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Having spent close to seven years in Germany in the early 70's and then again in the 80's, I saw various sides to Germany. Many Americans were Kaserne rats, never left and cursed Germans and Germany each and every day. If they got out and saw the countryside and tried to follow customs the German people as a whole appreciated it. The last time we were there I made a good friend of an elderly gentleman who had been a POW in Mississippi. His english was flawless and his patience was endless in tutoring me in everyday German. He also made certain I knew how to contact him if I needed to in time of emergency. The Iron curtain was still there and the Soviet threat was dealt with daily. He told me the value of a friend who could help him as the American's helped him in WWII.

Now there is a new generation of Germans coming on board, they do not know the horrors of Hitler. They see only arrogance among Americans from the slant the media puts on everything. I say, fine let them figure out how to deal with their inflation and unemployment. My relatives are from Poland, maybe it is time to go look them up.

I grew up on an Army base in 1950s Yokohama, Japan, much like the military families do today in Germany. American money was the source for thousands of Japanese paychecks but beginning in about 1970, Yokohama and a half dozen other facilities were fazed out and the grounds turned over to Japan. The Japanese survived, even prospered after we left. The individual Japanese I correspond with say they are glad we left when we did.

"Many Americans were Kaserne rats,"

Yep, I knew guys who never saw more of Germany than the nearest bar.
The Germans treated me great wherever I went.

The most striking cultural difference I saw ( I was just a kid) was when I went to a Stones concert and they all just calmly sat in their seats the whole show, politely applauding after each song!

All good things must come to and end. Germany was a great place in the mid-80's. I had most weekends off and we stayed gone whenever we had money and gas coupons to go anywhere. I have never understood the barracks rat mentality. I hated being stuck in Pattonville, Ludwigsburg on a weekend before payday.

Time to move the heavy stuff to our new Iraqi Training Center.

I think if it wasn't for Bosnia and Kosovo we would have left Germany 5 years ago.

Ditto. I have about 5 years of service in Germany and it was a great experience.

But on my first tour, my German landlady was always whining about how it was time for the Americans to leave (as she happily took my rent money!). Then the Wall came down and we closed several kasernes in that area. The last time I paid the rent she was in tears, having seen what an impact our pull-out was having on the local economy. After listening to her whine for 3 years I just said, "Well, it looks like you got exactly what you wanted!"

Yeah, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia -- I'm sure they'd be happy to have us train there. We can probably find a few old Russian kasernes to renevate as well!