Graf Incident Article

USAG Giessen — Friedberg, Giessen
Neighbors prevent tragedy for young family
Butzbach residents help young mother, children when family car catches fire
By Alexandra Williams
U.S. Army Giessen Public Affairs Office
When a Roman Way Housing
resident’s car caught fire Jan. 30, neighbors quickly came to the rescue.
Angie Didion and her children,
Blair, age 2, and Sarah, 3 months old,
had just returned to Butzbach from
Giessen. When she parked the car she
noticed smoke coming from underneath
the hood of her vehicle. “I thought the
engine had overheated, so I sat there for
a minute watching what was going
on,” she said.
When she got out of the car, neighbor Julie Everson asked if she should
call the fire department. As the two
women took a few steps away from the
car to talk they heard a popping noise
and hurried back to retrieve Didion’s
children.
“When we opened the doors there
was smoke all over. It was scary,”
Didion recalled. The women frantically tried to free the children from their
car seats as more popping sounds came
from the engine. Upon releasing the
youngsters, all four ran to the playground.
“That was the scariest moment for
me. I saw Julie Everson panicking to
When the fire was extinguished,
get my daughter out of her seat and another neighbor, who introduced herSarah was coughing,” Didion said.
self as Amanda Buford, invited Didion
“When we made it, I thought that if and the children into her apartment.
there hadn’t been anyone there I don’t While Didion filled out the police stateknow if I could have gotten the kids out ment, Buford cared for the children.
of the car by myself because I was in
“It was crazy. It had been hard for us
shock,” she said.
over here since we arrived in 2005 from
Didion said
Fort Hood and
she remembered
never
really
“I don’t know if I could
yelling at a housmade
a
lot
of
have gotten the kids out
ing resident lookfriends because
of the car by myself
ing out of her winwe are not atbecause
I was in shock.” tached to any of
dow to call the fire
department and
the battalions,”
seeing another woman running toward she said. But then in an emergency
the car with a fire extinguisher. Curi- situation all these people came to help
ous onlookers came by to watch the me.”
burning car, some of them even taking
While Didion was overwhelmed by
photos. A Military Police officer who the helpfulness of her neighbors, she
arrived on the scene cordoned people didn’t know that yet another neighbor
away from the parking lot until the fire had one more surprise for her.
department arrived about 15 minutes
As Didion stood in tears before her
later. By that time the car next to Didion’s burnt car wondering what to do, a
vehicle was also on fire.
neighbor asked her if it was the family’s
“I felt so bad about it, but it was only car. When she answered yes, the
worse when I later learned that the car woman handed her the title for a BMW.
belonged to a lady whose husband had
“She said that we could get it transdied in Iraq,” she said.
ferred any time we were ready for it,”
Didion said. The gesture of kindness
took on a special meaning when Didion
learned from the woman, who introduced herself as Sandy Jagger, that the
car belonged to her husband who had
died last year in Iraq.
“After all that Sandy Jagger went
through herself, she still helped us. She
lives two buildings down the street. I’d
never seen her before and she gave us
her husband’s car,” she said.
Since that day Didion said she feels
more connected to the members of the
1st Brigade Combat Team family.
“Whenever I get into the car now I have
to think about who it belonged to. I
never met him, but in a way he is now
part of our family,” she said.
Like Didion, her husband, Spc. Blair
Didion of the Butzbach Health Clinic,
was also moved by the outpouring of
support. “Julie Everson went above and
beyond to help get my children out of
the car. She didn’t mind going into a
car of fire. Sandy Jagger gave us a car.
Amanda Buford took care of our children. They didn’t have to do it but they
did. I can never thank them enough for
what they did,” he said.
Community spotlights
Children’s gymnastics
classes
SKIES Unlimited hosts
gymnastics classes every Monday and Wednesday at
Giessen’s Dulles Housing.
Classes are from 4:30-5:30
p.m. for children age 4-6 and
from 6:30-7:30 p.m. for children age 6 and older. The cost
is $30 per month. For details
call mil 343-8216.
Youth events
Photo by Alexandra Williams
Recognizing Black History
Guest speaker Command Sgt. Maj. Victor M. Blade of the 485th Corps Support Battalion
discusses how the history of black Americans is part of American history during a Black
History Month luncheon Feb. 15 at the Giessen Dining Facility.“It not only means so much
to me, but it’s who I am,” he said, describing growing up in a two-room house in the 1960s
without running water. “The movement was on the forefront. And I know how it is to be
judged by the color of your skin,” he said. His mother taught him no matter what color,
a person has to always strive for the best, and no matter how others treat you, stay the
course. “It’s not where you start but how you finish. This brought me to where I am at today,”
he said. ”There are similarities between the black movement in the 1960s and the operation
in Iraq,” he said. “Democracy and freedom are not free. We’ve got to let democracy win.”
