A little story from Germany.

[Alex Moon]

http://www.alternatevoice.com/blog_archives/000061.html

A different perspective on our German allies

The following is an Email message forwarded to a Marine Only Bulletin board that I belong to. I found it instructive:


A little background - The German Army is at Gates of all military installations in Germany providing entry control on a 24 X 7 basis to relieve US Forces that are in middle east.A different perspective on our German allies. Our governments may be at odds over Iraq Policy - but Military understands Military.

Sunday, 30 March 2003
As usual I was running late. So, you can imagine my frustration level as I approached the main gate of Ramstein Air Base only to find traffic backed up! Nearing the checkpoint I realized that not only was there a long line of cars, but traffic had come to a complete stop as a result of all entrance gates being closed.Over the past 18-months, there have been many opportunities to practice our patience as we have had to "hurry up and wait" as a result of heightened security.While we realize the necessity,it's still frustrating at times for even the most easy-going folks. This was one of those times for me! I needed to be where I was going, and I needed to be there NOW! The German soldiers, the ones manning the entrances of American military installations here in Germany, were just milling around, chatting as if those of us in line had all the time in the world.Things seemed to go from bad to worse! The German gate guards began walking among the stopped cars, asking us to turn off our engines and headlights. I realized that no traffic was exiting or entering the Air Base. My feelings of frustration began to turn to ones of concern. Just what was going on? A few minutes later I noticed blue lights approaching from the direction of the air terminal. Close behind were two military medical buses with their RED CROSS Lights on in the buses and I.V.bags could be seen hanging. It was then that I realized that these were more of our wounded warriors being transported from the battlefields to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for treatment.I certainly wasn't prepared for what happened next.All of the German soldiers, our gate guards, began walking toward the concrete barriers that divide the inbound and outbound lanes of traffic.As the blue lights neared, more German soldiers seemed to appear from nowhere, lining the road, shoulder to shoulder. Right on cue, without a word being spoken, these soldiers snapped a sharp salute as the buses drove pass, rendering arms until well after the last bus had passed.Needless to say, I was speechless and deeply moved. What a show of respect for fellow soldiers!(Name Withheld)

[Sea Skimmer]

As I've said many times, Germany was politically against the war, but provided all the support it would have anyway. Basing, over flight rights, troops to guard bases and I believe they had a NBC detachment in Kuwait. The Germany was never in a position to do any more.