May 25

Mail shipping policy

Letters index(Click on date to jump ahead)

May 25 Mail shipping policy Retiree mail regulations Kids in bars, casinos Freedom, this flag not partners Reservists, guardsmen do job Career advancement hamperedMay 26 Poor support In defense of Pulse Mail to Kuwait Mail is servicemembers’ lifeline Pulse shouldn’t be in StripesMay 27 Pulse article disgusting Nothing redeeming in Pulse Discontinue PulseMay 28 School nurse staffing Who’s a hero? Sex sellsMay 29 Right to choose Clean it up! Murder trial Mail service good Sorry parenting Who’s a hero? All who serveMay 30 Mail hit or miss Mail too slow Exchange rateMay 31 Downrange mail woes Exchange rates Cost of gas What about us? Racy ad is over the top Article a conversation-starter Don’t buy Stripes’ new content

I’m writing in regard to a problem I’m having with Amazon.com shipping to Army Post Office addresses.

Being deployed overseas, other soldiers and I do a lot of shopping on the Internet. One of our favorite places to shop is Amazon.com. But there are certain items that Amazon.com will not ship to APO addresses. Some of the items are power tools, electronics and computer software. When I asked Amazon.com why it wouldn’t ship the above-mentioned products to APO addresses, I didn’t get a clear answer. The customer service representative said the U.S. Postal Service won’t allow Amazon.com to ship these items to APO addresses. I called the U.S. Postal Service in Philadelphia and was informed that this wasn’t true. I called Amazon.com back and talked to a different customer service representative who said the manufacturer of the products wouldn’t allow them to ship their products overseas. I then called one of the manufacturers and found out that this wasn’t true, either. I finally talked to someone who told me that it was Amazon.com’s policy.

What I’d like to know is why Amazon.com won’t ship these products to an APO address. I feel I’m being treated unfairly because I’m a soldier stationed overseas. All I’d like is a straight answer from Amazon.com. There must be a reason why it won’t ship to APO addresses. Amazon.com’s answer — that it’s their policy — doesn’t cut it with me. This doesn’t only affect me. It affects every soldier, sailor, airman and Marine who is stationed outside the United States.

The last e-mail I wrote to Amazon.com’s customer service department was dated April 29. The e-mail addressed the above problem. I said that if it couldn’t give me a reasonable answer, I’d look for help from other sources. I received no answer. Why won’t Amazon.com support servicemembers?

Sgt. 1st Class Tracy MiklasKosovo

Retiree mail regulations

There have been several letters to the editor addressing Army Post Office mail usage by retirees living in Europe. I’d like to add a little light on this subject.

On Sept. 25, 2002, the Department of Defense refused a request to eliminate the 16-ounce limit on the use of APO/FPO facilities by retirees living overseas. Each service was asked its opinion on the elimination request, and the results were as follows: The Army concurred. Gen. Michael E. Ryan, the Air Force chief of staff, did not concur, but recommended “raising the limit to 5 pounds to allow medical supplies or other essential items to reach the retiree population.” The Navy also did not concur, saying that the cost increase could range from $3 million to $8.9 million per year based on expectations that “each Navy’s retiree and their family members receiving up to 20 pounds of mail a week and sending out 10 pounds a week.”

The DOD Military Postal Service Agency had estimated the cost increase at approximately $3.5 million to $4 million per year if the limit was lifted. This was based upon an estimated 20,000 retirees worldwide using MPS and the cost of moving mail overseas at roughly $1 per pound.

Since the effort to eliminate the limit failed, the 6th Area Support Group Retiree Council believes a new initiative should be started to raise the limit to 5 pounds. It has already asked for help from the U.S. Army Europe Retiree Council in obtaining information from the DOD regarding a more accurate estimate of how many retirees living overseas are close enough to an MPSA facility to reasonably be expected to use it, if the host country permits. This is a matter for each separate Status of Forces Agreement that would be taken into consideration once it was established which countries permit retirees to us MPSA.

Recognizing that this is a matter which only the DOD can decide, the 6th ASG RC asks each retiree living overseas to support a request to raise the limit to 5 pounds as proposed by Ryan. This can be done by contacting members of Congress and by requesting support from the appropriate organizations making up the military coalition, such as the Noncommissioned Officers Association, Association of the United States Army, Veterans of Foreign Wars, etc. For Navy retirees, this can also be done by finding out what factors were used by the Navy to arrive at the cost estimate it provided. If these factors are thought to be unreasonable, they should work toward getting a more reasonable estimate from the Navy. It’s my opinion that the figures submitted by the Navy carried the day and sunk the request to eliminate the 16-ounce limit.

Lt. Col. William Torbett (Ret.)Boblingen, Germany

Kids in bars, casinos

I just want to tell readers how disgusted I am about adults bringing small children into bars and casinos. The place I’ve seen this most often is in Wiesbaden, Germany, near the post exchange. I’ve gone to the bar/casino and seen mothers who bring their children into the bar and set the child by a table while they play the slots. This bar doesn’t sell food, and I know in most states adults are absolutely not allowed to bring kids into a bar environment unless it sells food. Why is the military exempt from that?

I’ve been in Germany for eight years, and I never saw such stuff until I came here. I’m fed up with parents who think it’s OK to bring kids to a bar. Bars are where most people go to have a good time, and sometimes they get loud. If people can be stopped from enjoying a smoke or two in a bar, why not keep the kids and babies out, too?

What’s wrong with today’s society? Where are people’s morals? Do parents know that they’re introducing their children to an unhealthy environment or are they just ignorant about it?

Michelle GrantWiesbaden, Germany

Freedom, this flag not partners

The May 16 letter “Don’t waver on freedoms” is from the States. The individual, Richard I. Thurston, is writing from Colorado Springs, concerning a May 6 article about the Confederate flag. Just to the lower left on the same page, a statement is made that “This newspaper is authorized for publication by the Department of Defense for members of the Military Services overseas.”