Page 18
Youth Services hosts a Father and Son game and snack
night March 10. A family dinner and snack night is scheduled for March 30. For details
call Butzbach YS at civ (06033)
73048 or Giessen YS at mil
343-6129.
Uniform bowling
The Spare Time Lanes in
Friedberg and the Iron Side
Lanes in Giessen host Uniform
Bowling Monday to Friday during lunch. Soldiers in uniform
pay 75 cents per game and get
the shoe rental for free.
‘Independence’ at
Keller Theatre
The Keller Theatre in
Giessen presents “Independence,” by Lee Blessing March
9-10, 16-17 and 23-24. The
show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 or €10 for adults.
For information call the box
office at mil 343-6515.
Volleyball, soccer
tournaments
The USAG Giessen Sports
and Fitness office hosts a preseason unit-level volleyball
tournament March 16-18 at
Miller Hall Fitness Center. A
unit-level indoor soccer championship will be held March
24-25 at the Friedberg Fitness
Center. For details call mil 3437201 in Giessen or mil 3243155 in Friedberg.
Inform school of
student absence
Parents of students at
Giessen Middle High School
are encouraged to notify the
school by 8 a.m. if their student will not be in attendance
or will be late for the school
day. The school can be reached
at civ (0641) 402-7259. Students are allowed to make up
work missed for an excused
absence.
Herald Union March 1, 2007 ................................................................ www.usaghessen.eur.army.mil
USAG Giessen — Friedberg, Giessen
Photos by Alexandra Williams
Staff Sgt. Raul Aguilar of the 501st FSB enjoys the attention
of his children, Elisa and Javier Adolfo, upon his redeployment
Feb. 10. Photo right: Families cheer as Soldiers from the
501st FSB march into the gym on Ray Barracks Feb. 10.
Welcome home Ready First Combat Team
Photo by Karen Graves
Spc. Scott Probst of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 501st FSB, proposes to
Sgt. Yustina Aguilera of Company B, 501st, upon his return from Iraq Feb. 10.
Photo by Martin Greeson
A 2-3rd Field Artillery family reunites Feb. 14 in Giessen.
Photo by Martin Greeson
Scott Bitzer hugs his wife, Sgt. Kimi Bitzer of the 501st FSB, upon her
redeployment Feb. 10
Soldiers from the 2-3rd FA march to the Alpine Catering Center to be
greeted by friends and families.
www.usaghessen.eur.army.mil ................................................................. March 1, 2007
Herald Union Page 19
USAG Giessen — Friedberg, Giessen
Volunteers discuss issues at AFAP Forum
Twenty volunteers came together Jan. 30 at the
Alpine Catering Center in Giessen for an Army
Family Action Plan Forum and discussed AFAP
issues submitted by community members.
“The reason we held a forum instead of the usual
conference is the upcoming closure of the installation,” said Kim Shoffner, a U.S. Army Garrison
Giessen AFAP coordinator. “Community members
won’t have any more local issues, but many have
concerns about what needs to be changed in the
Army,” she said.
Comprised of Soldiers, family members and civilian employees, the group discussed each issue,
determined if the issue could be solved locally or if a
solution already exists.
“The issues that need to be solved will be forwarded to the next higher level,” explained Joyce
Williams, another USAG Giessen AFAP coordinator.
The issues submitted by adults and teenagers are:
➨ Not enough Army Knowledge Online storage
space.
➨ AKO users being locked out because of
common access card issues.
➨ AAFES lunch menu.
➨ Classes for widows on what to expect from the
military as they transition back into the civilian world.
➨ Funds resource managers for chapel fund.
➨ Combat stress evaluation for redeployed Soldiers.
➨ Department of Defense Dependents Schools
attendance policy.
Photo by Alexandra Williams
Volunteers discuss if an issue should be forwarded to a higher level. Because USAG Giessen is due to
close, there were no local issues to be discussed or solved.
➨ Extended free American Forces Network
coverage for military.
➨ AFN infomercials — too many/different content.
➨ School curriculum (is it below U.S. standards?), consistant curriculum for military children.
➨ CLEOS costs.
➨ Disability compensation for retirees.
➨ Driving school for teenagers to enable them to
More on moving:
Editor’s note: this is the last in a
series on how to prepare for a move.
