European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 09, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday september 9, 1985 the stars and stripes Page Arih tenders letters dear Ann Landers thanks Tor print ing the letter from the woman who opted for an abortion when she Learned the fetus was not nor Mal. 1 am 39 years old the Mother of two children Ages 11 and 7. I was 4w months � pregnant with a or third when the Doc j Tor called and said the diagnosis was Risom 21 you Are carrying a Down s syndrome  my husband and 1 sat up All night talking. We decided to terminate the pregnancy. This was the most if ficus Licci Siuri have Ever faced. Only a person who has experienced the anguish can understand what i went through. I had to come to terms with the fact that we had neither the financial nor emotional resources to care Tor a defective child. I want to thank the woman who had the courage to write that letter and bless you for panting it. It helped me know i was not alone. I m lure you la hear from Many read Era who believe Down s syndrome children Are a gift from god and others May even condemn me for what i did but i know in my heart it was the Best decision for us. An Ann fan in the South dear fan i already Hare a Load of mail from readers who believe no pregnancy should be interrupted for any reason. They Are entitled to their opinion and Yon Are anti. Tied to yours. Thank you for writing. Dear Ann Landers i was interested in the letter from the Reader who said that employee theft is a bigger problem thar. Shoplifting. As a woman who has been in the department store business for 25 years i would like to mention another Gigantic loss suffered by business damaged Mer Chandise. This problem stems from a Sim ple Lack of consideration on the part of the customer. Every Day we must Mark Down or throw away a staggering number of items that Are broken torn or soiled by thought less shoppers. List Kkt and perspiration on expensive gowns Are common vain ladies who insist they Wear a size 10 when actually they need a 14 rip seams break zippers and pop buttons. Beaded sequin and lace gowns Are often handled so roughly they must be put on Sale. Handles arc torn off handbags mirrors Are cracked sweaty hands ruin leather goods As Well As Satin and silk. To portions of our audience. On two occasions the network convened Community groups and solicited their True opinions of the materials. The group contained mothers fathers children chaplains soldiers and civilians. Additionally the groups crossed the entire spectrum of military ranks. None including the chaplains of which there were five objected to i lie use of the word  they explained that the word is used frequently in religious writ Ings and that by today s social standards the word Damn is not considered to fall into the category of profanity nor does it take the name of the lord in vain. Despite the approval of the groups the network determined that the spots should not be aired in time blocks that Are frequently viewed by Small children. The decision was made to air the Campaign Only after 9 . Lue Campaign has been very popular with the military leadership. Copies have been requested by the commander in chief of Usa eur the army chief of staff and the Secretary of the army. The give a Damn series has been awarded both the department of army general Keith l. Ware award and the department of defense Thomas Jefferson conduct in hostage situations Means Stem Down. Apo 09211. . I have Given considerable thought to the recent hostage crisis in Lebanon especially the military personnel who were held and have come up with a question of potentially great Impact. Essentially what is the status of military members when held hostage in conjunction with civilian personnel with regards to the code of conduct obviously As the Seabee found out to be labelled a military member can have serious repercussions. Yet to follow the tenets of the code of conduct one must identify himself As a military member. Further to follow the code of conduct one must per form actions that would undoubtedly Rouse the ire of one s captors. I am not in any Way attempting to suggest that we As military members should not follow the code of conduct but at the same time in View of the world situation perhaps additional guidance would be appropriate. I personally doubt that anyone would Point a Finger of shame at any military member who conducted himself More or less As his civilian counterparts in a hostage situation so Long As that member did not perform any acts specifically prejudicial to the military traditions. Still and All we have the potential of a very awkward situation. Hopefully this inquiry will Lead to a real world answer and not a Bunch of hyperbole. Sec. David j. Carriker Neu dim Germany editor s note Jerry l. Cal Boun principal Deputy