Last time I checked, Colorado Springs was in Colorado. Why would this individual’s views be published? To get discussion going?

My feelings on this issue can be deduced from the following: The Confederate flag was behind the desk of a hotel check-in where a fellow soldier was told to find a place in “another part of town” to find a room. Needless to say, the three acceptable soldiers who were with him decided not to stay there either. This flag was also in a store where my wife could not get a store clerk to ring up a sale because she looked foreign. But I do agree with Mr. Thurston on one point: “History can be denied, but it can never be changed.”

John AceCamp Mobile, South Korea

Reservists, guardsmen do job

I’m responding to the May 15 letter “Time for new blood in Iraq.” The writer angered me because he implied that reservists and National Guardsmen are just sitting at home raking in Uncle Sam’s money while he’s sweating in the desert. I’m a reservist deployed to northern Iraq. My unit and I have grown increasingly frustrated by the fact that we’ve been treated like stepchildren by our active-duty components since our deployment on Jan. 21. The writer’s attitude reflects those of many of his active-duty colleagues.

Active-duty GIs made the choice to be active duty. No one forced them to sign their contracts or told them, “No, you can’t join the reserves or National Guard.” My colleagues and I decided to serve part time, but we’re always GIs. When the time came, we put on our uniforms and bid our families and jobs goodbye, the same as active-duty GIs. It goes without saying that most of us would rather be at home, making more money than we do now. But we’re in the sandbox with everyone else.

Just because I’m a reservist in a supporting unit doesn’t make me an undisciplined soldier. I’ve seen the “decidedly less disciplined” side of active-duty infantry and engineers as well. One of our convoys got stoned near Tikrit while stopped on the side of the road waiting for the engineers to tear down a statue of Saddam Hussein that they never should’ve been tearing down. They took it upon themselves to be “cowboys,” putting our convoy in danger while their bulldozer blocked the road. And that’s not to mention the numerous statues and paintings riddled with bullet holes, most likely compliments of our active-duty infantry components.

Discipline is not determined simply by what branch of the military a servicemember belongs to. It’s determined by leadership.

Being deployed is anything but enjoyable, but I’m sure the writer and his colleagues would be rather unhappy without the Reserve and National Guard. After all, many of the fuel, water, transportation, postal, medical and legal units come from us. So imagine not getting mail for the duration of the deployment, not having fuel or medical support, or no one to deliver food and water.

It’s also interesting to note that the infantry that the letter writer is so proud of began with the National Guard. My unit and I would be more than happy to return to the States and leave the active-duty guys scratching for fuel in the desert.

I challenge the writer to step up to the plate. No one forced him to take a leadership position in the active-duty infantry. He should stop whining and deal with it.

We don’t ask for much, just to be treated the same as our active-duty components. We all wear the same uniform. We should be treated the same — no better, no worse.

Staff Sgt. Jennifer GieseTikrit, Iraq

Career advancement hampered

I and a great number of my fellow promotable E-4s and E-5s are being treated very unfairly while deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom. A large group of us were pulled from career-advancement courses weeks or even days prior to graduation, denying us valuable points that could have made our promotions. Soldiers who did not deploy graduated and got their points. They’re now at home with their families and continuing their educations, adding more points to get promoted.

This hurts us in two ways. First, their promotions fill empty slots, which means the points for promotion will continue to rise while we are here in Iraq, with no way to make or add points ourselves. Second, being promoted before us gives them time in grade. That allows them a head start toward promotion to the next level and makes them our superiors. They’ll always outrank us, most without a day of combat during the course of their entire military careers. So what good is combat experience?

Sgt. Robert L. FryeIraq

May 26

Poor support

My name is Suzette Henry, and my husband was part of the May noncommissioned officers class cycle at Grafenwöhr, Germany. He went with the knowledge that he’d gain the needed skills to become a great NCO. Instead, he got sick and was stranded in a German hospital. He had no money, no one spoke English, and he had no change of clothes. No one from the NCO academy was there to support my husband, and he had no way to call out from his hospital room.

My husband had some chest pain. On May 19 he went to sick call and was promptly shipped to a remote clinic in Weiden, Germany. He wasn’t even given a chance to get any personal effects because the duty NCO had already left. I was informed by my husband’s colleague, who’d been asked to give me a call if something happened. Not knowing any German, I tracked down my husband. When I finally reached him, my husband was amazed that no one from his unit in Heidelberg, the 43rd Signal, had called him and that no one from the NCO academy in Grafenwöhr had called except to ask if he needed clothes. My husband was and still is in a remote hospital being given pills and having tests done with no knowledge of what’s going on.

I called my husband three times on May 19. He had no clothes except the physical training clothes on his back. I called 10 phone numbers, and no one answered. I wanted to know why no one over there was taking care of my husband. Isn’t the military about taking care of its soldiers? It took calling a lieutenant colonel before anyone from my husband’s unit responded.

I then took an unpaid day off from work to go see my husband. When a friend and I finally reached Grafenwöhr, we were told by the first sergeant that he wasn’t able to send anyone to see my husband at the clinic because the vehicle that they wanted was in use.

We then took my husband’s belongings to him. The Weiden clinic is about 40 minutes from the Grafenwöhr post. When we finally arrived, no one spoke English. We found my husband coming back from an electrocardiogram, and we followed him to his room.

Why didn’t my husband receive any phone calls from his sergeant major or first sergeant? I gave them the contact information. The answer? They didn’t care. And here I am, part of a family readiness group, trying to raise money to support morale. And for what? When my husband needs support, they can’t even pick up a phone? I’m so glad they’re making our family decision on whether to stay in the military so easy.

