European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 26, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Peace Pei 94 another blow at cold Wai images a Young russian distributes Flowers to . Service members watching a. Sports Competition on the final Day of the exercise. Is photos by Wayne v. Hall by Wayne v. Hall staff writer he recent .-russian training exercise in to Skoye Russia helped dispel misconceptions that thrived during the years of cold War animosity. Through this exercise dubbed peacekeeper 94, More than 350 service members got the Opportunity to visit a part of Russia that few americans have Ever Laid eyes upon the country s Rural heartland. The experience left some Strong impressions. The to Skoye military installation and Garrison town is located jointly with a Village of the same name in an area that appears by american standards to be very poor. Homes Are mostly Wood and Brick roofed with tin and painted Dull Plain colors. They Don t make much of an impression on someone travelling along one of the town s dirt roads or the occasional paved Street. Yet a second look reveals a pleasant Surprise decorative hand carved Wood around the windows which in some cases Are painted Bright colors. The craftsmanship would make anyone proud. Farming is one of the area s major occupations and an important duty for soldiers in the russian army to Skoye s 27th guards motorized Rifle div depends on its farm for Many essentials such As produce or heat and milk. " ,.it is riot uncommon for those driving through the training area to see soldiers out tending herds of cattle or goats. In addition to the farm soldiers run a bakery that supplies the area with bread. Even members of the russian military Academy in Moscow must help farm. One interpreter sent by the Academy to assist in peacekeeper 94 said that when he and his colleagues returned to the Academy they would be required to make up two weeks of potato farming duties they missed while in to Skoye. Face to face meetings quickly dissolved images of russians As members of an evil  while walking the streets of the Garrison town with a few soldiers army spec Susan e. Bower an interpreter with the 18th military intelligence in in Augsburg Germany was overwhelmed by a swarm of children pleased to learn that she could speak russian. As the children gathered around Bower a woman approached explaining that she was the local kindergarten teacher and that she would love to have americans autograph some of the books that she reads to her students. A few moments later an older woman probably in her 70s, approached. The woman who asked to be called Only mrs. Mori Valova said she never imagined she would see an official american Flag. She said that her Hussar for was a world War ii Veteran and she found it amazing that Russia and America had once been allies then cold War enemies and now allies again. In the 1980s, who would be Ever thought that we would be friends with americans i thought for a Long time that the Only communication we would have with the . Would be with bombs she said raising her hands in the air and easing them downward while whistling to gesture the emphasis on an Exchange of bombs. Now my Gran kids can Emoy this new found peace 20 the stars and stripes monday september 26, 1994