Letters to the editor for Friday, November 21, 2008

20 Nov 2008

European and Mideast editions (EDITOR'S NOTE: These are the letters that appeared in each edition of Stripes on this publication date. Click here to jump ahead...

Military update: Vice chairman: Exquisite weapons are too expensive

22 Nov 2008

The military must end its quest for "exquisite" weapon systems that are too costly, take years to design and build, and don't reach troops fast enough, or in quantities large enough, to address ever-changing threats.

Dependent sentenced in rape

22 Nov 2008

NAHA, Okinawa A 23-year-old Air Force dependent was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison with forced labor for raping a sex shop worker in October 2007 in Okinawa City. During ...

Pacific brief: Remains of crew killed in Guam crash buried

22 Nov 2008

The remains of the crew of a B-52 bomber that crashed off Guam's northwest coast during a training mission on July 21 have been buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The six airmen C...

1st sergeant recalled as first among men

22 Nov 2008

He was tough. He was opinionated. And he always held his airmen to a high standard. But to those who knew Senior Master Sgt. James G. Strong, there was a softer side to him as well a side that cared deeply about his troops.

Quitting again: It doesnt get easier

20 Nov 2008

I decided on Feb. 1, 2007, to quit smoking and let the world know in a piece in Stars and Stripes. I figured I'd put myself out there and commit to quitting in public. Well, 20 months a...

Military has troops backs during Smokeout

22 Nov 2008

CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea It's 4:30 p.m., and Pvt. Samuel Napier has chewed seven of his allotted nine pieces of Nicorette gum. He's determined to quit his pack-a-day smoking habit th...

Correction

22 Nov 2008

A story on the front page of the Nov. 21 editions should have said that Army Sgt. Angela Peacock alleged she was sexually assaulted by a noncommissioned officer. ...

Warm welcome for single Marines

22 Nov 2008

NAHA, Okinawa For single troops, returning from a combat deployment can be a lonely experience. With no family waiting on Okinawa, the most they expect is a handshake from fellow serv...

Pacific H.S. scoreboard

22 Nov 2008

South Korea Boys basketball Wednesday's summaries Seoul American 74, Seoul International 30 At Yongsan Garrison

Tarawas brutality remembered

21 Nov 2008

TARAWA, Kiribati Master Sgt. James M. Fawcett got on his knees and gently mixed his father's ashes with sand on the Pacific beach where the elder Fawcett fought his way ashore 65 years ago.

Snow forecast for Germany

20 Nov 2008

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany Dreaming of a white Thanksgiving? While it may be a little too early say if it will snow in Germany on Thanksgiving, the southern portion of the country is forec...

Two soldiers face charges in deaths of Iraqi detainees

21 Nov 2008

Two soldiers who helped Army investigators gather evidence about the alleged unlawful killing of four Iraqi detainees also will face charges for their alleged roles in the incident.

Soldier gets five months for selling scopes online

21 Nov 2008

VICENZA, Italy A soldier who pleaded guilty to selling two scopes for military assault weapons on e-Bay was sentenced to five months in prison and a loss of three ranks Thursday in a special ...

Navy merges postal clerk, storekeeper specialties

21 Nov 2008

The Navy has merged two more career fields for enlisted personnel, joining postal clerks and storekeepers into the newly created logistics specialist, or LS, rating. Gone will be the postal des...

AAFES gas prices stagnant in Germany

21 Nov 2008

Army and Air Force Exchange Service gas prices in Germany will fall just a fraction of a cent Saturday, while prices in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands will drop anywhere from 4.5 cents ...

Paying tribute to the fallen

20 Nov 2008

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division lost 13 soldiers during its 13-month deployment to Iraq: -- Staff Sgt. Robert J. Wilson, 28, of Boynton Beach, Fla., died on Jan. 26 ...

Early departure leaves behind success, questions

20 Nov 2008

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. For once, troops got to come home early. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division deployed to Iraq in fall 2007 on a 15-month rotation. But with security ...

