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Alison (Lissa) Muscatine's Files

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Family and Soldier Support for Contingency Operations KEEPERS OF THE PEACE KARA PHOTOCOPY PRESERVATION ODCSPER Family and Soldier Support for Contingency Operations KEEPERS OF THE PEACE KARDA EXEC-OVW 1 USAREUR ODCSPER CINC's Commitment KEEPERS OF THE PEACE "You can tell your families that our commanders will ensure that all of the services, programs and processes that are in place to support them will remain fully functional as we prepare for and possibly execute this or any other mission." Commander-In-Chief United States Army, Europe and Seventh Army 052037Z OCT 95 EXEC-OVW 2 USAREUR ODCSPER Family Support Structure KEEPERS OF THE PEACE Deployed Base Support Battalion/Separate Battalion Commander Company Commanders Rear Detachment Command Commander Coordination American Red Cross Army Emergency Relief CHAMPUS Family Support Chaplain Liaison Community Counseling Center Medical/Dental Deployed Family Child Care Soldier Housing Family Support Assistance Transportation Families Group Center Finance Communications Military Police Public Affairs Legal EXEC-OVW 3 USAREUR ODCSPER "Structure For Success" KEEPERS OF THE PEACE Researched the subject Developed the Action Plan: - United States Army, Europe Family Action Working Group - Briefed Senior Leaders/Spouses - 12 Oct 95 - Briefed Army Staff - 25 Oct 95 - Rear Detachment Commander's Course — Constructed the Training Plan On-going coordination with: - U.S. Forces Liaison Officers - Department of Defense Dependant Schools - Family Support Groups/Senior Spouses Seminars Family Assistance Center Exercise (FACEX) EXEC-OVW 4 USAREUR ODCSPER Family Assistance Centers Activated for Deployment KEEPERS OF THE PEACE Army Community Service + Family Support Group support/liaison Family Support Group Volunteer training Expanded communications Expanded staff/space Functional reps from: Peacetime American Red Cross Housing Army Emergency Relief Transportation CHAMPUS Finance Chaplain Communications Army Community Service Community Counseling Military Police Center Public Affairs Army Emergency Relief Medical/Dental Legal Consumer Affairs Child Care Exceptional Family Member Program Family Advocacy Employment Assistance Family Services Volunteer Program EXEC-OVW 5 USAREUR ODCSPER FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER EXERCISE (FACEX) KEEPERS OF THE PEACE WHAT IS IT? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? A SERIES OF SEQUENTIAL, INTER-RELATED TRAINING AND EXERCISE EVENTS FOCUSED ON THE FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTERS READINESS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES DURING PREPARATIONS FOR AND EXECUTION OF SOLDIER DEPLOYMENT MISSIONS IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER FAMILIES ARE VITAL PART OF UNITED STATES ARMY, EUROPE COMMUNITY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, UNITED STATES ARMY, EUROPE and SEVENTH ARMY PROMISED ALL SUPPORT SERVICES, PROGRAMS & PROCESSES WILL REMAIN FULLY FUNCTIONAL FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTERS ARE ACTIVATED DURING DEPLOYMENTS TO AID FAMILIES AND FAMILY MEMBERS FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTERS PROVIDE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT MECHANISM EXEC-OVW 6 USAREUR ODCSPER FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER EXERCISE (FACEX) KEEPERS OF THE PEACE DEPUTY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, UNITED STATES ARMY, EUROPE and SEVENTH ARMY GUIDANCE UNITED STATED ARMY, EUROPE TRAINING - EXERCISES MANAGES THE FACEX EXERCISE THE FAMILY SUPPORT PACKAGE TRAIN AS WE WILL EXECUTE DURING A DEPLOYMENT WITH THE REAL PEOPLE WHO WILL DO THE REAL JOB EMPLOY THE UNITED STATED ARMY, EUROPE 8 - STEP TRAINING MODEL EXERCISE IS MASTER SCENARIO EVENT LIST (MSEL) DRIVEN INCORPORATE SHIFT CHANGE DURING FACEX THE * EXERCISE ALL FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTERS BOTTOM-LINE BETWEEN 10 NOV - 15 DEC 95 IN PRIORITY EXEC-OVW 7 USAREUR ODCSPER FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER EXERCISE (FACEX) KEEPERS OF THE PEACE EXERCISE OBJECTIVES VALIDATE ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICES EXPANDED OPERATIONS FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTERS ADEQUATELY RESOURCED & TRAINED TO EXECUTE PRE - DEPLOYMENT FAMILY SUPPORT THEN, EXECUTE SUSTAINED SUPPORT TO FAMILIES, FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS AND REAR DETACHMENT COMMANDERS FACILITIES TRAINING MANPOWER MATERIAL SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS EXEC-OVW 8 USAREUR ODCSPER Rear Detachment Commander Course KEEPERS OF THE PEACE KANA Overview EXEC-OVW 9 USAREUR ODCSPER Why is it Important? KEEPERS OF THE PEACE Rear Detachment Commander (RDC) is key to Family Support System Generally low baseline knowledge of supporting systems Changes to in-place policies to support Contingency Operations are required and complex Structure is complicated by force mix Understanding systems and relationships critical EXEC-OVW 10 USAREUR ODCSPER Our Approach KEEPERS OF THE PEACE Total Base Operations system and Base Support Battalion involvement Areas defined from research and past experience High quality instruction by subject matter expert High quality reference hand-out with current policies, supporting regulations, and Point of Contacts Commander-In-Chief, United States Army, Europe and Senior Spouse involvement First-class setting for two day course EXEC-OVW 11 USAREUR ODCSPER What We Accomplished KEEPERS OF THE PEACE Trained 274 Rear Detachment Commanders and staff 27 - 28 Nov 95 Understand Know how the systems Realize the complexity interface of the task Realize importance Senior spousey Understand Trained/equippedton perform information Possess basent Opening shock has passed EXEC-OVW 12 USAREUR DEC-05-95 TUE 10:31 AM PETER*B*KOVLER 202 467 2781 P.02 Committee for Roosevelt History Month 1250 24th St. NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20037 (202) 857-7810 Fax: (202) 467-2781 E-Mail:[email protected] Honorary Chairmen Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton Albert Core. Sr. President Ronald Reagan Peter B. Kovler December 5, 1995 Chairman Committee Members To: Linda Anker Melanne Verveer/Maggie Williams/Lissa Muscatine Mary A. Bain Michael Barone Peter W. Bernstein From: Peter Kovler PK Michael Reschloss Livingaton Biddle Charles Blitzer If the reports in the Now York Times and USA Today are true on Sidney Blementhal Mrs. Clinton's desire to help the troops and their families - that's great. It's Robert L Borosage Alan Brinkley one of the overlooked Eleanor Roosevelt legacies. Indeed, I am delighted to James MacGregor Burus Joan Challiner sce in the USA Today report the analogy to Mrs. Roosevelt. David Cohen Sheldon Cohen Trich Nixon Cor Please continue to be involved with helping the families of American Kenneth S. Davis troops. They may have needs that are just as great as the soldiers of Mrs. Vivian Lowery Derryck Marian Wright Edelman Roosevelt's era. Read over the My Day column from World War II. Sara Ehrman Julie Nixon Kisenhower Submit Elsenhower Edward T. Foote If John Hope Franklin morate by writing letters, "particularly Hugh Gregory Gallagher to single soldiers" who might otherwise Newt Glogrich not receive mail. A special postal ad- David Ginsburg dress will be announced soon. Wendy Lynn Gray "I will also be asking people to sup- Theodore L. Gross Robert Hopkins port the families of our troops," includ- Philip Kalser ing writing letters to them, she said. Caroline B. Kennedy During World War II, Eleanor Roose- Past Kirk velt visited many soldiers, and it was Jon Kovier her custom to visit or write their fam- William E. Leuchtenburg Illes when she returned. John Lewis Clinton admits to being the type who Ernest May on Christmases past breathed "a sigh of Harry McPherson relief if I got the tree up by Christmas Richard Moe Eve." She arrived home from Germany Daniel Patrick Moynthan after visiting with military wives to find Robert Nathan the White House decorated by volun- Richard E. Neustadt teers and staffers. Verne W. Newton Norman Ornstein Charlle Peters Eather Peterson cc: Mercus Raskin George Stephanopoulos Oile Rach Harold Ickes James B. Reston Chabners Roberts Don Baer Anne Roosevelt Mack McLarty James Roosevelt, Jr. M. 3. Rosenherg Ron Klain Junice 11. Rowe III Doug Sosnik Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. Paul Staton Linda Aaker/Bob Armstrong Richard Norton Smith John Sweeney Mary Bain/Sid Yates Ted Van Dyk Peter Edelman WEllaru vanden Heuvel Geoffrey Ward Suzy Hubble Susan Ware Roger Wilkins Sidney Yates Elnio R. Zumwait. Jr. December 5, 1995 TO: Melanne From: Theresa Subject: Beijing Follow-up DOD Childcare Spending Carolyn Becraft, DOD Interagency Council Rep, told me today that DOD has asked for an increase in its allotment for child care in the new Appropriations Bill. DOD believes it now meets 65% of the need for child care on military bases, up from 50% two years ago. Its goal is 80% coverage, since it is estimated that 20% of the child care need is met through private means. In the Appropriations Bill, there are two pots of money for child care spending: the military construction budget to build new child care centers, and the personnel budget to fund more people for more hours of child care, focusing on before and after school care. DOD requested an increase in both pots of money. I can go further and get specific numbers, but I think it would be helpful for you to weigh in to be sure these two pots of money do not get cut, and are possibly augmented. Carolyn has agreed to speak at our monthly NGO public meeting in January to brief on her portfolio (DAS for Personnel Support, Families and Education). I told her she will also get questions on prostitution around U.S. military bases, rape by military personnel (Okinawa), and sexual harrassment. 12/19/95 TUE 17:47 FAX 202 456 9190 NSC/AC 1 001 DEC-18-95 MON 13:33 FAX NO. 7036936607 P. 02 Jane 65709 SHIH EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SUBJECT: ZIP Codes for Any Servicemember and Any Family Member Mail We have established the following ZIP Codes for Any Servicemember mail-- APO AE 09397 for the Army and Air Force troops and FPO AE 09398 for the Navy, Any Family Member mail ZIP Code will be APO AE 09399. The effective date for the Any Servicemember and Any Family Member ZIP Code is 18 Jan 1996 The Navy has requested immediate activation of the Any Servicemember FPO ZIP Code (FPO AE 09398) since this mail will not flow into Hungary or Bosnia but will go to ships. While there are no parcel-size restrictions on either Any Servicemember and Any Family Member mail, we recommend that the public just send cards and letters until at least after the mission is up and running fully. Once the postal infrastructure is in place, the public will be able to send parcels. Mailers should not send perishables, alcoholic beverages, contraband, firearms and ammunition, securities, currency, precious metals and obscene articles. Should the public like to send small parcels of cookies and candy, please keep it to about the size of a shoe box. Should the public have any questions concerning the ZIP Codes or restrictions on the mail, call the Military Postal Service Agency at 1-800-810-6098. Above information for Mrs. Clinton's column. 7EVMS APO; FPO AE AE 09397 AE09398 APO AE09399 18th January 6-7805 19/12/1995 12:47 8-423-3060 December 19, 1995 Dear Melanne, I feel sure that the Pentagon has forwarded to you the recently established APO numbers for single soldier mail and letters for families of deployed servicemembers. But better safe than sorry. The numbers are: Any Soldier - 09397 Any Family Member of a Deployed Soldier - 09399 These numbers will go into effect on January 15, 1996. There is a weight restriction on parcels of 11 ounces. Have a great holiday. Sincerely, Karin Gr huan Melanne Verveer tolissa draft #2 FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON N COLUMN FOR PUBLICATION DECEMBER 17, 1995 TALKING IT OVER/CREATORS SYNDICATE They call themselves sisters. That's how close they feel, having gone through their husbands' military service and even wars together. They are the wives of Army soldiers and officers now heading for Bosnia as part of the NATO peacekeeping effort. I met them at the Smith Barracks in Baumholder, Germany earlier this month when I accompanied my husband on his visit to the First Armored Division. [NOTE: checking on whether it is appropriate to say that they are part of Task Force Eagle] I had the chance to visit with many family members after the President's speech and during the lunch we shared in the mess hall. Later I spent nearly two hours talking with twenty women noi whose husbands are American commanders in NATO [ck and of our own forces. SAC gerils or it. Col. Often when our soldiers are asked to represent our country around the world we overlook the sacrifices made by their families. Some of these wives have spent years overseas, far from relatives, raising children and supporting their husbands' careers and our country. 1 They told me about the challenges young couples face finding adequate child care and making ends meet on military pay. These challenges only increase when a husband -- or wife -- is deployed. Then, even getting information about soldiers in training or on missions can be nerve-racking, with bits of news trickling in through an unofficial grapevine of friends and acquaintances. [ One woman told me about the efforts [NOTE: can we be more specific?] she and others undertook to support young wives while their husbands spent six months in Macedonia helping to prevent the conflict in the former Yugoslavia from spreading. J Now, while their husbands prepare for duty patrolling frigid terrain and delivering supplies to our troops in Bosnia, these veteran spouses are helping other Army "sisters" get ready for the family disruptions that every military operation inevitably brings. Just as military operations require preparation to ensure their readiness, so do the support efforts needed to back up our troops and help their families. Rear Detachment are ma edoma have Many lessons have been learned from Desert Storm and other recent deployments about how the military and volunteer spouses can help families. 2 These spouses are already helping the Army teach young wives -- some just teenagers -- how to balance the family checkbook, understand military terminology, go back to school and participate with other wives in support networks on their bases. Just knowing that others understand what they are going through can make a difference. "If you're having a bad day, somebody else has had that day before,' one woman said. "You know you've got that camaraderie and that sisterhood." During Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia, the Army also will hold frequent briefings for spouses, telling them about everything from the weather in Tuzla and Sarajevo to what the soldiers are eating for dinner that night. Whenever American troops are sent thousands of miles from home, particularly at this time of year, loneliness is bound to set in. The women I met in Germany were particularly concerned about single soldiers, many of them young, who don't have wives, husbands, or immediate families. Messages with news and support from the United States can mean a lot to soldiers in the field. A sentence or two about a local sports team, a good book, or a new movie will help keep spirits up during the holiday season. 