European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 29, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Edith Eva Eger a psychologist at a seminar in Furth Germany a i Don t think anything can break a marriage that Wasny to broken the storm from the cover infidelity and broken relationships. A the stress of the Gulf is really surfacing Quot said chaplain capt . Roberts who deployed to the Gulf Region with a support battalion from Furth. Germany. A the honeymoon a of coming Back together a is now preliminary results of an army study conducted in and around seven stateside military posts show that during the persian Gulf deployments military divorce rates dropped officials said. But when the War ended the inevitable reunions were less than Blissful for some returning service Meibers and their spouses. A the number of couples who filed for divorce surged for about two months after the troops came Back Quot said la. Col. David Wisl Huison the army s Community and family support Center in Alexandria a. However researchers Are not Overly concerned about lire dramatic jump in military divorces after the War. Quot relationships were changed by the Long deployments. And for some it was just a matter of making up for lost time because they knew the marriage was in trouble before they left for the Middle East Quot Westhuis said. Divorce figures Are about the same now As Levels noted in june 1w0, before operation desert shield began he added. Roberts notes that while the number of people she has counselled recently is about the same As always the intensity of their problems is far worse than before the War. A since the end of the War people Are dealing with huge huge issues Quot she said. Chaplain it. Col Myron Ricketts of the family life Center in Furth ordinarily can help couples resolve problems w within a few months. But now he finds that Many couples arc looking at issues that May take a year to resolve he said. A people Are faced with uncertainty and the illusion of not being in be said. Mary and John Are a real couple in Central Germany. The names Are fictitious. A fall h e wanted to do when he got Home was drink Beer which is kind of understandable but it continued Quot Mary said. A $2110 Supply of liquor disappeared in two weeks As John kept himself in \ virtual seclusion. Quot he never left the Bouse except to Wash his truck a she said. John countered that he drinks less than before he went to saudi Arabia with a multiple launch rocket outfit from the Frankfurt area. He complains that she mismanaged their funds in his absence. Quot you expect certain things to be a certain Way when you get Back a said the 27-Ycar-old sergeant. A i spent a Hundred and some Odd dollars while i was Down there. True she sent me a lot of food and packages but nowhere close to the $3,500 or $4,000 out of our Bank John said she had him thrown in jail on his birthday telling military police he beat her up. Mary 25, said he also assaulted her Best Friend and damaged the friends car with his Boot. Meanwhile she claimed she caught him in bed with another woman. He countered that she was hav ing an affair. Their problems arc no longer just their own. A i got it from the colonel the major my whole Chain has been involved in this Quot he said. Five other married soldiers in his unit Are caught up in similar problems that followed their Homecoming from the desert he said. Quot this has been an absolute Johna sunday september 29, 1991