I’m writing this on May 21. Did anyone call my husband today? No! When I called him, my husband said the only person who called was his mother. At least the patient liaison visited him today — only two days after he was admitted. It’s a good thing we’re from New York City, where we know how to take care of our own, because if I ever had to wait for the military, what do readers think the military would do? Nothing.

Suzette HenryHeidelberg, Germany

In defense of Pulse

This is in response to the Pulse magazine article “Sexplosion: Erotikmessen a pick-up joint — for exotic items” (May 21). Why is it that the U.S. military community feels it needs to impose its moral code on the rest of the world and its families? Do members of the military community censor their families’ knowledge? Fine. They can do that for their families, not mine. They shouldn’t speak for the rest!

They should keep in mind that there are families that sit down and talk about different cultures and experiences. Those families become unsheltered and stronger. Stars and Stripes should keep writing these types of articles. Those who don’t like them can throw away the “questionable” material and bury their heads. Let them live in the dark with their sense of values and censorship.

Marc CarrollRamstein, Germany

Mail to Kuwait

I was really saddened by an e-mail from my uncle, who said that since he’s been in Kuwait he hasn’t received any mail. I’m not surprised. I’ve heard the same thing from other family members and friends who are deployed. I had a friend in tears because the mail is her only lifeline to her husband.

How is the morale of our troops supposed to stay up if they think their family and friends don’t care about them because they’re not receiving their mail? It sounds to me like somebody needs a kick in the butt because somebody is slacking in their job.

I suggest everyone write their senators and congressmen about this problem. When they get involved, situations such as this seem to get resolved. We love our soldiers in Kuwait and miss them! They should hang in there.

Sierra JonesBaumholder, Germany

Mail is servicemembers' lifeline

When I read the May 20 letter “Mail to Iraq too slow …” I thought I’d written it myself. I’d just really like to know where the mail priorities are. My husband has been downrange since February, and I haven’t figured out any way or rule on how stuff gets to him. I usually send him more than one box. So thinking logically, two boxes mailed on the same day should get to him on the same day. But no. Two boxes mailed the exact same day don’t get to him on the exact same day. Actually, sometimes one box takes up to four weeks longer to get to him. No matter how I think about it, I just can’t come up with any answer about how this can happen.

Mail should be such an important thing because it’s the one and only moral support these guys get during these days. And not to mention that the guys need some supplies to stay clean and healthy, such as toilet paper, toothpaste, medication, and so on. They can’t get these supplies themselves, so at least it should be possible to provide them quicker with our mail, which includes the stuff they need.

How can it be that I get three letters on May 15, two of them postmarked April 26 and one of them postmarked April 1? I don’t think I have to mention that I got a bunch of letters my husband wrote after April 1 in between. Could someone please explain that?

I know they’re in a combat zone, and I’m sure there is a lot more “important” Army stuff that needs to get taken care of. But maybe the people in charge should think about where and how their soldiers would be without moral support from home. I also think the important, higher-up people love to receive mail, too.

Tanja PackDarmstadt, Germany

Pulse shouldn't be in Stripes

As a longtime reader of Stars and Stripes, I’m somewhat agitated by the recurring content of Pulse magazine. Almost weekly, Pulse carries questionable articles and photos celebrating mature themes such as prostitution, models who work for adult magazines, sexually oriented museums, women’s lingerie, etc. While I understand my responsibility to screen the articles put before my children, this shouldn’t be necessary in a newspaper authorized by the Department of Defense.

While some may disagree, I believe this type of reporting degrades women, celebrates a promiscuous lifestyle incompatible with the military’s family values, and would result in complaint if these articles were displayed in the workplace. The time has come to end sensational reporting, raising the value of Stars and Stripes to the entire military community and their families.

Maj. Jeffrey BryanRamstein Air Base, Germany

May 27

Pulse article disgusting

Gross! Disgusting! Poor, poor judgment! Those are only a few of the sentiments I have for the article “Sexplosion: Erotikmessen a pick-up joint — for exotic items” (May 21) in Pulse magazine.

On AFN each week I see ads by famous personalities like former President George Bush, football great Troy Aikman, super model Christie Brinkley and others encouraging children to “read a newspaper each and every day.” But after some of the things Stars and Stripes has put into print, I not only don’t encourage this, but find I must preread and censor the newspaper before my three older children can have a look at it.

The article was nothing but an advertisement for the erotic and open pornography found here in Germany. At least out on the economy I can avoid this kind of garbage. I had no preparation or warning that it had crept into my daily newspaper. Imagine my dilemma when my 9-year-old son read the photo caption and wanted to know the meaning of “Kama Sutra” and “smorgasbord of sex.” I am a mother of five.

The reporter tried to justify the article as legitimate by writing that there were no signs of the “act” going on anywhere. She even went on to explain that “this Erotikmesse seemed almost wholesome” even though there were “naked women gyrating on the floor and straddling ‘helpless’ audience members.” I don’t have any idea where the reporter is from, but here in the wholesome world of parenting that is not “almost wholesome.”

While I’m sure this kind of article and its information is of interest to many single soldiers and even some married ones, I find it disgusting and disturbing in Stars and Stripes. The editor of Pulse used very poor judgment in featuring this article, and the reporter should learn a few things about the wholesomeness of her readers before speaking for us again.

Ann PrichardHeidelberg, Germany

Nothing redeeming in Pulse

I’m in complete agreement with the writer of the letter “Pulse magazine” (May 23). I’m only sorry I waited so long to write my opinion concerning this soft porn edition in Stars and Stripes.

I understand that some soldiers may not have any problem with the content of Pulse. But I believe, as does the letter writer, that it’s an absolute shame that a newspaper authorized by the Department of Defense would appear to endorse the activities highlighted in this magazine. Every week when I receive my paper, I immediately throw Pulse away. There is nothing redeeming in it that would make me do otherwise.

If soldiers are really interested in learning about prostitution, sexy lingerie, tattoos and other adult themes, let them get their information from pornographic magazines that they choose to purchase. It’s well within their right to do so. As for me and those in my house, we’ll work diligently to keep that kind of material out.