3 The Defense Department has set up an address [NOTE: we will have it by noon Tuesday, according to DOD/NSC -- also checking about whether it will work for wives] I hope each of you will make an effort to support our soldiers in the coming weeks. Write to the American men and women over there. Send them news from home. Encourage them to write back. Most of all, tell them how proud we are of them and how grateful we are for the sacrifices they are making on behalf of American values by working to enforce the peace agreed to in Bosnia. I also want to ask Americans to remember and write to the brave spouses and families that the soldiers are leaving behind. They need our support as well. Many of the officers and soldiers the President and I met in Germany told us that there has never been a better trained, a better educated, better prepared military in the history of the world. Their spouses have never been more prepared to help each through Operation Joint Endeavor, either. As one woman said, "We are ready." ### 4 divis in First Armored Division to An individual soldiers soldiers, aiman us. Army and 01 dr 2 treach -1200 love of other units deployed to Bosnia soldiers, sailors, airmen + marine president Nov. 27 page. 5 fourthfull paragraphs conducting patrols separating ensure each side withdraws force. in rough cold weather patrolling, safeguarding Bosnia desk officers: John Feeley 6-9151 Room 368 to enforce delivering supplies to troops. beans + bullets limited 11 ozs. Paul Albers / Flag Brigade combat team + wiver divisin family one Signade Armored will - First Armored Division - Bosnia. Lague Task Eage Army. air force lhis - Firstmake Page 5 2ND STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format. Copyright 1995 Gannett Company, Inc. USA TODAY December 5, 1995, Tuesday, FINAL EDITION SECTION: LIFE; Pg. 1D LENGTH: 264 words HEADLINE: First lady's wish for Christmas BYLINE: Katy Kelly DATELINE: WASHINGTON BODY: At the White House Monday, Hillary Rodham Clinton was decked in glittery earrings, a Christmas tree pin and far-from-sensible pumps studded with gold charms. But her holiday wish is serious. As troops head off to Bosnia, the first lady hopes Americans will not only "pray for them and follow them and support them, but will also think about the families back home," she said during a press tour of White House Christmas decorations. "A lot of the responsibility falls on the people left behind. She urges Americans to boost troop morale by writing letters, "particularly to single soldiers" who might otherwise not receive mail. A special postal address will be announced soon. "I will also be asking people to support the families of our troops," including writing letters to them, she said. During World War II, Eleanor Roosevelt visited many soldiers, and it was her custom to visit or write their families when she returned. Clinton admits to being the type who on Christmases past breathed "a sigh of relief if I got the tree up by Christmas Eve." She arrived home from Germany after visiting with military wives to find the White House decorated by volunteers and staffers. The " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" theme involves 32 trees, 2,000 cookie ornaments, 204 needlepoint and embroidered stockings, and 600 ornaments made and donated by architects and students. Clinton was sorry she wasn't on hand to assist. "I'm usually able to sneak down and help a little and kibbitz a lot." About 150,000 people are expected to tour the White House wonderland. GRAPHIC: PHOTO, color, Matt Mendelsohn, USA TODAY LANGUAGE: ENGLISH CONFIDENTIAC THE WHITE HOUSE DETERMINED TO BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE WAShINGTON MARKING INITIALS: VB DATE: 9/28/17 OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY phone 202-456-6266 fax 202-456-6244 TO Carolyn Beecraft/Susan Roberts FROM June Shih FAX # 703-614-9303 PHONE # # OF PAGES (including cover) 6 COMMENTS THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY phone 202-456-6266 fax 202-456-6244 TO Julie FROM Sabrina Corlette FAX # 4-6218 PHONE # # OF PAGES (including cover) 2 COMMENTS $ 1 will send overatear sheet of Mrs. (Cintoris column on mon. or Tues. of next week. Talking It Over Military spouses They call themselves sisters. Earlier this month I had the chance to meet a group of them - the wives of the soldiers who will be taking part in the peacekeeping effort in Bosnia - at a base in Baumholder, Germany. I was touched by the genuine warmth and friendship they shared with each other and with me as they talked about their preparations for their husbands' tours in Bosnia. Our scheduled half-hour visit turned into a nearly two-hour long conversation about everything from managing money to teenage marriages to child care to Christmas at the White House. The women, some of whom were already veterans of Desert Storm and the recent peacekeeping effort in Macedonia, described the support networks they and the services have set up to help each other through Operation Joint Endeavor. The more experienced spouses are volunteering to teach classes that will help the newer or younger "army sisters" adjust to life on the bases. The classes explain what exactly the soldiers do and help them decode all the various acronyms used in the military. There are also courses that help spouses manage emotional stress and balance the family checkbook. Informal support groups give spouses the chance to share their worries and concerns. The women I met said they are trying to encourage other spouses not to go home to America while their soldiers are away because it is much easier to get accurate information to and from their loved ones if they stay in Germany. The military will hold frequent briefings for the spouses on base, providing them with such details as the weather in Bosnia, where the soldiers are stationed and what they're eating. And it's much more comforting to be around people who know exactly what you're going through. "If you get a letter, everyone is happy for you. You know you've got that camaraderie and that sisterhood, one woman explained. "And if you're having a bad day, somebody else has had that bad day before whereas in the States, you don't have that, you know, that same understanding.' Many of the spouses will be taking on double duty as single parents for the first time during Operation Joint Endeavor. They told me that they were worried about finding help with childcare. While the army does provide child care on its bases, spaces are limited, they said. As one woman put it: "Too many children, not enough child care centers and not enough providers." Finding English-speaking baby-sitters is also difficult. Hopefully things will improve in the next year through the President and the Secretary of Defense's initiatives to increase quality of life for all military personnel. More funds will be available so that at least two-thirds of all eligible military children can be placed in child care. The women asked me to encourage Americans to remember the single soldiers who don't have spouses and families to write letters or send care packages. Simple, but frequent message about home can mean a lot to soldiers in the field. So I encourage each of you to adopt a single soldier, by sending him or her news from home, responding to their thoughts on their lives in Bosnia, and most of all telling them that we are proud of them, that we are always thinking of them and looking forward to their safe return. The Defense Department has set up an address: XXX I also want to ask Americans to remember and write to the brave spouses and families that the soldiers are leaving behind. They need our support as well. Many of the soldiers I met in Germany told me that "there has never been a better trained, a better educated, better prepared, military in the history of the world." Their spouses have never been more prepared to help each through Operation Joint Endeavor, either. As one woman said, "We are ready." ### draft #1 FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON COLUMN FOR PUBLICATION DECEMBER 17, 1995 TALKING IT OVER/CREATORS SYNDICATE They call themselves sisters. That's how close they feel, having gone through wars together. They are the wives of Army soldiers and officers now heading for Bosnia as part of the United Nations peacekeeping effort. I met some of them at the Smith Barracks in Baumholder, Germany earlier this month, and I was moved by their courage and resilience in the face of such uncertainty. Too often we forget the sacrifices made by the families of our military personnel. Some of the wives I met have spent years overseas, far from relatives, supporting their husbands careers. They told me about the isolation raising families in foreign countries, the challenge of finding adequate child care, and the financial strains confronting some young military couples. Even getting information about soldiers in training or on missions can be nerve-racking, with bits of news trickling in through an unofficial grapevine of friends and acquaintances. Now, while their husbands prepare for duty patrolling frigid terrain and delivering supplies to our troops in Bosnia, these 1 veteran spouses are helping other Army "sisters" get ready for the family disruptions that every military operation inevitably brings. They are already helping the Army teach young spouses how to balance the family checkbook, understand military terminology, and develop support networks with other families on the base. Just knowing that others understand what they are going through can make a difference. "If you're having a bad day, somebody else has had that day before," one woman said. "You know you've got that camaraderie and that sisterhood." During Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia, the Army also will hold frequent briefings for spouses, telling them about everything from the weather in Tuzla and Sarajevo to what the soldiers are eating for dinner that night. Whenever American troops are sent to distant regions of the world, particularly at this time of year, loneliness is bound to set in. The women I met in Germany were particularly concerned about single soldiers, many of them young, who don't have wives, husbands, or immediate families. Simple messages from the United States can mean a lot to soldiers in the field. A sentence or two about a local sports 2 team, a good book, or a new movie will help keep their spirits high during the holiday season. The Defense Department has set up an address [NOTE: we will have it by noon Tuesday, according to DOD/NSC] I hope each of you will make the little effort required to adopt a single soldier in the coming weeks. Send them news from home. Encourage them to write back. Most of all, tell them how proud we are of them and how grateful we are for the sacrifices they are making to keep our world safe, secure and free from tyranny. I also want to ask Americans to remember and write to the brave spouses and families that the soldiers are leaving behind. They need our support as well. Many of the officers and soldiers the President and I met in Germany told us that "there has never been a better trained, a better educated, better prepared military in the history of the world. " Their spouses have never been more prepared to help each through Operation Joint Endeavor, either. As one woman said, "We are ready. " # # # 3 To: HRC FROM: LIS8A 4 RP total wire still trying to get more into. He's a diaft for you to work with. J. ### 4 MEMORANDUM TO: HRC FROM: Lissa Muscatine on RE: Military Spouses DATE: Dec. 11 Here is the column with your edits. I made some very minor changes. Also, you will see on place in brackets where it might help to have more detail. Melanne has signed off, but the DOD/NSC vetters will not be able to look at it until the morning. THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY phone 202-456-6266 fax 202-456-6244 TO MRS. CLINTON - FROM LISSA MUSCATINE FAX # 456 6255 PHONE # 456 2650 # OF PAGES (including cover) 6 COMMENTS THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY phone 202-456-6266 fax 202-456-6244 TO Joe Sestak - FROM June Shih FAX # 6-9190 PHONE # # OF PAGES (including cover) 03 COMMENTS Page 3 4TH STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format. Copyright 1995 Reuters, Limited Reuters World Service December 4, 1995, Monday, BC cycle LENGTH: 434 words HEADLINE: Hillary shows off White House holiday decor BYLINE: By Gene Gibbons DATELINE: WASHINGTON, Dec 4 BODY: Hillary Rodham Clinton ushered in the Christmas season on Monday, urging Americans to pray for U.S. troops heading for Bosnia as she showed off the first family's holiday decorations at the White House. "I hope Americans, when we see the military personnel going off to Bosnia, will think not only to pray for them and follow them and support them, but will also think about the families back home," Mrs. Clinton said during a press tour of the executive mansion. The centrepiece of the Yuletide finery in the Blue Room at the president's house is an 18-and-a-half-foot (six-metre) fir tree trimmed with hand-made needlepoint ornaments. Other Christmas decorations on the floors of the White House open to the public include trees hung with gingerbread, marzipan, cookie dough and chocolate ornaments. A special touch, created by White House pastry chefs as a surprise for Mrs. Clinton, is a colourful gingerbread house that replicates her childhood home in the Chicago suburbs. The first lady, just back from a five-day European trip with President Bill Clinton during which she met Bosnia-bound U.S. troops in Germany, said she found "a real positive spirit on the part of most people" about the peacekeeping operation. "It was a very positive spirit that we can get this job done," she told reporters. About 20,000 U.S. troops will separate warring factions in northern Bosnia as part of a 60,000-strong NATO-led operation after a Bosnian peace agreement is signed in Paris on December 14. A logistical vanguard was to arrive in Bosnia this week. Mrs. Clinton said Americans can help boost troop morale by writing letters, "particularly to single soldiers." A special postal address will be announced soon, she said. Page 4 Reuters World Service, December 4, 1995 The White House will also encourage Americans to write to the families of troops based in Bosnia, Mrs. Clinton said. Referring to Bosnia but also to U.S. peace initiatives in the Middle East and Northern Ireland, Mrs. Clinton said that "people who take risks for peace ... need to be supported." "Particularly in this Christmas season when we will be singing carols about peace and talking about love and brotherhood, I hope every American finds in each of his or her own hearts more space for that peace and love," she said. During the Christmas season, 150,000 people are expected to tour the White House and the Clintons will host holiday parties nearly every night between now and December 23. President and Mrs. Clinton and their 15-year-old daughter Chelsea plan to spend Christmas Day at the White House with other family members. 