European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 30, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Focus a amps photos by Doyle Tillman sgt. Willie Bond of the 53rd trans in in Kaiserslautern Germany rests his ailing feet right. Spec. David Hernandez of the 26th area support group in Heidelberg rests at an Aid station. Sitting behind him Are spec. Keith Casey left and spec. Kenneth Abramowski both assigned to the 123rd signal in at Kitzinger. Uniformed service members marching alongside casually attired civilians wave to the crowd As they set off at a blistering Pace. Remembering Neumegen continued from Page 15. Y and 25 Miles behind the the soldiers usually finished the March in Early to mid afternoon. The earlier the Start. Time the earlier they marched into the formal Toast to completing the March soldiers found themselves with time to relax for a majority relaxation meant washing sweat and grit and grabbing a bite to eat. And then seeking medical care. Of the tincture of Benzoin \ any Soldier treated with the Benzoin compound a and that was probably most if not All a knows pain. Soldiers big and Strong were often brought to tears or near Lears by the alcohol based Antiseptic. In spite of the pain a and after the initial Shock a soldiers realized it helped and reluctantly accepted the treatment. Along the March on Day three staff sgt. Paul Restivo a member of the 2nd so 6th Cav regt based in a Liesheim Germany summed up the treatment Best Quot anything to make it Quot Restivo experienced multiple Benzoin treatments. Once the medical treatment was completed most soldiers went to their bunks to relax for the evening. Those with soles feet had Lime to socialize get to know other military forces members and drink More of the inspiration for that Ever popular chant of Quot ice ice ice cold Beer Quot i making friends with soldiers from other nations also meant making trading associates for the final Clay s pos March military uniform Swap meet at Camp Heumen Soord the dutch a and most other europeans a go wild Over the trading of uniform apparel and insignia. So wild that it is not at All uncommon for soldiers regardless of a their military to Trade off entire uniforms. The Quot Swap meet Quot has become such a no Megan tradition that Many soldiers bring excess items Lor nothing but to Trade. A but the March and trading aside it must be the Friendship Sand certainly the masses of Flower tossing Flag waving supporters that make Nijm Egen the ultimate soldiers Victory party. The Parade into Nijm Egen on the final afternoon surely resembled the victorious Entrance of the allies into just liberated cities years ago when the world was at War. That Bond Between the people of Nijm Egen and the marchers and each Soldier s feeling of accomplishment have made this annual four Day event a party every one there will Long remember. A. Members of the Nijm Egen March support group take a break from the heat and activity. Behind the scenes the people who helped make Nijm Egen �?T94 go Gleeful marchers Toast the Day s Success with Beer. By Doyle Tillman staff writer he logistics and support needed to make the four Day 100-mile Nijm Egen March in the Netherlands a Success might Surprise Many people. _ the annual Endeavor is big amp and this year it carried a . Army Europe budget Price tag of $317,000, said capt Mike Liantonio logistics officer for the 181st trans in from. Mannheim Germany Liantonio said the we Klong International event stayed within budget for the Money the . Army Nijm Egen March support group paid entry and administration fees rented hotel rooms and a sports Hall to House support soldiers and rented huge tents to House the american March operations Center army and air Force Exchange. Service and medical facility. Also included in the Price were chartered commercial a buses to take soldiers to Nijm Egen rental of a Fleet of 24 local vehicles the american reception tuesday evening and laundry services for the support staff and marching a soldiers. A. Despite its nearly one third of a million Dollar budget capt Tony Montgomery said Quot we try to save every Penny we Montgomery the intelligence and training officer for the 181 St trans in was a key project officer for Nijm Egen 94. Liantonio and Montgomery both said planning for the March began in november 1993 when initial support contracts were let. A a service member from the 515th trans Coin Mannheim drops a Load of Wood spacers used around the Camp s sidewalk. The first american support soldiers arrived in Nijm Egen on july 5 and 6. They included some 40 soldiers assigned to Cut grass unload support equipment and set up two Mobile Kitchen trailers Montgomery said. By july 7, there were More than 120 soldiers at Camp Heumen Soord the Nijm Egen Camp detailed to prepare the american area for the we Klong occupation. One of those was spec Ramone grooms of the 515th trans co in Mannheim who said Quot we moved every thing a desks and furniture a and made things look grooms and co workers pfc. Lamont Blount pfc. Anthony Anderson and pvt. 2 Chan Souryavongsa added it was their Job to subdivide soldiers living quarters into team cubicles based on the Numerof Wemberson each a team. A a a. Quot there were also a lot of details to coordinate with the dutch army Quot said Montgomery adding the coordination was one of the Quot most sensitive jobs Quot. Montgomery gave sgt. 1 St class John Bright much of the credit for making the 7 994 support area a Success. Quot he has worked full Lime on the project since there Are so Many detail is to handle that tracking the status of projects commitments of support and equipment become very time consuming and that was a a where the Captain Felt Bright had really stayed on top of the developmental plans for the Nijm Egen March. Montgomery also said went along Way toward making Nijm Egen happen. A commanders let us do what we had to to get it the Mission he said this year s event was Quot very successful. It seems the lessons Learned last year made it a smoother operation this 16 the stars and stripes saturday july 30, 1994 the stars and stripes 17