I’m disappointed that Stripes has chosen to go along with this kind of material to try to increase the numbers of its younger readers ages 18 to 25. I’m also disappointed that I have to be exposed every single day to the upcoming issue of Pulse with sensationalistic pictures intended to draw and seduce young men into reading the magazine. I can’t get away from them when they’re on the front page of the paper every day!

I believe Stripes needs to go back to the more family friendly paper it was before Pulse was created. I certainly hope the editors of Stripes will consider getting rid of Pulse magazine.

Carol BatchelorVilseck, Germany

Discontinue Pulse

I thank the writer of the letter “Pulse magazine” (May 23). He verbalized my thoughts exactly. Each week when Pulse is included in Stars and Stripes I have to be careful to hide the questionable photos while reading the paper at the breakfast table with my 7-year-old daughter. I agree with the writer that “this type of reporting degrades women, celebrates a promiscuous lifestyle incompatible with the military’s family values, and would result in complaint if these articles were displayed in the workplace.”

The Stripes Travel magazine is great, as are The Mini Page for kids and Stripes Sunday magazine. These magazines are filled with useful, interesting, and wholesome information. Please discontinue publishing Pulse magazine!

Jane VandersteenVilseck, Germany

May 28

School nurse staffing

The European Congress of American Parents, Teachers and Students is to be commended for its resolution in support of increased physical education activity time for Department of Defense Dependents Schools students. It is also to be commended for providing a forum on improving the nutritional value of school lunches and dealing with the recent budget cuts.

There is another health-related issue that continues to have the support of ECAPTS: that of adequate nurse staffing. In the past five years, DODDS has increased school nurse staffing for schools with less than 350 students and for large schools with more than 1,000 students. But a gap in adequate staffing still remains. According to the recommendations of the 1996 DODDS staffing task force, schools with 500 to 999 students should be staffed with 1.5 school nurses.

A well-planned school health services program includes health assessments and screenings, placement and assistance for students with disabilities, early identification of and care for health problems, school health care plans for students with medically recognized problems and control of infectious diseases.

Each student who visits a school nurse should be assessed and a decision made as to a referral for more care, a first aid intervention, a parent contact, a continued monitoring or a return to class. Some students will need words of encouragement. Some students need words of support, and others need listening ears. Perhaps the nursing care provided in a school is not as dramatic as in a hospital or on a battlefield, but to our students it is just as important. Deployments of military parents and guardians adds stress to remaining family members. The increased responsibility to make decisions for students’ health often falls upon school nurses.

All readers can relate to the negative impact on learning that’s caused by overcrowding in classrooms. Take that realization and apply it to one school nurse working in a school with 600, 700, 800 or 900 students. Then think about the responsibilities that the nurse has to the students and parents. Now try to comprehend the duties the school nurse must perform to carry out those responsibilities.

The school nurse’s office is not a place to go to miss class. It’s a place where students may find health support to remain healthy learners. Improved staffing in our schools with more than 500 students will further this goal.

Thomas M. Panzlau, RNOverseas SchoolHealth Nurses AssociationBruckmühl, Germany

Who's a hero?

I’d like to address all the writers who have questioned who is a hero among servicemembers. Apparently these individuals have nothing better to do than ponder whether this soldier or that soldier deserves to be a hero. Or could they be jealous, wishing that they were in the headlines? But they were either not fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to experience combat or not fortunate enough to have endured the ultimate sacrifice, become a prisoner of war or suffered the life-threatening, long-term aftereffects of war.

All of our servicemembers are heroes. Each and every one of them and their families have sacrificed in one way or another. Whether active duty, Reserve, National Guard, or retired, we’ve all served and given to our country. It’s unjustified to assume any situation without the knowledge and facts of all who have served but haven’t been recognized.

When it comes to deciding who’s a hero, all servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice are heroes. POWs are also heroes, and those who received life-threatening, long-term wounds in combat are heros. But not all of them are mentioned, and all of them could not be mentioned. I believe that some who deserve to be mentioned are not.

I’d like to present this scenario: A young private first class assigned to a Combat Medical Company at Fort Bragg, N.C., finds himself in combat in Iraq. In attempting to render aid to a wounded soldier, he’s also wounded. This soldier suffers a wound to his abdomen. Fortunately, he survives and is transported to the USS Comfort before arriving at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He undergoes surgery. In my opinion, this soldier is also a hero.

During Desert Storm, many soldiers received the Bronze Star for giving far less than this. This soldier deserves much more than a Purple Heart. He deserves the Medal of Honor, because his recovery is not over. He has a long way to travel.

This isn’t just a simple scenario. The soldier is Pfc. Alan Babin. He was wounded in action March 31. Pfc. Babin, a medic, was attempting to render medical aid to a fallen soldier. Medical personnel have said it’s a miracle that this young man is alive. But his ordeal is far from over. It will take months for him to recover.

Does this make Pfc. Babin a hero? Maybe, maybe not. In my opinion, it does. That’s not important. What’s important is that people don’t just recognize one fact or event for any given purpose and make judgments without taking all into consideration. I say again, all of our servicemembers are heroes.

Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth A. Cox (Ret.)Stuttgart, Germany

Sex sells

This is in response to the letter “Pulse magazine” (May 23). I absolutely agree about the content and message Pulse sends out. It’s very disappointing. I’m quite disgusted by what the military allows and considers family values. From what I understand, the soldiers who are downrange in Kuwait and Iraq aren’t allowed to have sexual content. Doesn’t Stars and Stripes “go where the soldiers go”? If so, then Stripes is providing sexual content through Pulse to soldiers downrange. Am I wrong, or is this a double standard? I think Stripes needs to re-evaluate the message it’s sending to its readers. Stripes should either cut the smut or cut Pulse magazine.

