European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 8, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes Page 11 Lett Eif Sann Landers 2 responses to letter about Philippines i would like to draw attention to a recent letter about Money paid to the Philippines for the use of property for . Bases. I would also like to draw the writer s attention to the fact that the United states had indeed been paying millions upon millions of dollars each and every year for rent to maintain . Bases in the Philippines not Only for . Interests but also for the interests of the philippine people. One of the strongest advocates in the philippine government today who wants the United states to pay up or get out is a gentlemen who sought Refuge in the United states and lived there for a number of years because the Marcos government was after his skin. I might insert also what does the United states owe the Philippines if it had not been for the United states and had the japanese had their Way during world War ii most of the people in the Philippines would be speaking japanese not English and tagalog and under far different conditions. No offence to our japanese allies or any filipino but i believe the writer could stand to look into facts and not rationalize based on emotions to sustain his convictions. Additionally this gentlemen might ask any citizen As if they had the Freedom to answer him in a letter or otherwise what sort of rent the soviet Union might be paying if they were using Clark a Subic Bay and the other leased bases the americans maintain there. Also has this gentlemen considered the jobs these bases provide albeit for a limited number of citizens but jobs nonetheless i might add one item and use a phrase this writer used. It is has and is becoming More irritating to my ear and to those of Many other . Taxpayers to see countless billions not millions of dollars Given in rent to Many countries worldwide not just the Philippines. I wonder if this gentlemen is aware of the Marshall plan is he aware also of the huge sums poured into the entire Orient subsequent to world War ii with the Philippines being right at the top of the list had that Aid and generosity of the american people not been forthcoming i doubt seriously whether this writer would be around or be Able to even write a letter. I assume he is a member of the . Army i have one final question. If he feels As he does about his native country Why is he not in the philippine army and instead is a member of the army of the United states do not think for a moment that i am in any Way prejudiced toward your native country i am married to a filipina. Charles m. Napier Wiesbaden West Germany i found the recent letter interesting to say the least and contradictory to say the most. You defend the philippine government s unreasonable demand for a huge increase in Aid rent for the . Bases but at the same time you Call for the United states to keep its hands off the  i would not argue with your assessment of Marcos and past foreign Aid to the Philippines. No doubt much of that Aid went straight into his pockets and Imelda s wardrobe just As you implied. However since the Philippines does appear to have a Good godly and honest government in Power Why not use the More than adequate foreign Aid rent that is presently being paid to do the most Good from your letter i cannot be sure whether you advocate continued support or a hands off policy. The Philippines cannot expect both. What do you expect the United states to do Here s a billion Bucks have a Nice Day if we Are to continue foreign Aid we have every right to influence what should be done with it. Naturally we have a strategic interest in the Philippines. This interest involves the entire Pacific Thea Ter not just one Island. Since the Philippines is a democratic nation i would Hope the philippine government shares in this interest. As for communism the philippine government appears ineffectual in bringing a halt to terrorist activities. These activities have Cost american As Well As philippine lives. Communists use the same Good godly and honest values of democratic nations As weapons. They commit atrocities that dumb found us frighten us and weaken our resolve. The Only Way to fight communism is to play hardball and it s High time the philippine government got in the Ball game. Staff sgt. Timothy b. Thomas Lindsey As West Germany readers express their appreciation on july 9,1 left a bag containing All my id Wallet a considerable amount of Money and personal papers on a table at the Burger King restaurant in the Frankfurt shopping  the time i discovered the loss and returned More than two hours had gone  making this Short Story Boring All ended Well thanks to Matt Lucero a Young Burger King employee. Matt found the bag and turned it in. As crowded As the place was Matt could have emptied and removed the bag with no one seeing however he chose the Way which saved countless hours of heartache and paper work and most importantly showed me that there Are in fact honorable  ple still  his honesty