European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 10, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday May 10, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 9 Pinatubo evacuees to recall major eruption in their lives by Kevin Dougherty Kaiserslautern Bureau Ramstein a Germany a the dust settled for Ian and Debbie Coubrough fast week when they filed the last of their claim forms for property lost or damaged by the eruption of mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. And though they Are certain that not All their losses from last Summers Volcano eruption Are accounted for that Sok. Debbie Coubrough says a Complete accounting is not As important As the need to move on and relegate Clark a to their scrapbook. A a we a rather just finish the claim get it in and get that behind us and get on with our lives a she said. Organizers said they think that most of those who would attend the gathering live in Germany but Hope to entice survivors living in England Belgium the Netherlands and Italy to attend. The gathering a possibly could help people Settle some concerns that they May have Haas about friends or their claims Draney said. A support group at Ramstein a for mount Pinatubo survivors which includes the Coubrough is hoping to Speed that process by organizing a reunion for evacuees who Are now stationed in Europe. Depending on interest the gathering is tentatively scheduled for either july or August said Dean Draney director of the family support Center at Ramstein. A it sounds like a lot of these folks have Good fond memories of the Philippines and this would help them relive some of those memories a Draney said. There Are at least 200 service members and department of defense dependents schools teachers and administrators from the Philippines who now work in Europe. More than 600 filipinos died As a result of the mount Pinatubo eruption which began in Early june. The majority of the victims died when buildings collapsed. Others fell victim to disease while housed in temporary shelters following the eruption. About a million filipinos were displaced. Like Fine particles of volcanic Ash memories of the evacuation and the subsequent eruption Are difficult to Brush aside for Many service members and civilians. But there Are other remembrances of their stay that Are just As poignant. Tensions had been running High within the Clark Community before the Volcano. Residents had restricted their travel because of assassinations and other acts of terrorism by communist insurgents. In its last few years the . Community was under almost constant curfew or other restrictions said chief master sgt. Timothy a a stretch Webber Deputy chief of family matters for . Air forces in Europe and a mount Pinatubo survivor. As an example Webber said a you might be Able to go downtown and get your hair Cut but you had to be Back in your Home by  a it was really a Beautiful place in Many respects a said air Force capt. Brian Riedesel a psychologist who transferred from Clark to Pitburg a Germany Days before the major eruptions. A but As time moved toward the Volcano there was More and More tension in the  organizers Hope the reunion will Aid the Healing process ror Many no Are just beginning to fully comprehend what transpired a year ago. The groups expectations Are realistic. A i done to think you would Ever have Complete closure but closure to the Point that it would be much easier to  Debbie Coubrough and her husband Lan were among the americans evacuated before last june s eruption of mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. Live with a Webber said. A everybody has a Story a Debbie Coubrough said. A everybody who was evacuated has a Story Ana they re All As incredible As the  the get together would also include air Force officials who would address concerns of those who were evacuated. In addition the group is interested in showing videotapes and pictures of Clark a before during and after the eruption. Anyone interested in attending can Call Draney at ets 480-5100 or civilian 06371-47-5100. 3 generals taking Over during new Era in Europe by Vince Crawley staff writer a Trio of american generals will be ushered into top leadership positions in Europe in june replacing an Era of leaders who presided Over the end of the cold War the persian Gulf deployment and the military exodus that continues sending thousands of troops and families Home every month. The announcement thursday of Gen. Crosbie e. Saints retirement Means the army in Europe and its sole remaining corps will get new Bosses at the same time that natos new supreme Allied commander Steps in. The new commanders face an Uncertain future that will demand political finesse As much As Battlefield know How. Nato is redefining its role in the Post cold War Era the army in Europe is in the midst of slashing its numbers from 210,000 to 92,000 by the end of next year and v corps is focusing on mobility and rapid deployment instead of halting a red army invasion that never came. The men picked to steer nato and the . Land forces into the future a it. Gen. John m. Shalikashvil 55, who will get a fourth Star and take Over the nato supreme Allied come and . European come in late june. A polish born former refugee shall a Shvili a first Contact with the . Army was in a displaced persons Camp in Germany after world War ii according to members of the 2nd army Cav regt where the general once served. After rising through enlisted and officer ranks he is currently acting As an assistant to Gen. Colin l. Powell chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. Shalikashvil Speaks German polish and English a with a slight accent a and was put in charge of last years kurdish refugee re it. Gen. John m. Shalikashvil Lief Effort in Turkey and Northern Iraq in the aftermath of the persian Gulf War. He takes Over from Gen. John r. Galvin who is retiring after serving As americans top european commander for five years. O it. Gen. David m. Maddox 54, who will get a fourth Star and take Over As . Army Europe and 7th army commander sometime after june 17. A native of Chicago he has commanded the Germany based v corps since 1990, where he sent Many of his troops to fight in the persian Gulf War. Afterwards he helped Institute a policy to eliminate a Lousy Barracks a in an attempt to make the lifestyle of single soldiers More like that of their married cohorts. In the Wake of the persian Gulf War and troop withdrawals he said he wants to a Lead Usa eur into a period of  a i would Hope that we can see a reduction of turbulence a the general said it. Gen. David m. Maddox thursday. Saint is retiring after serving at the army Stop european command for four years a maj. Gen. Jerry r. Rutherford 51, who will get a third Star and take command of v corps based in Frankfurt Germany on june 17. Rutherford commanded the 2nd army div fwd in the persian Gulf wars ground Campaign against iraqi Armor then guided Frankfurt a 3rd army div through its inactivation which was completed Early this year. He a currently serving under Maddox As the Deputy commander of v clips a Force of about 70,000 soldiers that is the sole remaining . Corps in Europe. His Job will be to continue transforming the unit into a a Mobile corps a Able to move and pick its Battleground. Throughout the cold War the corps was relatively immobile designed to hold its ground in Central Germany to thwart an armoured is photo my. Gen. Jerry r. Rutherford invasion by Warsaw pact armies. Aside from redefining their forces the new commanders also will finish the sometimes painful task of cutting the army in Europe in half. A we Are doing the Best we can a Saint warned Congress in late March. A but i have to Tell you that i am on the verge of breaking my Force breaking my ability to train at the same time i redeploy breaking my ability to provide services breaking readiness and breaking the Confidence of the soldiers in their  Galvin has said that his successor will have to approach the Job with an International Frame of mind rather than a purely american one. He also said recently that the kurdish refugee Relief operation the humanitarian Aid missions to the former soviet Union and natos peacekeeping duties in Yugoslavia Are examples of the kinds of missions that nato troops can expect in coming years