European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 30, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Remembering Nijm Egen event for both the party and the pain by Doyle Tillman staff writer i Megen s 78th annual March of pain is. Over. The sidewalks Are Quot rolled up Quot the Gallons of sweat dried up and the multitudes of people returned Home. The Quot party Quot is Over. In Many respects Nijm Egen s annual Parade of pain in the Netherlands is the ultimate soldiers party a nearly 6,400 soldiers partied there july 18-22. For most american soldiers this year s March was the first. And the last. They conquered the Quot seven Hills of hell Quot and endured 100 mites of walking to earn permanent bragging rights and the need to never do it again.  the March was a Given. Marching with blisters on top of blisters on top of still More blisters surely raised questions about the Wisdom of trying to conquer Nijm Egen but doubts faded each afternoon As teams especially the americans strutted into the Beer tent to Toast the Day s March. There was a lot of american hide left in Holland but for most soldiers the pain was inconsequential to their Victory Over the event. What Soldier will forget the March or the people who lined the March routes cheering their favorite teams the dutch Are a very hospitable people and seemingly very fond of americans. Young dutch children stood by the Roadside offering High fives to troops on the move. In some areas drinks were offered to soldiers to help beat the heat. Some spectators even joined the March to escort their Quot guests Quot through their hometowns and further Down the March Road. The Rigours of Nijm Egen Are clearly not for everyone yet so Many a More than 30,000 civilians from All Over the world converged on the dutch town to make the journey. For . Soldiers tit. Lilly Chen came from Japan in the March the of join the March of pain. Daily regimen marchers hold their flags High As they walk along the painful Nijm Egen Trail. Began Early. American teams Drew Start times Between 4 30 and 5 30 . Daily. They were usually awakened 90 minutes prior to the Start to prepare for the walk which for Many after the first Day meant bandaging their feet a a a a during the March teams were allowed 11 hours to make the 25 Miles. No problem. . Army Europe guidelines for a 25-mile March require soldiers to finish in nine hours. Only one team was disqualified and its sacrifice was made in team spirit. Members of the 28th trans in team from Mannheim Germany gave up their personal and team medals to. Remain a team. They Hung Tough with a Soldier for almost three hours at an Aid station and did not finish until after the deadline. A. It was that kind of team spirit that kept so Many other teams going. Throughout the March there were stories of extraordinary dedication and Effort thursday the 1st in 7th air defense arty team from Kaiserslautern Germany finished the March literally at the 11 the hour. The team almost lost a member at Aid station 3, when spec. Paul Seebruck had to be treated for extreme dehydration. A. Team noncommissioned officer in charge staff sol. Curtis Ashton said he wanted to see Seebruck Complete the March. He recalled Seebruck s dedication to the March Back in Kaiserslautern when the specialist a after minor foot surgery a endured the pain to remain and train with his team. "1 care about All my soldiers but this Soldier had 1. Physical problems and still persevered Quot Ashton said. He a acknowledged that if it had been any other member of his team he probably would not have waited the extra time. For Chi. Lilly Chen the Nijm Egen March meant fulfilling a goal set last year when she was unable to March because of a previous leg injury. Chen marched with the 26th area support group team from Heidelberg Germany where she had worked from 1991 to 93. She could Well have travelled farther to March at Nijm Egen 94 than any other Soldier or civilian this year. Chen is a member of the . Army 78th Sig in a a which is located in Japan. She took care of her own arrangements and was allowed to participate on permissive temporary duty orders. A there were also families who obviously Felt Quot the family that blisters together stays  among the marchers were at least one team each of father and son husband and wife and cousins walking this year. With a daily contingent of enthusiastic Well wishers continued on Page 16 saturday july 30,1994 the stars and stripes 15