European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 7, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 a the stars and stripes Friday february 7, 1992 tows european edition col Gene e. Townsend Usan Corn Mander Puma her Bernard a. Zovistoski editor Bill Walker european editor Deborah Sabatier Bryan Nolan news editor City editor Bob Wicker George Manes sports editor special sections editor to write us unit 29400 Apo a 09211 or Postrach 11 14 37 6100 Darmstadt 11, Germany news Tel fax 06155-601416 to Call us dial 06155-601 plus Extension or ets 348-6 plus Extension As follows news ext. 237,255, 282, 226, 326. Sports ext. 225, 269,263, 332,321, 221. Features ext. 230,245,341. Letters to editor ext. 208. Education a Tel Jones ext. 226. Business news ext. 326. News bureaus Bremerhaven Germany Ken Clemson. Building 103, Cert Schurz Cavern Apo a 09080 Telephone ets 3428650 or Duran 0471 -88782. 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Tank Crews who shot 900 Points or better were All Given arms army achievement medals so we were certain that the Crew would receive arc oms army commendation medals. Unfortunately none was awarded because of division policy. Recently i Learned that my gunner. Had his end of tour award downgraded. Seems he did not walk on water. He performed his Job in an exceptional manner for two years but that was not enough. Almost every Soldier who is not a Dir bag received an Aam As an end of tour award. I wanted something better for my Soldier because he had done better than All of his Peers and some of his superiors. Awards Are recognition for a Job done extremely Well not just doing your Job. These two examples describe soldiers who did More than what was asked of them by the army. Unfortunately it seems As though commanders feel that awards Are somehow rationed and that Only a certain number can be Given per year. I firmly believe that arc oms Are special and should stay that Way. But done to set criteria such As no arc oms for tank gunnery. Judge each individual on his or her performance then make the decision. And last but certainly not least never base awards on rank As is done in most units. A sgt. Adam p. Machell Kirch Gons Germany 8 8 4happy with . Cars after Reading and hearing All the made in America car bashing stories i must consider myself to be a very fortunate buyer of american made automobiles. I have found american cars to be the most reliable and to have the lowest maintenance repair record of All the cars i have Ever owned. I too became fascinated with foreign cars Back in 1965 when i made my first foreign car Purchase. I have owned several makes of foreign cars All of which were purchased new. One of these cars was and still is a a a desired luxury make i was fortunate at the time to have a Mechanic who made House Calls to Start the car. Presently i own three american made automobiles each one of which i am pleased and proud to own. I do not regret having made an investment in America and her people. A Philip k. Caltagirone Stuttgart germany8 8 8 Japan a asking for it one would think the japanese would have More sense than to Wake the same sleeping giant twice in one Century. Yet the recent remarks about american workers by Japan a speaker of the House suggest otherwise. He attributes the Trade imbalance Between America and Japan to an undereducated Over paid Lazy american work Force. Besides the Gross inaccuracy and inflammatory nature of his statement his timing shows a disgraceful Lack of judgment on his part. Considering How few americans still advocate negotiating free Trade with Japan it is ill advised for such a powerful japanese political to fire what May turn out to be the first shot in a bloody Trade War. It is unfortunate that in a Trade War there Are economic casualties on both sides. America has tried valiantly and patiently to avoid a Trade War and the inevitable casualties. However it is time to accept the futility of further negotiations with Japan. It is time for president Bush to dust off the a moral equivalent of War metaphor. A master sgt Joseph p. Hanlon Viborg Denmark in editor s note a i letters from readers expressing their viewpoints or opinions Are published daily in this space. All letters must be signed. We Reserve the right to edit letters for clarity length and taste. Preference is Given to Shorter letters so that More can be published in a timely manner. Letters should be addressed to letters to the editor the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. A a a letters requesting information or assistance Are answered in a feature called readers action line which appears on Page 16 every Day except thursday and sunday. Such letters should be addressed to readers action line the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211.time for a comeback the recent round of Japan bashing is somewhat disheartening if not embarrassing. Instead of responding constructively to japanese criticism of american management and workforce our political and business leaders lashed out at so called unfair japanese Trade policy. It is High time that the United states looks in the Mirror. Our country possesses untold ability to produce Quality goods and compete. Yet business and government look to pin blame anywhere they can rather than work together to build a competitive product. Like a stunned prize fighter the United states appears wobbly at the Knees in the present Geo political economic boxing match. Pointing fingers at International trading partners will not solve our Domestic ills. The time is right for our country to once again assert itself economically. Those industries most threatened by foreign Competition must do whatever possible to strengthen themselves. There was once a time when America would rally in the face of such criticism and dire circumstances. Today excuses dominate our business landscape. For there to be a tomorrow american business american workers and american government must recognize our shortcomings eliminate them and orchestrate a return to a position of International superiority and respect in business. A Ensign Greg Egan san Vito Italy 8 8 8a Call to shape up i am a Junior no and find it difficult to Correct my subordinates when actual cos such As team chiefs Section sergeants or even platoon ser letters to the editor Grants without trying to Are in effect setting bad examples for them. For example the regulation on the wearing of headgear in the building is the most overlooked regulation in my battalion. When in be asked a Soldier to remove his her headgear in be been told a i just walked Down the Hall and not one no said anything to me a or Quot sergeant so and so has his headgear  what can a person say when in a situation like that another thing is the Wear of the uniform. I take Pride in my uniform like Many others. Then you have the majority of ragtag cos trying to Lead by example. Does this mean that we should Stop spit shining our boots because our leaders Only Brush Shine theirs or should we Stop pressing our uniforms because our leaders look As if they just jumped out of duffle bags i Hope not. This letter is directed to All cos Junior cos privates and yes even officers. If we Are going to make the military respectable again then we need to Start with ourselves a the sooner the better. A spec. Keith Patterson Frankfort Germany 8 8 8behind the eight Ball this is in response to the article a new Law opens More doors to  the article states the Law is a the most sweeping anti discrimination Law since the civil rights Law of 1964.�?� Well if you Are a Soldier Sailor airman or Marine the Law does nothing to help you. If you have a profile what the services describe As a a limited disability Quot there is no equal Opportunity program or affirmative action system for you and the new Law is not going to change that situation one Little bit. Blacks hispanics women and All other disadvantaged service personnel have an to program. So How about personnel with disabilities these Are people who have been permanently injured during training or War who May not be Able to run two Miles. Do the soldiers who can run two Miles have an advantage when it comes to promotions and assignment of course they do. So Why not change the regulation to include people with disabilities personnel who have profiles and anyone who May be injured in the future should have a real concern about How the department of the army. Responds because you too could soon have a profile. A sgt. 1st class Michael a. Gresham Camp Darby Italy 8 8 8relevance questioned now that the army is disappearing right in front of our very eyes perhaps sufficient impetus exists for the stars and stripes to make its news coverage relevant to the other military personnel in Europe. For example there Are thousands of Navy and Marine personnel and civilians in Italy and Spain. Still we re shown trends of the belgian franc in the Dollar watch. The Spanish peseta and italian lira Are More Likely to be of interest to our readers. Why not Check out your shifting Reader demographics and then slip in a few articles about the Europe outside of Germany that Way when our stars and stripes routinely arrives at the newsstand one and two Days late we wont mind As much. A Paul Pierce Sig Onelia Sicily