European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 29, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes retired military family Protection plan under study Washington is the de sense department supports changes in the retired service Man s family Protection plan to make the relatively unpopular program More flexible and As a result More attractive to Veteran servicemen. Air Force maj. Gen. Williamw. Berg Deputy assistant de sense Secretary for military policy told the Senate armed services committee that administrative changes in a House Bill would make the a supp plan More equitable. There Are two principal arguments against a supp Berg said. One is that it is inflexible and the other is that it is costly. It is impossible to reduce it Cost without disturbing the Funda mental self supporting concepts of the plan. Among the changes being considered Berg pointed out Are the following automatically re store full retired pay when a beneficiary no longer exists raise the application Point to 19 years of service reduce to two years the delay in the effective Date of subsequent changes an liberalize withdrawal procedures. A supp was set up in 1953 to provide some financial Security for dependents of retirees who previously Recic Ved nothing once the sex Serviceman died unless death was due to a service connected disability or the survivor were in effect paupers. Through a supp a Serviceman can take reduced retired pay for an annuity for his a remarried widow and dependent children. Navy gun now fires life lines Barber s Point Hawaii special an old Navy line firing gun has found a new users an Aid in rescuing swimmers in distress Here. Senior chief Boatswain s mat James Wilson and Tom Miles athletic directors at the Barber Point naval air station have modified a line throwing gun soit will hurl a Rescue line 300  gun was demonstrated to the Public for the first time Dur ing a water safety seminar at Nairn dts  m quite impressed with the gun said Abraham Kuni assistant fire chief. I believe it will be used throughout hawaiian other places very  duty in Asia trophy honors . Legionnaire 9 service Camp Casey Korea a in a massive Glass Case at the front door of a quonset hut in of a n t r y brigade Headquarters Here is one of the unique pos sessions of any american Mili tary unit. The object is the Shanghai bowl proudly owned by the . 31st inf now part of the army s 7th inf div. The Slot s nickname is the foreign legion of the .  its entire existence since it first received its colors in 1916 in the Philippines has been overseas in Asia except for one Brief period in 1958. The Shanghai bowl is a Sou Venir of one of those now almost forgotten foreign adventures by Small american military units in the Days before world War ii. In 1932, the japanese and Chi Nese engaged in a major clash in and around the port City of Shanghai. Much of the City was destroyed. Shanghai was one of the major trading centers for foreign ers in China at the time Andas such it was the Home of a number of americans with considerable business interests. So . Marines were called in to protect the lives and property of american  was deemed necessary to bring Over the 31st inf from the Philippines to reinforce the marines a fact about which Heyoung troopers in today s 31st Are inclined to brag. The Inci Dent is celebrated in the unit s song the foreign  the american troopers an the people they were protecting were under fire from both the japanese who instigated the military adventure and the chinese defenders. But the soldiers and Marine accomplished their Mission satisfactorily and eventually were withdrawn. The 31st got a Battle ribbon for its work in what disbelieved to be the Only time in . History that a . Army regiment received such an award in peacetime. Before sailing from Shanghai officers and men of the regi ment collected 1,500 chinese Sil ver Dollers coins which in those Days had an exceptionally High Silver Content. They had a Silversmith fashion the Large Bowland 66 cups to go with it. It has been the regiment Sprize Possession Ever since. For no particular reason the legions career has been largely confined to  the world War i not Long after the regiment was formed it went to Siberia Fol lowing the russian army s col lapse to keep the trans siberian railway running. During this expedition it got the official title of the Polar Bear  the outfit returned to the Philippines where some 22years later it saw some of its most heroic hours in defeat in Stead of Victory. The 31st was one of the key units employed by Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur in he defense of Bataan Peninsula and almost wiped o u to us Surv Yors burned the regimental Bat tie standards and buried the Shanghai bowl. The 31st new lost its colors or actually sur rendered but its men were hand w a Hen Gen Jonathan Manght finally gave up in the face of overwhelming Odds the unit reformed after the War spent considerable time on occupation duty in Korea an Japan where it was when the k2.3 or broke out mean while the Shanghai bowl was re covered from its hiding place. Army oks retired pin Washington is the army has authorized a distinctive Lapel Button for Wear by retired soldiers. The Lapel Button is a Metal an enamel insignia with the Gold coloured army Seal in an Olive drab ring. The words ". Army retired Are inscribed on Thering in Gold with a Star Between each word. The Button will be issued free when funds become available the army says. In the meantime arrangements Are being made with commercial companies to sell them through Post Exchange and other outlets starting sometime late this year. Another new Bookstore