European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 21, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Cover Stor continued from Page 7 four years the same number of years he has been married to his wife Valerie. She is waiting for him in Mannheim Germany with their daughter Emily Al most 3. He is from the 412th Maint co. Meacham spent 14 months in the persian Gulf de Sert and six months in Somalia How Long he will spend on the shores of Zaire s equatorial watering Hole with the american water purification team he could t say. Meacham quit smoking three Days before his unit deployed he said. Then he lit up a cigarette after his i pre packed lunch or Are. He walked to the mess truck under a Grove of eucalyptus Trees and filled his canteen cup with a dark brew. Covered with local volcanic dust  Back Down and opened a tin of canned meat. He sat like a War wearied do face from world War ii. Coffee and spam he d Learned in the desert hit the spot when his plastic wrapped meal was no enough. We have the potential of being put in the Middle of a civil War Meacham said noting that this mis Sion could turn sour. But the americans would not let it be another Somalia he said. He echoed the words repeated Over and Over by his commanders humanitarian  still he said he had an uneasy feeling about his new Home. The second night that the soldiers had pitched their tents their Zaire neighbors got drunk and fired guns into the air. Shooting at the Moon is How one task Force spokesman described the locals inclination to let off steam. Evenings Are often studded with sporadic gunfire. This close to the Equator the Crescent Moon hangs at the Bottom of the Moon like an eerie smile. As far As Meacham was concerned the whole situation was As unpredictable As the smoking Volcano overlooking the hundreds of thousands who slept in its Shadow. Near the Camps the air chokes with its smoke. At the Edge of the Lake  is like a California Pic above soldiers Mas Hup at Camp in coma. Left pfc. Roland Skinner stationed in Mannheim Germany pours chlorine and a coagulant into a water purification unit. Nic dry and dusted with the smell of eucalyptus. Meacham ate his meal next to a decontamination tent that he had converted into a Camp Shower. When he rigged it it meant the first hot showers for the gis in a week. Some complained that it was not soon enough. You can t mentally prepare yourself for this kind of deployment Meacham said. Physically you got Good old army it. Mentally you be got to expect the worst and Hope for the  he had seen the refugees bringing their water cans to the spigots that the unit set up Down the Road. He also saw that the locals lived in worse squalor in  seen How these people live. No one should have to live like that Meacham said. Then the i Over his Coffee and spam explained countries like ours who Are Able to help  Effi Bathen is photos by Dave Casey Page 8 sunday August 21, 1994