In 1982, I moved with my family from NRW to Florstadt.

I quickly learned that tanks and military helicopters belonged to the somewhat idyllic rural character.

When I went shopping with my 2 - 3 year old son, it happened that army tanks thundered up the Altenstädter Straße threateningly close and unbelievably loud, and we tried, like hunted people, to get on the narrow sidewalk to get into Querstraße. Traces on the edge of the sidewalks were visible for many years.

During walks through the forest we came across well (!) camouflaged soldiers and reacted with fright to helicopters flying low over treetops...hell of a noise!

That was one side of the experience "Amis in the Wetterau".

Children, whose fathers were back in the USA, belonged to the society in Florstadt. First names indicate this to this day.