Another topic of smut that has been disappointing is how the military says it doesn’t promote sex or make a profit off sex. Then why does the military sell sex? What about the adult magazines that AAFES sells? AAFES is definitely part of the military and it, too, “goes where the soldiers go.” For example, AAFES was at the field exercise Victory Strike in Poland with its portable trailer. It was selling adult magazines and condoms. If those magazines and that sexual behavior is not allowed in the workplace, then why does AAFES bring it out? Can anyone explain this?

This is a work environment and it shouldn’t be tolerated. It’s very unprofessional and degrading to women. Our military has a large number of women serving, and I think most would find it offensive. If AAFES won’t get rid of adult magazines for men, then it should at least bring in adult magazines for women, because they also have needs. An AAFES employee was asked why there are no magazines for women, and his answer was that AAFES isn’t allowed to sell explicit pictures of men. Why can AAFES sell explicit pictures of women, which are degrading, but not of men? Sounds like discrimination to me.

What would AAFES be losing if it got rid of adult magazines? Money. Why? Because sex sells and AAFES is making a profit off sex.

Mary SuthannWiesbaden, Germany

May 29

Right to choose

The writer of the letter “Pulse magazine” (May 23) said he’s somewhat agitated about the magazine’s content because Stars and Stripes is a newspaper authorized by the Department of Defense and he shouldn’t have to worry about its content and screening articles for his children. Well, one of the things I appreciate about being a U.S. citizen is that I have the choice to read an article or not, watch a movie or change the channel, or listen to the radio or a CD. I enjoy that right, and I don’t feel that just because some people disagree about what is “appropriate” that these things should be made unavailable to everyone else.

I understand that we military members are expected to uphold a higher standard. But that doesn’t mean that all media deemed inappropriate should be censored. If this is the case, we might as well only stock the things at base exchanges that everybody agrees are appropriate, read only articles that are deemed unoffensive, and edit radio content so that no one is offended. This would mean that there’d be nothing available at base exchanges, absolutely no reading content would be available and we wouldn’t have radio stations.

My point is that no matter what is published, stocked or played, ultimately somebody somewhere won’t agree that certain items are appropriate. Sure, there’s going to be things in Stripes that don’t live up to the high standards the military lives by. But that doesn’t mean the newspaper is any less valuable to us. I’m grateful we have the services available to us that we do, and I’d never do anything to jeopardize their availability to other individuals who might actually enjoy them.

As far an inappropriate things in the workplace, that comes down to the responsibility of each employer and what they feel is appropriate. Common sense will usually step in with an answer. If those in a position of authority see something they feel is inappropriate in the workplace, it should be corrected on the spot. Of course, that’s in the workplace. We shouldn’t engage in acts considered unprofessional in the workplace. So Pulse magazine shouldn’t be read in the workplace.

What nobody wants is that same censorship to carry over into their homes just because somebody doesn’t agree with something being in a newspaper sanctioned by the DOD. Readers have the power to censor what needs to be censored within their lives, not what I read within the confines of my home. At times I don’t agree with some articles and feel that some things are inappropriate. But what I do is not read them. I respect the fact that others might want to read something I disagree with.

Senior Airman William SniderRamstein Air Base, Germany

Clean it up!

Thanks so much for the article “Sexplosion: Erotikmessen a pick-up joint — for exotic items” (May 21) in Pulse magazine. And I really appreciated the article on Estelle Reyna as well, “For the boys: The ’Net’s most downloaded woman finds fans, friends in U.S. troops” (May 21). Maybe in a future edition, Stars and Stripes can let me and my teenagers know where the good European crack houses are.

For God’s sake, clean it up!

Patricia MulqueenThe Netherlands

Murder trial

This is in regard to the story “Robinson found guilty in girlfriend’s death” (May 23). I was immediately taken aback by the comments made by the defense attorney for former Sgt. Everett Robinson, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the slaying of his longtime girlfriend. What kind of logic compelled Capt. Dolly Gray to say, “No one said he was a bad person. No one said anything bad about this man”? Could it be because the one person who probably had a differing opinion is now resting six feet underground in a coffin?

What Capt. Gray said is indicative of the type of attitude that is becoming more commonplace in the military when it comes to military justice. It’s the attitude that, “Yeah, I know he/she did a bad thing, but he/she is a ‘good’ soldier.” Bull! Taking the time and effort to end a person’s life by cutting off her blood/air supply to the brain is not indicative of a nice guy. I wonder what Capt. Gray’s opinion would be if, God forbid, she or one of her friends or loved ones were on the receiving end of such violence.

Kudos to the prosecutor, Capt. Teresa Phelps, for doing a fine job in sending Robinson to prison. Too bad Capt. Phelps didn’t get the life imprisonment verdict she was seeking.

Sgt. Douglas J. WietlisbachBamberg, Germany

Mail service good

I just finished reading the letter “Mail to Kuwait” (May 26). I about fell out of my chair. I’m also stationed in Baumholder, Germany, and have had nothing but the best service from the Army Post Office and Consolidated Mail Room. I’ve had nothing but friendly service on this end and prompt delivery on the other end with letters and packages, some quite large, to Afganistan, Israel, Kuwait and now Iraq.

From the start of hostilities, forward-deployed soldiers have written back to me by regular mail and e-mail to let me know when their packages have arrived. I and everyone else were pleasantly surprised that the mail was running about one to two weeks and sometimes less. That’s not really bad at all considering the logistics of the whole thing from start to finish.

Regarding the letter writer’s comments about her friend in tears because the mail is her only lifeline to her husband, I can offer a few suggestions: She should e-mail the soldier’s unit homepage postboard for family members to send messages. The 1st Armored Division has a great one. Stars and Stripes also has messages of support pages.

The letter writer also had a question regarding the state of morale of soldiers who may question whether or not their families care about them due to the untimely delivery of mail. I hope that’s not the case. I don’t believe it is.