By Alexandra Williams
U.S. Army Garrison Giessen
Public Affairs Office
Preparing and arranging for the
pick up and shipping of household
goods to the next duty station can be
stressful. Is the property within the
weight limits? What can I do when my
property exceeds the limits? Will I get
my appointment in time and will I have
enough time to prepare everything?
“There are some things you can
actually take care of before you get
your counseling appointment. You don’t
need your orders for that,” said Alan
Matthews, U.S. Army Garrison Giessen
installation transportation officer.
Community members can pick up
an inventory form at the Personal Property Processing Office in Building 4 on
the Giessen Depot. Once they receive
their orders they can bring in a copy of
the orders together with the filled out
form. That’s when an appointment
will be scheduled for counseling.
“We encourage our customers to
have a pickup date planned when they
Page 20
come to the appointment. However,
there is always a chance that the particular date will not be available so
make sure to bring secondary dates as
well,” he said.
It’s essential to ensure the
date arranged is suitable because getting it changed requires coming back to the
PPPO and filling out another form.
Once the date has been
requested and confirmed, customers must make sure they
are home on that date.
“You should be home from
7:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., otherwise you will be billed between €80 and €100 for attempted
pick up,” advised Matthews.
A vital part of the pickup procedure
is estimating the weight of the property. The Army offers a tool which can
be used to make a good guess. It is
available online at www.sddc.army.mil.
Click on the Personal Property/POV
icon and then go to Reference Library.
On the left side you will find the weight
estimator. Fill out the form as pre-
get a U.S. Army Europe license.
➨ An Army-wide teen website to keep in touch.
➨ Reduction of tuition for contractor parents to
ensure their children can go to a DoDDS school.
➨ Higher priority for space A flights for students when making college visits.
➨ Installation-wide driver's license for youths
of legal driving age.
Arranging for household
goods pick-up, shipping
cisely as possible.
“Having a good weight estimate
helps in determining the number of
days needed for the packing,” Matthews
said.
“If you believe you are exceeding
the weight limit, you may want to
consider shipping some of the items,”
he said.
Single Soldiers living on post
can request an exception to
policy from the Installation
Transportation Office for a
1,000-pound increase. If the
standard allowance appears
to be close it’s recommended
they request the weight increase to ensure they are not
over the weight limit, he said.
Community members shipping professional items such as books,
papers and equipment are reminded to
inform the counselor of those items,
Matthews said.
“CIF items authorized to be taken
to the next duty station can be included
as professional items,” he added.
Before the packer arrives you can
speed up the process by making a few
simple preparations:
➾ Secure items to be hand carried
(including airline tickets and
passports) so they won’t be accidentally packed.
➾ Make sure items to be packed are
dust-free. Outdoor items must be
clean and checked for Gypsy moths.
Furniture must be free of wood
boring insects.
➾Try to store small breakable items
in larger containers. Put items such
as spices in zip lock bags and wrap
fragile things such as Christmas
ornaments in scarves.
➾ Place clothes or linen in trash
bags for protection.
➾ Prepare an inventory list of your
property and, if possible, store it on a
computer disc.
➾ Identify your videos, DVDs, CDs
and collectibles as originals or copies
and document their value, if known.
More tips on shipping household
goods and privately owned vehicles,
Customs regulations and passenger
travel can be picked up at the PPPO
office in Building 4 on the Giessen
Depot.
Herald Union March 1, 2007 ................................................................ www.usaghessen.eur.army.mil
USAG Giessen — Friedberg, Giessen
Community spotlights
Transferring, clearing
bank accounts
Customers of Community
Banks in Giessen and Friedberg
can initiate the transfer or closure of their bank accounts as
soon as they have orders. Customer files, for those with a
consecutive European assignment, can be forwarded to the
new banking center. Clients
returning to the United States
may keep their account open
for 90 days. Loans and CDs
may be kept open until maturity. Overdraft protection must
be paid in full before moving.
A copy of orders must be
brought to the bank.
Free Parent’s Night
Out
Child and Youth Services
hosts Parent’s Night Out March
16 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. at the
Butzbach Child Development
Center. For more information
call mil 343-8216.
upon request. Community
members can choose from a
variety of classes including
Family Advocacy, Financial
Readiness and Relocation
Readiness. For details call mil
343-7618 in Giessen or mil
324-3465 in Friedberg.
Paris Day tour is scheduled
for March 16. A day trip to
Munich takes place March 31.
For details call the Outdoor
Rec in Giessen at mil 3438207.
Preseparation, CBS
training
Due to the closure of the
Butzbach Health Clinic this
year, retirees are reminded to
pick up copies of their records
at the clinic. To pick up a copy
schedule an appointment at mil
345-4040.
The Transition Center in
Giessen hosts a preretirement
class March 7 starting at 9 a.m.