13:44 12-04-95 LANGUAGE: ENGLISH LOAD-DATE: December 05, 1995 NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL gailme 703-695-3769 Ginn ( DOD, dept, ass't secratary for Quality 1 Life) FAX COVER SHEET NATIONAL From: JOE SESTAK SECURITY To: SABRINA Conlette COUNCIL Agency: Fax Number: 65709 Date/Time: 17th & Penn, N.W. Washington, D.C. No. of pages to follow: 20506 Message: Did you get a complete, clear transmission? If not, please call: d 'll will you (202) 456- when I return a! 05:00 & R. Doe NSC/AC 12/08/95 FRI 15:03 FAX 202 456 9190 001 Qualityty of Life Secretary Perry's QoL Initiative The Department of Defense is continuing to pursue its ambitious plan to improve quality of life for military personnel in three critical areas: compensation, housing, and community and family support. To support this focus, President Clinton pledged $7.7 billion to fund the highest pay raises for military personnel allowed by law through the end 12/08/95.JFRI.15.04 VIT FAX 202 456 Fax:703-695-4046 9190 of the decade. Secretary Perry added an additional $2.7 billion to the Future Years Defense Program to increase the Basic Allowance for Quarters, initiate a new Cost of Living Allowance for high cost areas in the United States, improve housing, expand child NSC/AC care, bolster recreation programs, and enhance family violence prevention programs. In Fiscal Year 1996, the Department will spend about $82.1 billion to maintain and improve the quality of life of Service members around the globe. A detailed explanation of the allocation of the $82.1 billion and the adds that were made by the Department and the Congress follows: Dec 8 '95 13:55 P.03/03 P&R 8 December 1995 002 202 450 9190:# 4 Secretary Perry's Plan Improving Quality of Life.. Three Aspace ($27 Billion Over Six Years) - More maney is troops' products Botter Ilving accommodations An improved community convironent Compunsation Improvements. New Living Allowance for High-Cost Help for the 30,000 living to high-cost areas (over 109% of national-sverage cost) Booms their mushly pay EP to $167 Hiniram "panly" of being assigned a post ardes, Inchiding Msw York Cry & Long Island, NY New Barn & Harsked. CT & Dallas II Providence. N Dank MI YOR WA is Angoloo, - Franches, Maria, Calline, CA Philodulphia, PA Increase Basis Alloware for to Define Housing Come Benefits the 700,000 ato gardiase 1 housing Roduces abscription of bounding sorb Drawn 20% so 198 Increase in allowance of up a $120 mosthly. over di years Batter Living Accommod Intime (8296 afilion) - Damily Mountng' Dowrades has 10,000 co-lusse homes back is She (deat would have closed for lat of maintance) Donutory (Barnck) Improvements OVE 5,000 harracks spended Othe dgix standards is privary. space, amentitics) Private-Sessix Housing Ventures Parmarships DOD land plas STDA w and Instruct options Conting w P -- squing - she - - - Community & Family Support - Child Cupi for 31 Child care available'to to two-dirds of aligible children ruber than short bulf Bancr Community Pamily Improved insuration curtoms and facilities 00 extend opending been and andace suraharizes) Outstob w Jules calisted afters against your Violence argund LOVE 100 high population installations waseride I Weddwide, DaD may about 1000 reason w many and banchs 1 2 or L5 million people in - - " - - - who - to were family nember NSC/AC 12/08/95 FRI 15:06 FAX 202 456 9190 1101 Quality of Life Secretary Perry's QoL Initiatives in FY96* Pay ($57.4B): Provided 2.4% pay raise, the maximum allowed by law at $1.2B in FY 1996 Medical ($10.2B): A warded managed care contracts to provide improved health care for military dependents and retirees at7 of 12 Regions. (FMP) Housing & Housing Allowances ($11.0B): 12/08/95 FRI 15:05 FRI FAX 202 456 9190 Family Housing: -Added $557M for Services 10 construct and repair over 11,000 family units. Dormitory/Barracks: -Added $372M for 17 construction projects and $301M for maintenance. Private-sector Housing- Ventures: -Added $22M to promote innovative private-sector approaches to housing. (Congress working privatization authorities 10 allow leverage of housing funds.) Fax:703-695-4046 CONUS COLA at 109%: -Added $17.2M to assist 30,000 service members living in high cost areas. Basic Allowance for Quarters: -Added $115M to reduce housing absorption costs for approx. 700,000 in off- NSC/AC base housing. Community and Family Support: (includes: Commissaries, Dependent Schools in the U.S. and Overseas, ($3.5B) Morale, Welfare &Recreation (MWR) programs, Family Centers, Family Advocacy, Transition, Relocation and Tuition Assistance.) Child Care: -Added $38.1M to increase capacity by 23% (38,000 spaces). Family Advocacy: -Added $25.6M targeting young parents al 154 locations for prevention and Dec 8 '95 13:55 treatment of family violence. Morale, Welfare &Recreation: -Added $33.5M to increase support in MWR activities for service members. Voluntary Off-Duty Education -Added $4M 10 increase tuition assistance for off-duty education. *increases include Congressional add-ons. P.02/03 P&R 8 December 1995 003 Q: Why doesn't the Backage Include money for e pay rabe? A: Pay raise decisions are made by the president md Coagress on s government-wide buis. This Lasse will be resolved in the Bext two months as the president's budget is finally approved. During these discussions I will support the metimum military pay ruise allowed by law-homesess comparable to civillse pay Increases Q: How are you going to pay for your quality of life initiatives? A: The quality of life additions won't boost the budget total we're recommending to the president and the Office of Management and Budget. We will pay for the improvements by trimming other programs as we put our budget together. We're mid-stream in that process. I've said many times that Pm willing to slow modernization programs in order to Improve readiness, training and quality of life, which sustains our most Important asset-- people. While these recommendations will allow significant Improvements in housing, child care and other programs to improve the military quality of life, the FY 1996 changes represent just a 5.3% increase over what we're spending on these programs in FY 1995. 2/08/95 FRI 15:06 FAX 202 456 9190 OV/OSN 005 GWL 3130.# 2 NEWS RELEASE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ¡PUGLIC ALL Allis) U.S 20391 PLEASE NOIL DAIL No. 641.94 (703)85-0152(matia) (703)677-318(mpia) IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 1994 (703)697-5737(publichmduary) DOD ADDS $2.7 BILLION TO IMPROVE MILITARY QUALITY OF LIFE Secretary of Defense William 1. Perry, in consultation with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General John M. Shakashvili, announced plans today to add $2.7 billion over the next six years for inidarives aimed directly # improving the quality of life for members of America's armed forces and mate funilles. The funding for these inidadves, which is over and above money already requested by the services for similar purposes, will begin with $450 million in the FY96 defense bedget This money will fund Increases to allowances. better stogle and family living quaram and as Upgraded community environment. People are our most important resource," aid Parry in a Permagna press conference. "No weapon system is better than the people who operate and maintain k It is crucial that we put people first in our priorities." The additional funds will be used to improve compensation. living accommodations and community and family support in the area of compensation. the plan calls for new Gost of living allowance (COLA) to aid milimry members living in communidas idendified us "bigh- cost areas - those over 109 percent of the astional COR of Eving average The increases which could boost some military paychecks by w much as $167 per month ($40 average). will help offsot living expenses La such areas w New York, Long Leland, Detroit, Dallas, Houston Los Angeles and San Pracisso. The plan also calls for AB increase to the Basic Alover for QUATES (BAQ) to defray 'the coses of off-base housing for miltury members. Congressional Latent bes always been for soldiers living of the local occurry to absorb up to 15 persont of their bousing costs with the remainder offect by BAQ and Variable Howtag Allowances, b reality bouever, awaken have bad to detray an Mange of 20 persent of thom COURS By increasently increasing BAQ payments up to $120 monthly over the DEXT air years, Secretary Pary's plan hopes to bring the share of housing COST back to line for most to 700,000 milliary members and their families. $60 million of FY96 funds WIII be reallocared a cover these compensation initiatives. MORE OV/OSN 0616 4556 202 PAY LO:ST FRI 12/08/95 900 YOUR Quality of Life Quality of Life Decisions Then-Year $ Millon's 12/08/95 FRI 15:07 FAX 202 456 9190 FY95 FY97 FY98 FY99 FYOO FY01 FVX6-01 Anny Housing Proposals 100.0 CONUS COLA of 109% 17.2 < Child Care 38.1 NSC/AC Private Housing Ventures 220 BAQ Gap Closure 43.0 Baracks Maintenance 50.0 Housing Mahtenance 64.0 Family Support 224 Essental Barracks Revisization 60.0 Increase NWR to $295 Per Capita 33.5 TOTAL 450.2 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 27002 PA&E - a 1007 VISIT OF THE FIRST LADY TO BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY DECEMBER 2, 1995 EVENT: Coffee with Eagle Task Force Spouses DATE: Saturday, December 2, 1995 TIME: 2:40 pm - 3:10 pm LOCATION: Rheinlander Building, Game Room ATTENDEES: Mrs. Clinton Mrs. Karen Joulwan Mrs. Eileen Redman Mrs. Vickie Crouch Mrs. Donna Nash Mrs. Maryellen Cherrie Mrs. Lynn O'Neal 12 Eagle Task Force Spouses 2 Support Leaders from the Family Assistance Program Col. Bill Alexander, Asst Deputy COS Personnel Family Assistance Program See briefing for additional attendees PRESS: Closed Press REMARKS: No SCENARIO: Mrs. Clinton accompanied by Mrs. Joulwan enter the Game Room. Mrs. Joulwan informally introduces the Eagle Task Force spouses and Commanders wives to Mrs. Clinton. After introductions, Mrs. Clinton will mix and mingle with guests. NUV-30-1995 18:47 RAMSTEIN STAFF ADU OFC P.002/009 Participants: 1. Mrs. Clinton 2. Mrs. Eileen Redmond (wife of the U.S. Ambassador to Germany) 3. Mrs. Karen Joulwan (wife of General George Joulwan) 4. Mrs. Vickie Crouch (wife of General William Crouch) 5. Mrs. Donna Nash (wife of General William Nash) 6. Mrs. Mary Ellen Cherrie (wife of General Stan Cherrie) 7. Mrs. Lynn O'Neal (wife of General Pat O'Neal) 8. Mrs. Dana Fontenot (wife of Col. Greg Fontenot) 9. Mrs. Michelle Batiste (wife of Col. John Batiste) 10. Mrs. Kay Webb (wife of Col. Will Webb) 11. Mrs. Ann Thrasher (wife of Col. "Bud" Thrasher) 12. Mrs. Katie Hawkins (wife of Col. Steve Hawkins) 13. Mrs. Donna Kipers (wife of Col. Jim Kipers) 14. Mrs. Lenora Williams (wife of Col. Bennie Williams) 15. Mrs. Narie Curry (wife of Col. Steve Curry) 16. Mrs. Deborah Culbert (wife Col. Don Culbert) 17. Mrs. Judy Clements (wife Col. Tom Clements) 18. Mrs. Merilyn Green (wife of Col. Charles Green) 19. Mrs. Joan Wolf (wife of LTC Dave Wolf) 20. Mrs. Marcy Johnson (wife of LTC Kevin Johnson) 21. Mrs. Lori Strong (wife of LTC Randy Strong) 22. Mrs. Donna Stott, Community Support Leader (wife of LTC Tom Stott) 23. Mrs. Sandy Kamena, Community Support Leader (wife of LTC Gene Kamena) NOTE: I will introduce Mrs. Clinton to Col Bill Alexander on departure from the coffee. He is the Asst. Dpty COS Personnel Family Assistance Program. June Shih 703-370-2196 212/11/95 08:49AM 3/3 woman explained. " And if you're having a bad day, somebody else has had that bad day before, but they're not having a bad day, whereas in the States, you don't have that, you know, that same understanding," Like most American women, one of the primary concerns facing military wives is access to child care. The issue came up more than once during our conversation. Now that they were all going to become single parents for a while during the peacekeeping mission, many said they were worried about finding adequate care for their children. They described the difficulty they already had finding good care centers and baby-sitters in a foreign country. Hopefully things will improve in the next year through the President and the Secretary of Defense's initiatives to increase quality of life for all military personnel. More funds will be available so that two thirds of all military children can be placed in child care. {Still that number should be 100 percent!] The women also agreed that the separation would make them stronger and in many cases change the terms of their relationships with their husbands. (DO we want to pursue this? The women also asked me to remind Americans about the soldiers who are going to Bosnia alone, those without spouses and families to write them letters or send care packages. They suggested that we in America begin "adopting" singlesoldiers by becoming penpals with them, sending them news from home, responding to their thoughts on their lives in Bosnia, and most of all, telling them that we are proud of them, that we are always thinking of them and looking forward to their safe return.. To help in this effort "You can also remind them not to forget us over here. It's so easy to become detached when something is SO far away." Any soldier sestak 9198 child care detachment former army spouse ms-gail Me Ginn Rear deplay out 703-695-3769 Mille Installation child Dev. - center, Becraft 0 hear 697-7220 when they start school not enayh space Joe Sestak Family Day Care - take chil clien in home. do training help contractual relationship Carolyn Beecraft. respite eare - less formal hourly childcase spaces. capacity at 65% morder welfare meeting 80% of need. wherew thal full day care. 300,000 contr contracting. Family assistance Center housing, expands legal ffices army community counseling sew, ces Family support groups - helping which spouses lamage coached AFTB- atraining program, working share experience w/ community briefings weather, what's he's eating, where be is infamation, active, where Sr. Rear Detachment col. Lt. Harold Stott "Tom" Brigade - Rear Detach Lt. Cer. 4ene Kamena major major Robert Edwards Baumholder call back Page 3 7TH STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format. Copyright 1989 The New York Times Company The New York Times July 31, 1989, Monday, Late Edition - Final SECTION: Section A; Page 13, Column 1; National Desk LENGTH: 1336 words HEADLINE: Foley, as Speaker, Begins to Take Fighting Stance BYLINE: By ROBIN TONER, Special to The New York Times DATELINE: WASHINGTON, July 30 BODY: Thomas S. Foley trades stories in the cloakroom, pops up in the members' dining room and has returned the fine art of schmoozing to the Speaker's office. He runs the House with a light hand, winning high marks from both sides of the aisle for restoring civility after the ethics wars that toppled Jim Wright. But two months after he assumed the Speakership, Mr. Foley is also beginning to take on some fights - on President Bush's proposal for a cut in the capital gains tax rate and Mr. Bush's support for a constitutional amendment to outlaw flag burning. As Mr. Foley takes the House into its last week before the August recess, he is approaching his job with a mixture of conciliation, endless kibitzing and occasional, but increasing, this hurts-me-more-than-it-hurts-you firmness. Mr. Foley's new toughness on capital gains has cheered many party regulars, who have been hungering for some clear-cut partisan issues and had questions about Mr. Foley's partisan edge. Even though he has kept the door open to negotiations on the budget, he has raised eyebrows among Republicans, including Richard G. Darman, director of the Office of Management and Budget, who said this weekend on the Cable News Network program ''Evans and Novak, ''It's somewhat uncharacteristic of Speaker Foley. But it is not without risks. The Speaker has to deal with rebellion, potential rebellion or just plain disagreement in his party on both capital gains and the flag burning measure. And last week's furor over the military authorization bill, when carefully wrought compromises shattered on the House floor, showed how rambunctious the House can be. 'It's a Honeymoon' So far, Mr. Foley has unquestionably benefited from the members' relief over the end of the Wright ordeal. ''No one wants to cause him any problems,' said Representative Mike Synar, Democrat of Oklahoma. ''It's a honeymoon, just like the President gets. But Mr. Foley has worked hard to build on it. House Democrats say that Mr. Foley works the cloakroom like Thomas P. O'Neill Jr., a legendary schmoozer. ''Like Tip, he has finely tuned political Page 4 The New York Times, July 31, 1989 eardrums, said Representative Les AuCoin, Democrat of Oregon. His conciliatory style extends to House Republicans, who seethed under what they viewed as the autocratic rule of Mr. Wright. Early on, Representative Vin Weber, Republican of Minnesota, recalled, when a voice vote was held on a minor issue, Mr. Foley called it in favor of the Republicans. Mr. Weber contended that his party was often overridden on such votes in the past when it should have prevailed. 