European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 a a a the stars and stripes Friday May 4,1990added funds May break deadlock on go pay other personnel costs by Janet Howells Tierney Washington Bureau Washington a Money added to an emergency government funding Bill this week by the Senate May break the deadlock Between the Pentagon and Congress Over How to fix ailing military personnel spending accounts. The Bill which also contains economic support for Panama and Nicaragua would provide $780 million for military salaries and other personnel costs for the fiscal year ending sept. 30. Without the Money Pentagon officials said they would have to Cut tens of thousands of Servic Mem Bers from Active duty cancel Many reassignments and consider other drastic actions. Under the legislation the Money for personnel would come from funds authorized by Congress in recent years but not yet spent by the Pentagon. Those funds had been authorized for military operations maintenance and research and development. The $780 million was added by the Senate to a $3.4 billion supplemental spending Bill on monday. Early next week the House and Senate Are expected to negotiate their differences on the Bill and a few snags Are expected a Senate staff member said. For one thing the Bill would increase the size of the total budget for the current fiscal year which some lawmakers dislike because it would drive up the Federal deficit. Pentagon officials Hope the deficit debate will revive their original and simpler request to shift or reprogram the necessary funds from other areas of this years defense budget. A a we re hoping that Congress will see that the Bill will Cost us three times As much As reprogramming a said a Pentagon official who requested anonymity. A the Bill would also take More time to get  unless the conference committee drops two amendments added by the Senate president Bush might veto the Bill. One amendment would provide taxpayer funding for abortions in the District of Columbia. The other Calls for the death penalty in drug related murder cases in the District. Pentagon officials said some action is needed soon. A Pentagon memo said in March that As Many As 65,000 service members would have to be Cut before oct. 1 if the personnel shortfalls Arentt covered. The $780 million in the supplemental Bill is $72 million less than the Pentagon asked for in Early february. But sources said the services could absorb the difference by signing up fewer recruits and allowing More troops to leave voluntarily. The Transfer would require approval by both the House and Senate appropriations and armed services committees. The Pentagon remains optimistic that the matter will be solved next week the military official  Reed returning to . From staff and wire reports Wiesbaden West Germany a freed hostage Frank Reed is to return to the United slates today officials said thursday. Reed spent his last full Day at the air Force Hospital in Wiesbaden continuing medical tests. Doctors have said that earlier tests showed no significant health problems. Meetings with state department reception team members also were to resume thursday. The team is seeking clues about the 16 other westerners including six americans who Are still held in Lebanon. Reed his wife Fahima and their son Tarek plan to go to his Hometown of Malden mass., once they arrive in the states. An air Force statement said there would be a a single photo Opportunity upon his departure from the  it said Reed had no plans to talk with the Media before leaving the Hospital at 9 30 . Today. Afterwards he will Fly to Andrews fab md., where he will undergo further tests. Reed was released to syrian officials in Lebanon on monday after 3 la years in the hands of shiite moslem fundamentalist  to visit Britain Italy France next week Washington apr vice president Dan Quayle will visit Italy Britain and France on May 6-9 As he leads a delegation celebrating the Eisenhower Centennial in Europe his office announced monday. Quayle will meet with the top leaders of the three countries address an Eisenhower tribute at the italian parliament and visit the european space Agency Headquarters in  the rank of one of the new members of the sgt. Morales club was incorrect in a recent article. Earl Marshall or. Of co a 249th engr combat in is a staff sergeant. When the military phone system in Frankfurt is Down from 6 . To 8 . Saturday the number for crisis intervention will be civilian 069-1541-6292. The number was incorrect in an article yesterday. Vietnam vet Waits almost 21 years to get purple heart today in Berlin by Ron Mckinney staff writer Larry Parker a purple heart becomes official today. Almost 21 years after he was wounded in Vietnam the assistant director for Community and family activities of the . Come Berlin will officially be awarded the medal at 9 . In a ceremony at Clay Headquarters. The purple heart is awarded for wounds