The letter writer also said, “It sounds to me like somebody needs a kick in the butt because somebody is slacking in their job.” And who might that be? The clerks at the counter? The truck driver who pulls in each morning around 6 a.m. for pickup and delivery? I truly hope the writer is not thinking about the soldiers who have been given additional duty as mail handlers in theater. They have enough to worry about.

The writer also suggested that everyone write their senators and congressmen about this. I for one will not take this advice. My elected officials are also quite busy mailing their own care packages to our deployed soldiers. I suggest that we get involved at our level and do what we can to support our deployed soldiers. Perhaps volunteering for a CMR or a unit Family Readiness Group is a good place to start.

Sgt. 1st Class Russ KaserBaumholder, Germany

Sorry parenting

I’ve been working at a day-care center in Wiesbaden, Germany, for two years, and I have to say that I’ve never seen such sorry parenting as I’ve seen in the past year. I know that military parents work hard, but there’s no excuse on training holidays if parents aren’t working to have their children at a day-care center from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. I’ve seen parents bring their kids early so they can eat breakfast and then sit down and watch them eat. It’s pathetic. Do these parents honestly think we think it’s cute? Or how about the parents who want us to watch their kids while they’re sick and miserable? Then parents wonder why their children act out.

What’s wrong with parents nowadays? If they don’t want kids, they shouldn’t have them. And they shouldn’t expect someone else to want to raise them. That’s not the responsibility of caregivers, even though I’m told indirectly by parents every day that it is.

Fronsheena MayoWiesbaden, Germany

Who's a hero? All who serve

I’d like to address all the writers who have questioned who is a hero among servicemembers. Apparently these individuals have nothing better to do than ponder whether this soldier or that soldier deserves to be a hero. Or could they be jealous, wishing that they were in the headlines? But they were either not fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to experience combat or not fortunate enough to have endured the ultimate sacrifice, become a prisoner of war, or suffer the life-threatening, long-term aftereffects of war.

All of our servicemembers are heroes. Each and every one of them and their families have sacrificed in one way or another. Whether active duty, Reserve, National Guard or retired, we’ve all served and given to our country. It’s unjustified to assume any situation without the knowledge and facts of all who have served but haven’t been recognized.

When it comes to deciding who’s a hero, all servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice are heroes. POWs are also heroes, and those who received life-threatening, long-term wounds in combat are heroes. But not all of them are mentioned, and all of them could not be mentioned. I believe that some who deserve to be mentioned are not.

I’d like to present this scenario: A young private first class assigned to a Combat Medical Company at Fort Bragg, N.C., finds himself in combat in Iraq. In attempting to render aid to a wounded soldier, he’s also wounded. This soldier suffered a wound to his abdomen. Fortunately he survived and was transported to the USHS Comfort before arriving at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He undergoes surgery. In my opinion, this soldier is also a hero.

During Desert Storm many soldiers received the Bronze Star for giving far less than this. This soldier deserves much more than a Purple Heart. He deserves the Medal of Honor, because his recovery is not over. He has a long way to travel.

This isn’t just a simple scenario. The soldier is Pfc. Alan Babin. He was wounded in action March 31. Pfc. Babin, a medic, was attempting to render medical aid to a fallen soldier. Medical personnel have said it’s a miracle that this young man is alive. But his ordeal is far from over. It will take months for him to recover.

Does this make Pfc. Babin a hero? Maybe, maybe not. In my opinion, it does. That’s not important. What’s important is that people don’t just recognize one fact or event for any given purpose and make judgments without taking all into consideration. I say again, all of our servicemembers are heroes.

Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth A. Cox (Ret.)Stuttgart, Germany

May 30

Mail hit or miss

I’m a soldier stationed in Iraq at Baghdad International Airport. I’ve read many stories recently about problems with the mail system. I even saw the article “Mail flow improving, general says” (April 22) in which Brig. Gen. Sean Byrne said that 99 percent of the mail is flowing without a problem. This is a huge exaggeration. Mail even in Kuwait is hit or miss, let alone trying to get mail in Iraq. Once again, the military postal system has too few people, too much mail and no coherent plan.

Mail units are still coming in to service “forgotten areas.” We made coordination with the post office in Arifjan, Kuwait, prior to our move to Baghdad. Its answer was that there is no unit at Baghdad International Airport and there will be no mail flow until the end of May. It was as good as its word. We have just now started to get mail after being here for five weeks. That includes mail redirected and forwarded from Kuwait. The personnel command folks who handle this really don’t care.

Some soldiers try their best, but the system fights against them. Our mail stockpiled in Camp Dogwood for more than two weeks prior to any action being taken on it. We volunteered mail handlers to help. Not good enough!

On May 26 I received a box from March 27. My wife received a letter from Kuwait 90 days after I mailed it. It was mailed the day I arrived. What about soldiers who have to pay their bills out here? This has been addressed at all levels and patched only enough to avoid congressional inquiries. Our unit even had to have convoys drive mail up instead of letting the postal system handle it. I thought they learned their lesson in the first Gulf War.

This is the only thing many troops look forward to besides the always slow redeployment. An issue such as mail can and does destroy the morale of units and makes it even harder to stay motivated under primitive and harsh circumstances.

Sgt. 1st Class Shawn TullyBaghdad, Iraq

Mail too slow

We have a problem! Our problem is that the mail is not getting to our deployed soldiers fast enough. What are we going to do about it?

My father is a chaplain in the Army, and like many other soldiers he is in Iraq. My mom and I write to him every night, if not every other night. We send him a minimum of three packages a week, and that’s not including what we send to other soldiers who we know there. Out of everything we send, they are receiving maybe a fourth of it. The rest of it is sitting back in Kuwait waiting to be passed out. So if soldiers aren’t getting any mail, that’s what’s happening to it. It’s sitting back there in Kuwait until someone gets off his butt and passes it out.

