European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 13, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 the stars and stripes thursday october 13,198b free trips for student dependents of d by Congress As morale boost by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington the student dependent travel program in danger of being wiped out by Congress earlier this year has survived the budget wars and will continue to operate in fiscal 1989. The Senate had proposed killing funds for the controversial program Early in the budget deliberations but House members convinced sceptical colleagues in conference that the program is an important morale Booster said a House Slafter. The program reimburses overseas military families for one round trip a year on commercial transportation for dependent students attending College in the United Stales. Travel is funded Only Between the parents overseas base and the closest . Port of entry. The fiscal 1989 defense funding legislation signed into Law by president Reagan sept. 30, not Only Autho Rizes continuation of the program but also increases its annual budget from s2.4 million last year to $3 million this fiscal year. The House staffer said that should prevent a repeat of the problems experienced by the air Force late last summer when several of its major command began to run Short of Money for the program. Air Force and defense department personnel old the commands in Early july to move students using space available military nights instead of commercial carriers if Money became Light. That policy was i effect until the new defense funding Bill became Law. The other services did not have Money problems with the program. The fund proposal has had to weather storms in Congress due to its initial High Cost and because some lawmakers believe moving students on space available military nights ought to be the basis of the program rather than a provision used Only when Money runs Short. We feel that taxpayers should t be fooling the Bill for these students to travel on commercial nights said a Senate staffer. The services should give these students a higher priority on their own military  but Pentagon officials said earlier this year that Stu dents have been moved on commercial flights precisely because military officials thought Congress intent a to avoid having students Lake up scats on military air not. Bul three officials to be about $2 million per year but thai quickly proved to be far too Low. The Price tag reached $4.7 million for of local 1987, when Congress moved to Cut costs by impotent re Striction Hal ban reimbursement Tor the stateside por Tion of any trip made tinder the program. Now family must foot the Bill for transportation costs to get student to or Tram the . Port of entry closest 10 the parents overseas location. The defense department recently made an unsuccessful Appeal to Congress to remove that stateside restriction arguing thai in discriminates against Mili tary families whose children arc not attending College near a military port. But the House staffer said that in the face of opposition from the Senate appropriations committee which has traditionally been hostile to the program the Pentagon should be satisfied that the program is intact with a budget increase to  unclaimed baggage Offenbach weal Germany warehouse personnel Are trying to locale  and civilians in Europe who have no claimed their unaccompanied bag Gage a v corps spokeswoman  left unclaimed after 300 Days is subject to disposal. The following persons should Contact the olt Inbach warehouse Ito Box i Roerts Johnie ii in twid Shaker Phil p Smith Snaw i Snydar pro conf Job Rudi Jon Womak r1�diy Hall morn dial Obom Yugana Oner  William Riburn Bryan Mairl Lubun to iwo Rob own Craig Refl Jbf no Runyon Vic Hap Shu David soil Josih Star own Toubi sol Schei Trimmi a  Hamad frightened the hell out of me Fex Marine says at murder Hijack trial by de heavies suit writer Frankfurt West Germany a former Marine testifying at he murder and hijacking trial of Mohammed Ahamad said wednesday to be Honsl he frightened the hell out of  businessman Robert Gordon Brown 45, said thai when he saw a Short Hijacker standing in the first class Section of Twa flight 847 holding a grenade with the safety pin on the floor he knew that any attack on the Man would end in catastrophe for the plane. I could t do anything said Brown who has Given up International travel Fol lowing his 17-Day hijacking ordeal. I be never Felt so frustrated in my entire  Brown said he was worried that the hijackers would find his retired Marine id card in his attache Case but they did l. He told the court he witnessed the Savage beatings of passengers As the hijackers ran up and Down the aisles of the plane but he could not see . Navy diver Robert Dean Stethem and thus did t Sec the murder of the Petty officer. While forced to sit on the floor at the rear of the plane with the other first class passengers Brown was kicked in the face and had a blood vessel in his Eye rup tured by Hamadi s accomplice who has been identified by police As Hassan Ezziddine. The Jet was commandeered june 14, 1985, while in route from Athens torome and was ordered to Beirut Leb anon. Before the ordeal ended the Jet hew Back and Forth Between Beirut and Algiers twice. After so them s murder in Beirut members of the amal militia boarded the plane and several groups of men were taken off. Brown said he and four other Ameri can civilians were taken into the City handheld in a slum House where they were interrogated. We were then taken to another place where we were kept in an underground prison. It was a Concrete cell two night underground. We lived on the floor. There was no furniture. We could t Wash clean our Teeth or change our clothes and we had absolutely no news from the  for seven Days. Brown said the thought they were the Only hostages then Allyn Conwell visited us and when i was asked to sign a Book listing All the prisoners being held i was num Ber 37." Conwell 39, was elected by fellow hostages to speak for them at a tumultuous news conference june 20. The red Cross accompanied Conwell on his visit to Brown s group and themen then were allowed to Shower change into gym shorts and receive magazines. Brown s voice faltered and he choked on his words when he told the court he read in a Magazine How his wife and Chil Dren thought he had been murdered on the plane because first report claimed the victim was a Marine Brown testified one captor talked to his group about the politics and demo graphics of Lebanon and admitted to being a member of Hezbollah or party of god. But on the whole in was difficult 10 get anybody to Tell us  at one Point Brown said Ezzeddine came to the door and asked in very Bro Ken English if they knew who he was. When he got no response he held the pistol Over his head and asked do you know rect the court wednesday also heard Testi Mony from Fri agent Gary Oetner who questioned Hamadi shortly Filer his arrest in Frankfurt in janary 1987 for trying to smuggle explosives into West Germany the trial is scheduled to continue oct.21 with testimony by a German expert witness on the background of Middle East terrorism. News update Myerson witness new York