European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 7, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday May 7, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 7 Pueblo Crew finally gets pow medals a Lloyd Bucher left receives his pow medal from rear adm. Karl l. Kaup. At Kaup s right is Leon Williams chairman of the san Diego county Board of supervisors. From wire reports san Diego a Crew members of the spy ship Pueblo received the prisoner of War medals saturday a 22 years after being captured by North Korea and two years after being snubbed by their own government. Congress had authorized the issuance of medals to All of the 81 military personnel plus the two civilians who were on Board when the intelligence ship was seized on Jan. 23, 1968. Medals also were authorized for the family of Navy Seaman Duane Hodges who was killed when the ship was attacked and to the families of two Pueblo Crew members who recently died. Sixty three Crew members Many accompanied by family and friends attended the ceremony in san Diego and a reunion at a nearby hotel. The Pentagon ruling that the Pueblo had not been captured in a conflict a but had been merely detained a meaning that Crew members were barred from receiving medals that were presented in 1988 to thousands of former pos from world War i world War ii the korean War and the Vietnam War. Some Crew members who had applied for the medals were stunned when they Learned about the decision in what one Man described As a a form letter from the  that a administrative slap in the face left Crew members who already had been awarded several medals for their bravery and dedication during Captivity a dumbfounded justifiably angry and deeply Hurt a the retired Pueblo Captain cmdr. Lloyd a a Peter Bucher said in an interview. For Bucher who had worked to see the men honoured for their courage under Captivity it was a Day of redemption for the ship. A this is what needed to be done when we got Home a Bucher said after the 40-minute ceremony. A they needed to Tell these Guys that they had served Well. A what they got was a very military function called a Board of inquiry and then  they did receive some awards later on but it was done More or less in private. I wanted these Guys recognized in  Bucher explained that he declined to speak at the ceremony because he feared he would be too emotional. In a sense the medals close the books on the Pueblo affair Bucher told reporters after the ceremony. A now we move on to just reunions and watching one another a kids and Gran kids grow  he chastised a the people who made the decision to not come to our assistance and recalled How government officials had signed a confession indicating the Pueblo was a spy ship and then after the Crews release recanted. A that really does no to speak Well for the government. They ought to be Able to do a hell of a lot better than  the Pueblo was captured in International Waters after being fired on by North korean vessels. The Crew was tortured endured Public humiliation and resisted efforts by the North koreans to be used for propaganda purposes before being released in december 1968. Even after a formal Navy court of inquiry Many questions remain about the koreans reason for seizing the ship and about the failure of . Forces to respond to Calls for help before Bucher surrendered the ship and Crew. Bucher and other Pueblo officers were recommended for courts martial at the time of the inquiry. But the Navy never tried them. During the ceremony attended by about 500 people the sailors heard Praise that had eluded them for More than 20 years. A these men once were snubbed by our government when the medals were first awarded a said rep. Nicholas Mav Roules a mass. Who Bucher credited for eventually getting the medals approved in Congress. A that was an oversight. Today in a Small Way. We Are trying to right that  . A a skip Schumacher or. Acknowledged the Honor on behalf of the Crew. Quot the pow medal is to Honor those people who served and served honorable and in a Here to Tell you today that this Crew did serve  Schumacher said drawing applause. There was other lingering bitterness evident saturday. A this medal Means  said Stu Russell now 47, who was a 24-year-old Supply clerk on the Pueblo. A we All Learned about the three branches of government in High school but we did t learn about the  said Russell who scored the Navy for a needless delay. A they put us on the Back Burner in 1968 and wanted to keep us there a said Peter a a Milt Bandera. 42, from Shingle Springs a Small town near Sacramento. Calif. A we were Lucky enough to have people fighting for the medals. Bandera said. A a it a a Good feeling to know that we re recognized As being pos Quot said Rogelio Abelo 47, a mount Lake Terrace wash., resident who was the first Crew member to receive his medal. A everybody s  ignites student police Melee in Calif town by the los Angeles times Chico Calif. A a party outside a student apartment Complex near California state University Chico erupted into a violent confrontation Between students and police. The Melee resulted in 65 arrests and several dozen minor injuries authorities said saturday. Chico police joined by reinforcements from More than a dozen neighbouring Law enforcement agencies struggled for 5 Xhu hours to control the crowd. The gathering of about 500 people late Friday grew to More than 1,000 before Dawn on saturday authorities said. A at one Point i looked outside and saw a Wall of people coming Down the Street a said Maxwell Eagye a College Junior who was working at a local liquor store when the Melee erupted. A there were dumpsters on fire ambulances out a helicopter. Every Street sign in the entire area had been pulled out of the  authorities said there were no serious injuries but hospitals in Chico 75 Miles North of Sacramento reported treating several dozen part goers and police officers who had been beaten trampled or Cut by broken bottles. Police said at least five officers were among those treated. Most of the arrests were for Misdemeanour offences such As failure to disperse. But authorities said at least three people face possible felony charges of assaulting police officers. The confrontation which police described As a Quot riot a began outside the Sierra West apartments a private Complex that caters to University students. The Complex is known by local residents As Quot the zoom because of the Many parties held there. The manager said saturday that she had been instructed by the owner not to comment. Several witnesses said the party was held in conjunction with a citywide Celebration known As a Rancho Chico Days a although it was not an official part of the festival authorities said. The three Day Celebration of the towns Frontier heritage sponsored by local businesses has not officially involved the University since a 1987 Melee. Some 2,000 participants then smashed windows stomped on cars and hurled bottles at police. Local merchants said that the highlight of this years Celebration a the annual downtown Parade a was held saturday afternoon without incident. Chico police retained reinforcements from several nearby agencies to guard against a possible renewal of the violence on saturday night. According to police the Melee began at 10 . Friday when an outdoor party about three blocks from the University Campus became unruly. Police described the crowd As a extremely hostile and aggressive and said hundreds of revellers threw rocks bottles and other objects at  contractor accused of hampering investigation Washington apr a House committee chairman saturday charged that the manufacturer of the Navy a new $1.2 billion guided missile destroyer is hampering congressional investigators examining allegations of contract fraud. Rep. John Dingell d-mich., said the Bath Iron works of Bath Maine has refused to provide the congressional general accounting office with documents or allow investigators to inter Yiew employees unless the Gao promises to withhold the information from Congress. Dingell in a letter to defense Secretary Dick Cheney said it was time the Navy got Tough with the contractor. A spokesman for Bath Iron works said the company has cooperated with the Gao and the defense contract audit Agency which Are looking into the allegations by Dingell and those made anonymously through a whistle blowers hot line. A emr. Dingell a letter contains no new allegations that we be heard about a said Jim Mcgregor the company a spokesman. Dingell the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on oversight and investigations has been highly critical of the Navy a plans to buy 33 of the ddg-51 destroyers at a Cost of about $30 billion. Dingell has questioned the survivability of the ship and its sophisticated Aegis weapons system against missile attack and alleged that the Navy a contract with Bath is a Quot procurement Nightmare of fraud and abuse. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer has an All steel superstructure and will be equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles. In his letter to Cheney Dingell said Bath had violated the Pentagon regulation that All contractor employees fill out their time cards in Ink to avoid supervisors directing them to discharge. A none of the Yard workers at Bath Iron works fill out their own time cards a they Are filled out by their supervisors who also have responsibility for the budgets a Dingell said. Quot this is an outrage a it violates every principle of responsible internal controls and makes it virtually impossible to audit for discharging Quot he said