European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Strolling and socializing Gay sergeant piles up the Miles by Betty Luma staff writer. A Volks marching is he no fuss form of hiking. It requires Little planning a All you have to do  a location from the list in thursday s stripes Magazine and shove up with comfortable walking shoes. The local Volks marching club does the rest a marking 10-Kilometer and 20-Kilometer trails providing rest stops with refreshments and rounding out the Day with awards for everyone hot food and often live music. A for Many americans Volks marching is a social event a Chance for non strenuous exercise and the Opportunity to see More of Europe. Not to mention adding colourful Beer mugs decorative plates and medals to their collection of european souvenirs. But for some Volks marching is a passion that consumes every weekend. John hamper a staff sergeant at Sembach a Germany has completed almost 1,600 marches for a total of 37,600 Kilometres 23,312 Miles. He usually marches 100 Kilometres 62 Miles every weekend leaving Home Between 3 a a. And 4 . On saturdays and putting 300 to 600 Miles on his car As he drives around Central Europe to the events. Quot i like to do a Marathon and 20 Kilometres on saturday a two 10s or one 20,&Quot he said Quot then on sunday i like to do two 20s or another  while some serious runners tackle the 42-Kilometer marathons and Shorter trails most participants in the non competitive events Are walkers. A a a a a. Quot i m always walking Quot said hamper 36. Quot sometimes i la run downhill. Probably won t run More than a couple of Kilometres in a . A. An average. 10-Kiiometer walk takes hamper an hour and a half while a 20-Kilometer walk will take him three hours both average times for frequent Volks marchers. He completes marathons in six to seven hours., hamper went on his first vol Smarch by Accident. Quot my second weekend in Germany the first thing i wanted to do was go to. The Golf course Quot said hamper who. Began a four year tour at Ramstein a in 19 30. Quot but it was closed for a tournament. So i started walking out the Back  a a a a a a a during his wandering he came across a vol Smarch checkpoint where hikers have their March tickets stamped by vol Smarch volunteers. Hamper then walked to the Start of the March and followed the Trail to its end. Quot my first tour i did maybe 40 Kilometres a weekend Quot he said. Quot when i came Back to Germany in 1986, that s when i started doing the 80 and beyond thing Quot hamper Seldom collects the mugs and plates offered As. Prizes by the vol Smarch clubs. Quot ill always get the Marathon Patch. I la Only get the medal if it s very Nice or it s a special walk. The rest of the time i m just going for the stamp Quot he said  the imprint in his vol Smarch booklets proving completion of marches. A a a. \ but in the beginning hamper also collected the souvenirs. Quot my first tour got enough stuff that when i was living in Nebraska. I called one room in my apartment the Nebraska museum of Fine  hampers Volks marching was t interrupted when he was stationed at. Offutt fab neb., from 1984 to 1986. Quot i usually got in a couple a month. During the two years i was at Offutt i logged 109 events and 2,500  he also put 60,000 Miles on his car a Quot three fourths a a of it for Volks  i hamper who is single is a computer Programmer for the 2134th comm so. Fie  alone. Quot i be been  join my German club for one bus trip a year. Normally,-1 know so Many people on these Wai is that i Don t feel like i be gone   is stumped when asked if he has a least favorite vol Smarch. But he s Quick to say that his favorite 0-kilo.meter vol Smarch is in Hiil Tig Ler Germany. The annual walk is the weekend before St. Nicholas 6anda  a for ass. Sgt. Daniel Elkins John hamper displays patches earned for reaching milestones. Hamper adds to the merriment of the yuletide ent. Quot bring Little goodies that i pass out to the kids Quot he a his current personal goal is to March 40, because that s just Over the distance Amund the world at the Equator. Quot i m hoping to make it in november i be got a special 1 walk picked out Quot in  Germany he said. Quot i be known the members of the club now for 10 years. I la probably know two weeks in Advance whether that will be the . A. And once he hits 40,000?. Quot i m going  going. I la just keep  an Arrow directs hikers to turn left for the 10-Kiiometer Trail. A amps belly Luman w stripes Magazine june 20, 1991