DOD wont re-route ships

21 Nov 2008

To hell with pirates: The Defense Department isn't going to re-route ships to avoid the Gulf of Aden. "We're not going around the Cape of Good Hope," Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said Wednesday.

Military spouses offer advice on finding a career

21 Nov 2008

Building a career is difficult even without changing addresses every two years. For constantly moving military spouses, it can be even tougher. On Tuesday a panel of military wives shared their years of success and failures in the job market as part of the Military Officers Association of America's annual symposium.

Two face charges in deaths of Iraqis

21 Nov 2008

GRAFENWÖHR, Germany Two soldiers who helped Army investigators gather evidence about the alleged unlawful killing of four Iraqi detainees also will face charges for their alleged roles in the...

Soldier gets 5 months for selling scopes

21 Nov 2008

A soldier who pleaded guilty to selling two scopes for military assault weapons on e-Bay was sentenced to five months in prison and a loss of three ranks Thursday in a special court-martial.

Iraqi, coalition troops help needy tribe

21 Nov 2008

An impoverished Arab tribe in southern Iraq received medical care and supplies earlier this month from Iraqi and coalition forces, military officials say.

Progress finally takes shape in Rutbah

21 Nov 2008

As with other cities in western Anbar province, Marines and provincial reconstruction teams in the Rutbah district are hard at work trying to jump-start the local economy. But in Rutbah, they're a little behind the curve.

Clarification

21 Nov 2008

An Associated Press story in the Nov. 13 edition reported U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert Cone believes President-elect Barack Obama's plans to focus on the war in Afghanistan will add to the signif...

DOD bans the use of removable, flash-type drives on all government computers

21 Nov 2008

The Defense Department has banned the use of removable flash media and storage devices from all government computers, according to a series of notices put out by the services this week.

Panel urges private rooms at South Korea bases

21 Nov 2008

CAMP CASEY, South Korea When soldiers shared barracks rooms in South Korea in the 1950s and '60s, they didn't have 300 pounds of gear apiece and a 42-inch plasma television to cram into their...

Five-star fitness

21 Nov 2008

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan Going to the gym is all about self-improvement. Appropriately, the Air Force has a program to ensure their fitness centers are improving. The 5-Star Fitness Rec...

Correction

21 Nov 2008

A Marine in a Nov. 20 story about Christmas mailing deadlines should have been indentified throughout the story as Gunnery Sgt. Regina J. Waymon. ...

Into and out of the chamber

21 Nov 2008

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, Okinawa - It was obvious by all the teary eyes and sniffling noses that the training was a real gas. About 60 Marines went through chemical, biological, radiolog...

Soldier in S. Korea suspected in plot to kill

21 Nov 2008

SEOUL The U.S. military is working with civilian law enforcement officials to transfer a soldier from South Korea to the United States after a federal jury indicted him and two women for alle...

DODDS-Europe coaches favor more games vs. locals

20 Nov 2008

Despite some logistical problems and lopsided scores, DODDS-Europe football coaches would like to continue expanding the number of games between local clubs and American high school teams. ...

Bamberg veteran sings her way to L.A.

20 Nov 2008

A Bamberg, Germany, veteran took top prize in the Army's Operation Rising Star singing contest Friday at Fort Belvoir, Va. Joyce Dodson, 24, sang Shania Twain's "You're Still the One...

European briefs: Army captain incentives set to end

20 Nov 2008

An Army program that offered captains up to $35,000 to stay in the service will end on Nov. 30, Army officials said. Army officials believe they have retained as many captains as they can...

Navy wants landlords to provide bottled water

20 Nov 2008

Navy officials will begin renegotiating leases in the coming weeks on nearly 2,000 local homes rented to Americans to require landlords to supply bottled water to tenants.

173rd Sky Soldiers practice parachuting in German fields

20 Nov 2008

Some 550 paratroops from the 173rd Airborne Brigade are making their first parachute jumps since the unit returned from a 15-month mission to Afghanistan.

