The First Infantry Division had Duty First.
The First Armored Division had Ironsides.
But U.S. Army Europe had bupkis.
For the past 14 years, USAREUR has had no command information magazine. That changed last Friday, when EURArmy came off the presses.
The 32-page magazine, featuring a U.S. soldier fording an Afghanistan stream on its glossy cover, was sent to the mailboxes of some 2,000 people — decision-makers, primarily, including U.S. Army Europe personnel, the Heidelberg mayor, the German defense minister and NATO allies. About 200 copies were mailed to the States, for the reading pleasure of Defense Department officials and members of the U.S. Congress.
“General [B.B.] Bell (USAREUR commander) wanted a flagship publication. He got it,” said Bob Purtiman, a USAREUR spokesman.
The magazine, also available online on the USAREUR home page at www.hqusareur.army.mil/, is supposed to “… tell our story — your story — the USAREUR story,” according to Bell’s letter in the first issue — especially at a time in the military that he called the busiest in his 36 years of service.
“This magazine showcases the great things that USAREUR soldiers and civilians do every day in support of our nation, our friends, allies and partners across Europe, Eurasia, Africa and beyond,” Bell wrote.
The budget for the first four issues was $32,000, Purtiman said, and he said nearly all the costs are incurred in printing the magazine.
V Corps, with no command magazine, says it has no plans to start one in an already crowded field.