A preseparation class will be
held March 13 at 9 a.m. at the
Transition Center. A Career
Status Bonus/REDUX training will be held March 20 beginning at 9 a.m. The Transition Center is located in Building 4 on the Giessen Depot.
Soldiers interested in attending must register for the class.
Call mil 343-6504/6505.
Brake pad class
Throughout March the
Auto Skills Centers in Giessen
and Friedberg offer brake pad
replacement classes. The cost
is $25 plus supplies. For an
Don’t abandon pets
U.S. Army Europe and
garrison command policies
prohibit the neglect and abusive treatment of animals.
These are defined as any act
or omission whereby an
animal’s physical or psychological well-being is compromised, and includes pet abandonment. Such acts are subject to severe penalties and
fines to include action under
the Uniformed Code of Military Justice and civilian misconduct. Community members realizing they cannot
take their pet to the States
have several options available
to find a new home. The Veterinary Clinic in Hanau can
place flyers provided by the
owner for placement or adoption. The Stars and Stripes
accepts
free
ads
at
www.estripes.com. German
pet shelters accept unwanted
pets without any charge. In
Butzbach pet owners can
bring a photo and short description of the pet to the local shelter. The information
will be placed on their website
to help find a new owner while
the pet stays with its family.
The shelter is at Am Himmrichsweg and is open Tuesday to Friday from 5-6:30 p.m.
and on Sunday and holidays
from 10 a.m. to noon.
Parent support groups
The next Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers council
meeting will be held March 8
at 2 p.m. in Friedberg. The
meeting is open to all single
Soldiers interested in choosing
destinations for BOSS trips and
planning other events. For more
information call mil 324-3158.
The New Parent Education
and Support Program offers
Daddy Boot Camp, a one-day
class for new fathers. Participants get information on how
to get through those sticky situations a newborn presents. Individuals interested in joining
the support group can call the
NPESP at Giessen Army Community Service at mil 3439332.
ACS classes
Outdoor Rec trips
All classes at the Army
Community Service are now
available by appointment or
Outdoor Recreation in
Giessen hosts a Strasbourg
Shopping trip March 3. A
BOSS council
Retiree records at
Butzbach Health Clinic
appointment call mil 324-3218
in Friedberg or mil 343-7050
in Giessen.
Armed Forces
Entertainment
Photo by Alexandra Williams
Giessen’s top speller
Giessen Elementary School Principal Barbara Mueller (left)
reads a certificate to Spelling Bee winner Alexis McCarroll.
She will represent the school in the competetion in Heidelberg in March.
www.usaghessen.eur.army.mil ................................................................. March 1, 2007
Herald Union Page 21
Hanau Community — Büdingen, Hanau
Hanau Health Clinic notes
By Linda McKenna
Hanau Health Clinic registered nurse
March is National Colorectal
Month. In 2006, 148,610
people were estimated to
have been diagnosed with
the disease and it’s estimated that 55,170 will die.
Men and women are at risk
in nearly equal numbers.
Because it often develops
from polyps that can be safely
removed before becoming
cancerous, colorectal cancer is highly
preventable. People who are obese,
have a sedentary lifestyle or use tobacco have a higher risk for developing colorectal cancer. To help prevent colorectal cancer people should
get periodic screenings, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, eat
a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and
whole grains, not smoke and not
drink excessively. For information
go to www.preventcancer.org/
colorectal.
March is also National Nutritional
Awareness Month. During the month
people are encouraged to focus on making informed food choices and develop sound eating and physical activity habits. Remember to choose foods sensibly
and that no single food is
harmful when eaten in moderation. All foods can fit into
a healthy diet. A balance between diet and physical activity is the key to controlling
weight. Regular physical activity is as
important as a good diet for your overall health. An active lifestyle promotes
a feeling of well-being and reduces the
risk of chronic disease.
To develop a personal eating plan
go to www.eatright.org and
www.mypyramid.gov.
For more health information contact your personal health care provider
or schedule an appointment with the
Hanau Health Clinic by calling civ
(06181) 500-6600/6601.
Taxes have you confused?
“This [preparing my tax
return] is too difficult for a
mathematician. It takes a
philosopher.”
—Albert Einstein
The Hanau Tax Center staff understand that many people have difficulty preparing their taxes and that
many will seek the assistance of a
paid tax preparer or agencies that
often offer “rapid returns.” However,
such rapid returns are frequently nothing more than
a high interest loan and
there is no need for most
people in the Hanau Community to pay someone else
to prepare their taxes. This
is because the Hanau Tax
Center offers qualifying community members free tax preparation
assistance. Qualifying people generally include all active duty Soldiers,
reservists serving on active duty for
more than 29 days, retired Soldiers,
Soldiers’ family members, surviving family members and Department
of Defense civilians.
