European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 3, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 a the stars and stripes Friday january 3, 1992 army to Mark subtraction of divisions from Germany division changes effective Jan. 17 by Vince Crawley staff writer army ceremonies in mid january will recognize that the american land Force in Germany has been effectively Cut in half officials say. Two mechanized divisions that guarded Western Europe during the cold War Are now Skeleton forces and will be formally retired Jan. 17. A four divisions will go to two in Ope Day a said maj. Doug Curtis spokesman for the 8th inf div which will be re flagged Jan. 17. The ceremonies sort out on paper what has already happened in fact. One third of the army a planned european draw Down is completed with 40,000 soldiers Many of whom were assigned to the 1st army and 3rd army divisions having departed from Germany since Early summer. The result will be two Active divisions in Germany the 1st army in bad Kreuz Nach and the 3rd inf in Wurzburg. A mechanized division whether infantry or Armor has about 17,000 troops 300 tanks and 350 armoured personnel carriers. The previously planned ceremonies come less than a month after the breakup of the soviet Union the divisions former cold War adversary. A a it a a different world in 1992 than the world of the last 40 years Quot Gen. Gordon r. Sullivan the army chief of staff said in a recent associated press interview. A we would be foolish not to  Sullivan is among the top military officials who will attend the ceremonies which officials Are calling a historic Milestone. Two of Europe a four divisions 1st army and 3rd army both fielded More than 20,000 troops during the persian Gulf War. Their remnants now number a few Hundred people. The 3rd army div headquartered in Frankfurt will be retired from duty on the morning of Jan. 17. Its flags will be then returned to the United states for formal deactivation later. The 1st army div based in Ansbach Germany has also been stripped of nearly All its manpower. However officials want to keep the unit on Active duty so its flags will move across the country and be unfurled Over an existing division. During this second ceremony on the afternoon of Jan. 17, the flags of the 8th inf div will be retired and the division will then be rechristened As the 1st army div. The 1st army is scheduled to formally depart from Ansbach on Jan. 16. Once troop withdrawal targets Are reached 92,200 soldiers will be left in and around Germany with about a third assigned to the two Man Euver divisions. The announced deadline for this pullout is october 1995, but an official in Washington has privately said the pullout is two years ahead of schedule. Some politicians though Are calling for even greater troop cuts than those already approved. During a dec. 15 televised debate of presidential candidates sen. Tom Harkin a Lowa argued that since Germany is paying to feed and House part of the former red army it makes Little sense for american taxpayers to foot the Bill for defending Germany from a non existent soviet threat. Pentax up planners however Are still keeping their eyes on the East. The soviet Union May have evaporated Over Christmas but its military did not. And republics within the new Commonwealth Are sharply divided on How much conventional military might they should Wield. Russian president Boris Yeltsin said his nation May create a 30,000-Man militia while Ukraine wants to Field an army of half a million. A Summit among leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent states last week failed to resolve the  motorcyclists required to Don helmets los Angeles up More than 800,000 California motorcyclists Are now required by Law to strap on a helmet before hitting the Road but offenders Are getting a Grace period from some Law enforcement agencies. The controversial new Law was decried faces it places by bikers but hailed by police and the insurance Industry. It had survived a last minute court Challenge and took effect at one minute past Midnight wednesday. The California Highway patrol announced it would immediately begin writ ing tickets to motorcyclists without helmets said cup officer Teri Dzida. The cup predicts the helmet Law will Cut motorcycle fatalities by 25 percent to 35 percent. The Law requires both the motorcycle Driver and passenger to Wear a helmet while Riding. Violators can receive fines up to $100 for the first offence and up to $250 for subsequent tickets. The los Angeles police department is allowing motorcyclists to go helmet less for one month said officer Neal person of the Lapdis Central traffic  Sagan tops poll As smartest american from wire reports Star Gazer Carl Sagan is the smartest person in the United states according to a vote by readers of Parade Magazine. Advised of the polls result the astronomer responded with a Paradox a a Good definition of intelligence is understanding How Little we understand of what there is to  persian Gulf War hero retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf was no. 2 on the list followed by columnist William f. Buckley jr., pcs television network newsman Bill Moyers and president Bush. No. 6 was consumer advocate Ralph Nader while former president Jimmy Carter was ranked seventh and former Texas congresswoman Barbara Jordan former Secretary of state Henry Kissinger and joint chiefs of staff chairman Gen. Colin l. Powell rounded out the top 10. Madonna did no to make the top 20 list but she did gel three More votes than deposed White i Louse chief of staff John Sununu. Joined it to the first apartment with a spiral staircase and created a real bedroom with a canopied lace covered bed. A a it a so satisfying to feel ast Hough i have a Home a she said. Rock Star helps hungry Rock musician Ted Nugent donned a new role this week. The a motor City madman served Venison at a salvation army soup Kitchen in Detroit on tuesday. The heavy Metal Rocker ladled out a Venison noodles from 200 pounds of donated fresh Deer meat Nugent shot three of the Deer himself. He paid $35 per Deer to have the meat processed according to Michigan Law before donating it to the salvation army a Bagley and Harbor Light centers. Nugent is part of the Michigan sportsmen against hunger program which involves safari club International and Michigan United conservation clubs. Feminist feathers her nest Bart site vandalized after living in the same apartment for nearly 25 years feminist Gloria Steinem says she a finally making her House a Home. �?o1 had lived in the apartment for at least four or five years before i found out the oven did no to work a Steinem 57, told vanity fair in an interview in its january 1992 Issue. �?o1 done to know Why it took me so Long to realize you need to have a Home. 1 guess i thought it was just something other people  since 1967, Steinem had lived in and worked out of a two room apartment with a loft bed in a Manhattan Brownstone. Her Busy career As a journalist is. Magazines founder and feminist activist left her Little time to attend to Domestic matters. But with a $700,000 Advance for her forthcoming Book revolution from within a Book of self esteem she bought a second apartment in the building Marble markers were vandalized at the site of former president Fords birth but they will Likely be restored without noticeable damage an Omaha neb., official said. Black aerosol paint was used to deface about 12 markers at the Park sometime during Christmas eve or Christmas Day nights said Jerry flood City maintenance superintendent. Maintenance workers used a variety of solvents to remove the paint without damaging the Stone or the markers finish flood said tuesday. The vandals painted the markers with satanic symbols xes and Wavy lines. One Marker was sprayed with the words Quot sex is 1.�?� the Gerald r. Ford birth site and gardens Marks the site of the victorian House where the nations a come on Down. It s bargain time at harrods. Singer Diana Ross wearing a harrods Cap joins owner Mohamed Al Fayed for the London department store s famous january Sale. For the first time in 143 years the exclusive store held its sate on new year s Day. 38th president was bom july 14, 1913. The House was torn Down in 1971 after a fire. Omaha businessman James m. Paxson purchased the land in 1974, developed the site and gardens and donated it to the City. Ford spoke at the dedication of the site in september 1977