or death As a result of combat duty. Quot As time passes you have More of a feel for the things you be done a Parker said in a Telephone interview thursday. Parker had a purple heart pinned to his clothes by a colonel while he was hospitalized in 1969, but the official orders never made it into his service record. Parker checked into it again in 1980, but was told a fire in St. Louis had destroyed his medical records. Last fall while at a Veteran of foreign wars bar in Norfolk va., a Friend told him that a lot of those records that had been reportedly destroyed were found. Parker wrote the army Reserve personnel Center in St. Louis and received a letter april 5 authorizing his purple heart. A it makes me feel Good to know that somebody cares a Parker said. A in the world of customer service its really Good to see that somebody is taking the time to see that All these people Are receiving these  Parker sent a note to his Mother last week saying a you wont believe this a he a expecting his phone to be a bringing off the  a a in a sure she a going to be stunned by this. Its unusual stuff a he said. His wife Heidi  believe it Parker said. Taking a backseat to the excitement were their children Bradley 4, and Gregory 2. They re too Busy playing cowboys and indians he said. On the night of june 20, 1969, Parker a member of co of 51st inf 199th inf brigade was defending a perimeter at Lon Binh when his company came under a heavy rocket and ground attack by the Viet Cong. The concertina wire that outlined the perimeter blew up and the Viet Cong charged Forward. Parker was returning fire when a fragmentation grenade exploded near him knocking him to the ground. A i Felt a wave of heat and then i knew 1 was Hurt because i Felt the pain a he said. Still Able to move he joined his company to form a second perimeter and they began firing .50-caliber rounds. A that pretty much took care of them a Parker said. Shrapnel injured his left leg left Side and right . A but that Sok a he said. A because we beat them. We pushed them  most of the wounds were superficial Parker said. There was one deep wound on his left Side. The doctors cleaned him up and picked out the fragments and Parker returned to his unit in three Days. After 11 years in the army a his later years spent As a physical activities specialist a Parker separated from the service. He has been working with the government As a civilian for nine years. A there Are still about 2,000 other Vietnam vets still in Southeast Asia and All of those Guys won purple hearts a Parker said referring to those considered missing in action. A a in a like for All 2,000 to come Home off an air plane to cheering crowds or have their bodies returned in a Flag draped  Hopes Rhein main show limited almost entirely to base personnel by Ron Jensen staff writer Bob Hopes show at Rhein main a next week is limited almost exclusively to base personnel a spokesman said thursday. A it s in a hangar with limited seating a said maj. Steve Knechtel head of Public affairs at the base near Frankfurt West Germany. A we had to put a limit on  almost All of the 4,000 tickets for the thursday show will be distributed by unit commanders and first sergeants at the base. About 200 tickets will be Given to v corps personnel. In contrast tickets for Hopes show at Raf Mildenhall outside Cambridge England Are being distributed throughout All of the services in the country by order of maj. Gen. Marcus a. Anderson 3rd air Force commander. The tickets will be Given to bases on a ratio basis. The two largest bases Laken Heath and Mildenhall will receive the most but All bases will receive some tickets to be distributed by unit commanders. Those not claimed will be Given away at 4 15 . Monday just before the show to those waiting in line. About 2,500 tickets Are available to the approximately 30,000 service members in England. Knechtel pointed out that about 100,000 americans live within an hour s drive of Frankfurt. And it seems that All of them have called the Rhein main Public affairs office since publicity for the show first appeared. That publicity was handled by the Uso in Washington d.c., and did not mention the limits placed on ticket distribution he said. Therefore Many people thought tickets would be widely available. A a it a not a Uso show open to the Public a Knechtel said. The military Airlift come of which the base is a part is also a co sponsor of the show and Mac personnel at Rhein main will Benefit from that sponsorship he said. A a in a love to accommodate everybody a Knechtel said adding that Only about one third of the people at the base will be Able to View the show. Hope is making four appearances while on this european tour including stops in Berlin and Moscow. With him will be Rosemary Clooney Latoya Jackson Brooke Shields and miss universe Mona Grudt. The shows will be videotaped and shown on network television in the states later in May