European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Of Virginia Are you sure about Santa now yes Virginia there a a Santa Claus All Over the place. You were first convinced in new Yorkus Sun newspaper in 1897. That a when your Querie prompted editor Francis phar Cellus Church to write a yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus. He exists As certainly As love and generosity and Devotion exist. You saw him last year in new York where 19 aids activists costumed As santas chained themselves inside Macy a department store protesting the store decision to not rehire a Santa infected with his. You heard about him when two do Iberville miss., disc jockeys asked their radio audience to Call with stories about who was the first person to Tell them there was no Santa Claus. They were pulled off the air for a Day last Christmas season. On this Side of the Atlantic there was a scene on a recent saturday morning at Rhein main a Germany Home to the 435th Airlift Wing. A giant c-130 Hercules transport aircraft taxied across ramp n and dispatched its passenger a Chubby Man with a White Beard and red suit. He leaned into a crowd of children to pass out Candy. You might remember a Ruddy faced Border Santa visiting towns along the old German German Border a few years Back. He Rode the divided Countryside atop a 2nd army Cav regt my Al tank outfitted with cardboard Reindeer Antlers and All. The Cav Guys did it nearly every year they were there except the year they went to fight a War in the desert. The year the Border fell Santa was in Coburg to Greet a queue of 1,000 East German visitors waiting for Welcome Money. He gave them a bag of sweets and a a who hoho a maybe you caught boy scout Leader Gerry Monahan climbing into a Santa outfit to work a fundraiser for his daughters Drill team at the Heidelberg Germany Exchange. A Nice lady asked to sit on his Lap and gave him a kiss. Or maybe you heard the laughs when the dutch sgt. Maj. Jan Woltereck visited the rooms of the army Mobile Hospital the 212th Mash whose tents Are pitched this Holiday season in Zagreb Croatia. Woltereck wore a velvet Robe and carried a Large staff. From utrecht Netherlands he called himself sinter Klaas. On the Southern front Santa got a Little help from his friends to reach san Vito air station Italy dec. 12. The 32nd Stormo of the italian air Force based in nearby Brindisi brought Santa to san Vito via an Hh-3e Jolly Green giant helicopter flown by the 84th search and recovery unit which landed on the base soccer Field. About 150 people were on hand to Welcome Santa to the air station. Santa and a Helper boarded a fire truck and Rode through base housing. Afterwards Santa a k a tech. Sgt. Jon Sughroue listened to More than 150 children a wishes in the main Exchange mall. But you know where Santa really hangs out. You no doubt heard about news bulletins that interrupt to programming in Kef Lavik Iceland each Christmas eve. A received some Intel nine blips coming Over the North a says the radar Man for the 932nd air control so. The Iceland regional operations control Center is just about As far to the North pole As most units get. They Call it ice Rock. Some Call it Santa a first Stop. Effie Batman contributing Stafl writer j. King Cruger in Italy. Is amps Vine crawly sinter Klaas alias Santa Claus sounds out troops of the army a Mobile Hospital in Zagreb Croatia. A amps j. King Cruger Santa arrives at san Vito Italy after Riding his helicopter Sleigh. A a 1 k1k>mbl Tess go 1 0 not proceed wih gut author Santa checking out the Iron curtain in the colder Days of 1986. For a amps Winfried Blumel december 20. 1992 sunday a Page 5