The Tax Center staff will help
taxpayers identify and claim all legitimate deductions and credits
thereby limiting the amount of taxes
they’ll pay. They can also file tax
returns electronically so that you can
receive any refunds quickly.
The Tax Center is open
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday
from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Walk-ins are welcome, although people with complex
tax returns are encouraged to
schedule an appointment.
For answers to your tax questions
or help with filing your 2006 personal income tax return contact the
Hanau Tax Center at mil 322-9802
or civ (06181) 88-9802
55th Personnel Services Battalion inactivates
Hanau unit casualty of new ways of doing personnel business as part of Army restructuring
By Dennis Johnson
U.S. Army Garrison Hessen Public Affairs Office
The 55th Personnel Services Battalion is just one
of many Hanau military units undergoing changes as
part of Army-wide transformation. For the 55th it
means they will no longer exist as a unit, but their
Soldiers and civilians will be incorporated into brigades and battalions to continue providing personnel services. After decades of serving Soldiers the
battalion marked the end of its operations at an
inactivation ceremony Feb. 7 at the Pioneer Fitness
Center. The unit cased its colors for what is likely to
be the last time.
“Last week I presided over the inactivation of the
90th PSB and today we continue the monumental
transformation of how we, as an Army, provide
personnel support,” said Col. David K. MacEwen,
1st Personnel Command commander, at the ceremony.
“Change is always hard; particularly when the
change is so close. Tracing its history and lineage
back more than 65 years, this battalion has served in
the United States, Japan, Korea and then, since its
most recent activation in 1994, its Soldiers have
deployed to Rwanda, Nigeria, Macedonia, Saudi
Arabia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Georgia, Israel, Kuwait,
Iraq, Qatar and Djibouti,” said MacEwen.
Activated in Hanau on Nov. 16, 1994, the 55th
PSB deployed three times to Bosnia and Kosovo
between 1995 and 2000. From 2003-2004 the 55th
PSB completed a 14-month rotation to Iraq where it
provided support to the 1st Armored Division during
Operation Iraqi Freedom. From 2005-2007 the 55th
PSB provided personnel services in Kuwait and
Page 22
Photo by Dennis Johnson
Command Sgt. Maj. Richard A. McKeller (left) and
Lt. Col. Robert D. Knock case the 55th PSB colors
for the last time in Germany.
postal support in Kuwait, Qatar and Djibouti. The
55th Postal Company Headquarters and two postal
platoons also supported postal operations in Iraq.
The 55th is one of many U.S. Army Europe
personnel units affected by the Personnel Services
Delivery Redesign, a Department of the Army initiative to improve the efficiency of its human resource
management, and provide greater flexibility to commanders. The military human resource functions
and the designated military assets of the personnel
detachments will be transferred to combat and support brigades and battalions.
Members of the 1st PERSCOM plan to reduce
their military workforce from 139 military personnel
to 68. Civilian employees of the inactivated units
will be realigned to support the redesign.
With the dissolution of the PSBs, battalion and
brigade S1s received training to perform personnel
actions such as records, promotions, evaluations and
awards; functions traditionally performed by the
PSBs. Before inactivation, staff of the 55th PSB
trained local S-1 staff in these duties. Additionally,
personnel services normally performed at garrisons
such as reassignments, ID cards and passports were
integrated into existing garrison personnel services.
The 55th transferred these functions to Installation
Management Command-Europe in the month before
its inactivation.
“As our Army transforms and adapts to changing
conditions we must restructure the way we do business in order to serve our Soldiers and their families,” said MacEwen.
“This transformation, and the new modular design of the Army’s BCTs, have given the human
resources community an unprecedented opportunity
to make our business more relevant and effective by
shifting the personnel mission readiness to the brigade S1,” said MacEwen.
The inactivation ceremony heralded an end to 12
years of personnel service and postal support to the
USAREUR military communities of Darmstadt,
Friedberg, Giessen, Hanau and Wiesbaden.
“Most of the 55th Soldiers will return to the States
or be integrated into brigade S1 shops,” said Lt. Col.
Robert D. Knock, 55th PSB commander.
“It was time for a change with the Army’s move
toward brigades as the centerpiece of our formations.
It was the right change at the right time,” said
Knock.