assistant Secretary of defense Force management and personnel replies thank you for the Opportunity to re Spond to your Reader s question about guidance for military personnel who Are held hostage during peacetime. I know that sincere concern about this subject exists on the part of Many people within the military and outside of it. In december 1984, the Deputy Secretary of defense approved the peacetime guidance for military personnel. Ii was published As Encl award for broadcast excellence. The department of the army has expressed interest in expanding the series beyond Usa eur to include the entire department of army. Aslo your comments regarding the accuracy of the phrase give a Damn in describing a degree of caring we simply disagree. In communicating messages television must speak the language of its audiences. In today s army environment we frequently hear soldiers saying for example i like our new first sergeant he gives a  in their vernacular they re saying that their new no is concerned about and cares for his soldiers. That precisely was the communications objective of the series. We wanted to portray Strong Posi Tive role models and encourage other non commissioned officers to emulate their caring Altitude and professionalism. We Are planning to expand the series and to include non commissioned officers in other military occupational specialities. We deeply appreciate your comments and understand your concern. However an s Mission of informing and entertain ing the military Community includes a Large degree of motivation to soldiers. We recognize everyone will not agree with everything we do. We will continue to Monitor feedback from this spot and if warranted re look our position. So far we have received Only a couple of complaints from our audience of 500,000. The military leadership seems to agree thai campaigns like the one we have Dis cussed go a Long Way toward accomplishing that Goat thank you for your interest in an. We Hope this better enables you to under stand our position. Sure 3 to Dod directive 1300.7, training and education measures necessary to sup port ii code of  the military services arc incorporating this guidance into their training programs. Anyone who wishes a copy of this guid Ance May obtain one through the local publications Library or by writing to me. Toe code of conduct applies to combat or wartime situations. Peacetime detention by hostile governments or Captivity by terrorist groups Are not specifically Cov ered by the code. The military member s duly in such a peacetime Captivity situation is to survive with Honor. The United states will make every Good Faith Effort to obtain the ear Liest release of military members and others who Are held hostage. I think the guidance is informative essential Reading for All members of the profession of arms. It is being made Avail Able to All military personnel travelling overseas. I highly recommend it to anyone sincerely concerned about the risk of terrorism directed against military personnel. I want to take this Opportunity to add a final word of Praise for our people in uniform. We Are proud of them for consistently upholding exemplary standards of conduct. I know their strength of Char Acter will continue to make us All glad they vicar thai uniform. Hats off to Barbers i would like to publicly thank the Barbers at Campbell Barracks Barber shop. While getting a haircut on aug. 26, i accidentally dropped two so Bills from my pocket. When i returned later in the Day inquiring the Money was cheerfully and quickly returned to me. Their honesty and integrity were very refreshing and very much appreciated. Sol. Maj. John c. Walkons Iii Heidelberg european id Futon capt Dale k. Patterson us editor in chief cmdr Jeffreys Zakem. Us it pull editor in chief . Black Well m. Proctor a. Mcdemott production manager managing de. Circulation Man astr this Newt caper k in authorized unofficial publication for Membri of the military service. Oue Mas Content of the Shari and Stripe Are not Fate Nuril the official a text of or Ensor Ltd or. Me us. Government. Trie department of defense or try . European command. The appearance of advert Ling in nil publication including i Rimoli or Tupp tement. Don not cont Tutt endorse Mon by the it Parlman of Oft tie. Or the Start and  of the product or Ter Vecei my Rutlt a. Everything advert lied in that publication the ii be made Valine for purr we Ute or Para bag without regard to race color religion my National origin Aoe. Marital ital i. A Natkal Handicap Ddll Kal attn gallon or any Oln a non Meril actor of the Pur Chaur Uter or Parloa military and Elret the Stan anti sir lev Apo ow1v intern Allons mall the Start and Stripe. Pot an ii 10 a d-4100 Darr Pladl 11, Garmany the Greet Helm Civ. 104iss1 4010, Mil. Dart tall Anil rip 17j7 741, the euro Pean Telephone Vitam