EUCOM forwards findings on Georgia war

20 Nov 2008

A U.S. European Command assessment of damage done to Georgia's military, which was overwhelmed during a five-day war with Russia in August, is now complete and the task force's findings have been forwarded to Georgian officials, according to EUCOM.

After hours: Unique menu worth the trip to Mediterraneo

20 Nov 2008

TAMAI di BRUGNERA, Italy In the summer months, it seems like half the population of this small town southwest of Aviano Air Base is clustered inside the curiously decorated building on the ed...

Letters to the editor for Thursday, November 20, 2008

20 Nov 2008

European and Mideast editions (EDITOR'S NOTE: These are the letters that appeared in each edition of Stripes on this publication date. Click here ...

Recruiters see more interest from teenagers

20 Nov 2008

WASHINGTON Military recruiters are seeing signs that more young people may be considering military careers, according to a report in USA Today on Wednesday. According to a Pentagon su...

No mans land

20 Nov 2008

Once part of the breadbasket of Diyala province, the flat, dusty plain surrounding this ghostly collection of mud huts sprouts brown, scrubby stubble and little else these days. The lifeless soil mirrors the town, empty since a terror campaign by insurgents chased residents away more than a year ago.

Volksmarch

20 Nov 2008

Next Thursday, Nov. 27, the Ramstein Roadrunners Annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot takes place. We are going to feature the walk this week so next Thursday morning you can be out on the trail...

Hunting Bear

20 Nov 2008

In Bern, the bear is everywhere! A bear graces the crest of Switzerland's capital, and in many different forms can be seen all over town. There are bear statues, bear fountains, bear engravings, bear needlework, bear food tins, bear toys and living bears.

Bern's Bears

20 Nov 2008

Heidi loved the arcades of Bern. No, not the famous Heidi from the Alpine legend. Heidi, my wife. She loved being able to keep her feet dry while rain showers got more intense dur...

Let's go / Best bets

20 Nov 2008

France: Wednesday at midnight, the 2008 Beaujolais Nouveau wine was officially opened, beginning a celebration by the lovers of the new red wine throughout the world. Through the weekend...

Letters to the Editor for Wednesday, November 19, 2008

18 Nov 2008

(EDITOR'S NOTE: These are the letters that appeared in each edition of Stripes on this publication date. Click here to jump ahead to the Pacific edition let...

Wood has shot at rare feat

20 Nov 2008

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa You want pressure? Try taking Advanced Placement courses in statistics, government and English literature, being a National Honor Society member and carrying a 3.9 non-we...

After hours: Suzukis re-emerges with new look, name, menu

20 Nov 2008

After shutting its doors several months back, Suzuki's a French restaurant right outside Yokota's main gate has re-emerged with a new look, a new name and a new menu. Now called Suz...

Pacific Athletes of the Week

20 Nov 2008

Gaze at outdoor art

18 Nov 2008

From inner-city ghettos to upscale galleries, works by noted graffiti artists have been in high demand over the years. Some, such as British artist Banksy, command tens of thousands of dollars ...

After hours: Laid back at Benson Blakes

19 Nov 2008

BURY ST. EDMUNDS Burgers, brewskies and some tunes add a little touch to what is already an eclectic atmosphere at a local pub and eatery in Bury St. Edmunds. Benson Blakes Bar & ...

Getting personal: Marriage matters

19 Nov 2008

RAF MILDENHALL When you're standing 30 feet in the air, on top of a telephone pole that's swaying ever so slightly in the breeze, jumping off seems ridiculous the last thing any sensible hu...

Unwind on ropes course

19 Nov 2008

RAF MILDENHALL When you're standing 30 feet in the air, on top of a telephone pole that's swaying ever so slightly in the breeze, jumping off seems ridiculous the last thing any sensible hu...

Gallery offers unusual views

19 Nov 2008

HARROGATE To some art fans, certain styles just don't cut it on the canvas. Like, what's up with those paintings that are just two triangles, or one big red dot? How, you might ask, is that a...

