Montre Murray of the Baumholder, Germany, High School JROTC aims a 9mm pistol at the target of a laser Marksmanship Training System at the Land Combat Expo (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Montre Murray of the Baumholder, Germany, High School JROTC aims a 9mm pistol at the target of a laser Marksmanship Training System at the Land Combat Expo (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Spcs. Nathan Henry, Jesse Lashaway and Zachary Quinter listen to Sgt. 1st Class Edward Swisher of the Joint Manuever Training Center in Vilseck, Germany, talk about SimMan, a dummy used to help train army medics. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Spc. Sterling Brown, center, of 1st Battalion, 33rd Field Artillery out of Bamberg, Germany, touches the body armor of a Future Warrior Concept uniform worn by Staff Sgt. Robert Atkinson. The body armor of the uniform of the future will be made of a gel-like substance that hardens on impact. It is hoped that uniform will become available in the 2025-2030 time frame. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Sgt. 1st Class Richard Fairman, right, of the Unit of Action Maneuver Battle Lab at Fort Knox, talks about the light-weight XM312 .50 caliber machine gun at the Land Combat Expo in Heidelberg on Wednesday. The gun, with tripod and 100 rounds of ammunition, weighs in at 94 pounds. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Gabriella, 9, and Staff Sgt. David Hurst listen to Spc. James Moore of Company A, 9th Engineer Battalion, out of Schweinfurt, Germany, explain how a M9 Armored Combat Earth Mover works. The M9 is on of the outdoor static displays at this year's Land Combat Expo in Heidelberg. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
HEIDELBERG, Germany — U.S. Army Europe officials kicked off the biggest Land Combat Expo to a large and lively crowd Wednesday at Heidelberg’s Patrick Henry Village Pavilion.
An estimated 4,000 attendees flocked to the first day of expo, which will continue through Friday.
Themed “USAREUR at war today, and transforming for the future,” the event began with the USAREUR band and chorus performing patriotic songs accompanied by video montages of American soldiers in action.
The seriousness of the event was emphasized by the chorus’s rendition of country-western singer Trace Adkins’ “Arlington,” a song about a soldier killed in action who finds consolation in being laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Loud sniffles could be heard from the crowd; many soldiers wiped away tears as they listened.
USAREUR commander Gen. B.B. Bell, who delivered brief opening remarks, said he was especially touched by the song.
“It is what this business of land combat is about,” he said, “that men and women are willing to lay down their lives for the mission.”
That solemnity quickly gave way to the excitement brought by the nearly 100 exhibitors who lured attendees with tchotchkes, endless stacks of fliers and products ranging from office supplies to insurance. Soldiers perused books with titles such as “Leadership: The Warrior’s Art” and “Inventing Iraq: The Failure of Nation-Building and a History Denied.”
They shopped for Harley-Davidson motorcycles and looked at the newest, hottest high-tech downrange gear.
Other nations’ armies — 21 countries sent representatives — also offered cultural enticements while showing off their technology. The French Army touted French confections, the Land Forces of the Republic of Poland pushed tourist brochures and maps of Warsaw, and the British and German armies offered an array of heavy machinery.
Pfc. Rychar Nelson, 21, of Company A, 121st Signal Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, said he was glad he was able to attend the event.
“I think it’s a good opportunity, especially for young soldiers, to see what equipment we’re going to use in the future,” said Nelson, a native of Natchez, Miss.
Sgt. Alain Tchuigoua, who serves in Company A, 510th Personnel Services Battalion, 1st Personnel Command, in Mannheim, said the event had special significance for him as he heads for a second tour in Iraq in November.
“I’m glad about the equipment we have here,” said Tchuigoua, a native of Cameroon.
“Knowing that, I feel more confident. In [Operation Iraqi Freedom I], I didn’t have anything. I went in [battle dress uniform] and black boots. In the beginning, we lived in tents with nothing.”
Soldiers from other nations also took the opportunity to peek at each other’s gear.
“I’ve spoken to a lot of Americans comparing their kit to ours,” said British Trooper Craig Bladen, 23, of the Royal Dragoon Guards, 1st Armoured Division. “I think they’re comparable. Ours has more armor, theirs can fire better.”
Some British troops found no joy in the comparison game.
“We learned that [American soldiers] don’t have to pay on-tour [income] tax,” said Lance Bombardier Danny Findlay, 21, a member of the 4th Regiment, Royal Artillery.
“We do.”
Learning how to maintain good relations — this time in the home — was also a big draw for attendees, who packed into Utah-based author John Covey’s seminar, “8 Habits of Successful Marriage.”
The expo showed few signs of abating as the afternoon progressed.
More than 10,000 attendees are expected over three days, USAREUR officials said.
“Usually,” Bell said, “we have to force you here at gunpoint and usually we have to force you to leave at gunpoint.”
