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Press Translation
“Fränkische Landeszeitung,” issue of 1 May 2005
Several thousand guests at the Ansbach Army Heliport
U.S. ARMY CELEBRATED WITH JOY
ALL GI’s BACK FROM IRAQ
Military Facilities are again fully occupied – Local community is popular with the Soldiers
Katterbach/Illesheim – A celebration for the U.S. communities in Ansbach and Illesheim took place yesterday in Katterbach as all of the approximately 1,200 soldiers that were deployed to Iraq have returned to Katterbach without any fatalities. The many civilian employees and local politicians had another reason to celebrate: both installations will stay.
In his remarks during the ceremony Ansbach’s Mayor Breitschwert not only praised the soldiers for “bringing freedom to Iraq,” but also emphasized “I am happy that the American troops will remain in Ansbach and in this Region.” As previously reported the facilities in Ansbach and Illesheim will stay with about the same troop strength. And yet many of the families will soon be packing their suitcases because they are part of the 1st Infantry Division which is presently stationed in Würzburg and which will be relocated to the United States. According to Army Spokesperson Frauke Davis it is not known which units will be stationed in Katterbach, which has seen millions of Dollars in renovations.
Presently all troops have returned to Katterbach while one squadron from Illesheim has deployed to Afghanistan for approximately one year. The majority of the equipment belonging to 4th Brigade has returned but not all of it. The “Fränkische Landeszeitung” talked to several soldiers during the Welcome Home Celebration and learned that the communities in western Middle Franconia are very popular. Davis explained that the soldiers have the opportunity to extend for an extra year or two and that many of them took advantage of that opportunity. In the Ansbach and Illesheim communities you have a military population of approximately 8,600, about 5,500 of which are soldiers.
About one thousand U.S. and German visitors watched the military ceremony on the Katterbach airfield, which was the opening event for a big celebration with food, drinks, rides, rock music and fireworks at night. The Commanding General of the 1st Infantry Division, General John Batiste, and the Commander of the 4th Brigade who commanded the approximately 1,200 troops in Iraq and brought all of them back safely, Colonel Walter M. Golden, praised the soldiers for their performance of duty and also the solidarity that the host nation population displayed towards the families that stayed back here. Those soldiers that were interviewed by the FLZ stated that they were happy to be back safely with their loved ones. It was obvious that a 35-year old soldier with his German wife, same age, and his two sons, three and six years old and bi-lingual, was safely back home with his family. A 22-year old soldier said that two of his fellow soldiers were wounded in Tikrit during an attack. And a Blackhawk crew member showed the holes that were shot in the aircraft in Iraq.
Translated by: Frauke Davis, PAO, 235th BSB
“Fränkische Landeszeitung,” issue of 1 May 2005
Several thousand guests at the Ansbach Army Heliport
U.S. ARMY CELEBRATED WITH JOY
ALL GI’s BACK FROM IRAQ
Military Facilities are again fully occupied – Local community is popular with the Soldiers
Katterbach/Illesheim – A celebration for the U.S. communities in Ansbach and Illesheim took place yesterday in Katterbach as all of the approximately 1,200 soldiers that were deployed to Iraq have returned to Katterbach without any fatalities. The many civilian employees and local politicians had another reason to celebrate: both installations will stay.
In his remarks during the ceremony Ansbach’s Mayor Breitschwert not only praised the soldiers for “bringing freedom to Iraq,” but also emphasized “I am happy that the American troops will remain in Ansbach and in this Region.” As previously reported the facilities in Ansbach and Illesheim will stay with about the same troop strength. And yet many of the families will soon be packing their suitcases because they are part of the 1st Infantry Division which is presently stationed in Würzburg and which will be relocated to the United States. According to Army Spokesperson Frauke Davis it is not known which units will be stationed in Katterbach, which has seen millions of Dollars in renovations.
Presently all troops have returned to Katterbach while one squadron from Illesheim has deployed to Afghanistan for approximately one year. The majority of the equipment belonging to 4th Brigade has returned but not all of it. The “Fränkische Landeszeitung” talked to several soldiers during the Welcome Home Celebration and learned that the communities in western Middle Franconia are very popular. Davis explained that the soldiers have the opportunity to extend for an extra year or two and that many of them took advantage of that opportunity. In the Ansbach and Illesheim communities you have a military population of approximately 8,600, about 5,500 of which are soldiers.
About one thousand U.S. and German visitors watched the military ceremony on the Katterbach airfield, which was the opening event for a big celebration with food, drinks, rides, rock music and fireworks at night. The Commanding General of the 1st Infantry Division, General John Batiste, and the Commander of the 4th Brigade who commanded the approximately 1,200 troops in Iraq and brought all of them back safely, Colonel Walter M. Golden, praised the soldiers for their performance of duty and also the solidarity that the host nation population displayed towards the families that stayed back here. Those soldiers that were interviewed by the FLZ stated that they were happy to be back safely with their loved ones. It was obvious that a 35-year old soldier with his German wife, same age, and his two sons, three and six years old and bi-lingual, was safely back home with his family. A 22-year old soldier said that two of his fellow soldiers were wounded in Tikrit during an attack. And a Blackhawk crew member showed the holes that were shot in the aircraft in Iraq.
Translated by: Frauke Davis, PAO, 235th BSB