Teachers humor, friendship will be missed

19 Nov 2008

Michael Brandon wasn't going to let cancer stop him from teaching his kids. The Liberty Intermediate School fourth-grade teacher did not let the disease take over every aspect of his life...

War and remembrance

19 Nov 2008

Peering hard at black-and-white photographs of the base in the 1940s, Les Friend was struck by a childhood memory. "I came here as a boy in 1950 for a Christmas party. It was in a hangar," said the 69-year-old native of nearby Thetford. Friend was one of 350 Britons and Americans who came out to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the 48th Fighter Wing on Friday night at the officers club.

Cheap seats: Dont miss the Swiss

19 Nov 2008

Pack your hat and gloves for a winter holiday to Switzerland. Start in the peninsula city of Bern with its cobbled streets and alleyways, steep river banks and breathtaking views; it lea...

Expand your UK IQ: Boxing Days origins debated

19 Nov 2008

Christmas cheer in jolly ole England doesn't end once the gifts are unwrapped under the tree and the traditional holiday meal is served up. The day after Christmas, known as Boxing Day, i...

Ombudsman: Reporting on protests can be tricky business

19 Nov 2008

Sgt. Selena Coppa of Wiesbaden, Germany, accuses Stars and Stripes of a double standard. The paper writes hugely about demonstrations by populations overseas, she argues, but gives little notic...

Quick Trips: Abbey is prime example of architecture from the gilded age

18 Nov 2008

On a picturesque bend in the Danube River between Regensburg and Munich sits one of the oldest monasteries in Germany, the Weltenburg Abbey. Famed for is history the monastery was fou...

Letters to the editor for Tuesday, November 18, 2008

18 Nov 2008

European and Mideast editions (EDITOR'S NOTE: These are the letters that appeared in each edition of Stripes on this publication date. Click here ...

Letters to the editor for Monday, November 17, 2008

17 Nov 2008

European and Mideast editions (EDITOR'S NOTE: These are the letters that appeared in each edition of Stripes on this publication date. Click here ...

Homefront: Bowlful of fun on day off

16 Nov 2008

There have been a couple of holidays since I returned to the work force full-time, and I've spent them trying to catch up on laundry and other household tasks. I took a break today sinc...

Spouse Calls: Questions from a brat

16 Nov 2008

Q. I was a military brat for only about six years. My stepfather was in the Army. We followed him from California to Germany and back. I was wondering if you noticed a li...

Sacred island: Escape by ferry on a day trip to Itsukushima

16 Nov 2008

Even on a clear, bright day, the lush mountains and forests of Itsukushima rise from the sea in a ghostly haze. The effect is fittingly ethereal for an island held sacred by the Japanese ...

Games: Nintendo turns motion into music

16 Nov 2008

Making music is easy with "Wii Music" probably a bit too easy for many gamers. The new E-rated rhythm game was created by Nintendo for its Wii console. It uses the system's ...

Games: 'Guitar Hero' adds drums but suddenly seems beatable

16 Nov 2008

The second day I had "Guitar Hero: World Tour," I called home to give my 14-year-old twins a list of chores. Rake the leaves. Rake the neighbor's leaves.

High School Scoreboard

17 Nov 2008

Football Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam Interscholastic Football League playoffs Saturday, Oct. 25 Quarterfinal...

Seoul American forward headed for S.C.

17 Nov 2008

Devanee' Taylor will soon be trading her Seoul American Falcons Navy blue-andwhite uniform for the scarlet and gray of Newberry College in South Carolina. The Falcons' senior forward sign...

How Doonesbury serves the troops

16 Nov 2008

"Doonesbury" cartoonist Garry Trudeau responds to critics whose letters have recently appeared in Stars and Stripes.

High school roundup: Guam ties mark with 3rd place

16 Nov 2008

MANGILAO, Guam After losing back-to-back games in the Far East Class AA and Guam Interscholastic Football League semifinals, Guam High could have been forgiven for mailing in Friday's IFL thi...

