The White Falcon - 16.04.1976, Blaðsíða 3

April 16, 1976
Page 3
‘...Iceland has been good to us.’
(story continued from page 1)
ment which he and the Foreign Minister
signed October 22, 1974.
Commenting on the NATO Base, the Am-
bassador remarked that he has observed a
I new spirit and pride among base person-
nel. He was very complimentary about
Rear Admiral and Mrs. Rich, "who have
tirelessly shown both interest and lead-
ership. I have served with three ad-
mirals here, and Admiral Rich has been
superior not only from the standpoint of
military ability, but even more so for
his diplomatic skill."
Ambassador Irving said he has seen a
shift in attitudes between Americans and
Icelanders to a "more friendly one based
on mutual respect and greater under-
standing." To develop this even further
Pne encourages more inter-action between
Icelandic and American groups.
Prior to their departure, Ambassador
and Mrs. Irving were guests of honor on
two occasions at the NATO Base. Mil-
itary and civilian wives hosted a tea in
honor of Mrs. Irving, March 31, and on
April 3, Ambassador and Mrs. Irving were
guests of honor at a formal dinner in
the officer’s club where the Foreigh
Pnister, other Icelandic officials and
TO Ambassadors were also present.
One of the prime concerns of his new
bureau is negotiations on fisheries,
water and shelf boundary questions, ef-
forts to curb marine pollution, marine
scientific research and the various re-
source aspects of the Law of the Sea ne-
gotiations.
"We must recognize the problem of
pollution worldwide and act upon it,"
Ambassador Irving said," and the United
States is right out front in this ef-
fort. The bureau that I will head, for
instance, is required to undertake en-
vironmental impact studies before we
negotiate scientific agreements with
other nations."
Another of the Ambassador’s major
concerns in his new post will be finding
means to curb nuclear armament poten-
tial.
"We must continue our efforts to
strengthen safeguards to ensure that
nuclear materials that are exported for
energy purposes are not diverted to non-
peaceful uses."
Ambassador Irving, a World War II
Army Air Corps navigator, was shot down
on his 37th mission and held prisoner of
war in Hungary and Germany for nine
months.
He and Mrs. Irving strongly identify
with service families stationed over-
seas .
"The problems and interests of serv-
ice families are often similar to those
of diplomatic families," Mrs. Irving
said.
"We have been very close to people on
the base here," she said. "Approximate-
ly 1,000 Defense Force personnel and
members of their families have been
guests in the embassy. Military bases
are not always close to an embassy, and
it’s good for Americans to see their
embassy and learn how it works."
"We have made many good friends in
Iceland," Ambassador and Mrs. Irving re-
flected, "and we are sorry to leave this
country...
"Yes it is hard to leave," they said,
"If we have to leave, we are glad it is
to go home. A diplomat must never reach
a point when he does not want to
go home."
NAiu BASE WOMEN say good bye to Dorothy Irving, wife of the U.S. Ambassador to
Iceland at a farewell luncheon held March 31. (left to right) Mrs. Rich, wife of
RADM Rich, commander Iceland Defense Force, Mrs. Irving, Mrs. Farrell, wife of
Capt. Farrell, Naval Station commanding officer and Mrs. David Karstadt.
(photo by PH3 Rene' Pearce)
AMBASSADOR IRVING and Mrs.
made their stay in Iceland
held at the Officers' Club
Irving say a few words about Iceland and the people who
worthwile. Ambassador Irving's farewell dinner was
April 3. (photo by PH3 Rene' Pearce)
A double life for Sandra Lee Kutz--teacher and performer
by J02 Terry Barnthouse
B Into the groove of the record, the
tonearm is placed by a petite short-
haired brunette. The music begins, she
swings around, starts clapping to the
beat of the music, and leads a classroom
of elementary children in a sing-a-long.
An enthusiastic response by one of the
pupils is a request for another song.
For elementary music teacher Sandra
Lee Kutz this close working association
^ith students is a very fulfilling and
*ijoyable experience. The native of
Remington, N. J. is in her second year
of teaching at the NATO Base in Keflavik
and it is her seventh year of teaching
in the Department of Defense (DOD)
school system.
Sandra taught elementary music in the
Flemington - Raritan School before going
into DOD in August of 1969.
"I wouldn't trade my job overseas
with any in the states," declared
Sandra. "I love the excitement of liv-
Kng in foreign countries and ’there's
ever a dull moment' as the saying goes.
However, I am proud to be an American
citizen and enjoy the 'little Americas'
of the military bases."
About her job Miss Kutz states, "DOD
schools keep up with the new educational
innovations. There is also a good sup-
ply service. Mobility with both the
students and the teachers poses a chal-
lenge but also means much adjusting and
^readjusting. There is constant change
pith the military family. The children
come from many backgrounds and are well
traveled."
Sandra too is well traveled. She has
previously taught in Labrador, Okinawa,
and in the United States. "I enjoy
traveling and having the opportunity to
meet new people," she says, adding,
travel that otherwise I may not have
gotten to do. I now can with my connec-
tion in the DOD school system. I have
visited many countries and exciting cit-
ies like Hong Kong, Bangkok, Montreal,
and London. They have given me many
happy memories."
Even though teaching takes up a lot
of her time, Sandra tells about her sec-
ond career. "While overseas I've be-
come involved in the field of folk en-
tertainment. My stage name is Sandra
Lee and I play guitar and sing folk
songs."
She performed over one hundred shows
while in Okinawa and hosted a television
show there. "My schedule was also kept
busy as I was a Red Cross volunteer in
Okinawa and helped wounded soldiers from
Vietnam. This was a tremendous experi-
ence though sometimes sad."
While in Iceland, she has entertained
at several of the local clubs on base.
She also flew on a C-117 to Hofn, a
small radar sight on the east coast of
the island, and she performed two folk
shows there. "I love the experiences
like this because otherwise I wouldn't
have the opportunity to see these little
remote areas," she says.
Before she leaves she hopes to pick
up the singing and playing style of Ice-
landic folk music.
If you would like to see Sandra Lee
perform, stop by the Top of the Rock
Monday night between 6 and 8 p.m.
THE TWO FACES of Sandra Lee, performer and Sandra Lee Kutz, music teacher.
(photo by PH3 Rene' Pearce) (photo by 002 Terry Barnthouse)