European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 31, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday january 31, 1sb7 the stars and stripes . Bolsters naval forces in Mideast by Norman Black a military writer Washington the United Stales has bolstered he visibility of its naval forces in the Mediterranean sea and persian Gulf to show support for our friends in the Region amid intense fighting be tween Iran and Iraq and the deteriorating situation in Lebanon the Pentagon said thursday. The ship movements also arc necessary to ensure that to president has All options available to him that he might choose added Robert Sims the Pentagon s chief spokesman. Sims refused to elaborate on what military option president Reagan might consider or to respond to threats by terrorists that some american hostages in Lebanon would be killed if the United slates inc to retaliate militarily. He also dismissed speculation that Navy ships might be preparing to assist in removing americans from Lebanon saying he knew of no plans for any Type of military evacuation. We arc of course concerned about the rising tension in the persian Gulf and the Middle East area Sims said. We want to make sure that we re prepared if our strategic interests arc threatened and show support for our friends in the Region. Our commitment to the Region has been stated Many times but i just have no intention of discussing what options the president might have or anything  on a related matter Sims said the defense department now estimates that Iran has committed roughly 90.000 troops to its offensive against the iraqi City of Basra and in the process suffered Al most 45,000dead and wounded. Iraq now has about 215,000 troops in the area and has committed approximately 75.000 to the fighting he continued. Iraq has suffered an estimated 20,000 casualties he said. Sims described the fighting Between the two coun tries As intense and agreed with suggestions that Iran appeared to have successfully reinforced its troops by moving additional artillery and some tanks to in front. But he said an iraqi counterattack Over the past week had succeeded in keeping the iranians bottled up in a roughly five Square mite area and our cur rent assessment is that there is no imminent danger of Basra  As for . Military movements Sims said tie aircraft Carrier Nimitz and nine smaller warships have taken up a position closer to the mid East in the Eastern Mediterranean following Cancella Tion of port Calls. The Carrier Kennedy has been ordered to remain in the Mediterranean indefinitely to bolster naval strength but arrived in Malaga Spain on thursday on a port Call. An amphibious Force of five ships carrying 1,900 marines was to arrive in Rota spam saturday to relieve the same number of marines deployed in the Mediterranean. Sims said he knew of no plans to keep additional marines in the area. Five destroyers and frigates along with the Flag ship Lasalle were operating in the persian Gulf and one or two of the ships May be operating a Little further North than their location had been. Penta gon sources said the Navy s Mideast task Force had been ordered to move deeper into the persian Gulf As a sign to Iran not to broaden its War with Iraq by attacking other Arab nations. The Carrier Kitty Hawk had left Subic Bay the Philippines and was bound for the Indian Ocean. Sims refused to confirm reports that the earner would move from the Indian Ocean into the arabian sea South of the persian Gulf. A terrorist Alert issued earlier this month to All military bases by the defense intelligence Agency remains in effect. Veteran of Vietnam War awaits daughter he thought was dead san Jose. Calif. A the daughter of a former . Army medic Sells peanuts to soviet tourists on a vietnamese Beach. She is one of 15,000 amerasian children in Vietnam who Are victims of a War and its lingering political disputes. Barry Huntoon who lives near san Jose did t even know he had a child unlit he happened to see a photo graph of a girl who looked like him in the August 1985issue of life Magazine which featured Street scenes in Vietnam. The girl then 14, was shown at a Beach resort Southeast of to Chi Minh cily formerly Saigon Huntoon who lived with a vietnamese woman for two years and had to ship out just before she was due to give birth said he had thought the woman and her baby were dead. After he saw the picture of the girl at the resort he tried to find her. With the help of attorney Bruce bums a Vietnam Veteran and founder of the Amera Lian registry he succeeded. Now he s awaiting the arrival of his daughter Tranthi Tuyet Mai. He and Hii wife of three Yean have two children 6 months and 2 years old and Nave prepared a