i d just like to say publicly thanks Matt you re a Beautiful person god bless you Ray Matus Sheinberg West Germany the purpose of this letter is to express my appreciation to the department of defense dependent school system and the Rhein main a motor Pool and school bus Crews. I arrived in Frankfurt West Germany in 1977 and found housing in Neu Isenburg. During the last 11 years my two sons completed their elementary and Junior High school educations at Rhein main and both have graduated from the Frankfurt american High  have Only fond memories of All the teachers coun Selorus administrators and school bus Drivers. My Over All impressions have been of caring and competent individuals truly interested in their jobs and the Chil Dren in their Trust. I would like to take this Opportunity to personally thank All those who had a part in the education of my two sons. I can Only say that i will always have a deep appreciation for the excellent Job that the department of defense schools is doing in Germany and the top notch performance of the Rhein main motor Pool school bus  j. Rider or. Frankfurt West German editor s note people sometimes ask us Why we Don t run thank you letters. It is because we receive so Many we would not have room for any other letters. But we be decided to share one or two of themore interesting letters once a week. Dear readers remember Gil Noble from Vista calif., the army lieutenant who asked me to help him find the parents of Kevin Howard Dugan an enlisted Man who once served under Noble in Vietnam Noble had just been to the Vietnam me Morial in Washington and his fears about what had become of Dugan were confirmed when he saw Dugan s name. He wanted to let Kevin s folks know that their son was one of the nicest Guys he had Ever met competent admired and respected by All the men he served with. A great Many people write and ask me to help locate sons daughters sweethearts first Grade teachers and College roommates. I respectfully decline explaining that this is not what the column is for. But this request was different. Here was an officer who wanted to Tell the parents of a Soldier who was killed when he was Only 20 what a wonderful Guy he was. I simply could t pass up the Opportunity to bring some pleasure to a family that had suffered such a devastating loss. I printed it. Gil Noble s letter and told him that i had phoned the Long distance operator and obtained the numbers of several Dugans in the area of Blue Point n.y., which Noble remembered As the Young Man s Home but none were related to nor did they know a Kevin Howard Dugan. I had done my Best and wished him Luck. The morning the column appeared in print i was vacationing in Connecticut. My office phoned to Tell me that Kevin s Mother had read the column and was trying to reach me. She does indeed live in Blue Point n.y., but had been widowed and remarried. Her name is now mrs. Anne Dugan Brown. In a wonderfully excited voice Anne Brown told me that she was still in bed when phone Calls about the column started to come in. Within a half hour she had heard from people in three states. Anne and i spoke for a Long time. She has a son Terry 10 years older than Kevin. Terry like Kevin is 6 foot-5 and both boys loved to play basketball. Anne also has three daughters 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. The missing link was Gil Noble. But not for Long. Terry Dugan got Noble s phone number from information in Vista calif., and called him up. He ran into Gil Noble s answering machine. Noble now a business teacher and his family were vacationing in Hawaii. But a neighbor of Gil s was checking the machine periodically and relaying the messages. Within hours Terry Dugan received a Call from Noble friends in Vista had seen the paper and at least 20 excited pals had called to Alert him to Ann Landers column. What excitement Noble got Anne Brown s phone number and called her from Hawaii. Everyone was thrilled that the lieutenant had at Long last located Kevin Dugan s Mother. I confess that i was As thrilled As anybody. What a privilege to have been Able to brighten the life of this Lovely woman whose handsome son had been Cut Down at such a tender age. And i made the lieutenant Happy too. He was walking on air Anne told me. We exchanged addresses and Telephone numbers and i m sure we will get together one  stories like this one validate the goodness of people. It proves what i have known for a very Long time that most folks Are pretty darned of and if Given the Opportunity they can be downright wonderful. What better evidence than this heartwarming Story that came full Circle after 20 years the of is and file sons a ii a european edition col Jeffrey m. Cook Usa commander editor in chief it col Suzanne l. Phillips Usan Deputy commander editor in chief Marie Kominicki Mert Proctor Deane b. Mcdermott production manager managing editor circulation manager this newspaper is an authorized unofficial publication for members of the military services overseas. 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