European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 3, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes sunday january 3,1993 preset Cut Bush hold Miner it inn i length while helping a Marine inn n Bot it Bald Oak a Airport Fridey. Btu also visited in orphanage there before leaving the nation  hails troops Quot a Long Way from Home by Joseph Owen stall writer Bel Dogle Somalia a a handful of european based troops got their last Chance to see their current commander in chief Friday but in an unlikely location a an abandoned air base in Central Somalia. President Bush who leaves office Jan. 20 ate a new years Day lunch of Are held rations with More than 100 soldiers and marines in the. Shaded courtyard of the base s air traffic control building. Bush told the troops that americans almost unanimously support the operation restore Hope Mission and that the serv in members should take Pride in helping Rescue somalian children from starvation. A thanks to you they got a shot. They got a shot at realty living a Bush said. Earlier Bush greeted the Germany based flight stews of uh-60a Black Hawk helicopters. Crew members had waited in formation on a runway at the Airfield about 55 Miles North of the somalian capital Mogadishu. The two hour visit was a Small slice of a two Day presidential itinerary in Somalia. Bush then left for Moscow on saturday morning to sign a nuclear arms limitation treaty with russian president Boris n. Yeltsin. Bush arrived in Beli Dolc by helicopter then travelled the length of the Airfield in a military motorcade to see the aircrews. The president wore a Cap and a desert fatigue shirt with a leather name Patch but had on Plain beige pants. He also wore a Smatz Drc ular Patch behind his left ear a treatment to prevent motion sickness on the amphibious assault ship Tripoli where he spent thursday and Friday nights off the coast. Even though the encounter took place in an austere location in a War torn country a few dozen news representatives were on hand tracking the president s every step. Bush wished the troops Happy new year and commented a a Long Way from Home you Guys  he posed repeatedly for pictures with service members and made an Effort to shake the hand of nearly everyone. A a you re really heavily armed there. Cameras at 30 paces a he told one aircrew member who passed several cameras Forward so buddies could take his picture with Bush. In the courtyard the president ate Quot menu no. 8 Ham slice with accessory packet  he braved another Long picture taking Gauntlet and stayed late enough to meet with his lunch companions. Bush also visited an orphanage in Bai doa where More than 700children clapped their hands and chanted a Welcome Bush a throughout the half hour stay. Bush gave his hand to some children patted some on the head hoisted one Smil. Ing child into the air and wrapped another inane Arhus. Bush left Somalia on saturday morning from the military controlled Airport at Mogadishu. President s Stopover appears to Olav Well with deployed gis a by Joseph Owen and Vince Grawley staff writers Beli Dogle Somalia a president Bush s visit Drew a mixed but mostly favourable reaction from a Small sampling of troops he has deployed bring food and order to Somalia. I think it s great. Never in my wildest dreams did i expect to eat with the pro so sent. Especially Here in Somalia a said pfc. Michael Brown an aviation operations specialist usually with the 3rd inf div s 4th aviation brigade in Katterbach Germany. Brown is serving temporarily with task Force 5-158, a mixture it f about 700 soldiers assigned to helicopter units from across Germany that have deployed to Somalia As part of operation restore Hope t fellow task Force member Victor Lozada a fuel handler from the 158th aviation regt in Wurzburg Germany found Bush s visit remarkable a especially since he a leaving in january you gotta respect  i got a picture of his Arm around me a said Marine. Pfc. Valarie c. Thomas 19, of Marine air logistics so 39 at Camp Pendelton Calif. La i think it was worthwhile really Quot she said of the president s visit. It upped the morale and it reminded us that we re not forgotten.�?�. However some troops thought the reception arranged for the president was too staged. A my opinion he should come and see what we really do a said warrant officer Phillip a Breske a helicopter Pilot from co a 7th in 227th aviation regt in Hanau Germany. Breske now works As part of the task Force which had Only three Days to pre pare for the Bush visit. It was also flying missions to two somalian towns. Some troops though Happy to see Bush said. Better living conditions would please them More. A a it a Nice for the president to come by but 1 d rather have a soda pop a newspaper and a hot meal Quot said air Force chief master sgt. Jack Kitter Man of the 60th Kenai combat so. Travis fab Calif