'Republicans talked about it for a week, Mr. Weber said. ''It was just a small, little symbolic thing, but it said, 'We're going to adhere to the rules.' Repairing Damage to the House Mr. Foley has tried to repair damage to the House in other ways. He has defended its ethics and tried to deal with the charge that it neglected the nation's business because of its internal turmoil. This helps explain his attempt to push through all 13 appropriations bills before the August recess. ''People are no longer wallowing in self-pity,' said Norman Ornstein, an analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington research group. ''He has managed to get them back to thinking about and talking about and debating the issues. The stylistic contrast alone with Mr. Wright's Speakership is striking. The daily Speaker's news conference, once achingly tense, now often ends with a comedy routine between Mr. Foley and his page; the page has an uncanny ability to announce the Speaker's next appointment when a controversial question is asked, an ability much praised by Mr. Foley. But conciliation can only go so far; many Democrats still wonder how Mr. Foley will take to the more partisan aspects of the Speaker's job. In recent days, he has been wading in, describing President Bush's call for a sharp reduction in the tax on capital gains as 'misguided and unfortunate, ''a defeat for equity'' in the tax code and ''a very poor way'' to start serious efforts to reduce the deficit. He has also escalated his objections to a constitutional amendment to outlaw desecration of the flag. Mr. Foley backs legislation to remedy the Supreme Court ruling that flag burning could be a protected form of political speech. There are substantive reasons for his posture. Mr. Foley has voiced increasing frustration with the President's approach to the budget as Mr. Bush calls for major new spending programs, like the exploration of Mars, while simultaneously pushing for a capital gains cut and showing no public sign of relenting on his pledge of ''no new taxes. Mr. Foley has also shown increasing anger at those who would amend the Constitution ''without reason or purpose. But there are also strong political grounds for Mr. Foley's stances. ''Politically, I think it's important for him to be breathing fire and fighting the good fight, and I say that as someone who will be on the other side, said Mr. AuCoin, who supports a cut in the capital gains tax. ''On a challenge like this, passivity is not something that the party regulars are looking for. Many House Democrats are restive, eager for a more confrontational approach Page 5 The New York Times, July 31, 1989 to the President and angry at what they see as a two-track approach from the Republicans, alternating between pleas for bipartisan cooperation and fierce partisan attacks. And within the party at large, there is strong sentiment to come out swinging against a cut in the capital gains tax, which many Democrats campaigned against last year. ''We've got to sharpen the lines of disagreement with this President and this party, said Michael McCurry, communications director for the Democratic National Committee. ''You go anywhere in this party right now and people are saying, 'Gosh darn it, stand up and fight. Risky Test for Foley Still, the capital gains cut is a risky test for Mr. Foley. By the time the Speaker got involved in the issue, the measure had picked up considerable support, with six Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee backing the cut. Moreover, the measure itself, with its promise of a two-year boost in revenues, has considerable intrinsic appeal. ''Anytime you tell members they can reduce taxes and increase revenues, it's almost impossible to stop,' said Representative Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of Brooklyn. Mr. Foley reflected wryly on the challenge last week. He recalled his righteous indignation when he arrived in Congress 24 years ago and was told by an older politician to avoid the biggest mistake a member could make: 'thinking for yourself. He was urged to listen to his committee chairman, his Speaker and his whip. In recent days, Mr. Foley said, the wisdom of that advice ' 'comes back to me like a refreshing breeze from the past. Mr. Foley has other worries. Mr. Weber, the Minnesota Republican, asserted that the new leadership team ''is not yet on top of its game, legislatively. Last week's raucous foray into military policy was not, in the view of some politicians, including Mr. Bush, the House's finest moment. Down the road, Mr. Foley faces the same kinds of questions Democrats delight in posing to Mr. Bush: What is his agenda? What does he want to do in office? 'There will be people pushing him to have an agenda, no question about that, said Representative Marvin Leath, a conservative Texas Democrat. ''But I'm not sure the Democratic caucus could develop an agenda - too much diversity. For the time being, for all the partisan shots and unmet challenges, Mr. Foley still seems to most enjoy the more magnanimous parts of his job. Last week, Representative Michael A. Andrews, one of the Gang of Six supporting a capital gains cut, was invited to lunch with Robert Redford and the Speaker, a significant perk. ''This is a trick, isn't it?'' the wary Texas Democrat asked. ''You want to talk about capital gains. Instead, they talked about their favorite movies. GRAPHIC: Photo of Thomas S. Foley, the House Speaker (NYT/Steven Morello) Page 6 The New York Times, July 31, 1989 LANGUAGE: ENGLISH draft #2.1 FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON COLUMN FOR PUBLICATION DECEMBER 17, 1995 TALKING IT OVER/CREATORS SYNDICATE They call themselves sisters. That's how close they feel, having gone through their husbands' military service and even wars together. They are the wives of Army soldiers and officers now heading for Bosnia as part of the NATO peacekeeping effort. I met them at the Smith Barracks in Baumholder, Germany earlier this month when I accompanied my husband on his visit to the First Armored Division [NOTE: checking on whether it is appropriate to say that they are part of Task Force Eagle] I had the chance to visit with many military family members after the President's speech and during the lunch we shared in Sat mond [ Julie the mess hall. Later I spent nearly two hours talking with twenty women whose husbands who will be commanding our forces in Bosnia. Often when our soldiers are asked to represent our country around the world we overlook the sacrifices made by their families. Some of these wives have spent years overseas, far from relatives, raising children and supporting their husbands' careers and our country. 1 They told me about the challenges young couples face finding adequate child care and making ends meet on military pay. These challenges only increase when a husband -- or wife -- is deployed. food + medicine - Now, while their husbands prepare for duty patrolling frigid terrain and delivering supplies to our troops in Bosnia, these veteran spouses are helping other Army "sisters" get ready for the family disruptions that every military operation inevitably brings. insert a here (from p.3) and b The "rear detachment, II or the military personnel who will Lare called he "ream remain on the bases during Operation Joint Endeavor Ato back up detached." new are help bael up and our troops and help their families, are essential to the success of the mission. Many lessons have been learned from Desert Storm and other expt. recent deployments about how the rear detachment \and volunteer Dus a recent peace-keeping mission is Macadris, spouses can help families. One woman told me about the efforts at the military undertook to support young wives while their husbands spent six months in Macedonia helping to prevent the conflict in the former Yugoslavia from spreading. At Baumholder the army held briefings for the wives about Macedonian culture, language, environment. Rear detachment commanders met with spouses to address rumors concerns and the 2 specific latest developments in the field. When the Macedonia mission ended, the spouses were so used pleased with the support of the rear detachment that they made 3 sure the commander, Major Robert Edwards, was presented with an award for his service. Now, as prepar he later uning in he Aras will try to do he save kids Tr spaces whose L Bom More with spaces For Bosnia, the military will follow a similar model! The Army will hold briefings for spouses, telling them about everything from the weather in Tuzla and Sarajevo to what the soldiers are eating for dinner that night. (examples?) The older spouses tro, are busi 1 For their part, the volunteer spouses are already helping the Army step up its efforts to teach young wives -- some just teenagers how to get the family papers in order balance the a family checkbook, understand military terminology, go back to school and participate with other wives in support networks on their bases. Just knowing that others understand what they are going b through can make a difference. "If you're having a bad day, somebody else has had that day before, " one woman said. "You know you've got that camaraderie and that sisterhood." Whenever American troops are sent thousands of miles from home, particularly at this time of year, loneliness is bound to 3 set in. The women I met in Germany were particularly concerned about single soldiers, many of them young, who don't have wives, husbands, or immediate families. Messages with news and support from the United States can mean a lot to soldiers in the field. A sentence or two about a local sports team, a good book, or a new movie will help keep spirits up during the holiday season. The Def Dept will soon have an adders anrilable The Defense Department has set up an address [NOTE: we will have it by noon Tuesday, according to DOD/NSC -- also checking about whether it will work for wives] I hope each of you will make an effort to support our soldiers in the coming weeks. Write to the American men and women over there. Encourage them to write back. Most of all, tell them how proud we are of them and how grateful we are for the sacrifices they are making on behalf of American values by working to enforce the peace agreed to in Bosnia. I also want to ask Americans to write to the brave spouses and families that the soldiers are leaving behind. They need our support as well. Many of the officers and soldiers the President and I met in Germany told us that there has never been a better trained, a 4 better educated, better prepared military in the history of the world. Their spouses have never been more prepared to help each through Operation Joint Endeavor, either. As one woman said, "We are ready. II ### 5 draft #3 FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON COLUMN FOR PUBLICATION DECEMBER 17, 1995 TALKING IT OVER/CREATORS SYNDICATE They call themselves sisters. That's how close they feel, having gone through their husbands' military service and even wars together. They are the wives of Army soldiers and officers now heading for Bosnia as part of the NATO peacekeeping effort. I met them at the Smith Barracks in Baumholder, Germany earlier this month when I accompanied my husband on his visit to the First Armored Division. [NOTE: checking on whether it is appropriate to say that they are part of Task Force Eagle] I had the chance to visit with many military family members after the President's speech and during the lunch we shared in the mess hall. Later I spent nearly two hours sharing coffee and talking with twenty women whose husbands who are commanding our forces in Bosnia. Often when our soldiers are asked to represent our country around the world we overlook the sacrifices made by their families. Some of these wives have spent years overseas, far from relatives, raising children and supporting their husbands' careers and our country. 1 They told me about the challenges young couples face finding adequate child care and making ends meet on military pay. These challenges only increase when a husband -- or wife -- is deployed. Many lessons have been learned from Desert Storm and other recent deployments about how the rear detachment, the personnel who will remain on the bases, can help families. During a recent peacekeeping mission in Macedonia, the army held briefings for wives about Macedonian culture, language and environment. Rear detachment commanders met with spouses to address rumors, concerns and developments in the field. When the Macedonia mission ended, the spouses were so pleased with the work of the rear detachment that they insisted the commander, Major Robert Edwards, was presented with an award for his service. Now, while their husbands prepare for duty patrolling frigid terrain and delivering food and equipment to our troops in Bosnia, these veteran spouses are helping other Army "sisters" get ready for the family disruptions that every military operation inevitably brings. The older and more experienced spouses are busy helping the 2 Army teach young wives -- some just teenagers -- to balance the family checkbook, understand military terminology, go back to school and participate with other wives in support networks on their bases. Just knowing that others understand what they are going through can make a difference. "If you're having a bad day, somebody else has had that day before," one woman said. "You know you've got that camaraderie and that sisterhood." The military personnel who will remain on the bases during Operation Joint Endeavor to back up our troops and help their families, are essential to the success of the mission. For the spouses of the soldiers and officers going to Bosnia, the Army will hold briefings about everything from the weather in Tuzla and Sarajevo to what the soldiers are eating for dinner that night. Whenever American troops are sent thousands of miles from home, particularly at this time of year, loneliness is bound to set in. The women I met in Germany were particularly concerned about single soldiers, many of them young, who don't have wives, husbands, or immediate families. Messages with news and support from the United States can 3 mean a lot to soldiers in the field. A sentence or two about a local sports team, a good book, or a new movie will help keep spirits up during the holiday season. The Defense Department will be setting up a special address where we can send letters for both single soliders and the families of soldiers in Bosnia. As soon as the address is available, I will print it in this column. I hope each of you will make an effort to support our soldiers in the coming weeks. Write to the American men and women over there. Encourage them to write back. Most of all, tell them how proud we are of them and how grateful we are for the sacrifices they are making on behalf of American values by working to enforce the peace agreed to in Bosnia. I also want to ask Americans to write to the brave spouses and families that the soldiers are leaving behind. They need our support as well. Many of the officers and soldiers the President and I met in Germany told us that there has never been a better trained, a better educated, better prepared military in the history of the world. Their spouses have never been more prepared to help each 4 through Operation Joint Endeavor, either. As one woman said, "We are ready. " ### 5 FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON TEA WITH SOLDIERS' SPOUSES BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY DECEMBER 2, 1995 HRC: [Discussion in progress] Many things in that respect [laughter]. One of the things I've been thinking about today, the Head Usher, who runs the White House, came to up me in May and said, well Mrs. Clinton, it's time to start planning for Christmas, I thoughtd and he said, I know but and so we started having meetings in May for planning for Christmas in 1992. Now I'm one of those people, I'm lucky if I have the tree up by Christmas Eve [laughter]. You know, I'm rushing around but it's just, it's magic. If any of you have ever been there for a tour around Christmas time I've never seen anything like it. So the first year, we did Angels, because I'm really big on angels. So we sent invitations to people all over the country to make ornaments and to all the crafts artists all over. We got the most astonishing variety. We got [unintelligible]. Then last year, we picked the theme, "The Twelve Days of Christmas." We got [unintelligible] antlers, maids a milking and all kinds of stuff, so we got an incredible array of ornaments. Then this year, we picked "Twas the Night Before Christmas.' We asked architects from all over the country, all the architect associations, to participate because when you think about "Twas the Night Before Christmas and all Through the House,' you think of a house. And so they made these ornaments, we got these little houses that light up, and these little Santa Clauses going up and down the chimney, they're the most astonishing, they're like little works of art. I just love Christmas, I'm a Christmas fanatic So it starts Sunday that's tomorrow [laughter] Then, every single day we have an event. We have about 150,000 guests between tomorrow and Christmas and The only downside is because we have so many guests, and you guys know this too. You know we have all these people coming to your home, if you're going to see everybody, you have to do a receiving line. Otherwise you wade into the crowd and the next day, somebody will say, oh, did you see Karen? And we'll say, oh, was she here? You know, because you never move from the spot you're in. So we do these receiving lines, so I have to wear long skirts because I have to wear flat shoes. I don't know how anyone can do these receiving lines in high heels I'm just so glad we got this chance to visit. I want to thank all of you for your leadership and what you mean not only to your husbands and your country. And it's so nice to have a small taste of that [unintintelligible]. 