ENGLISH VERSION BELOW
A female reader wishing to remain anonymous wrote to us:
Does no one have any influence over the soldiers stationed in Bolesławiec and the surrounding area? Every weekend, it is the same scenario. Young people from the USA (because they are clearly not yet fully grown adults—especially mentally) hang out in the shopping center or its vicinity and behave scandalously.
They drink alcohol in public places; some look as though they may also be under the influence of other, not necessarily legal, substances. They stagger around, bother other people, and sometimes vomit. It is simply awful.
This is not the only negative signal concerning the behavior of U.S. Army soldiers.
One istotne.pl reader recently told us that he witnessed a soldier vomit in the reception area of a small hotel; he was almost unconscious from alcohol.
Under the report about the racist behavior near Piwnica Paryska, many people described their experiences with U.S. Army soldiers.
I invite you (...) to Starzyńskiego Street. I went there with my family, and it was impossible to eat because the “elite” were yelling so loudly—it was not just shouting. A friend in the same establishment was told by an ally that the (establishment) was not for Poles.
Paweł
Yelling their heads off. One was vomiting at the bar, another stood in the corner crying, and the rest were shouting so loudly that nothing could be heard...
Bartosz
I saw (...) our allies throwing money at Polish women and shouting, “I have money,” and trying to get physical.
Marcin
I personally witnessed it several times. I felt like hitting one or another of them in the face when they went after a married couple with a child in a restaurant.
Sabina
Meanwhile, restaurant owners deny this. At one Bolesławiec pizzeria-restaurant, we were told that American soldiers behave politely and cause no problems:
They are young guys. Some of them are not yet legally allowed to buy alcohol in the United States, so they have felt free and started partying here. After drinking alcohol, they do not bother or provoke anyone. So far, we have had no problems with them. There have been no fights or anything similar. There was one incident when soldiers from the departing and arriving shifts argued among themselves, but otherwise everything is calm and there are no problems with them. Sometimes it is Poles who look for trouble. Americans do not, because they know how much they could lose as a result. They told us this in conversations.
Restauracja Dancing Zodiak has also reported no reservations concerning the behavior of U.S. Army soldiers:
We have never had any problems with them. They came in, had a drink, enjoyed themselves, paid, and left. They usually left the establishment around midnight. There were no fights or provocations on their part. Nothing like that.
The owner of Good Burger on Prusa Street speaks similarly about U.S. Army soldiers. He also claims that he has no problems with them.
They come to the establishment on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but there has never been a situation in which anyone fought or bothered anyone else.
We also spoke with a restaurant in the Market Square, where the staff confirmed that American soldiers behave courteously and that no incident involving U.S. Army soldiers had ever been recorded at that restaurant.
It appears that there is no problem with the Americans. However, it is difficult to accuse readers of lying when they have publicly described, under their full names, situations they witnessed. We decided to pass their concerns on to the U.S. Army.
We asked the U.S. Army spokesperson, Major Jon Allen (1 ABCT Public Affairs Officer), for comment on the matter:
The fact that soldiers of the United States Army are guests of the Polish people and can train with the Polish Army is an honor. We expect the highest standards of discipline and conduct from our men and women. [...] We work closely with Polish law enforcement in cases of misconduct and take disciplinary action against soldiers who violate Polish laws and American military standards. Our daily interactions with the Polish people continue to bring us joy, and we consider it a privilege to learn about Polish culture and heritage.
Żołnierze US Army w wolnym czasie...
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### ENGLISH VERSION
A female reader wishing to remain anonymous commented:
Are the U.S. soldiers stationed in our area under anyone’s supervision? Their behavior in our town is appalling. The American youth (because they are clearly not quite adults—especially mentally) hang out in the shopping center or its surroundings and behave disgracefully. They drink alcohol in public places; some seem to be under the influence of illegal substances. They stagger around disturbing passersby and sometimes vomit uncontrollably. It is simply awful to see.
Another reader described an incident in which he witnessed a soldier vomit in the reception area of a local hotel. He was nearly unconscious from being drunk.
The recent report about the racist incident at Piwnica Paryska prompted other comments, including:
I went to (...) on Starzyński Street, but the soldiers gathered there were so loud that it was impossible to enjoy dinner with my family. A friend of mine at the same establishment heard one soldier say that the (...) establishment was not for Polish people.
Paweł
[While having conversations]They scream at the top of their lungs. One drunk soldier vomits right at the bar, another stands and cries in the corner, and everyone talks over one another. You cannot hear anything at all.Bartosz
I saw drunk American soldiers throwing banknotes at defenseless Polish girls and shouting, “I have money!!!”
Marcin
I witnessed [American soldiers’ poor behavior] it several times. I was appalled when a group of them tried to start a fight with a couple having dinner with their child in a restaurant.
Sabina
Meanwhile, local restaurant owners contradict the negative comments.
One local pizzeria owner says that American soldiers behave politely and cause no problems for his customers.
These are young people. Some are underage in the United States [legal drinking age in America is 21, while in Poland is 18] but are legally allowed to drink here and enjoy their leisure time in our restaurant. Even after a couple of drinks, the soldiers seem harmless and do not provoke anyone. We have had no serious incidents, apart from one argument between two groups of fellow soldiers during a shift change. Other than that, they are peaceful and unproblematic customers. Occasionally, we see Polish customers trying to provoke an argument or a fight with the Americans, but the Americans understand the serious consequences of committing an offense while off duty as U.S. Army soldiers.
The owner of Restauracja Dancing Zodiak also speaks positively about the behavior of U.S. soldiers:
We have never had any problems with them. They come in, have a drink, enjoy their free time, pay, and usually leave around midnight. They cause no problems and do not instigate fights during their stay in our restaurant.
Another local businessman, the owner of a burger restaurant, says he sees no problematic behavior from the American troops stationed in our town.
They come to eat at our place on Fridays and weekends, but there have never been any fights or quarrels here.
We also spoke with a restaurant in the Market Square, where staff confirmed that American soldiers behave courteously and that their visits have never involved an incident.
Based on eyewitness accounts from our readers and the contradictory statements from local business owners, we decided to contact the U.S. Army for an official comment. Public Affairs Officer Major Jon Allen sent us this statement:
The Soldiers of the United States Army are honored to be guests of the Polish people and to train with the Polish Army. We hold our men and women to the highest standards of discipline and personal conduct. [...] We work closely with Polish law enforcement to investigate incidents of wrongdoing and take disciplinary action against Soldiers who violate Polish laws and American military standards. We continue to enjoy our daily interactions with the Polish people and consider it a privilege to experience Polish culture and heritage.