Herald Union March 1, 2007 ................................................................ www.usaghessen.eur.army.mil
Hanau Community —Büdingen, Hanau
Small plaque keeps memory of 16 Soldiers alive
The history of a
community lives
on in memories
By Susan Huseman
U.S. Army Garrison Hessen
Public Affairs Office
There is no way Pfc. Robert Parker’s
diary entry could detail precisely the
carnage he witnessed on Sept. 2, 1960.
“We got to Graf at 3 o’clock in the
morning. At 8 a.m. after just settling
pretty well, horror struck in the form of
an eight-inch howitzer shell,” he wrote.
“It accidentally landed in our area and
15 men were killed; 40-something
wounded. I saw men without heads,
with arms blown off, and with their
backs blown off. My buddy Nelson was
killed. I’ll never forget.”
Parker’s unit, the 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, based in
Büdingen, was on a training exercise in
Grafenwöhr. A howitzer from Battery
A, 3rd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery,
V Corps, fired an incorrectly charged
round. The shell landed where the
squadron was bivouacked, killing 16
Soldiers and wounding 26.
“At that time it was the worst peacetime training accident in U.S. Army
history,” said Parker.
“I’ve got a vivid memory of it,” he
said. Parker and a couple of buddies
had just picked up their gear and put it
in their tent when suddenly there was
an explosion. “[Wayne] Gordon and I
were standing by my bunk, and all of a
sudden, boom; I mean a real loud sound.
I didn’t know what to think.”
Parker knew the D Troop arms tent
was nearby. “I thought, My God, ammo
or something blew up,” he said. “I went
running out and I thought if it ain’t the
arms tent maybe it’s the immersion
heater over in the mess hall. As we went
running out of the tent stuff was still
coming down out of the air: papers and
all kind of debris. I looked up the aisle
and all the tents on the D Troop side
were damaged, stuff was lying all around
and I started seeing people lying all
over the place.
“I went running up to where a lieutenant was trying to get this guy out
from under what turned out to be a
blackboard that had been in that arms
tent,” said Parker. “This guy was lying
under this big blackboard and all kinds
of stuff was piled on it and he [the
lieutenant] couldn’t lift it up. So I got
under there, I got my hands underneath
it, and I’m pushing … and I looked
Photo by Susan Huseman
Robert Parker maintains a monument on Armstrong Barracks to his fellow
cavalry Soldiers killed during a training exercise in Grafenwöhr almost 47
years ago.
under it and saw the stripes on this
guy’s sleeve … he wasn’t moving. I
pushed the blackboard over and I saw
his head was gone; and it was still
pumping out this fluid, this clear fluid.
“I looked at that and I said to that
lieutenant, ‘Do you see that? Do you see
that?’ Then I started looking around
and I saw another guy; they were holding him. He was lying there and he was
split open from his armpit to his knee;
you could see everything inside: bones
spilling out, all the meat in his leg was
pushed in. He was trying to look and
they were holding his head so he
couldn’t see his injuries; he was in
pain, in shock,” said Parker.
“I saw other people stumbling
around, lying on the ground with injuries,” said Parker. “One sergeant said,
‘let’s get the hell out of here before
another one comes in.”
It then dawned on Parker that an
artillery round had exploded. “I looked
at that sergeant and asked ‘is that what
it was?’ He said, ‘what the hell do you
think it was?’ And we all got together
and got out of there.”
That day and the days that followed
are engraved forever in Parker’s
memory. Forty-four years later, in 2004,
after he and his German-born wife returned to Germany to retire in Büdingen,
he petitioned the current residents of
Armstrong Barracks, 1st Squadron, 1st
Cavalry Regiment, to put up a small
memorial in the Soldiers’ honor.
“We would come back to visit the
family on the average of every three
years,” said Parker, who is retired from
the Army National Guard. “For nostalgic reasons I would always come to the
post and look around, see the old buildings; I guess it was in the ‘70s when I
started to see these monuments out
here. Each time I came back there were
more. I saw all these crosses for guys
who’d been killed not only in Iraq, but
for people who had been killed in training accidents.
“I’m thinking here are 16 guys that
were killed all at one time and there’s
not even a mention of them,” he said.
“So I started asking around as to who I
should talk to. It seemed like Command Sgt. Maj. (David) Davenport’s
name came up more than anyone else’s.”
Parker wrote Davenport outlining what
he’d witnessed and met with him.
In less than two months a small
memorial was put up on Armstrong
Barracks and Parker was satisfied.
“These guys are gone but not forgotten,
and that was my whole intent of having
this memorial put up here. I thought all
these other guys — there’s recognition
of them having been here and done
something, and here’s these other guys.
They were my friends and my buddies.
I was there when it happened … it
could have very well been me.
“It’s a way of keeping their memory
alive,” he said.
