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OUR GERMAN HEROES! [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- German brewer Spaten donated 600 cases of its namesake lager to the U.S. Navy Sept. 3, to thank U.S. Sailors and Marines who deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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Yeah! [img]graemlins/thewave.gif[/img] Way to go! :D :D [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Vunderful!!! I have a few Spatens in my fridge as we speak. I highly recommend the Oktoberfest.

Oh, and my research indicates Spaten are vegan biers.

Maybe they just want to get them drunk so that they can't fight any more. Hmmmm. [img]tongue.gif[/img] Anyway, thanks for the goodwill. Yeah, the Octboerfest is wonderful!! Love the bratwursts. [img]graemlins/eating.gif[/img]

Hey wait.... didn't a certain someone here mention that the troops aren't allowed to drink beer while on tour ?

I believe that was Felix, johnny. Goes against General Order or something like that... ;)

It's unlike that Norfolk, VA, is considered "on tour."

Johnny, you are correct. Even though everyone can tell the article was snipped, the setting is the main stay.
This beer was donated to the flotilla that returned to HOME PORT (NNS) (Norfolk Naval Station)AFTER their tour of duty in Iraq. Not while they were still on tour! Makes a big difference.
From the article that can be found in the military news arena, there is a total of 2400 cases to be handed out. Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen will receive their share once they have returned to home station. But the odds are very overwhelming, since the Army has over 80% of the total force on the ground, how do you disperse 600 cases?
Beer Math 101 = There are over 100K folks on the ground, 2400 -600 = 1800.
1800 x 24 = 43,200 = somebody ain't getting beer!
My vote goes to 3ID out of GA. They were the first on the ground in Iraq, and have just returned home recently.

Felix

Excuse me for being cynical, but I think that this 'act of generosity' has more to do with public image and falling US sales than an act of grace.

Not so much "Our German Heroes" as:
"Our worried German Exporters"

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Would you have been more approving of "My German Heores"? or perhaps "The US Service Mens German Heroes"?

No matter how you slice it or how cynical you want to be. The American Service Person (on average) Does not insult the person giving free alcohol.
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