Drums an bugles 2,000 cadets execute a precisely machined turn on the clipped Parade ground of the Citadel. Clad in the Gray Wool tunics and brass breastplates of the 19th Century they Parade beneath gothic watchtowers and past Long Black cannons last fired in the doomed defense of the confederacy. They pass the Granite and Bronze memorials to those who fell at chateau Thierry Omaha Beach and the Mekong Delta. Since its founding in 1842, the Citadel has been one of the nation s Premier military academies a shrine to american patriotism. Its cadets like monks of an austere sect undergo a four year regimen of stress and hardship. Ties to Home family and civilian world Are dissolved in their place grows an intense Pride in the cadets own toughness and a fierce Devotion to their fellow novitiate. Their passionate idealism and visions of glory Are honed on a Granite hard ethic of Honor and service a Many of those cadets will soon to commissioned into. The nations armed forces a new generation of americans called to arms. A today s military is a proud All Volunteer professional Force the likes of which America has never seen. A a a a Quot the military is an elite organization a one of the very few left that stands for something Quot says David e Bass a Citadel Cadet soon to be a second lieutenant in the u s. Army. A. A. Quot we believe in the democratic process and in god Quot says Bass 21, a former Eagle scout from the Pine Hills of Central Louisiana. Quot we Are the peacekeepers of the world Quot. A America s professional warriors see themselves As upholding the ancient tradition of the citizen Soldier the greek Ideal that a debt of service to their country a. It is an Ideal they believe that most civilians no longer share. A. A the persian Gulf War has dramatically rekindled. America s Pride in its armed forces at the same time it continued on Page ii wednesday june 19, 1991 the stars and stripes Page i
