Lydia Gordon

Lydia Gordon covers the U.S. military in Bavaria and Central Europe for Stars and Stripes. A Columbus, Ohio, native, she’s an alumna of the Defense Information School, Belmont University and American Public University.

gordon.lydia@stripes.com

A cadet from Britain's Royal Military Academy Sandhurst helps form a security perimeter ahead of a live-fire drill at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on July 9, 2025, during exercise Dynamic Victory.

UK cadets learning ropes at Army site in Bavaria to prep for faceoff with West Point

Cadets from Britain’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst are at the U.S. Army’s expansive training grounds in Bavaria for a pivotal exercise marking the final stage of their commissioning process.

Army brings wearable and equipment-mounted tech to down drones to Bavarian testing ground

A competitor gets ready to play capture the flag at the Paintball Arena in Cheb, Czech Republic.

Paintball mayhem in Cheb makes for a day of adrenaline-filled fun

Top enlisted Marine caps NCO’s rise to stardom via mass email mistake

Five AV-8B Harrier II aircraft, seen from below, fly in formation.

History in Spades: Storied Marine Corps squadron writes last chapter of Harrier flight

Marine Attack Squadron 231 took another step toward the service’s retirement of the AV-8B Harrier II to make way for the F-35 Lightning II.

Ramstein keeper Bailey Bennett comes out to try to stop a shot by Stuttgart’s Meredith Fleming in the Division I girls final at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Ramstein, Germany, May 22, 2025. Ramstein beat Stuttgart for the title 3-1.

Ramstein overcomes slow start to win another title

Royals defeat familiar foe Stuttgart in DODEA-Europe Division I girls soccer final.

The ball flies past friend and foe in front of the Black Forest Academy goal during Division II final action at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Ramstein, Germany, May 22, 2025. Naples beat BFA 3-0 to take the division title.

BFA slows Naples before Wildcats rule second half

Emerson Shorey scores twice as the Wildcats retain D-II girls soccer bragging rights.

The AFNORTH Lions celebrate their 4-2 win over Sigonella in the Division III girls final at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Ramstein, Germany, May 22, 2025.

AFNORTH stops Sigonella for second straight season

Lions build up lead that Jaguars can’t overcome to win DODEA-Europe D-III girls soccer championship.

Vicenza Cougars junior Jacob McGovern clears the ball during a match against the Naples Wildcats during the semifinals of the 2025 Division II DODEA European championships at Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany on May 21, 2025.

Naples, AOSR back for yet another showdown

The Wildcats and Falcons have battled in the Division II finals every season since the end of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Maya Fitch, a senior with the Vicenza Cougars, attempts to break past defenders from the Black Forest Academy Falcons during the semifinals of the 2025 Division II DODEA European championships at Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany on May 21, 2025.

BFA stuns Vicenza to advance to title match against Naples

Emerson Shorey scores five times as the defending champion Wildcats top Rota to earn their spot in the season-ending contest.

Niolu Orlando, a senior with the American Overseas School of Rome Falcons, is contested by the Rota Admirals during the Division II DODEA European Championships at Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany on May 20, 2025.

Vicenza, Bahrain crash party to reach D-II semis

Naples, Vicenza favored to clash again in DODEA-Europe girls tournament heading into Wednesday semifinals.

Keiran Daley, a sophomore with the Alconbury Dragons, takes a shot on goal against the Spangdahlem Sentinels in the 2025 DODEA European Division III Championships in Landstuhl, Germany on May 19, 2025. The Dragons won the match against the Sentinels 4-0.

AFNORTH opens double defense of small-schools titles

Alconbury boys make strong first-day showing, while Spangdahlem girls survive a penalty shootout against Brussels.

Pfc. Matthew Simpson of the 41st Field Artillery Brigade low-crawls during the V Corps Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on May 12, 2025.

Team from 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck tops field in V Corps’ best squad competition

The competition, which kicked off Sunday and involved a half-dozen squads, was designed to test the full spectrum of skills of the 30 participating soldiers. Throughout the competition, soldiers endured sleep deprivation while carrying approximately 80-pound packs and wearing full weighted tactical gear.

The small but mighty Inari Roll has a simple filling of pickled tofu and is a great vegetarian option.

Wagaya Bayreuth sates a Japanese food craving at an affordable price

Bayreuth’s Wagaya Japanese Kitchen is a warm, inviting place to enjoy some high-quality sushi far from the nearest ocean.

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