We have no one to blame for dropping morale but the people in charge of distributing mail in Kuwait. Keeping morale up is a part of a chaplain’s job. But what happens when the chaplain’s morale drops? Isn’t it like saying “Well, what is going to happen when Popeye doesn’t have any more spinach?”

I’m a total daddy’s princess, and right now it’s like he’s thinking I don’t think about him at all because he isn’t getting the mail I send him. He’s living in chaos over there. He’s doing it for me and my mom and he’s saving Americans’ butts. Its a shame when he can’t even get a small letter or an anniversary present.

Oh yeah, I’m mad. Readers just don’t understand the half of it. I can picture my dad reading this about three months from now, because that’s how long it’s going to take to get there. He’ll say, “Yeah, that’s my baby girl. Good job, princess. I’m very proud of you.”

My point is that many soldiers have given their lives in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and how many of them do readers think got more than a letter a month? Mail is what keeps them going another day, and who are we to take it away from them? I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. This is a problem, and we need to help get it solved. So readers should tell somebody and let’s get this fixed once and for all.

Kimberly MillerGiebelstadt, Germany

Exchange rate

I’d like to shed some light on a problem I had recently at Community Bank. I went to our local bank in Mannheim, Germany, and bought 100 British pounds, for which I was charged $173, or $1.73 per pound. When I asked about the difference between the bank rate and the rate of $1.68 that was advertised on AFN and in Stars and Stripes, the teller told me that the advertised rate had been wrong for the past couple of weeks.

I checked with the bank manager and the bank headquarters in Mainz-Kastel and was told that the advertised rate is only good in the country where that currency is used. Since the disclaimer in Stars and Stripes states that, “Military rates are available at military banking facilities in Japan and South Korea and in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Iceland,” the information that I was given by Community Bank personnel is either wrong or has changed recently. I’ve bought British pounds on several occasions and have always paid the daily military exchange rate. It should also be pointed out that the international rate on a recent day was $1.64 a pound.

I understand that the bank has always charged more than the international rate, but to tack an additional 5 cents per pound on top of that is ridiculous. I hope someone will do an investigation into this problem and find out why Community Bank is being allowed to gouge its customers. I guess that’s what happens when a bank is allowed to operate without competition.

Bob CarperMannheim, Germany

May 31

Downrange mail woes

I’m getting frustrated with the mail service downrange. I have a wonderful spouse downrange who’s not getting his mail. I’ve written to my husband and warned him that I was giving the mail service one more week to deliver a letter to him or me. That time is up. What’s funny is that my husband will probably read this letter in Stars and Stripes before he receives it from me.

I can’t understand and have desperately searched for answers concerning the mail system downrange. I’ve asked U.S. postmasters, other spouses, chaplains, retired soldiers, officers and enlisted soldiers. Everyone gives different reasons and no real answers. So I’m putting it to readers to see if they can give me any different answers to these questions:

Why is it that on May 12 I got my first letter in four weeks, which was dated April 1? Why is it that my husband has only received 25 of the 67 letters that I’ve sent him? Why has he only received 10 out of 20 packages? Why is it that my parents and my husband’s parents can send a package from the States and it gets there in about two weeks? Why do letters also get there faster? Why is my husband receiving only one yellow envelope, which contains two to three editions of Stars and Stripes, when three to four envelopes are mailed each week?

Some may think I’m not checking my consolidated mail room box every day. But I do, sometimes twice a day. Maybe my husband isn’t writing? Trust me, he’s writing every two to three days. Maybe I’m sending boxes that are too big, and they’re getting stopped somewhere? No. I send small boxes so they’ll maybe get there easier and faster. Maybe the mail can’t keep up with my husband because he’s moving? No, he’s in one place. Maybe I need to stop sending so many packages? No. Let’s tell that to my husband and other soldiers I send things to and hear their answers. (I send to officers and enlisted soldiers.) Maybe I need to stop sending so many envelopes and combine the papers into one instead of several? No. Most of the guys and gals don’t have anything to read, and this lets them feel a little more human, like home.

So there are only two real answers to this mail situation: l. More than half of the items we’ve sent downrange are being enjoyed by someone else — meaning stolen. 2. Someone is not doing his job and needs to be relieved of his position immediately and someone put in charge who cares about soldiers’ morale.

The choice is very simple. So why hasn’t something been done already?

LeaAnn A. MillerGiebelstadt, Germany

Exchange rates

I’m writing in regard to the exchange rates published in Stars and Stripes and reported on American Forces Network radio as compared to the actual rates given by Community Bank facilities on military installations in Germany.

On May 22 my wife purchased 90 British pounds at Community Bank in Mannheim, Germany, at a cost of $156.52. This equated to $1.739 for each British pound. That same day Stars and Stripes reported the military exchange rate as $1.68 for each British pound. At the bottom of the exchange rate column it says, “Military rates are available at military banking facilities in Japan and South Korea, and in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Iceland.” It goes on to say, “All figures are foreign currency to one dollar, except for the British pound, which is dollars to pounds.” On May 22 AFN radio stations in Germany also reported the exchange rate as $1.68 for each British pound, “available at your local on-base Community Bank facilities.”

I asked the Community Bank branch in Vogelweh why the rate at which it sold British pounds was almost six cents higher than the rate reported in Stripes and on AFN radio. I was told the rates in Stripes and on AFN were for purchasing currencies in the countries where they are considered the primary currencies. In other words, in order to get a British pound for $1.68 it must be purchased in the United Kingdom. I was also told that the additional cost was due to shipping and insurance expenses. I then said that Community Bank needs to advertise the additional charges which necessitate a higher exchange rate. The response was that it’s the responsibility of Stripes and AFN to state that the exchange rates they report are only for when currencies are purchased in the particular country that uses that currency.

