European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 7, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday september 7, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 3. A. A. A a. /.v, we a  a a a Ltd. A.  a a a a a a a. A a. A. A. A amps Ron Jensen Matthew of Connell no longer looks like a Soldier but because of his Job at Merrell Barracks he can to forget about his life As one. Top passes through past sex Soldier stayed behind after unit packed up by Ron Jensen Niernberg Bureau Nurnberg Germany a some people Are inextricably linked to particular places. Mark Twain and Hannibal to Duke Snider and Brooklyn. Lawrence and Arabia. So it is too with Matthew of Connell and Merrell Barracks. The final eight years of the former master sergeants 24-year army career were spent at the longtime Home of the 2nd army Cav regt. And when the regiment moved to the United states and Merrell Barracks was turned Back to the germans of Connell stayed. He now works for the German government As the historic Barracks originally built to House third Reich troops is renovated into a processing Center for Asylum seekers paperwork. A a in be known Merrell Barracks since about �?T74. That a when i came into the 2nd car. I was stationed in Bamberg a he said recently while rain fell outside his office. A i came Here in August of �?T84.�?� of Connell 45, called a a top by almost All who know him said he recently passed his 10th anniversary at Merrell Barracks including 18 months As a German employee. In his new Job he oversees much of the cleaning of the facility and repairs needed when renovation accidents cause damage it often brings him face to face with memories. A a it a not As bad As it used to be a he a said. A the first couple months when id walk around this place there were ghosts All over.�?�. Of Connell will still open a door to a vacant room and expect to see colleagues from his Days in the cavalry regiment.  sgt. Ralph Bremer be Here whereas staff sgt. Thomas Nicholson is Jim Albright coming Back when he once entered the room that had housed the regimental museum his mind prepared him to see the old uniforms the photos of past commanders and the Long table used for staff meetings. A the smell is still there a he said. A i can walk in there with my eyes closed and open them and expect to see everybody there. A realizing it in your mind and feeling it in your heart Are two different  like Many old cavalry soldiers of Connell Speaks fondly of his Days with the regiment. These soldiers had a real Mission even during the cold War. They patrolled the Border Between a a a Freedom and oppression. Of Connell spent countless cold and lonely nights staring across the Iron curtain. Later he worked Here at Headquarters first in the intelligence shop and then in civil affairs. He talks now of How tight the soldiers became in their friendships and of How they depended on one another. He passed up opportunities to move on even at his own financial expense. A to me the Cav was the army and the rest of the army was something else a he said. He thought about that a lot during his first few months As a civilian at Merrell Barracks. A it was lonely. I done to think in be Ever Felt so alone a he said. A i missed them. I still do. I miss my  of Connell who now sports a Salt and Pepper Beard and a braided Pond retail had Only a few months left before retirement when the regiment pulled out in 1992. Because he Speaks German fluently he was told to stay at Merrell and assist with the turnover. During that time he was Able to help the germans plan the renovation. He knew where the water lines were and where to find the fuse boxes for example. A people started saying a Man we could really use a Guy like you a a he said. So he stayed. Some who worked with of Connell during his regimental Days think it is appropriate that he remains at Merrell Barracks. He was they said a quintessential cavalry Soldier. A for me top is one of the rare species the army needs to survive a said Winfried Blumel a former Public affairs officer for the regiment. He never was easy to handle. He was always ready to stand up and fight a up to the colonel a if someone touched the people he was to supervise. A you could be sure his troops would follow  Carolyn culpa now the army career and alumni programs transitions. Services specialist at Darby Cavern in _ Firth Germany worked As the regiments protocol officer. She recalled the stress she Felt being the Lone female in a male dominated Macho organization. Sometimes it would overwhelm her. A top was very Good about taking me aside and talking to me when i needed support a she said. When Money was stolen from her purse As she was planning the regimental Ball she went in tears to of Connell. A top gave me a big hug and patched me Back together a she said. She later found out that of Connell after soothing her went into a room by himself and cursed and kicked furniture in anger at her misfortune. Then he brought her a bouquet of Flowers. A a that a my personal favorite top of Connell Story a she said. A the really Felt a i know it sounds corny a he really did care about the people who worked for  As Long As of Connell is at Merrell Barracks then the 2nd army Cav regt Hasni to really left. He and his memories Are a Strong presence. Even now of Connell will kick the ground and find something from the old Days perhaps just the Knob from an old radio and memories Are triggered. A things you ainu to thought about in years a pow a suddenly come Back like it was yesterday a he said. A the memories Are still there but you have to put them off somewhere where they done to bother  go punished with Ball Bat by the stars and stripes an army Neq charged with attacking another Soldier with a Metal softball Bat received a reduction in rank and a financial penalty through a Field Grade article 15, a spokesman in Vicenza Italy said this week. Richard Ayala was reduced to the rank of sergeant and forfeited $150 per month for two months said Mai. Bob Mcelroy Public affairs officer for the Southern european task Force. Ayala was a staff sergeant with the 3rd in 325th airborne combat team in Vicenza when he used a Metal softball Bat to attack spec. James Anderson during a softball tournament in Wurzburg Germany in May. According to witnesses Ayala evidently was angered by heckling. Anderson was struck in the head and knocked unconscious witnesses said. He spent one night in the Hospital. Ayala was charged in june with two counts of aggravated assault. One charge stemmed from the swing and the other was for the actual Contact. The charges noted that the blow was a with a Means or Force Likely to cause death or grievous bodily  col. James r. Mcdonough the setae infantry brigade commander handed Down the nonjudicial punishment in july Mcelroy said. Ayala transferred last month to fort Lewis Wash. In Ciurlik policeman sentenced to jail by the stars and stripes a Security policeman at in Ciurlik a Turkey was sentenced to four months confinement after being convicted of two counts of larceny a base spokesman said. Senior airman Michael Walker of the 39th Security police so pleaded guilty at a general court martial to a charge of stealing a Laptop computer March 14 from a building used by a civilian contracting firm the spokesman said. He also admitted returning to the building april 12 and taking a Power adapter. Both thefts occurred while Walker was on duty and when the building was left unsecured the spokesman said. Walker chose to be tried by a military judge without a jury. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced aug. 25 to a reduction to the Grade of Al four months confinement and a bad conduct discharge. No at in Ciurlik in Ciurlik a turkeys amps an air Force staff sergeant died at in Ciurlik a on aug. 26 from a ruptured Aorta base officials said. Staff sgt. Michael Duncan 27, an aircraft generation equipment technician assigned to the 39th Maint so collapsed at work the morning of aug. 26. He was transported first to the 39th medical group Hospital on base and then to the Adana University Hospital. His condition was pronounced untreatable at the turkish Hospital and he was returned to base for medical evacuation by air to  left in Ciurlik aboard a c-130 aircraft later that Day. His condition worsened however and the plane returned to in Ciurlik a. He died at 4 36 . On the flight line