European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 8, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                              Page 6 the stars and stripes thursday August 8, 1968  11111"111oldtimer always on guard in you can bet on Moran at the Columbia club by Bob Hoyer is ilk. Bureau Chie London is it was Early morning when the Security Man rushed into action with fire extinguisher in hand. A Molotov cocktail had just landed in the revolving door of the Columbi club the . Air Force s transient hotel for  Gavin Moran was act ing out of experience As he at tacked the fire. He picked up his experience As an air raid Warden during the Early Days of world War ii and later As a sergeant with the British 8th army in the North african  was at his usual Post in Side the Entrance of the Colum Bia club at Lancaster Gate in London s West end when the bomb was hurled into the door Way and exploded in sheets of flame. Within seconds the 67-year-Oldguard leaped to the front desk and placed Calls to British fire men and police then with an extinguisher charged the burning door. Just As he began dousing the flames four american Security policemen showed up and helped put out the fire. I kicked the bottle away fro the door. I wanted to get it out of the Way before the fire spread inside Moran said. A remarkable memory forenames and faces have helped him in his  particular i never forget a face. If someone has been banned retirement waivers May be denied Washington is Ait Force personnel officers Are be coming increasingly concern Dover the number of colonels who Are asking for waivers of retirement restrictions with out considering the possibility their requests May be disapproved. An Assumption of approval is not necessarily valid a spokesman said since each request is considered on its own  a result an All major com mands letter will be sent tothe Field shortly directing local base personnel officers to notify colonels of the air Force policy at the time retirement waiver applications Are submit  waiver requested most often is one to allow retire ment in less than six months from the Date of  reason Given in most cases is to accept civilian employ ment which will not be Avail Able beyond the Date specified by the prospective employer. While the air Force is aware of the problems associated with retirement planning Colo Nels who Are contemplating retirement should not base their plans and made commitments on an Assumption that the re Striction will be automatically waived. The Stop loss policy is no being applied to Force the in voluntary retention of colonels the spokesman added. Those officers who do not have serv ice obligations May anticipate that retirement will be approved for the Date requested providing six months notice i Given. This much time  needed for organizations to adjust for the loss and obtain replace ments. From the club the face will sticking my mind and if that person shows up three or five year from now i la  because Security is his chief Job he signs guests into the an nex club which remains Ope until 2 . Saturdays and Sun Days three hours past the Clos ing time of most London  often get the Odd american who shows up about Midnight and wants to get in for a drink because he figures it s an Ameri can establishment and this entitles him to admission Mora said. As he talked a procession of Columbia club s Tom Moran hails a London taxi. Is photo names and faces from the past presented themselves. There were Sophie Tucker she visited the club a number of times and j. Paul Getty High ranking generals and Congress men an italian Cardinal an pilots who have gone to Viet Nam and will never come , you can say i be Learned quite a bit just stand ing Here doing my duty. This after the War in Haifa s before taking 1. S Smirk Post at the  c  Ujj served As head Porter in Distant manager of the chant Navy hotel just although Moran  Jemi Rance on racing he apparent Learned enough from is Iril bookmaking f a t to so in t a bad Job for a Geezer my age Moran said with a Wink. But i admit i was More Active in my younger  he was just 17 when rejoined the Royal flying corps predecessor of the Royal air Force and served nine months until the end of world War  the wars he spent 15 years travelling As an advertising agent in France Bel Gium and Switzerland and inthe process developed a whole some appetite for French  the 1930s Moran opened a vacuum cleaner repair Busi Ness and soon was operating shops in three cities. But during the Early years of world War ii the company that supplied him with parts went on War production and he had to close shop just Intima to be conscripted into the British army at age 42. After Basic training at Home he was assigned to the Royal electrical mechanical engineers and sent to North Africa. Twas our Job to repair any of the rolling Stock trucks tanks armoured cars a n y thing on  served with the British 8th army at Al Alamein an completed his overseas tour away from the horses. He said his father used to say too Many things have got to Hap pen for a  to win the owner s got to want him to win. The Trainer s of 0 want him to win. The jockey s of to want him to win. The horse must be Goodenough to win. Nothing must happen to him like stepping in a Hole or getting stung by a Bee. That s a Good list to Lemom Ber in Case you re Ever tempted he said with a Grin. This is harder work Here but it s a lol  of requests funds to convert Hase Washington the . Air Force Lias requested funds to convert its base at col Umbus miss., to an undergraduate Pilot training Center. It Isnow a strategic air command base. Funds for the switch Over would be provided under die military construction Lull which Congress is expected to approve after the current recess. Another new is Karlsruhe Germany is Bookstore there s something for Everfi at your stars & stripes bookstores