European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 4, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Restorers of Hope v Ltd t to it to k $ Art it a Ltd a. Rupi i of or Fijor Vij Jas Omaha continued from Page 15 Force personnel who Are operating a 24-hour Airport at a facility that was ransacked and wrecked when the government ceased to exist. Most of the troops were billeted in one open Han Garancs in unfinished Concrete buildings for the first two weeks of the operation. They have been eating res sleeping on cots under Mosquito nets and using Slit Trench latrines under the constant ear splitting Wail of the engines of c-5s, c-141 s and c-130s that arrive and depart Day and night. Quot there s no place else to go Quot said Arencibia 20, who shouted Over the Roar of engines while cleaning m-16 and m-4 rifles. Quot use ear plugs. They As they began their third week in Mogadishu about 200 air Force and Marine personnel abandoned their hangar sleeping quarters for a new City of tents. Though the tents at the Southern Edge of the flight line Are no escape from the noise the troops welcomed the change in neighbourhood. Quot the Quality of living just improved 500 percent Quot said one Marine who with a Friend lugged a cot loaded with personal belongings to the new quarters. Living arrangements Are no better Tor the personnel who secured the . Embassy compound in the Middle of the capital City. The embassy was ransacked and looted after the staff was evacuated in Spring 1991, when chaos overtook Somalia and its citizens went on a they were the have not and they were angry at those who had Quot said Marine chief warrant officer 3 Eric Carlson. The embassy grounds and buildings were gutted of electrical fixtures wire plumbing insulation even air. Conditioning ducts. The . Information services Library a Public facility open to somalis was trashed burned and wrecked for Good by the fire sprinkling system. At the other end of the compound the embassy s school for dependents children received similar treatment. A the american forces Are sleeping on cots under Trees and porch awnings and in school classrooms. Though the embassy is secured by guards at the compound entries and by machine gun emplacements behind sandbags around the grounds there is still occasional Rifle fire from unfriendly sources. Quot we take a Little sniper fire once in a while Quot said marines play cards near Balboa White waiting for orders to escort a food cola. Jeremy Baxter left and Nathan Emery till sandbags on the embassy grounds a Marine climbs to Hla quarters in the gutted . Embassy in Mogadishu. Carlson. Nonetheless the troops achieved some sense of6 normalcy after a week or so. A Barbershop of sorts was set up by marines outside the main embassy building. A running card game was started at the entryway to the hangar sleeping quarters at the Airport. Quot you get used to it. Trust me Quot said air Force capt. Pat. Barnes of Mississippi. Quot but it is about As Tough As it a. Tomorrow a Model for recovery a somalian worker la frisked before being permitted to enter the embassy. Page 16 a the stars and stripes monday january 4, 1993