Volunteer of the Year Nomination Form
Drop nominations in boxes located at Army Community Service offices on Pioneer Kaserne
in Hanau, the Büdingen ACS office, at the PX, commissary or bowling center; or complete a
form online at http://www.hanau.army.mil/HanauWeb/04_services/acsAVCC.a
Name, rank
APO address (include unit)
Work phone and home phone
Volunteer job title
Nominating organization
Organization POC and phone
Signature of POC and date
Total Number of volunteer hours
Nomination Instructions
When completing the nomination form, do not place the nominee's name in the body of the nomination. The
selection committee will review: Justification: State why you believe this person, family or group deserves the
award. Be specific and list justifications in detail. Impact and contribution to community: Explain how this
volunteer’s work contributes to the welfare of the community. Emphasis should be on impact on community,
not just a private organization. Extent of dedication and commitment: How have they demonstrated their
dedication and commitment to your organization and the people it serves? What is the quality of their services?
Special achievements and accomplishments: You may also discuss the hours available for this person to
volunteer, special circumstances, exceptional performances, etc. Other Organizations: If known, list any other
organizations that this person is affiliated with as an active volunteer.
www.usaghessen.eur.army.mil ................................................................. March 1, 2007
Herald Union Page 23
Hanau Community — Büdingen, Hanau
Community notes . . . Comunity notes
Army Emergency
Relief kickoff
Pioneer Kaserne either March
26, 27, 28 and 30 from 6-8
p.m., or on March 3 from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. Call mil 3221760 or civ (06181) 881760.
The Hanau American Red
Cross office is located in Building 19 on Pioneer Kaserne.
Enjoy a slice of cake and
learn about the Army Emergency Relief program at the
AER fund drive kickoff March
2 at 10 a.m. at the PX on the
Wolfgang Shopping Center.
The AER campaign runs from
March 1 to May 15. AER is the
Army's emergency financial
assistance program dedicated
to ‘Helping the Army Take
Care of Its Own.’ Funds are
available to commanders for
emergency financial assistance
to Soldiers and their dependents. For information contact
Staff Sgt. Reyna at mil 3232145 or go to www.aerhq.org.
Blood drive
The 1-1st Cav will hold a
blood drive March 28-29 from
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the
Armstrong Barracks fitness
center in Büdingen. For information call Staff Sgt. Malcolm
G. Coley at mil 321-4794/4710
or civ (0174) 458-5769.
Military Family Life
consultants
Photo by Susan Huseman
Photo studio closed
The Hanau Training Support Center photography section is closed until March 16.
Contact the TSC in Friedberg
at mil 324-3225 for assistance
during this time.
PCS help
If you are moving to the
States or another post in Germany and need assistance or
information about relocation,
financial readiness, employment and EFMP screenings,
visit Army Community Service at Building 19 on Pioneer
Kaserne or call mil 322-8965
or civ (06181) 88-8965.
Retirement and
separation briefings
All Soldiers should attend
a preretirement or preseparation briefing before leaving the Army. The briefings
are held every third Tuesday
of the month from 9-11 a.m.
The next is March 20. The
All in One
Learning to swim
Swim instructor, Dirk Penbert, shows Alexia Williams, 5, where she needs to swim while
(from left) Jordan Walker, 8, Clarence Miles, 9, and Daniel Hulsebosch, 7, wait their turn Feb.
13 at the Lindenaubad in Grossauheim. The youths are enrolled in the Hanau CYS SKIES
Unlimited program, which offers swimming, violin, piano and tae kwon do lessons. Call mil
322-9144 for more information about youth recreation opportunities.
next preretirement briefing
will be held March 14 from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. All briefings
are held at the transition center, Building 20, on Pioneer
Kaserne. Call mil 322-8731/
9994 for information.
Welfare requests
The Hanau Community
Spouses Club is accepting welfare requests until March 31.
Established organizations are
eligible for funds. They can
request money for a project to
benefit their community or organization. HCSC has funded
the Scouts, school organizations, the Red Cross, USO and
Family Readiness Groups. Organizations should include the
amount they’re requesting and
contact information. The
HCSC will vote on the requests
in April. Requests should be
emailed to christywhitaker@
yahoo.com. For more information call Christy Whitaker at
civ (06181) 983-0321.
Civilian training
Civilian employees are invited to take the Communication Skills class offered March
22-23. To apply go to
www.chra.eur.army.mil, click
on training and development,
HRDD courses in Europe, then
on course schedule. You must
create a student profile in
CHRTAS before registering for
any class. For information call
mil 375-2063 or civ (0621)
487-2063.
