We all have been introduced to Europe for the first time in various ways. I was wondering how many fodorites were stationed in Europe while serving in the military. I know I wouldn't be as confident traveling if I haven't spend two years in Wurzburg Germany 1968 - 1969.

Living in Europe gave me a special appreciation for stays there. I spent 3 yrs at Lakenheath, UK; 4 yrs are Alconbury UK (both in East Anglia); 2.5 yrs in Mons, BE; and 4 yrs in Naples, Italy. I really thank the military for the opportunity to experience all I did. These stays started in 1981 and I left the last in 1999. Sure miss living in Europe. Now I have to appease my hunger with brief trips. Not quite the same thing.

I never served in the military, but my introduction to Europe was as a member of a USO tour that sang and performed for "our boys" in Italy, Germany, France, and Belgium for six weeks in the winter of 1974/75. We sang in airplane hangars, mess halls, gymns, and even on an outdoor stage in the snow somewhere up in the Dolomites in a special performance for an Italian Army unit. Würzburg was one of our stops.

Mike - I also started my European travels while in the military in Schweinfurt Germany. When I arrived in Germany in 1971 I was making a whopping $185/mo. Being a newly wed I brought my wife over and we lived in a small town outside of Schweinfurt with rent at 385DM/mo, then $100. Left me $80 for the month. We bought a 65 VW Bus which I made into a camper. Our first trip we left in our VW with gas ration stamps, two cases of C-rations (I think I still owe Uncle Sam for those)and 8, yes 8DM. We went to southern Bavaria and I can still remember walking around the grounds of the Linderhof but not being able to afford to go inside. Well life has been good.........next week we celebrate our 30th Anniversary and on Friday we leave for our 13th trip back to Europe....Berneroberland, Italian Lakes, Umbria, Amalphi Coast and Rome. God Bless all you real veterans that fought in real wars. Regards - Tom

I served in Bamberg in the late 60's. As a Sp4 I think I was making $200.00 a month. I traveled every weekend in my broken down Bug and thirty days of leave for two years. When I married we spent are honeymoon traveling in Europe for two weeks and try to get back every three years. I have great memories that I can go to my rocking chair with.