1 XXX: Well, we're very fortunate because Donna and Cecile did this before and those two I know, and a lot of the rest of them went through Desert Storm also. And so there were, I mean that was a horrendous couple of months. It was nowhere near as long as this is going to be, but there were tremendous things going on during that period of time. And tremendous lessons were learned, which are being incorporated into what's happening now. And I think that's really important for all of us, especially the young men. HRC: What are some of those lessons? One of the things that several of the soldiers said to me with great pride, is, you know, there's never been a better trained, a better educated, better prepared, military in the history of the world. And the American military is [unintelligible]. And I think that's absolutely true. And you could see it in even the international news that I have. I mean the level of awareness and just great capacity that exists is so impressive. But I don't know as much what's happening on the other side, the support and family side. Because we still have a lot of very, very young wives, and that's hard So what are some of the lessons you took out of Desert Storm? XXX: I think one of the big lessons was that XXX attachment matters. Not everyone was on the same sheet of music as they are now in leaving behind the best person for the position. Everybody wants to go, because they see that as the only mission, not just the primary mission, but the only mission. And so many of the families in the states and installations were left with those that were non-deployable, were classified as non-deployable. Those people were not happy about being there, their performance was not very good and the family support system suffered in many cases because of that. Some people did make the proper decisions and the best decisions. Sharon Pratt (?) was in Fort Hope, Louisiana at the time, and it takes a person whose kind of been through that to make a decision and say, we're going to select the best. And we'll make it clear to these people that this is your mission. They have a mission in the Gulf and then you haver a mission here. And I think the other was to empower people and not to keep them dependent. That's the big one. Because nobody's ever going [unintelligible]. Everybody comes through resentful I think that's probably the biggest. Donna?: I'd say the two main things is the younger wives, we're trying to get them in to learn more about the army, what their husband does, what the army stands for. We're giving them, the army has team? building classes that are so important, teaching them about effective leadership or just about acronyms or the words their husbands use for their job, communications skills, how to get along with other people, stress management. I mean it's a whole list of things that young wives can come in, take these classes and feel more confident in themselves and say hey, I can do this. 2 XXX: Can I just say one thing? That program that Donna mentioned, is an all volunteer program. That is totally staffed by many of the ladies in this room and ladies who are out in all these communities. So it's not a great draw on the system financially. HRC: Is there a curriculum that you all ? XXX: Yes, there is a set curriculum XXX: [unintelligible] Donna: the problem that we have is that, is basically child care. We can get this lady to class from 8:30 to 2:30, she's got kids coming home from school, she's got an 18-month-old child, so we're trying to find ways to [unintelligible]. XXX: Sandy, what things did you learn? Sandy?: I've identified with this so much. The first thing I was going to say was that XXX attachment is so important. We just went through a six-month deployment in Macedonia and one of the key reasons why everything was so successful was because of the XXX attachment that we had. We had a Major that was dedicated just solely to XXX attachment and he said that that was, he'd call us all his wives [laughter]. He was so good, that the ladies wanted to award him when the men came back. HRC: You've got to think of some kind of a medal or something [laughter]. Sandy: We kind of got Michelle's husband to give him an army award. HRC: Good Sandy: The ladies wanted that, he was just wonderful. XXX: Army Family Team Building, we ran that program at the level one stage. And one of the big benefits of that, that I really found was the ladies coming in that don't know each other, they start talking about war stories, and they start knowing each other and they found a friend, somebody that can HRC: Break down that ice, barrier. XXX: That's one of the biggest problems here, because again people don't, all of our families don't live in military housing, and a lot of them are out in the, on the country. And a lot of the, not just the young wives, the old ones as well [laughter]. There's really a sense of isolation unless you can get to know the other people in the community and discover you've got 3 somebody just down the street or the block or whatever. And those kind of relationships are very very important. Especially here because they are away from their natural families. But, and that's where the army family steps in. And I think the other thing is, we didn't go through Desert Storm, we left as they were getting ready to gear up for this thing. But as I listen to people talk about it afterward, and one of the other things that, and they're going to need it this time, is the courage of the wives not to go home, not to go back to the United States. XXX: Yes, yes XXX: Because what happened, if they were here in Europe, and they went back to the United States, and that sounded great because they went home to her mother or his mother and the extended family. But the truth is, they were out of the flow, and there was no way to find out anything, and telephone calls were very expensive and there's no no way for communication in either direction, and so you really encourage them to stay here. Go for a visit if you want, but do come back, because this is where your information is and this is where your real support is, it's not back in the United States. HRC: Do you find that same thing? XXX: We probably have about 35% of our wives that are back there, and that's just a guesstimate. And some went back for extended periods of time, the deployment was six months. SOme of them went back for as much as five months. Some of them went back for a month at a time. It just varied. But they always found when they came back that they didn't know what was going on back in the U.S. Over here is where they found out what was going on with their husbands. And this time I think we've got a majority of the wives, they do want to stay here, they do want to know what's going on. XXX: We also talked enough so a lot of them have changed their minds. The first reaction was that, oh no. But for the children [unintelligble] keep them with their friends. Also the schools here are gearing up for, the counselors and everybody's in touch with the situation and we have talked to a lot of our guys about that. And they have changed their minds and decided to stay. Spouses who were out of here say I'm going to give this another try. [unintelligible] HRC: How did you communicate that? I mean did you have one on one XXX: Well, in a group setting, but also through sharing experiences. I had been through the Balfour? situation and we were at Fort XXX and we did have many families that went home to family that came back, came back to the military family because 4 their other sisters, their military sisters understood what was going on, they had some who really knew what they were talking about and when [unintelligible]. So we did have a number that came back, and we shared those experiences with other spouses [unintelligible]. XXX: The news you're getting, you know, from CNN, or the television and its so slanted, that it's nowhere near what's truly going on that you hear when your information comes through the tally? and through the proper channels. And here they can feel that they truly know what's going on with their husbands and back in the States, they're so removed from it. XXX: That's right. And a lot of the ladies we've discussed will say my husband, contact with my husband, and they'll say, well Chip is going to be calling Carol and she'll be home at this time and he can call or something else is going on. So and so is all, Mary's husband, he says hello. So that's the part that everyone is latching onto, the fact that they know that we're all going to know who is, how everyone is doing, because we'll be at the same [unintelligible]. XXX: If you get a letter, everyone is happy for you, you know you've got that cameragerie and that sisterhood. And if you're having a bad day, somebody else has had that bad day before, but their not having a bad day and they can help you up and get you through that bad day, whereas in the States, you don't have that, you know, that same understanding. If you're having a bad day, people are like, well, get over it. [Laughter] XXX: Something else I wanted to say, you know it's very unique, I'm very proud of this. It's very unique in the Army, is that you'd be surprised how close ladies are as a family. When I go home and visit, I get phone calls and my mom is like, some lady named Ginny called, and who's she, because my mother's thinking of all my friends from high school, and I say Mom, that's one of my Army friends. Because we form friendships that last us for years and years and something our real sister doesn't understand. Our Army sisters do understand what we all go through, the time spent alone, raising children, the schools out of the country, things like that. And it just, it's a great, you know, the people you jog with in the morning, or the woman [unintelligible], things like that, that stay with you for years and years. XXX: I think the big difference now from the training, I've been watching the training, and I've been trying to see as much of what they're doing for Operation Ready. We just had a two day training session for this program called Operation Ready. And then we had XXX attachment, managed training. And the thing that I am so encouraged about this time is that we don't have to get ready. We are ready. Whereas before we play a lot of catch up 5 ball. I mean it is just a mad dash. So we are ready this time instead of in the process, we have gone through the process of getting ready. And it's solidified and I think we're going to see a lot of, we're going to reap a lot of benefits from that. XXX: And one of the things that we did that was really beneficial was with keeping the gals informed. We started the week before Macedonia. And we started briefings about where is Macedonia, what language to they talk? What are the people like down there What's the environment like, what does the countryside look like? A month before Macedonia, we started having once a month briefings. We talked about what our men were actually doing down there, we would have them send a videotape from Macedonia to us; we would send one to them. We talked about rumors, we brought them up, we addressed them, firsthand. Ladies could ask questions of our XXX attachment people. We found out what going on, what the latest was and some of that. We also when had a lot of questions about the same thing, we would have people come in from those different agencies and brief us, or talk about whatever the situation was that they didn't know about. And we found that ladies were coming in, they were meeting each other, they were getting to know other ladies who wanted to know the same thing. Those briefings really helped us a lot. HRC: As I mentioned too, I hope that you'll have, if you haven't had, a briefing about how successful that mission was, because not many people in America know how critical it was to containing what was going on in Bosnia, and preventing the spread of that conflict You know, for a lot of obvious reasons, including the the hype and CNN, you know there wasn't a lot of talk about that because it was one of those missions that the less said the better, below the radar screen and get the job done. But it was really successful. And its the kind of thing that a lot of people who know about it point to as an example of what America is prepared and able to do now. So I hope that a lot of the the family members [unintelligible]. OK, I was wondering, what about money problems, and money management. Because you know, a lot of these particularly young wives don't really know a lot about how to handle household expenses. I've heard that not just in a situation like this but whenever I visit the family support programs like the one I visited in Hawaii last summer. That's one of the main things that I heard. How do you all handle that? XXX: [unintelligible] you asked. We certainly have financial problems [unintelligible] now, than the last eight years. HRC: So you think that you've eliminated a lot of the problems? XXX: [laughter] XXX: We just need to continue to educate and XXX the spouse what 6 is available, the resources, and the encourage them to seek out those resources. And know that, and feel comfortable with them. XXX: Yes. One of the great things I think they bring out in this operation Ready is that there are always going to be problems and they're are always going to exist. But within the family assistance centers, there are people who a) they will, if the families have done their homework ahead of time, they've got certain things in place, and there are budgets in place and you've got the powers of attorney that are in place, and the joint check books are in place. And the family, the husband and wife have in fact talked about where the money, how you're going to manage it. Then if there are problems, there are people in the family assistance centers, who can in fact step and say, well Sally, you've got, you didn't add this quite right, or the funniest one used to be, if I had checks, that meant I had money [laughter]. People had all these checks XXX: But one of the statistics after, in the lessons learned, in the aftermath of Desert Storm was that in many of the cases, these young women went ahead and they received financial counselling and they got there families out of debt and their husbands come home, and the husband goes to the Power Zone, which is the stereo place. My husband loves those places, but he's not buying any more equipment because he doesn't know how to hook it up [laughter] So they go, the husbands came home and they jack those charge cards right back up again. And so here were the counsellors that were then dealing with women who were very angry with their husbands, which is the homecoming, which is another problem, saying, I worked all that time to whittle this thing down and he came home and bought this stereo machine and this [unintelligible] you know [laughter]. But women, I think that with XXX and the more women we can get through these programs, we'll have a better base, and I think we already have a good base. And people will handle the finances. Many times they've not been given that responsibility and they're aware that there is a responsiblity and obligation -- until something like this comes up. But the more they work through programs like that, we're going to be in a better position as time goes on. HRC: I had woman on the road once said something to me that I didn't understand. She said, can we be sure to be able to go to college, or take college courses while our husbands are gone? XXX: Oh, they could. Sometimes getting an education [unintelligible]. XXX: Usually you have to have so many members for the course, but this is something certainly each community can work on because you can work as a group, with leadership and units and then all band together, we should be able to have enough to take a course. 