Shoahan Hanan, the owner of a Brazilian steakhouse, that serves troops in Vilseck, Germany. REUTERS/Lisi Niesne
Thorsten Graedler started his new role as mayor of a small German town this week. The picturesque Bavarian town of Vilseck has 6,500 local inhabitants. They are outnumbered by US military personnel and their families.
"I've never known Vilseck any other way than living side by side with the Americans," Graedler said.
Now, President Donald Trump's plan to withdraw at least 5,000 troops from Germany threatens to turn life in Vilseck on its head. Residents and business owners worry what the loss of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, the only permanent brigade combat team in Germany, could mean for the local economy.
Based at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Stryker's departure raises the prospect of thousands of job losses.
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