Today's Praise: Many ways to rock around the Christmas tree

16 Nov 2008

It began to look a lot like Christmas a few weeks ago with the arrival of a flurry of holiday-themed CDs. Christian artists ranging from the silky soft Sara Groves to the edgy Seventh ...

Europe All-conference teams (as voted on by league coaches)

15 Nov 2008

Division I-North Offense QuarterbackAlex Federinko (Lakenheath) Running backTim Ortiz (Ramstein), Tyler Shouey (Lakenheath), Khairi Smith (Kaiserslautern) Re...

Stars and Stripes

Letters to the editor for Friday, November 21, 2008

Military update: Vice chairman: Exquisite weapons are too expensive

Dependent sentenced in rape

Pacific brief: Remains of crew killed in Guam crash buried

1st sergeant recalled as first among men

Quitting again: It doesnt get easier

Military has troops backs during Smokeout

Correction

Warm welcome for single Marines

Pacific H.S. scoreboard

Tarawas brutality remembered

Snow forecast for Germany

Two soldiers face charges in deaths of Iraqi detainees

Soldier gets five months for selling scopes online

Navy merges postal clerk, storekeeper specialties

AAFES gas prices stagnant in Germany

Paying tribute to the fallen

Early departure leaves behind success, questions

DOD wont re-route ships

Military spouses offer advice on finding a career

Two face charges in deaths of Iraqis

Soldier gets 5 months for selling scopes

Iraqi, coalition troops help needy tribe

Progress finally takes shape in Rutbah

Clarification

DOD bans the use of removable, flash-type drives on all government computers

Panel urges private rooms at South Korea bases

Five-star fitness

Correction

Into and out of the chamber

Soldier in S. Korea suspected in plot to kill

DODDS-Europe coaches favor more games vs. locals

Bamberg veteran sings her way to L.A.

European briefs: Army captain incentives set to end

Navy wants landlords to provide bottled water

173rd Sky Soldiers practice parachuting in German fields

EUCOM forwards findings on Georgia war

After hours: Unique menu worth the trip to Mediterraneo

Letters to the editor for Thursday, November 20, 2008

Recruiters see more interest from teenagers

No mans land

Volksmarch

Hunting Bear

Bern's Bears

Let's go / Best bets

Letters to the Editor for Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Wood has shot at rare feat

After hours: Suzukis re-emerges with new look, name, menu

Pacific Athletes of the Week

Gaze at outdoor art

After hours: Laid back at Benson Blakes

Getting personal: Marriage matters

Unwind on ropes course

Gallery offers unusual views

Teachers humor, friendship will be missed

War and remembrance

Cheap seats: Dont miss the Swiss

Expand your UK IQ: Boxing Days origins debated

Ombudsman: Reporting on protests can be tricky business

Quick Trips: Abbey is prime example of architecture from the gilded age

Letters to the editor for Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Letters to the editor for Monday, November 17, 2008

Homefront: Bowlful of fun on day off

Spouse Calls: Questions from a brat

Sacred island: Escape by ferry on a day trip to Itsukushima

Games: Nintendo turns motion into music

Games: 'Guitar Hero' adds drums but suddenly seems beatable

High School Scoreboard

Seoul American forward headed for S.C.

How Doonesbury serves the troops

High school roundup: Guam ties mark with 3rd place

Today's Praise: Many ways to rock around the Christmas tree

Europe All-conference teams (as voted on by league coaches)

Military update: Vice chairman: Exquisite weapons are too expensive

Quitting again: It doesnt get easier

Military has troops backs during Smokeout

Tarawas brutality remembered

DOD wont re-route ships

173rd Sky Soldiers practice parachuting in German fields

No mans land

After hours: Suzukis re-emerges with new look, name, menu

Gaze at outdoor art

Teachers humor, friendship will be missed

Cheap seats: Dont miss the Swiss

Expand your UK IQ: Boxing Days origins debated

Spouse Calls: Questions from a brat

How Doonesbury serves the troops