7 XXX: Usually, the instructors, though, are military personnel and that might be a problem. XXX: The University of Maryland cannot necessarily send professional staff here to teach some of the courses if, so some of that is probably going to [unintelligible] XXX: Some of it also depends on child care needs. XXX: Yes. HRC: What can we do about child care? XXX: Too many children, not enough child care centers and not enough providers. We have one in the basement at home. But they have to qualify and they have to want to do it. And then they have to qualify [unintelligible]. XXX: It is a serious problem. XXX: There just aren't enough of them. Some try to get a babysitter, but here in Germany, if you try to get a German babysitter, there's a language barrier, or the schools are all in German, if you try to find a nursery school, and there aren't that many. So child care, year to year is one of our biggest problems. HRC: Another thing, that cafeteria for the spouses, [unintelligible]. XXX: The dining facilities? HRC: The dining facilities. And one of the women, they've really, they have lots of ideas, and I promised to pass them all on. One of the women said, maybe if we can keep them open at night, then one of the rooms or some of the rooms could be a place where we bring our children and we could take turns, we could sign up to do that. You know, if do it every Thursday night we come to play Bingo, but only if three of us volunteer to work in the children's center. XXX: But we do have a facility in our [unintelligible]. The only thing missing in that facility is a big kitchen and obviously it would be great if we could have [unintelligible] and all those extra things, but I've been assured that we can work on that and we can have a kitchen. We're very blessed here in Baumholder with the things that we have -- and excellent XXX, a marvelous kitchen, and certainly as you said, the dining facilities today is only one of many and we are blessed in that respect. Mrs. Clinton, these are your dear friends and they have told HRC: They're my keepers [laughter] 8 XXX: They are your keepers, and they have told me [unintelligible]. [Laughter, many voices] HRC: They do that, they're terrible. The other one who was with me. She's not in the room right now, so I'll tell this story on her. The blonde who's traveled with me for years now. One of your husbands, I'm not sure which one now, she didn't tell me, she said, [unintelligible] master sergeant [laughter]. Are there other things that I should know about, or that I could in someway try to help help or talk about? You know, I write this column now, and actually, one of the soldiers said, you know, my mother sends me your column from Colorado. I wish I could get it over here. I was so flattered. I had no idea that anybody had read it. But you know I want to write a column about this, and talk about the non-military side of it, you know, because that's where all the attention will be focused. But instead to talk about the wives and the children and Operation Ready for families as well. So any other things that you would want people at home to know that, I think for many people who are manybe older, this will come as a surprise, that so much attention is being paid to making sure that families are informed, and given opportunities. In fact, sometimes, I've actually gotten into discussions with people, you know when the President recommended increasing support facilities for families and providing more funding for some of these programs that are so important. You know, some people really question that because they don't understand what an all-volunteer military is today and they don't really appreciate some of the significant challenges that you face because of that. Are there other things? XXX: Well, actually, I would like to take a moment to talk about child care. It is really a serious problem. We really need more money for child care. And when you think of those soldiers on the front lines or whatever [unintelligible] If their wives are home with their three little kids and she can't afford to find somebody to babysit or whatever and she starts hitting those children, or she's starts abusing herself, drinking. I mean, you know the really exasperating things that you can go through when you're up against the wall and your children are screaming. My feeling is that it's [unintelligible]. HRC: I think there's more money in this defense appropriations the President just signed. I think that was one of the big fights that he had with some of the members of Congress who didn't want to fund any of this. I believe, I'll double check on that, I'll let you know on that, but I don't think we got everything that we had been asking for, you know what the military leadership had been asking for, but I think we got some more. I don't think it's nearly enough. But I'll check on that and I'll see whether maybe some of it in defense appropriations bill, I'll see whether 9 some of it couldn't be directed towards this. XXX: We have so many volunteers, so many wives, in FSG. And in the support group in AFTV who are dedicating their time to make all of us spouses much more adaptable. I think the old Army, in the new Army, we've become so much more adaptable going, being able to go to other countries, and to making the best of the environment we're in. And I think it's really important that this funding does go toward child care then it will help these women help others. HRC: And that would be your number one Let me ask you something that was really controversial that was raised two years ago by General XXX in the Marines. You know what I'm going to say -- about the very young soldiers getting married and he told me, actually I didn't have, I mean, everybody had this negative reaction that you know, that young enlistees should not be able to get married for XXX: A first termer HRC: I wasn't as upset about it because I learned, you know that there are some barracks where I was told, places like XXX, where the average age was like 16. See that is just astonishing to me. Maybe that's more of a Marines problem. XXX: No. It's not. XXX: XXX was what, 15? Exactly, and what happens, young soldiers, air force, marines, or sailors, who marry even younger women, and they have babies, almost -- it's truly babies having babies -- but they're also wives. And then, the husband's deployed and it is a serious problem, I think it is a serious problem and I think HRC: Well I told XXX that I agreed with him at the time, you know, then I felt bad, because somebody leaked it [Unintelligible] Nobody had a chance to really consider it carefully, figure out how it could be presented in a reasonable way. You know there would obviously be exceptions, but in general you've got a 18,19,20 year old soldier married to a 15,16 year old wife, with a one year old baby. XXX: Because that's the other side of it. It's also, you know, a postscript from Korea, you had Korean wives come to the United States who don't speak English. We had it in Panama. We had a lot of it in Desert Storm, we had a lot of wives, Panamanians, come back to Panama only to discover that they had no access to any of the military facilities, none of them because down there it's just like Korea you must be from that XXX. So we had all of these young Panamanian wives come back and they couldn't get the mail because they couldn't get on the installation. 10 XXX: I think what drives that is the fear of loneliness. XXX, XXX: loneliness XXX: This young man, I had a brother-in-law, who said the same thing. He received orders for Germany. He was about to graduate from West Point. He said this is it, I'm getting married. I said, why? He said, I am not going to Germany -- and he's an Army brat. He grew up in the Army -- he said I'm not going to Germany alone. I won't go over there by myself. I want someone to come home to at night and I'm not interested in going downtown and carousing, and so I want someone there. So that marriage lasted six years until Desert Storm. And Desert Storm brought the end of the marriage. The marriage was dysfunctional, but I think it's the loneliness and sometimes these first termers, when they are first termers, they are somewhat isolated from, they are not adapting. They are not assimilated well. And it's going to take an effort on everyone's part, and the part of that fraternity, and the sergeant who's dealing with first termers to find psychological methods to include him. To pull him in, to identify the dysfunctional, that attitude, before that happens, before they do something drastic. XXX: We were talking about the column. I would ask that you help educate all of those in the United States, and not just in the States, but whether it be Jersey or XXX, or wherever we have bases, but talk a little bit more about servicemen and the family and the fact that they too are serving. As I sit here, looking at all these dear ladies, they care very much, not only for that soldier they're married to, but also for making things happen. And they do it. And it's brilliant. And I would like you to help educate all the Americans who sleep very well at night, not remembering that we have have a military service of air force, marines, army, all of it and that has been an unconditional service from the time they grew up, and they sleep very well every night. And maybe that is why we've chosen to go to Bosnia, to give those people. It may take one or two years or greater, but they too deserve to sleep, and you can help educate HRC: That's a wonderful way to put it because I always feel, every time I come home after going on trips, so blessed. You know, we have so many blessings that we frankly take for granted. And you know, I remember feeling that most strongly when I came home from South Asia, when Chelsea and I went to India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. Every one of those countries has had political problems, has had violence. Most of the leaders have lost mothers and fathers and husbands and brothers and sons to assasination and they were struggling against odds that are just overwhelming. And then you know you come home and we have so much to be grateful for. Mostly because we've had solid, stable, democratic government for all these years. And, you know I think it's understandable that we go through like a roller coaster from 11 time to time in our own history, particularly at time like this, when there is so much change happening, that it's difficult to grasp. The Cold War, as terrible and dangerous as it was imposed a certain order on the world, it was us against them, you knew where you stood, you knew kind of what was expected and now it's much different. And we have to understand our responsibilities don't end, they change. And that's what all of you are going through in this very new military, you're taking on the challenges of leadership, in your behalf, as well as for your husbands. That is what I hope I can try to explain. Because its -- I wish every one of you could have been with us in Northern Ireland. A country that for twenty-five years, not to the extent of Bosnia, but nevertheless in the same way has been terrorized. I sat around a table talking with nine women, all of whom lost someone, both Catholic and Protestant, you know, just the most outrageous, terrible violence. I mean, you open your door when a knock comes and they shoot your son, for no reason at all, he'd never done anything and there he was dead in his living room. You know, the kind of experience they lived through. And then to see the children I saw, who wrote these thousands of letters to the President talking about what it meant for the first time ever to be able to go Christmas shopping without being afraid that the store might be bombed. To meet policemen who were hated by both sides, who now for the first time could bring their families back into the city. They used to never be able to shop, they had to travel thirty, forty miles because they chose to be police officers to try to stop the violence. You know, just on and on. And then, you know, you sat there and you thought. You know, person after person said, none of this could have happened without American leadership. And if the leadership isn't there and backed up, it doesn't exist. And Helmut Kohl said to me, because we were sitting there waiting for the President to come to make his speech, I don't understand what's happening with some Americans, they don't understand what's happening in the world. It's not 1919, it's 1995. The United States left Europe in 1919, and look what we did to ourselves, and he's a very practical, down-to-earth man, and he said, you know, we have to have America and that's what I hope we can convey. XXX: You can also to remind them not to forget us over here. It's so easy to become detached when something is happening so far away and just to keep that XXX in the forefront over this next year. To remember the families, the soldiers HRC: What would be a good thing for people to -- what would make a difference in the lives of the soldiers? XXX: Adopting a single soldier HRC: Adopt a single soldier? How about adopting of these families that are left behind. 