One last point of interest: The receipt for my transaction quoted the exchange rate in reverse. It provides a “rate of 0.575,” which means the buyer is getting 0.575 British pound per one U.S. dollar. This is an interesting way of showing the conversion, in that it does not make it obvious to the purchaser that he is actually paying $1.739 per British pound. There was nothing on the receipt to indicate any additional charges, and the teller didn’t inform my wife of any additional charges related to the exchange of currencies.

I don’t buy Community Bank’s explanation or rationale for charging rates higher than those reported in Stripes and on AFN. The “military rates” quoted in Stripes for the British pound are already four U.S. cents higher than the “commercial rates.” With the Community Bank’s additional fee, it’s actual exchange rate is almost 10 U.S. cents higher than the commercial rate.

I’m curious what Stripes and AFN think about Community Bank’s assertion that it’s the responsibility of Stripes and AFN to tell readers and listeners exactly how the exchange rates pertain to the purchase of various currencies in countries where that currency is not the primary one. I’m also curious about whether Community Bank’s rationale for adding an additional charge of nearly 6 U.S. cents per British pound for shipping and insurance is justified.

John V. CowanSembach Air Base, Germany

Cost of gas

I’m writing in response to the numerous letters I’ve read about the “high” price of gas at AAFES filling stations. I’ve been stationed in Europe for five years and have seen the prices of gas go up and down. In the States gas prices change day to day with little or no notice. Here in Europe the prices change on the first of the month, usually with three to five days’ notice. If gas prices go up in the States, customers must pay those prices or they don’t drive their vehicles. Here in Europe, when customers find out gas prices are going up, they can buy coupons in advance and use them to buy gas at the lower prices.

The one similarity is that in the States and in Europe customers can shop around and find the best price. So all the people who are upset about the “high” prices of AAFES gas can go ahead and pay more than $1 per liter on the economy. I’ll continue to pay 50 cents per liter on base.

Staff Sgt. John BarrySembach Air Base, Germany

What about us?

I’m Spc. Robert Garcia. My unit is Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 70th Armored Regiment out of Fort Riley, Kan. We’ve been attached to the 3rd Infantry Division and the 101st Airborne Division throughout the entire war, from the border of Iraq to Baghdad and Tirkrit. We are currently in Baghdad.

Through the whole war I read Stars and Stripes. I read about the 1st Armored Division and how it’s always the first to fight and how some units in the 1st AD were here. The article listed them. But nowhere in that article did it say anything about 2-70 AR. We’re about to have three combat patches. Our lieutenant colonel received a Silver Star, and we even made it into the Chicago Tribune. But we still can’t get any love from our own newspaper. I guess Ft. Riley doesn’t count.

Spc. Robert GarciaBaghdad, Iraq

Racy ad is over the top

Come on Stripes, I know that advertising revenue is vital to your business, but peddling smut as a means of enticing your Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps readership into patronizing a commercial establishment seems a bit much to me. I’m referring to the Gaspanic ad on Page 33 of your May 21 edition that includes a provocative, scantily clad woman, appearing to be of Asian extraction, seductively posed — bosoms overflowing her bodice, “Daisy Duke” shorts, legs splayed and a come-hither look in her eye.

What exactly is Gaspanic selling here? Truthfully, it is kind of hard to determine from the ad, as it is mostly in Kanji, but the photo speaks a thousand words in any language.

I’m not a prude and as a Navy retiree I know what kinds of clubs and entertainment spots young servicemembers seek to find. What I am saying is, such blatant sexually evocative marketing techniques are usually reserved for stag magazines, posters on telephone poles or the walls of men’s rooms in cheap clubs — and not published in wholesome community newspapers.

It wasn’t that many years back that Gaspanic clubs were placed off limits by some commands in the Kanto Plain region, due to multiple incidents of illicit activities by some of their seedier clientele and the clubs’ penchant for fostering brawls. Stripes continued to carry their ads even then. I only ask that Stripes apply some discretion in screening the copy they submit and exercise better judgment when accepting their money in the future.

Jerry HavensSasebo Naval Base, Japan

Article a conversation-starter

I can only imagine the topic of dinner-table discussion at military households all around Europe and Asia last week:

“Dad, what is a sex exposition?”

“Well son (after dislodging the pork chop just inhaled upon hearing the question), where did you hear about this?”

“In the Stars and Stripes, of course (“Sexplosion,” Pulse magazine, May 21). They did a big article on a sex expo that is traveling around Europe — do you think one will come to Okinawa? The article told of all the toys they were selling.”

“Well son … how about that NBA playoff.”

Now, like many parents trying to ensure their children receive a broad and well-rounded education, I allow my kids to read the newspaper. It is news, after all; one can’t beat the exposure to current events and the school encourages it. However, I wasn’t planning to explain to my two elementary school boys what a sex toy is, or what the “booths in the back” are for.

Come on Stars and Stripes, you can do better than this. After all, you are a family newspaper (not that families serving overseas have much choice). Maybe you want to consider a special “Adults Only” version. Hmmm, I wonder if the Herald Tribune delivers.

Lee HilgartnerFort Buckner, Okinawa

Don't buy Stripes' new content

I am in full agreement with Maj. Jeffrey Bryan (“Pulse shouldn’t be in Stripes,” letters, May 26) that Pulse magazine has degraded the quality of Stars and Stripes.

I’ve been buying the paper each day for more than 25 years. But Stripes has been changing and, now with Pulse magazine, appears to be aimed at a new audience — one far different in how it sees the world than how I see it.

So, it’s time to put my mouth where my money is. I’ve stopped buying and reading the Pacific Stars and Stripes. It’s no longer “my newspaper.” In fact, Maj. Bryan’s letter was sent to me by someone who reads the paper online, or else I would have missed it and this opportunity to add my opinion.

John A. TerwielOsan Air Base, South Korea

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