room for Mai in their Home. Bums explained How he helped bring Huntoon and Mai together. We found somebody who had a relative still in Vietnam who was willing to literally walk up and Down that Beach for a month trying to find somebody who fit the description of this girl and he tracked her Down he said. Not every american who fathered a child in Vietnam wants to bring his child to the United Stales Burns said. Some men have very Little information and Are married and just want to know if the child is alive without making any Contact said hums. State department and immigration authorities say they have a list of 89 children living in Vietnam who Are officially recognised As american citizens both the . And vietnamese governments agree that the children recognized As americans should Befree to leave Burns said. All their fathers have said they Are willing to pay forthe lights 10 the United states and support them Here he said but politics appears to hinder a solution. However Burns said All 15,000 amerasian childen could be declared . Citizens if their fathers acknowledge the relationship. About 3,000 amerasian children live in the United states Burns said but most of them Don t know who their fathers Are. Cherry Coke gets flavor Fine-tuning1 Atlanta up coca cola has made a formula change again. This time the popular soft drink producer is not heralding the change with a fanfare As it did when i announced the Advent of new Coke and the planned demise of the original. This time it is making no changes in Coke or even Coke classic Cherry Coke is the latest target of what one Coke spokesman called  a Public outcry forced Coke to change its mind two years ago when u decided to drop the traditional for Mula of its flagship cola. The company insisted on naming its new formula coca cola however but reintroduced the traditional formula As coca cola classic several months later. The company began sending out a new Cherry Coke syrup to its bottlers in late december. A company spokesman said the new flavor which has slightly More Cherry in it is now distributed nationally. We see this As just a modest Fine tuning of the product the spokesman said. Company spokesmen said Consumers demanded More Cherry in Cherry Coke a new product from an old Fountain soda idea. They denied it was in response to a flurry of new Cherry drinks such As Cherry col slice Cherry re and a planned Cherry 7-up. Cherry Coke introduced in 1985, is one of the coun try s top 10 soft drinks. Affer 25 years receipt returns in mail Coral Gables Fla. Up a garbage collection receipt stamped return to City Hall if undeliverable within five Days came Back to the Coral Cable municipal offices almost 25 Yean late. The sj7 Bill for three months won of garbage collection at Emily Sullivan s Home on Saiz Cdo Street was paid in full july 13,1962.the receipt was mailed to Sullivan by the waste department thai Day but was never delivered 10 the Sullivan Home less than a mile from City Hall. It was returned to City Hall this  Between City Hall and thai address it slopped for 25 years and went 10 the place where mail hides said Ken Smith ass giant City manager. A postal service spokesman said he could not speculate on what happened to the receipt. We move Over 5 million pieces of mail a Dav. The potential for one piece to gel lost out of 5 million is there spokesman Steve Korker said. Since 1962, Sullivan has moved away garbage col Lection rates have risen from $68 per year 10 More Ilian $200 a year Bills have been computerized and zip codes have been added to mailing addresses. City Hall hours however arc the same s . Tos . Monday through Friday. A photo Bury in noon found Bis child through this Magazine. Sands of time in the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. Jan. 31, 1947 the House granted presi Dent Truman s request for Extension of si30million in excise taxes on liquor furs jewelry and other luxury goods and such non luxury services As telephones telegraphs and Railroad and bus transportation. 30 years ago today., Jan. 31, 1957 president Eisenhower called unwise a statement by defense Secretary Charles Wilson thai draft dodging developed in National guard enlistments during the Korea War. 20 years ago foe a. Jan. 31, 1967 elements of communist China s army Loyal to Mao tse Tung claimed they completely surrounded rebel army units in rebellious Sinkiang japanese reports said j 0 years ago today. Jan. 31, 1977 to emphasize the serious Ness of the Winter s Energy crisis president car Ter flew to Pittsburgh 10 visit a Plant that closed for Lack of fuel. Carter warned that the shortage was not temporary and legislation and Public cooperation was needed to keep people working and warm