European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 27, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thes european edition col Gene 6. Townsend Usan commander publisher Bernard a. Zovistoski editor news and editorial Bill Walker european editor Deborah aether news editor Bob Wicker sports Edior Paul Cozby acting City editor Torg Manet special sections editor to write us unit 29480 Apo a 09211 or Post Tach 11 14 37 6100 Darmstadt 11, Germany n news Tel fax 06155-601416 to Call us dial 06155-601 plus Extension or Dan 348-8 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 Jim Jones ext. 226. Business news ext. 326. News bureaus Kaiserslautern Germany Kevin Dougherty John Bohmer Steve scholar building 2899, Pulaski Barracks Apo a 09227-3717 Telephone Dan 489-0585 or civilian 0631 -52104 Tel fax 0631-50696. Nurnberg Germany Ron Jensen building 21, William o. 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The appearance of advertising m this publication including inserts or supplements does not constitute endorsement by the department of defense or the stars and stripes of the  duds or services advertised everything and versed in this publication shall be made available Tor Purchase use or patronage without regard to race color religion sex National origin age marital status physical Handicap political affiliation or any other no Merit Factor of the purchaser user or Patron multiple dangers the marines landed in Somalia seemingly Well prepared for their Mission. As i watched them on television searching suspects for weapons and evacuating shooting victims it dawned on me that they Are exposed to a greater danger than a 7,62 my round from an ak-47 assault Rifle. They Are operating in an environment totally exposed to body fluids open sores blood spittle and mucous discharges in a part of the world where aids is rampant. Hopefully they brought along rubber gloves. In be yet to see a Marine on television wearing them. Speaking As a military policeman and former civilian Law enforcement officer this is a dangerous practice. So come on marines take precautions. A spec Timothy Lamb Mannheim Germany Macho men afraid All this talk of Gays being allowed to a come out of the closet has me rolling. Every Day i hear men talking about getting out or retiring Early if Gays Are allowed in the military. Why ill Tell you Why. All these big Macho men Are afraid of sexual harassment. That a right boys after All these years your own behaviour is coming Back to haunt you. Any of those Gays come on to you or touch you you la Pound them right Why done to you know How to say no sure you do but you re afraid they might Corner you when everyone has been drinking too much and take advantage of you. Ill bet you re afraid that if a Guy comes on to you makes an innuendo and you go running to your Superior the Guy will say a i was Only kidding can to you take a joke a revenge is mine Saith the lord. Looks like the lord is coming up to Bat a hallelujah. A Ronna Quinn Ramstein Germany a a no Gays a in my Navy i recently read your articles on homosexuality in the military. I have a response not on my watch not in my Navy and not in my military. I agree with Carl Thomas of the la. Times. The military is a club that not everyone can join and if you re allowed to join its a privilege. Membership in any club has its privileges but homosexuality Isnit one of them. A Casey l. Martin Rota Spain gambling our Security As i look Back at the last eight years 1 View my time in the air Force with fondness. In be Learned a great Deal professionally. But even More in be grown As an individual by living and travelling abroad As Well As working in the dynamic constantly changing military environment. Unfortunately for a great Many of us who enjoy being in the service that May not be the Way of things for Long. As America cares less and less about her defensive posture instead choosing to believe the threat has passed those who defend our nation find themselves facing politically motivated criticism and economic uncertainty. Politicians who Lack the vision to Lead the United states through Tough economic times or the moral courage and integrity to make politically unpopular decisions often turn to the easy solution of emasculating an admittedly expensive military. The Cost of maintaining an adequately equipped properly trained and sufficiently manned military is great. Further no one can deny the need for economic revitalization in the United states is acute. What one does have to question however is the Wisdom of denigrating our defensive capability in the interests of saving Money. That they Are willing to Cut armed forces manpower to absurd Levels gambling the Security of our nation instead of challenging the Price gouging defense Industry which funds their Campaign efforts Speaks volumes about the trustworthiness and priorities of our country a leaders. Its a telling indictment of a system gone wrong that a group of people who willingly risked and in Many cases gave their lives in the defense of this country need now fear for their economic welfare. A staff