European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 25, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday March 25, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 3 they won t forget a Man called Ali departing Squadron honors super Friend of americans by Ron Jensen Niernberg Bureau Bundlach Germany a Alois Brieger sat on the speakers stand monday at the ceremony marking the departure from Germany of the 2nd army Cav regt a 1st so. Both the colonel and the lieutenant colonel who flanked him mentioned him in their speeches. When the troops were reviewed Brieger a slightly built Man with a Friendly face was part of the reviewing contingent. When hands were shaken at the reception following the ceremony Brieger a hand was pumped More times than a winning politicians at an election night rally. The Man called Ali is said it. Col. Tony a. Isaacs 1st so commander a a jewel of a he is also said col. William Barry a who was the squadrons commander from 1986 to 1988 a a a super Brieger was born on the second Day of the second month of 1922, perhaps making his relationship with the 2nd army Cav regt a product of destiny. Since 1946, Brieger has been a Friend to americans stationed in the Bayreuth area. During his 36 years As a detective in the City he found time to help american soldiers in need. A Ali is More or less the father of 1st Squadron a said Isaacs. A the has been our Mentor for Many Brieger formed German american Friendship circles to bring the soldiers and the citizens together. When local club owners wanted to ban american soldiers from their establishments Brieger spoke up and the owners backed Down. A a he a done everything from helping soldiers find decent affordable housing to helping people out of Tough jams a said Barry who first met Brieger in 1971 when he arrived in Bundlach As a Captain. Barry is now a faculty member at the War College in Carlisle a. Brieger has received awards from the american army and the German government for his work at bridging the Gap be a 2nd army Cavalryman at Bundlach unveils a a piece of the Rock German Community the soldiers will leave behind. A amps Ron Jenson dedicated to the tween the american and German cultures. On monday he added one More a his own framed 1st so Flag. Brieger has seen friends Rise through the ranks. He knew Brig. Gen. Montgomery Miegs now commander of the 7th army training come in Grafen Wuhr As a Captain. Brig. Gen. James l. Wilson now commander of the 99th area support group in a amps Ron Jensen Niernberg was a second lieutenant when he and Brieger met in 1964. It is hard for Brieger to say goodbye to his friends. The Squadron is scheduled to return to the states in May. A i can to even Tell you. I have no words to express what it Means to me a he said in a Brief interview. A it Breaks my Brieg cry a relationship with americans began april 11, 1945, when he was liberated from the concentration Camp where he was held for the crime of being jewish in a nazi state. But he sweeps that part of his life away with a wave of his hand and contemplates a future without his friends he will miss them he said for More than personal reasons. A it is not politically Wise a he said to Send the americans Home. A a in a glad there a no Border Between Hast and West a he said. A but i still see the men we have in the world. I still see the conflict in Russia. Nobody knows what its going to be. A and there a the arabian Belt. Who knows what is going to happen a i am worried. I Hope there will be peace in the future. But As Long As there is one bad dog around the House you done to throw away the the americans Are leaving whether Brieger thinks it is Wise or not. But the ones who have known this energetic Man will not soon forget him. Accepting the 1st so colors from Isaacs Brieger told the Well wishers crowding the Hall what they already knew. A fall i did was not because 1 was pushed to or was told to a he said. A i did it from my american troops Salute at the Bundlach Farewell ceremony marking the cavalry members departure from Germany. Red Cross boosts Effort on amerasian children by Ray Rowden Washington Bureau Washington a american red Cross officials Are stepping up their efforts to help reunite american fathers and their vietnamese children. A we want to assure fathers of amerasian children that any attempts to locate them through red Cross channels Are handled discreetly and confidentially a said Jose Aponte general manager of the american red Cross office of International services. A fathers must make the decision As to How they wish to american red Cross officials announced last week that they Are intensifying tracing services for vietnamese amerasian who Are seeking their american fathers. This is largely due to a 300 percent increase in the number of tracing requests coming to the organization since 1989, they said. Officials have assisted in reuniting increasing numbers of War torn families in recent years. They Are bracing for a new wave of amerasian immigrants. A we want people to know that this is a service we re providing a said Ann Stingle a red Cross caseworker. Most Vietnam veterans who remain in the military have attained senior rank and have stable family situations. News that a child in his or her 20s or 30s is seeking a reunion could be difficult to Deal with. Quot it has to come As a Shock to them a Stingle said. When a tracing Effort leads to an individual Stingle said the person or persons involved Are sent a letter asking them to visit their nearest red Cross office. A there in the confidential environment of a caseworkers office we Tell them that their child is trying to make Contact with them a she said. No pressure is put on the individual to respond one Way or the other she said. A it can be a hard message that we have to take Back to the child a that their father has a new life and does no to want to make Contact. A Stingle said. Experience has shown the red Cross workers that most of the amerasian offspring Are not seeking financial support when they search for their fathers. A a they re looking for intangible things like roots and clues to their identity a she said. The red Cross is also Busy helping fathers find amerasian children. Quot in most of these cases the men had a Bona fide relationship with the vietnamese woman. Many of these men have reached a Point in their lives when they need to resolve things a Stingle said. The increased Tempo of these searches results from the 1987 passage of the Homecoming act. It permits those who can document american descent to apply for assistance in resettling in the United states. Stingle noted that the vietnamese government has been very cooperative in allowing the amerasian to leave. So far 50,000 vietnamese amerasian and family members have settled in the u.s., according to state department figures. That number is expected to double by december 1993. Servicemen who wish to locate amerasian offspring can get assistance by calling their nearest american red Cross office including those offices overseas. The following if known will help in the search a dates of in country service a locations served a child a name a mothers name