12 time to time in our own history, particularly at time like this, when there is so much change happening, that it's difficult to grasp. The Cold War, as terrible and dangerous as it was imposed a certain order on the world, it was us against them, you knew where you stood, you knew kind of what was expected and now it's much different. And we have to understand our responsibilities don't end, they change. And that's what all of you are going through in this very new military, you're taking on the challenges of leadership, in your behalf, as well as for your husbands. That is what I hope I can try to explain. Because its -- I wish every one of you could have been with us in Northern Ireland. A country that for twenty-five years, not to the extent of Bosnia, but nevertheless in the same way has been terrorized. I sat around a table talking with nine women, all of whom lost someone, both Catholic and Protestant, you know, just the most outrageous, terrible violence. I mean, you open your door when a knock comes and they shoot your son, for no reason at all, he'd never done anything and there he was dead in his living room. You know, the kind of experience they lived through. And then to see the children I saw, who wrote these thousands of letters to the President talking about what it meant for the first time ever to be able to go Christmas shopping without being afraid that the store might be bombed. To meet policemen who were hated by both sides, who now for the first time could bring their families back into the city. They used to never be able to shop, they had to travel thirty, forty miles because they chose to be police officers to try to stop the violence. You know, just on and on. And then, you know, you sat there and you thought. You know, person after person said, none of this could have happened without American leadership. And if the leadership isn't there and backed up, it doesn't exist. And Helmut Kohl said to me, because we were sitting there waiting for the President to come to make his speech, I don't understand what's happening with some Americans, they don't understand what's happening in the world. It's not 1919, it's 1995. The United States left Europe in 1919, and look what we did to ourselves, and he's a very practical, down-to-earth man, and he said, you know, we have to have America and that's what I hope we can convey. XXX: You can also to remind them not to forget us over here. It's so easy to become detached when something is happening so far away and just to keep that XXX in the forefront over this next year. To remember the families, the soldiers HRC: What would be a good thing for people to -- what would make a difference in the lives of the soldiers? XXX: Adopting a single soldier HRC: Adopt a single soldier? How about adopting of these families that are left behind. 12 XXX: That would be an interesting idea XXX: My mom's already done that -- some churches have started that. XXX: Just reach out HRC: I could ask that in the column, we could set up a system of some kind XXX: My mom has already started that. She plays bridge on Monday and Friday, and she brought slips of paper that had any soldier, and it started with XXX town, and she didn't know who else to write to, so it started with ours, and people in the Bridge area heard about it and my mom had so many slips of paper that she had to go to the copy machine, make up more and then she when went Friday with some more slips, she was mobbed at the door because people were so excited that they wanted to write the soldiers. HRC: So you just write any soldier, or can you get specific names for people to write to, how will you do that? XXX: I think if people [people talking simultaneously] HRC: Can you help me to, you know I, I think it should be the next column. I won't write it for a couple of days, but, you know if I can get some information about where people could write, and XXX: Where does it come out? HRC: Well, it comes out in a lot of papers in the United States and it actually comes out in the Frankfurt paper here in Germany and it comes out in about, I guess 30 or 40 papers around the world, but not every one of them. It's kind of hit or miss, like it's in the Chicago Sun Times and the New York Daily News, the San Francisco Examiner, papers around the country XXX: Unintelligible XXX: to any soldier, and I think they ran the XXX numbers, and literally people simply wrote to any soldier, care of XXX And I think they're in the process of setting up the XXX numbers. I don't know, do we have them already? XXX: No. They're working on it. XXX: So an easy way, that is a really good way to do it, but also you can do things, you know, with churches or communities and you know what might be interesting, does Baumholder have a sister city in the US? 13 XXX: Yes. XXX: The German city of Baumholder. Because sometimes there are relationships between cities in the United States and cities here, so, if Baumholder has one in the United States, you know, there's a tie there between that American city and the American community here kind of thing and even some of your small towns that you all come from, just for support and good will and information kind of thing. That sort of tie. XXX: I'd like to talk about, I haven't had a chance to talk about sending care packages to our husbands in Bosnia to be forwarded to local orphanages or Red Cross offices and I talked to my husband about it and they are going to have a restriction on the size of the package that you can mail to your husbands -- but my husband said that they can find a way around that so that we can send boxes to our husbands and my husband said that they would have a point of contact there that would then put them [unintelligible]. But that they would be able to get some of the stuff because one of the things [unintelligible] was how sad it was to see the children with no clothes and no food and yet all of our children always had every toy, every stuffed animal, and things that we don't even think about. XXX: XXX comes down to the Frankfurt, the Heidelberg gift shop, I'm not sure how often she comes down, but that's what she does XXX: To Bosnia or Latvia? XXX: No no no, I believe it's to Bosnia, and the donations go to her and then she makes sure that they, and I don't, I have no idea how she's getting them in. But I'll get her name and then get her name to you XXX: OK XXX: She's getting stuff in there somehow, so XXX: I have one other other suggestion. There are so many soldier programs, what about a spouse program? HRC: I like that idea XXX: There are many organizations that do have these soldier programs, what about letter writing to spouses? XXX: [people talking simultaneously] [End of tape] [Side B] 14 XXX: because everything was just getting into place. Once, you know, [unintelligible] soldiers got their [unintelligible]. Now I think, boy they have big mountains to cross before they get to that desert and that my thought is that if they go through, or with a brigade and particular unit and start there and keep it internal until the men get in place. Because as far as even helping in the children and things, I think the men have to be in place first before we see the direction in which they're going. But the [unintelligible] communication is I think important and we need to educate people about military wives and soldiers. XXX: [people talking simultaneously] XXX: Let's not forget remembering through XXX numbers, not to forget the XXX attachments. They are just as essential to the mission and need the support to carry on. A lot of soldiers feel they would rather be [unintelligible] [people talking simultaneously]. We here in this room count on that XXX attachment and they need that kind of support from the American public. HRC: That's a really good point, because you know, nobody's ever really talked about that. XXX: Right. And they are key to what's going on XXX: What I think, if there could be more publicity about them XXX: There's a lot of publicity throughout the military, you know, what a military spouse is and what she can do, but I don't think the American public has a whole lot of idea sometimes just what kind of woman a military spouse truly is. XXX: I think last year, was it last year, XXX published a column on what is a military spouse [people talking simultaneously] XXX: Well, we get the bad press, we get the paperback novels that talk about [people talking simultaneously] wives and pina coladas by the pool and I keep wondering, I just want to know where this side of it is, and I want pina coladas [unintelligible]. XXX: I really think that a lot of women's groups could learn a lot from our groups because we've done a lot to help ourselves. I don't think any other, there just isn't any other group that you can belong to that your husband, the profession that your husband choose where so many opportunities are open to you and the chance for personal growth and that's what I've been trying to encourage family members about as they face this XXX attachment. But this is a good time for personal growth, too. There's going to be some problems, we know that. We knew that, we are kind of overshadowed by the romanticism of what our husbands do. The army wife has stood as the silent partner for 200-plus years in 15 XXX: because everything was just getting into place. Once, you know, [unintelligible] soldiers got their [unintelligible]. Now I think, boy they have big mountains to cross before they get to that desert and that my thought is that if they go through, or with a brigade and particular unit and start there and keep it internal until the men get in place. Because as far as even helping in the children and things, I think the men have to be in place first before we see the direction in which they're going. But the [unintelligible] communication is I think important and we need to educate people about military wives and soldiers. XXX: [people talking simultaneously] XXX: Let's not forget remembering through XXX numbers, not to forget the XXX attachments. They are just as essential to the mission and need the support to carry on. A lot of soldiers feel they would rather be [unintelligible] [people talking simultaneously]. We here in this room count on that XXX attachment and they need that kind of support from the American public. HRC: That's a really good point, because you know, nobody's ever really talked about that. XXX: Right. And they are key to what's going on XXX: What I think, if there could be more publicity about them XXX: There's a lot of publicity throughout the military, you know, what a military spouse is and what she can do, but I don't think the American public has a whole lot of idea sometimes just what kind of woman a military spouse truly is. XXX: I think last year, was it last year, XXX published a column on what is a military spouse [people talking simultaneously] XXX: Well, we get the bad press, we get the paperback novels that talk about [people talking simultaneously] wives and pina coladas by the pool and I keep wondering, I just want to know where this side of it is, and I want pina coladas [unintelligible]. XXX: I really think that a lot of women's groups could learn a lot from our groups because we've done a lot to help ourselves. I don't think any other, there just isn't any other group that you can belong to that your husband, the profession that your husband choose where so many opportunities are open to you and the chance for personal growth and that's what I've been trying to encourage family members about as they face this XXX attachment But this is a good time for personal growth, too. There's going to be some problems, we know that. We knew that, we are kind of overshadowed by the romanticism of what our husbands do. The army wife has stood as the silent partner for 200-plus years in 15 our history and she's more than silent [laughter] Walking around with a glazed look. XXX: I'd like to just share a little experience with the Gulf War situation. We had a wonderful young gal who was from Puerto Rico and her husband went off to the Gulf War and she [unintelligible]. And he came back after six months to a very independent, very strong woman. And they had to renegotiate, because she wanted power [laughter]. He ended up having to buy XXX for her. You know, she developed tremendously and ended up having classes for her. And she was a very Catholic girl, about ninety pounds, and her husband left this very cute little, cuddly little person and he came back he was really shocked. And it was a real adjustment for him. And that's one of the things we have to deal with too, you know, those who have been through a deployment before, if they're gone a year, it's going to take at least half that time for things to get back to their normal setting, so if you have to do some training as well as renegotiations of roles and all that sort of thing, and the fact thathe comes back with his own problems and adjustments and negotiations. XXX: UNINTELLIGIBLE XXX: They are set up so it's a little easier for them to do it, so when the ships are coming back to port, they are literally [unintelligible] It's a little harder for us to do it unless you're physically on an aircraft, but they do realize that just as the wives need to understand that the changes in their husbands, the wives need to understand the changes in their wives. They may have left these very dependent young women and they come back to [laughter]. XXX: I'm listening to her and I'm thinking, you mean I don't have to use that cattle prod? [Laughter] Sometimes, you know John would go into the field for about two weeks or so and he would come home and he has this voice, you know, and I'm like, excuse me, is it Mister Commando Man? [laughter] They get into this mentality It's a guy thing XXX: All that testosterone XXX: Yes! Testosterone. Excuse me [laughter] sleep with one eye open tonight XXX: That was one thing that really amazed me, was how many [unintelligible] I'm going to try this, or let me see if I can do this, and they've got some confidence in themselves and they really want [unintelligible]. HRC: This has been so great for me. I really, I feel like I've learned a lot. I'll try to convey that. If there are any issues 16 our history and she's more than silent [laughter] Walking around with a glazed look. XXX: I'd like to just share a little experience with the Gulf War situation. We had a wonderful young gal who was from Puerto Rico and her husband went off to the Gulf War and she [unintelligible]. And he came back after six months to a very independent, very strong woman. And they had to renegotiate, because she wanted power [laughter]. He ended up having to buy XXX for her. You know, she developed tremendously and ended up having classes for her. And she was a very Catholic girl, about ninety pounds, and her husband left this very cute little, cuddly little person and he came back he was really shocked. And it was a real adjustment for him. And that's one of the things we have to deal with too, you know, those who have been through a deployment before, if they're gone a year, it's going to take at least half that time for things to get back to their normal setting, so if you have to do some training as well as renegotiations of roles and all that sort of thing, and the fact thathe comes back with his own problems and adjustments and negotiations. XXX: UNINTELLIGIBLE XXX: They are set up so it's a little easier for them to do it, so when the ships are coming back to port, they are literally [unintelligible] It's a little harder for us to do it unless you're physically on an aircraft, but they do realize that just as the wives need to understand that the changes in their husbands, the wives need to understand the changes in their wives. They may have left these very dependent young women and they come back to [laughter]. XXX: I'm listening to her and I'm thinking, you mean I don't have to use that cattle prod? [Laughter] Sometimes, you know John would go into the field for about two weeks or so and he would come home and he has this voice, you know, and I'm like, excuse me, is it Mister Commando Man? [laughter] They get into this mentality It's a guy thing XXX: All that testosterone XXX: Yes! Testosterone. Excuse me [laughter] sleep with one eye open tonight XXX: That was one thing that really amazed me, was how many [unintelligible] I'm going to try this, or let me see if I can do this, and they've got some confidence in themselves and they really want [unintelligible]. HRC: This has been so great for me. I really, I feel like I've learned a lot. I'll try to convey that. If there are any issues 16 that come up that I can talk about, or that I can talk about in the column, let me know. That's the reason I started writing the column. I got so tired of people saying, here's what she said [laughter]. So it's hard to get a straight channel, but at least if there's a way to circumvent all the media that creates an image of everything that's a little off kilter from what we personally know and experience. XXX: Could you or someone get [unintelligible] in the Stars and Stripes? HRC: Well, maybe if you all asked for it [laughter] You know what they' 11 say, there she goes again, trying to take over the military with a coup of wives [laughter, applause] One general's wife was heard in this closed-door meeting to advocate cattle prodding [laughter, applause]. [Simultaneous