European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 24, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Paga2 o the stars and stripes saturday May 24, 1966 Navy to build special ship that May sit until War by Norman Black a military writer Washington in a Lillic More than tour months the Navy will begin sea trials for a new ship thai has been so specially designed for wartime use that it appears destined to sit in port until War Breaks out. The ship is huge bigger than anything in the Fleet except an aircraft Carrier. The Navy has t had one since the end of the Vietnam War it Lias been built in almost total obscurity although it already has a name. The mercy is a Hospital ship. It is so advanced and so Large 1,000 Beds and 12 Complete operating rooms capable of simultaneous use that few hospitals on land can match its facilities. But As work proceeds on the mercy and on identical sister ship the Comfort so too docs an internal debate about How and whether they can be used during peacetime. The Navy in pan with an Eye toward congressional budget cuts has decided to place the vessels in what it Calls reduced operating status 5" capable of being activated and steaming from ports on the East and West coasts in no More than five Days time. Even that commitment is in some jeopardy. When the Pentagon released a list of military programs last week that could be scuttled because of House cuts to the de sense budget the Comfort appeared on the list. Or. William Mayer the assistant defense Secretary for health affairs acknowledges the budget pressures. He also notes the mercy and the Comfort Are too specialized As trauma surgery centers to function As floating hospitals of the Type operated for years by project Hope dispensing general health care to poorer nations around the world. Nonetheless Mayer is hoping to find some Way for the ships to go to sea. Among the avenues he is exploring arc periodic exercises and familiarization Tours for physicians in the reserves and As a train ing platform overseas for civilian and Mili tary doctors who arc undergoing specialized education in emergency Medicine. The main thing would be to take advantage of the training opportunities that it gives the International relations opportunities that it gives and at the same time have ii As close to where we might need it As we could reasonably have it Mayer said in a recent interview. It has such potential. To give a Mes Sage that you really Don t get when you Sec the battleship Missouri offshore. This is a message with three big red crosses on the Side and a great big american Flag that we  the mercy and the Comfort were not created for civilian use though. They were born in the late 1970s of studies that accompanied the formation of what was then called the rapid deployment Force. Mili tary planners were concerned that if . Forces Ever went to War in the Middle East wounded soldiers might not have Access to surgical care. The result was two contracts awarded on june 28, 1983, and dec. 16. 1983. To the National steel and shipbuilding co. In san Diego to convert two Oil supertanker into Hospital ships. The tankers were completely gutted with Only their hulls and engine rooms left intact then rebuilt into modern hospitals with 12 operating rooms each massive intensive care wards modern laboratories. A Ray equipment and pharmacies built in oxygen lines to the Beds elevators Between decks and helicopter Landing pads. The mercy formerly the Worth will Start its sea trials in october. The Comfort will follow next year. Each is 894 feet Long and 106 feet wide. All told the Navy expects to spend almost $510 million on the two ships. News update saner moved to Bethe Lan Stuhl Germany a so a 6th Fleet Sailor who Vas seriously wounded a May 3 Rob Bery has  in Gor condition to be Thesda Navol Hospital of Washington spokeswoman of  regional medi Cal Center said thruway. Airman apprentice Obbert Scott Zampino As signed to Carrier a warning so 123 on the aircraft Carrier and la we robbed and stabbed in Naples Italy. Anhar Sailor Wio was assaulted at the same time Jonas treated for inor cuts and re leased. Zam pop was treated for a Domow wounds at land sum the medical Center spokes Bian said. He vis transferred tuesday to Beth Cal naval Hospital for further treatment she said. He investigation into the assaults is continue baby Rachel at Home. Loma Linda Calif. A baby Rachel the 3s4-month-old girl who received a heart trans Plant last month is Home from the Hospital and 2 pounds heavier than she was before her operation. Her parents whose names have been withheld by the Hospital at their request held the girl up for photographers As they left for Home wednesday. Baby Rachel who weighed Only a i pounds before the operation had gained 2 pounds her father said. She is eating Well and doing nicely said or. Robin Doroshow one of the physicians attending the girl at Loma Linda University medical Center where she underwent the transplant surgery april 28. She did experience her first rejection episode late last week Doroshow said wednesday in a news release from the medical Center 60 Miles East of los Angeles attempts by the body to reject a foreign Organ occur after