European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 6, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday june 6, 1994 the stars and a to a d or it s islets Don t Dodge Clinton debate by the stars and stripes , France a Day Veteran Martin Salley was waiting for lunch in a crowded restaurant at  when he was asked if president Clinton should represent the United states at ceremonies today honouring the a Day veterans. A i done to have much use for him a Salley said. It made the remark of i knew he was coming id have stayed Home a a Clinton a representation of the United states at the International ceremonies in Europe is a Touchy subject with some of these veterans. As the president he is the living Symbol of the country they fought for 50 years ago Many veterans said. On the other hand Clinton managed to avoid military service in the Vietnam War. And that does no to sit Well with Many of the men who stormed the Normandy beaches under enemy fire. A a he a a draft dodger a a said Rex Smith who was a second lieutenant with a military police company on a Day. A the organized protests against the Vietnam avar. There a no Way he should be Here. He a a Dishonour and a disgrace to the War dead and veterans he  Bill enc Juist who landed at Utah Beach echoed Smith. A i done to like him because he was a draft dodger a Enquist said. A my boy  but . Liska a sergeant in 1944 at Utah Beach said Clinton is sincere in his appreciation of veterans and has the right to be at the  what he Speaks he Speaks from the heart for All veterans a Liska said. A a he a speaking for America and the .  Edward Chonka Wasny to at a Day but he served throughout Europe with the 82nd airborne div during the War including at the Battle of the bulge. A to me he a kind of like a draft dodger a he said. "1 wish we had Bush or someone else out Here somebody who was Over Here and knew what the hell was going  Jim Drumwright an Omaha Searh inst a Eti Yttri. Meat inn said he probably Semi in about Clinton a Accel ranch at Normandy when or r. \ x a r o i ton Quot me he he he was asked following a ceremony it Kny american cemetery near st. Lames. Told he had More than earned do voice his opinion he said a personally think he should be Here. It most lbs wrong  but for Many veterans the office of Dency is More important than the Man who mrs it. Quot he a still our president a Saul Don Mckeage. Who jumped into  Isth the did airborne div. Quot he deserves to be Here. What he did in the past was his decision. When you Dert i president he a everybody s president. A Many of the veterans looked past the to leeches and the ceremonies to the younger generations who read about a Day in history Hooks. Clinton the veterans said May be the Bridge Between them and the younger people. Paratroops Welcome unreal in t it by Kevin Dougherty Normandy Bureau ste.-m�re-�gl1se, France As Jack Dunn played a scottish Ballad on his bagpipes sunday hundreds of Normandy residents lined a Road leading into  and cheered. They cheered the symbolic return of 41 american parachutists 19 of whom landed Here 50 years ago and fought to liberate the town. The veterans Shook hands and High five Young and old. Some autographed commemorative programs and posed for pictures and then bashfully hurried Back into the Loose formation. When the veterans crossed under a Road Bridge from which spectators peered Down the cheers intensified. A i can to believe this a said Tom Rice 73, a 101st airborne div Veteran who parachuted into Normandy on a Day. A i can to believe this. Its unreal Isnit it a Rice a eyes began to moisten. A a in a like to shake every one of their  that a the Way the 19 a Day veterans and 22 other american world War ii combat paratroops entered . Their triumphant entry came Only three hours after they had jumped again preceding about 500 Active duty american and French paratroops. The american paratroops were trom the 101st and 82nd airborne divisions and the 3rd in 325th airborne in combat team in Vicenza Italy. The veterans Entrance sunday was far far different than the greeting american soldiers received 50 years ago when they battled germans holding the Little Market town. The weather cooperated sunday afternoon As winds fell within the 13-knot 15-Mph maximum set by military safety officials at the 300-acre drop zone Iri Umfreville about three Miles from . French police cordoned off the area around the jump site to traffic but thousands of spectators walked to the zone to witness the drop. A Little while after the scheduled 1 45 . Drop time for the veterans had passed a Vintage c-47 Dakota and a French twin Otter approached the heavy drone of their engines increasing As they moved across the sky. Finally the veterans exited coming Down under red White and Blue chutes. Once on the ground James Rizzuto 69, who was a member of the 508th Parachute inf regt said a i did no to jump in Normandy but i jumped in Holland. I wanted to do this for the Guys who did no to come  Rizzuto of Waterford mich., was the first Veteran to reach the crowd near the ceremonial platform at the head of the drop zone. The others soon followed some of whom were delayed because they had landed farther away than the us. Army airborne soldiers Are surrounded by joyous residents As they enter  in Sui stay. Others. A few landed on the far Side of the train tracks on the North end of the drop zone. All but one of the 41 veterans landed safely with nothing More serious than a minor scrape Earl Draper 70, of Inverness fla., was treated for a Back injury. Military officials later said he was under observation at a Hospital in Cherbourg. The last of the veterans to return to the group did so while the ceremony speaker rep. Sam Gibbons a Fla addressed the assembled veterans. A Good in a glad you got Here sir a Gibbons said to the Veteran arriving late. A thank you so am i a said the wayward parachutist. It was a Homecoming of sorts for Gibbons As Well he also jumped into  on a Day. The Active duty paratroops followed the veterans jump As 12 . Air Force and one French air Force c-130 aircraft came in Over the drop zone. The parachutists plummeted out of their aircraft to the cheers of the crowd surrounding the Field. Richard Mandich 69, recalled the time inside the plane sunday. A it was a time that we thought of a lot of things and remembered a lot of peole a said Mandich president of the return to Normandy association which helped organize the veterans visit. Ufi / it i a. Re a the crowd cheers is Samis int a a. Dicks March into .  in in Inma a