voices] 17 that come up that I can talk about, or that I can talk about in the column, let me know. That's the reason I started writing the column. I got so tired of people saying, here's what she said [laughter]. So it's hard to get a straight channel, but at least if there's a way to circumvent all the media that creates an image of everything that's a little off kilter from what we personally know and experience. XXX: Could you or someone get [unintelligible] in the Stars and Stripes? HRC: Well, maybe if you all asked for it [laughter] You know what they'll say, there she goes again, trying to take over the military with a coup of wives [laughter, applause] One general's wife was heard in this closed-door meeting to advocate cattle prodding [laughter, applause]. [Simultaneous voices] 17 Carolyn Becoraft ph: 703 697 7220 fax 703 695 1977 703-614-9303 Col. in charge of Air Base Mrs. gen'l 'cille Abrams Roar detachment who kirk hanlon her part. statewide haiwaii earlyintervention 1 ] MRES canned chicken, tuna chocolate cracher presentr cheese PHOTOCOPY PRESERVATION CONFIDENTIAL DETERMINED TO BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE draft #3 MARKING INITIALS: VB DATE: 9/28/17 FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON COLUMN FOR PUBLICATION DECEMBER 17, 1995 TALKING IT OVER/CREATORS SYNDICATE They call themselves sisters. That's how close they feel, having gone through their husbands' military service and even lived ones wars together. They are the wives spared of Army soldiers and officers now heading for Bosnia as part of the NATO peacekeeping effort. I met them at the Smith Barracks in Baumholder, Germany earlier this month when I accompanied my husband on his visit to the First Armored Division. [NOTE: checking on whether it is appropriate to say that they are part of Task Force Eagle] I had the chance to visit with many military family members after the President's speech and during the lunch we shared in the mess hall. Later I spent nearly two hours sharing coffee and swille leading talking with twenty women whose husbands who are commanding our forces in Bosnia. send while servinalors Often when our soldiers are asked to represent our country around the world we overlook the sacrifices made by their sprises families. Some of these wives have spent years overseas, far from livedors. relatives, raising children and supporting their husbands' careers and our country. 1 size They told me about the challenges young couples face finding adequate child care and making ends meet on military pay. These challenges only increase when a husband -- or wife -- is deployed. and Now, while their husbands prepare for duty patrolling frigid terrain and delivering food and equipment to our troops in Bosnia, these veteran spouses are helping other Army "sisters" get ready for the family disruptions that every military operation inevitably brings. open The older and more experienced spouses are busy helping the amalderces Army, teach young wives -- some just teenagers - - to balance the family checkbook, understand military terminology, go back to school and participate with other wives in support networks on their bases. Just knowing that others understand what they are going through can make a difference. "If you're having a bad day, somebody else has had that day before," one woman said. "You know you've got that camaraderie and that sisterhood." The military personnel who will remain on the bases during Operation Joint Endeavor to back up our troops and help their families are called the "rear detachment." They are essential to 2 the success of the mission. Many lessons have been learned from Desert Storm and other recent deployments about how the rear detachment can help families. During a recent peacekeeping mission in Macedonia, the army held briefings for wives about Macedonian culture, language and environment. Rear detachment commanders met with spouses to address rumors, concerns and developments in the field. When the Macedonia mission ended, the spouses were so pleased with the work of the rear detachment that they insisted the commander, Major Robert Edwards, was presented with an award for his service. sevender For the spouses of the soldiers and officers going to Am/200 Bosnia, the Army will hold briefings about everything from the weather in Tuzla and Sarajevo to what the soldiers are eating for dinner that night, from park charges do MRES( ). Whenever American troops are sent thousands of miles from home, particularly at this time of year, loneliness is bound to set in. The women I met in Germany were particularly concerned about single soldiers, many of them young, who don't have wives, husbands, or immediate families. Letters Messages with news and support from the United States can 3 sails of Man cermer for or potent You they the our Sken mean a lot to our soldiers in the field. A sentence or two about a local sports team, a good book, or a new movie will help keep spirits up during the holiday season. The Defense Department will be setting up a special address where we can send letters for both single and the families of soldiers in Bosnia. As soon as the address is available, I will print it in this column. I hope each of you will make an effort to support our sevemberg soldiers in the coming weeks. Write to the American men and women over there. Encourage them to write back. Most of all, tell them how proud we are of them and how grateful we are for the sacrifices they are making on behalf of American values by working to enforce the peace agreed to in Bosnia. I also want to ask Americans to write to the brave spouses our resorimales and families that the Soldiers are leaving behind. They need our support as well. enderted maken Many of the officers and soldiers the President and I met in Germany told us that there has never been a better trained, a better educated, better prepared military in the history of the world. Their spouses have never been more prepared to help each 4 June- call me @546-9470 if you need anything odida Also- or Lissa left her myst tickets for The Holiday tour 02PM on her five desk wrups for you if as you want to go; I asked votiment more firm 50 Evan iF you coned 80 tentinal alons CNO & her 05 Katie, Bap gaves OBT too. AIN8 8 NJ subtor New of PM first VNN 2014,00 unique in 9:11 of 20 the you Hoper Go 808NY / 2200bbs WD about Vellusday zipcode w/ an address Bosnia. Dear Abby Any service member in all of Europe X SW Asia Dear Soldier in Bosnia Bob Jones OPL Canbat Commander in Europe. nothing more than " onces / publicrelations has Zipcodes. Any Service member P support cang 4 of poor infrastractore calling- - what old clip 69190 for PHOTOCOPY PRESERVATION draft #5 FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON COLUMN FOR PUBLICATION DECEMBER 17, 1995 TALKING IT OVER/CREATORS SYNDICATE They call themselves sisters. That's how close they feel, having gone through their husbands' military service together and even watched together as their husbands went off to war. They are the wives of Army soldiers and officers now heading for Bosnia as part of the NATO peacekeeping effort. I met them at the Smith Barracks in Baumholder, Germany earlier this month when I accompanied my husband on his visit to the First Armored Division. I visited with many soldiers and their families after the President's speech and during the lunch we shared in the mess hall. Later I spent nearly two hours over coffee with twenty women whose husbands who will be leading American forces in Bosnia. Often when our troops represent us around the world we overlook the sacrifices made by their families. Some of these wives have spent years overseas, far from friends and relatives. They have raised their children in a foreign land, often on their own, while supporting their husbands' careers and our country. 1 The wives I met told me about the challenges young couples face finding adequate child care and making ends meet on military pay. These challenges only increase when a husband -- or wife -- is deployed. Now, while their loved ones prepare for duty patrolling frigid terrain in Bosnia, these veteran spouses are helping other Army "sisters" get ready for the family disruptions that every military operation inevitably brings. The more experienced among them are busy helping teach young wives -- some just teenagers -- how to cope on their own. They help them interpret military jargon about the operations their spouses are involved in. They get together with other wives in support networks to talk about mutual concerns and experiences. They even help teach some of the younger wives how to balance the family checkbook. Just knowing that others understand what they are going through can make a difference. "If you're having a bad day, somebody else has had that day before," one woman told me. "You know you've got that camaraderie and that sisterhood." The Armed Forces are also doing their part to help. As we learned in Desert Storm and other recent deployments, no operation can fully succeed without the "rear detachment," the 2 military personnel who stay behind on the base to back up our troops and their families. During a recently completed peacekeeping mission in Macedonia, for example, the rear detachment held briefings on the base about Macedonia's culture, language and environment and the soldiers duties' in the field. (The spouses were so pleased with the support they received that they recommended that the rear detachment commander be presented with an award for his service). For the spouses of the service members going to Bosnia, the Armed forces will hold briefings about everything from the weather in Tuzla and Sarajevo to what the soldiers are eating for dinner that night (beans 'n' franks, turkey a la king or dehydrated beef patties, for instance). Whenever American troops are sent thousands of miles from home, particularly at this time of year, loneliness is bound to set in. The women I talked with expressed particular concern about single service members, many of them young, who don't have wives, husbands, or children. Letters with news and support from the United States can mean a lot to our troops. A sentence or two about a local sports team, a good book, or a new movie will help keep spirits up during the holiday season. 3 The Defense Department will be setting up a special address where we can send letters to service members in Bosnia and their families. As soon as the address is available, I will pass it on to you in this column. Please make an effort to support the military men and women deployed in Bosnia in the coming weeks. Write to them. Encourage them to write back. Most of all, tell them how proud we are of them and how grateful we are for the sacrifices they are making on behalf of American values by working to implement the peace agreed to in Bosnia. I also want to ask Americans to think about the brave spouses and families that are left behind. They need our support as well. Many of the officers and enlisted men and women the President and I met in Germany told us that there has never been a better trained, better educated, better prepared military in the history of the world. Their spouses have never been more prepared to help each other, either. As one woman said, "We are ready." 4 draft #3 FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON COLUMN FOR PUBLICATION DECEMBER 17, 1995 TALKING IT OVER/CREATORS SYNDICATE They call themselves sisters. That's how close they feel, having gone through their husbands' military service and even wars together. They are the wives of Army soldiers and officers now heading for Bosnia as part of the NATO peacekeeping effort. I met them at the Smith Barracks in Baumholder, Germany earlier this month when I accompanied my husband on his visit to the First Armored Division. I had the chance to visit with many military family members after the President's speech and during the lunch we shared in the mess hall. Later I spent nearly two hours over coffee with twenty women whose husbands who will be leading our forces in Bosnia. Often when our service men and women are asked to represent our country around the world we overlook the sacrifices made by their families. Some of these spouses have spent years overseas, far from relatives, raising children and supporting their husbands or wives' careers and our country. 1 The spouses I met told me about the challenges young couples face finding adequate child care and making ends meet on military pay. These challenges only increase when a husband -- or wife -- is deployed. Now, while their loved ones prepare for duty patrolling frigid terrain and delivering food and equipment to our troops in Bosnia, these veteran spouses are helping other Army "sisters" get ready for the family disruptions that every military operation inevitably brings. The more experienced among them are busy helping the Army teach young wives some just teenagers -- to balance the family checkbook, understand military terminology, go back to school and participate with other spouses in support networks on their bases. Just knowing that others understand what they are going through can make a difference. "If you're having a bad day, somebody else has had that day before, II one woman said. "You know you've got that camaraderie and that sisterhood." The military personnel who will remain on the bases during Operation Joint Endeavor to back up our troops and help their families are called the "rear detachment." As we learned in Desert Storm and other recent deployments, no mission can fully 2 succeed without them. During a peacekeeping mission in Macedonia, there were briefings for spouses about Macedonian culture, language and environment and their soldiers duties' in the field. When that mission ended, the spouses were so pleased with the support they received that they insisted the commander, Major Robert Edwards, be presented with an award for his service. For the spouses of the service members going to Bosnia, the Armed forces will hold briefings about everything from the weather in Tuzla and Sarajevo to what the soldiers are eating for dinner that night. (Beans 'n' franks, turkey a la king or dehydrated beef patties, for instance.) Whenever American troops are sent thousands of miles from home, particularly at this time of year, loneliness is bound to set in. The women I met in Germany were particularly concerned about single service members, many of them young, who don't have wives, husbands, or immediate families. Letters with news and support from the United States can mean a lot to our troops. A sentence or two about a local sports team, a good book, or a new movie will help keep spirits up during the holiday season. 3 The Defense Department will be setting up a special address where we can send letters to service members in Bosnia and their families. As soon as the address is available, I will pass it on to you in this column. I hope each of you will make an effort to support our service members in the coming weeks. Write to them. Encourage them to write back. Most of all, tell them how proud we are of them and how grateful we are for the sacrifices they are making on behalf of American values by working to implement the peace agreed to in Bosnia. I also want to ask Americans to write to the brave spouses and families that the soldiers are leaving behind. They need our support as well. Many of the officers and enlisted members the President and I met in Germany told us that there has never been a better trained, a better educated, better prepared military in the history of the world. Their spouses have never been more prepared to help each through Operation Joint Endeavor, either. As one woman said, "We are ready. " ### 4

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Germany - Spouses

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collections	Records of the Office of Speechwriting (Clinton Administration) Alison (Lissa) Muscatine's Files
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