All transplants she said adding baby Rachel came through  Union rejects contract new York a trans world airlines flight attendants who called off a nine week strike voted overwhelmingly to reject the same economic package that led to their walkout. About 98 percent of those who voted sys Tom wide voted against it Michael Perri spokes Man for the Independent federation of flight attendants said after wednesday s vote. The turnout for the vote was very very heavy. The vast majority of the membership voted. The airline wants a 22 percent pay Cut and work Rule changes that would save $100 million. Approval of the pact would have meant capitulation by the Union which began its strike March 7 but called it off last saturday. The 5,700 flight attendants ended their strike in the hop it would help save their jobs. The company says the concessions Are needed for the airline to turn a profit. Votes were cast in new York Boston Kansas City Chicago san Francisco and los Angeles. Lehman assails proposed cuts Calls for expanded naval Fleet Washington a Navy Secretary John leh Man said thursday the United states needs to expand its Fleet to 600 ships not Cut it and maintained that was proven earlier this year by the Navy s operations off the libyan coast and the earlier interception by Navy planes of the Achille Lauro pirates. During an interview on Abc to s today show leh Man strongly criticized the House s approval last week of a s994 billion budget for the 1987 fiscal year. It slashes $35 billion from the Reagan administration s proposed $320 billion Pentagon spending plan. If Congress makes the kind of meat a cuts that the House just passed Well go right Back to the terrible Condi Tion we were in in the 70s. If this country depends on the use of the seas then it s got to have a Strong  american carriers now carry a 90-Day Supply of spare parts with ammunition filled to the Gunnels which we never had five years ago he said. And we have Manning at 100 percent. Five years ago we were manned at 91 percent. Asked to support the administration s spending request for the Pentagon Lehman said i think events out in the Mediterranean. Answer that question. We had three major crises the intercept of the pirates from the Achille Lauro. As you know piracy and terrorism Are a growing phenomenon in the world. Then we had the exercises in the Gulf of Sidra. Then we had the president s decision to retaliate for the Berlin strike Lehman added. And All of these depended on the ability of carriers and destroyers on the scene. We re at sea in the seven seas of the world 24 hours a  retirement changes won t affect Corteo Tractive duty gis  by clip Washington by Washington Pentagon Offen hire trying to assure Servic members that proposed retired will not Hurt people already in the service. The Pentagon s lop manpower official conference wednesday to get that  a troops. Chapman Cox assistant Secretary a Hense for Force management and personnel  department officials continually receive que Bis from soldiers sailors and airmen in the Field on How pending changes will affect their bin fits. Neither of Theja is that have been passed by the respective House Congress affect anyone currently in the Force or an a forces Cox emphasized. One reason the Pentagon has not been Able to a ctr a message across is that it has never before had a Cmunt Bill stating that it did not affect the current Force. "buta06irirbills totally Grandfather everybody that s the Force he said. He current Force is exempted from the changes because defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger convinced con Gress that service members made career decisions based on their retirement expectations. Cox said. Weinberger was less successful in convincing Congress Nigg gig retirement would severely Barm retention Cox Sai Cox said to chg the effects of retirement changes is difficult but the pm on can show by analysis and experience that reducing Reffle of benefits hurts retention. The Impact of the Changmin pinot be Felt until people who enter the armed services  changes become Law have five to 20 years exp Ems in said we did the Best we could to make those a tages the least damaging on the future Force people who c the Bills arc enacted he said. Iran s . Envoy caught shoplifting i in ambassador to the United Raincoat from a de new i Lili nations was caught St apartment store but was immunity police said. Said Rajacic Khorasani so was trying on a Raincoat the second floor of the men s department at Alexander s in Midtown Manhattan when he went behind a clothes ripped off the Price tag and headed for the John Venetucci a police department a store detective  trying to steal the coat thesos Madwid wednesday. The dcj�0mind a Security guard intercepted Ramaie Khorasani before he left the store. Fri agents called by store officials recognized Ramaie Khorasani As the ambassador and no charges were pressed because of his diplomatic Sti lircti7 a ice were Ane Day Venetucci said. Iranian spokesman As denying the theft saying Muier a misunderstanding or an a empt by the Fri to Cin his four years As ambassador  frequently has attacked the United states and Iran s War enemy Iraq and he has led efforts to Ous