Scholarship program
Applications for the Hanau
Community Spouses Club 2007
scholarship program must be
submitted by March 16. Applications can be found at the
Büdingen and Hanau Education Centers and the Hanau
High School guidance counselor office. Graduating high
school students with a 2.0 GPA
or higher and adult military ID
Euromovers
Page 24
cardholders stationed within
the U.S. Army Garrison Hanau
Community enrolled in an accredited college or university
are eligible. For information
contact Jeannette Kula at
jeannette.kula@us.army.mil.
Employee of quarter
L e s l i e
Brooking of the
Hanau ID card
section was honored as Employee of the
Quarter by the
government
contractor,
Serco, Feb. 21.
Red Cross
classes
Brooking
The Hanau American Red
Cross offers a standard first
aid/CPR/automated external
defibrillation course. The
course costs $40 and includes
all materials. Class will be held
in Room 36, Building 19 on
Military Family Life consultants are available to help
anyone with marriage and relationship issues, depression,
stress or dealing with grief.
Consultations are free and confidential. Call civ (0175) 2590395 or (0175) 988-9097 to
talk with someone.
Ski trips
Join Hanau Outdoor Recreation to ski the Black Forest March 3-4. Cost includes
transportation, one night in a
hotel with breakfast and dinner, ski or snowboard equipment. Lift tickets are not
included. Cost is $139
per adult, $99 per child
6-15 years old and $69
for children 5 and under.
Another trip is scheduled
for March 16-19 to Saas
Grund, Switzerland.
Trip includes transportation, three nights in a
three-star hotel with
three breakfasts and dinners. Daily transportation to
the ski area and ski or
snowboard equipment included. Lift tickets are not
included. Cost is $349 per
adult, $289 per child 6-15
years old and $79 for children 5 and under.
For “things
to do” go to
www.hanau.
army.mil
Herald Union March 1, 2007 ................................................................ www.usaghessen.eur.army.mil
Hanau Community — Büdingen, Hanau
Black History Month luncheon:
Speaker relates father’s
experiences in integrated Army
Relations Education Program. Its broad
purpose was to promote racial harmony,
thereby reducing racial tension and contributing directly to increased unit effec“Now, I have to give you a warning
tiveness,” he said.
order,” said Lt. Col. Jeffery Fletcher,
“The specific goal of the program was to
U.S. Army Garrison Mannheim comachieve sympathetic understanding and
mander, as he launched his speech for
treatment of each Soldier by his commandBlack History Month at the Patriot Garers and his fellows. … At the time of its
dens Dining Facility Feb. 12. “If you
inception the program was groundbreaking
came here expecting me to share with
in that it attacked the issue of poor race
you some highlights of famous black
relations head on,” Fletcher said.
Army units like the Tuskegee airmen or
the triple nickel, the 555th Parachute
“Perhaps the most significant change
Infantry Company, that was started durthat resulted from the Army Race Relations
ing World War II and became the first
Program of the 1970s has to do with how
black airborne unit, I’m afraid you’re in
African-Americans in our Army today are
Photo by Dennis Johnson
the wrong place.”
viewed by our peers, subordinates and suLt. Col. Jeffery Fletcher, USAG Mannheim commander (right), speaks of
periors. We are judged solely on our ability
While preparing his speech, Fletcher
his father’s experiences in the Army of the 1970s at the Black History
to accomplish the mission and take care of
said he asked himself, “What can I talk
Month luncheon.
Soldiers,” he said.
to this audience about that would perhaps have more relevance to what we do today as an years. He described how the African-American and
In addition to the Patriot Gardens luncheon, a
Army?”
European-American Soldiers would still sit at differ- special Black History Month lunch menu was offered
Fletcher said he decided to focus on a “period of ent tables in the dining facility, that women were still at the Pioneer Kaserne Dining Facility on Feb. 15.
time in our Army that required many to think outside rare in the service, and how a few racially charged Diners enjoyed barbecue chicken, ribs, southernthe box.”
remarks at one mandatory race-relations seminar style catfish, jambalaya, seafood gumbo and southern-style vegetables and desserts.
Asking the audience members when they were developed into a melee.
For information on other Equal Opportunity events
born, he encouraged them to imagine they were back
Fletcher described programs the Army developed
contact Sgt. 1st Class Reginald T. Lucas, USAG
30 years ago in 1977. He related his father’s experi- to deal with the problems of racial tension.
ences with racial tensions in the Army during those
“In the 1970s the Army developed the Army Race Hessen Equal Opportunity adviser, at mil 323-2012.
By Dennis Johnson
U.S. Army Garrison Hessen
Public Affairs Office
Auto Exchange
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Herald Union Page 25