(from the August 1970 edition of The Hallmark)

In Northern Germany, as in much of that country, the present is found nestling ever so subtly in the past. The USASA Field Station, Rothwesten, is a modern installation set in a area where hundreds of years of history have left their imprint.

The countryside is quaint and scenic and the cities are obviously new, but the flavor and fervor of the past remain. The effect is not a haunting one. It is simply Germany, with medieval castles providing Rothwesten personnel fascinating places to spend their leisure time.

One of the area's most famed structures, is the Loewenburg Castle, built as a summer home by Wilhelm I. Also used to store the German ruler's huge weapons collection, the castle has been restored and is now much as it was then.

The city of Kassel is more than 1,000 years old and is thought to have been a Roman stronghold. Kaiser Wilhelm II had a palace there and Napoleon III was held there after being captured in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Much of the city was destroyed during World War II and at one time was occupied by Allied Forces. However, after the war it was rebuilt.

Culturally, Kassel had the first permanent theater in Germany, the Ottoneum. English actors performed Shakespeare there as early as 1600. Kassel's art gallery also has one of Europe's finest collections of Dutch and Flemish paintings, including 19 Rembrandts.

With its array of facilities and the many nearly recreational and cultural attractions, Rothwesten is the complete Army post. Both officer and enlisted housing are attractive and modern; situated in Rothwesten, Harleshausen, and Brietscheid, a Kassel suburb. The post itself has everything from a beauty shop to an auto craft shop, with Officer and NCO clubs that offer a variety of social events. The most popular recreatoinal club at Rothwesten is the Rod and Gun Club which provides members an opportunity to participate in pistol, rifle, trap, and skeet shooting as well as archery.

Rothwesten has one of the best Army education centers in Europe. It offers five terms of University of Maryland courses and over 6,000 college correspondence courses. To help personnel and their families adapt to the area, the center also provides continuous German language instruction. Thus a tour at Rothwesten offers USASA personnel an opportunity to broaden their knowledge by both books and experience.