sgt. Kerry s. Conway Mcwith Hill station England editor s note letters from readers expressing their viewpoints 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 signed and include address and Telephone number. Address letters 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 normally appears every Day except thursday and sunday letters should be signed and include address and Telephone number. Address such letters to readers action line the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211.praise for teachers All in be been Reading about is How bad things Are in our Community id like to say that there Are some Bright spots. I have been blessed with the Best child development Center teachers i have known. My kids Are not the most cooperative they Are very Active to say the least. But the teachers know that children arc different and have different needs. Besides the usual they teach about respect cooperation manners sharing patience Hygiene food plants seasons culture families and Many other subjects. These teachers have a genuine love and concern for All children and build the children a self esteem and Pride from the time they enter the room. A great big thank you to All who have worked with my kids past and present. Their concern and dedication Are greatly appreciated. I want them to get the recognition they deserve. A Madeline Dwright Frankfurt Germany a longest in the Gulf although a Safe a finest the 81st fighter so is the longest serving Safe unit still in the persian Gulf i must agree with capt. Freeman in that they Are not the longest serving . Air Force unit. At this Point i must disagree and disappoint the Good Captain on who actually is the eldest stateside unit in the Gulf. The Captain challenged and i have found the eldest serving unit in the Gulf. And As capt. Freeman stated a it not Only slights the accomplishments of other units hut also slights your readers who expect accuracy and reliability in your  i have personal and firsthand knowl Edge that components from the 55th strategic recce Wing and its sister units of the electronic Security come were the first units from the states to hit saudi Arabia. They were initially deployed on the morning of aug. 4, 1990, and were on station by that night. Their first Mission followed less than six hours after they landed in Riyadh saudi Arabia. The reconnaissance aircraft from the 55th saw were the first and to my knowledge Are the longest serving Usan unit still in the Gulf. A tech sgt. Brett m. Foster Span Dahlem Germany bomber Harris Isnit hero in regards to a reason for concerns . 3i am a German born Long after world War ii and am Well aware of what happened during the War. And i agree what happened then what was done to the jewish population the gypsies and anyone else that got in hitlers Way was outrageous. But i do decay the memorial to sir Arthur Harris his saturation bombing of towns and cities had the effect of mass killing. He should not be glorified because of that. Sir Harris has earned his place in the history books but not As a hero. What gives the writer the right to condemn All germans Isnit that How Wii started someone deeming he and his people to be better than the rest i am just As proud to be a German As the writer is of his nationality. And As a German i am Well aware of my past my responsibility and the Burden. I am proud of what we have done since the end of War and continue to do despite people from the left or right of the political spectrum who try to derail our democracy and us. Despite those people who think evil is a Gene passed on from generation to generation a Christine Wright Hahn a Germany done to talk Down to others since when do Security police have the authority to talk Down to people who pass by their Post As my wife i and another couple were about to enter Ramstein Abs front Gate an up pointed a Finger and directed our vehicle to what looked to us As the next Lane. Then the up said a get into the third Lane like i told you to before a very rudely. We did so and exited the vehicle for a spot Check where the airman improperly went through our belongings i.e., my wife a purse. After the inspection and before 1 again entered my vehicle the airman asked a do you have a problem a again rudely. I answered a yes i do. I done to like the Way you Are speaking to  he ran to the other Side of the vehicle where i was standing and got in my face and said a a in a in charge Here and ill ask the questions a after a heated Exchange i left. In Man up. Although in a not stationed in Ramstein in be never seen this kind of attitude from another up. Granted he did not know i was also an up but it goes to show you never know to whom you re talking. How about a Little professionalism a senior airman Eric a Jones Ruppert Weiler Germany Augsburg reunion planned  High school alumni association is seeking students teachers and any others associated with the Augsburg Germany military dependent school for a reunion in August 1993. For additional information Contact Sandra Nisley Leader 294 Salsi suedes Carmel Valley Ca 93924, Telephone 408 659-2537