European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 19, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse The stars and stripes a Page 11in Landers letters dear Ann Landers recently you printed a letter describing the recreational use of nitrous oxide laughing Gas with a response from the american dental association. I would like to Tell your readers that nitrous oxide can be fatal. Our 17-year-old son took an after school Job at a Yogurt shop and was found dead on his 15th. Day of work. The autopsy de a cleared the cause of death was accidental nitrous oxide suffocation. We Learned later that the shop had a tank of nitrous oxide to charge up the whipped Cream dispenser. The boy who trained our son on the Job also showed him How to trap the Gas in a plastic bag and inhale it to get an exhilarating effect. What he did no to know was that nitrous oxide when undiluted by oxygen and inhaled in this manner can be fatal. Since our loss we have watched in horror As various to shows depict the inhalation of nitrous oxide As fun. Believe me Ann this is a dangerous Way to get a High and people need to know it. Please use your column to inform All fast food managers and those kids who fool around with Gas that they Are playing with instant death. Those tanks should be in locked closets with no Hose attached and All employees should be told about the dangers of inhaling the Gas. We will Grieve for the rest of our lives because our son had no idea of what nitrous oxide could do to him. If you print this letter please leave off the name. A heartbroken parents dear parents what a tragedy a and totally preventable. Thank you for sharing your sad Story. It should be a Comfort to know that you probably saved some lives today. Dear Ann Landers i wonder How Many grandparents Are raising their children a children. A a Joey was a product of a Hasty marriage and a bitter divorce. His parents went on with their lives remarried and Are enjoying their second families. This boy is not Welcome in either Home because the stepparents done to want the financial Burden. Joey showed up at my door two years ago and asked if he could live with me. The look in his eyes broke my heart. He said if i take him in it was of he could bunk with a Friend. I knew his Friend lived in a dangerous drug infested neighbourhood where there were killings almost every night. Of course i told Joey i would be Happy to have him. Joey graduated from High school this Spring. He went to the prom and took the senior trip which he will remember for the rest of his life. All these extras Cost Money and i done to have much but he is an appreciative thoughtful lad and in a so proud of him. As a grandparent who is raising my child a son i feel truly blessed. When i think of what could have happened to Joey i shudder. In a sure there Are thousands of readers out there Ann who Are also raising their grandchildren. I want to say to them i know How hard it is at times but its certainly Worth it. A Anonymous Granny in Chicago dear anon you be addressed the grandparents and now Here a a word to the grandchildren i Hope you realize How Lucky you Are. Please treat those older folks with the love and respect they deserve. You owe them More than you will Ever be Able to repay. C creators Syndicate writer offers ideas for reducing forces a recent article brought up a subject that i have been thinking about for some time now. Sydney Hickey of the National military family association pointed out frequent statements by various military leaders that a the Best and brightest will be retained in the army and the upcoming reduction in Force May give potential employers the erroneous notion that those who Are separated Are somehow a a substandard or in fact the average american Soldier on Active duty today is the Best Soldier Ever fielded by any nation at any time in history he or she is drug free Loyal intelligent educated and physically fit a because the army has done a splendid Job of eliminating those who were not indeed even the most marginal Soldier who is barely meeting the standards is still a far More desirable employee than his average civilian counterpart. In the last few months i have heard a lot of puffing and blowing about this a Best and brightest business from All manner of generals and command sergeant majors. Err eur Messieurs those of us who Are truly the Best and brightest both officer and enlisted Are already sending out resumes to ism Texas instruments Dupont Etc. So who will be retained in the army i submit that there Are three categories. A the warriors. The hard corps of i Joes who want to Soldier so bad that they would do it for free As Long As they were provided with a Beans boots and a the ones with no scalable civilian skills who done to have anywhere else to go. There Isnit much of a Market for Cannon cockers or Ada rocket jocks in the civilian sector. A the soldiers with 12 to 15 years in service. They have too much invested in their careers to just toss it out and Start Over. And they will fight like hell if anyone tries to separate them against their will. I have also heard it said that the if reduction in Force is going to be really difficult because we have an All Volunteer army and no one wants to leave. Wrong again i have talked to dozens of Young soldiers and even some officers who have told me in effect that if they were Given the Opportunity to void their contract they would do so without hesitation. With All this in consideration i propose a truly astounding and Radical plan for reducing the ranks. Why not just let anyone out who wants out i would suggest the following parameters a the offer should be made on a one time Only a sign now or forever shut your Mouth basis however a the offer should be Given the widest possible publication through both official and unofficial channels. A All those who a should be Given a separation pay equivalent to three months of their present salary. A those without scalable civilian skills should be Given the option of retraining before leaving service something similar to the i Bill for civilian education. I think you would be quite astonished at the response to this offer. But done to Send your command sergeant major out to get a a Straw poll of the troops because what they will Tell him is what they think he wants to hear. The Only poll that counts is the one that allows the troops to a vote with their feet a a William m. Zwicker Offenbach West Germany a readers add to husband at Home letter id like to write and commend the Man in Augsburg who is a a a homemaker if you la forgive the term. I particularly like what he said about a playing a vital role in allowing my wife to follow her dreams and goals while still finding satisfaction for yes lets Pat this Man on the Back. Hurray for him Isnit that great a a Man who has the self Assurance and courage to take on the but what about us women in the same role i certainly done to want to belittle this Man but it just struck a sour note with me a As a a full time wife and Mother to three energetic boys Ages 6, 8 and 10. I find myself feeling More and More like a social outcast because i done to have a Job a while men who Are homemakers seem to get More and More applause. Pardon me but i do have a Job a a full time Job. In Mon Call 24 hours a Day seven Days a week and i chose this Job. It does no to bring in Money but i can to think of a More personally challenging Job a con a save checkpoint Charlie please done to tear Down checkpoint Charlie. It is absolutely historic. We done to want future generations to forget the stupidity of the Berlin Wall. Believe me you la be glad you saved it in the future. A Gloria de Rouen Gunter Blum West Germany stantly growing and changing. And if i do a Good Job i can to think of a Job id find More personally fulfilling. A name withheld Vaihinger West Germany after Reading a recent letter titled a husband at Home Busy i wanted to Tell your readers the Story of the a husband not at you see my first priority was my Job i did no to support my wife a dreams and goals help raise the children or do anything in regards to cooking shopping laundry or cleaning unless it was beneficial to me. Although i did no to spend time at the club or Bowling Alley i done to drink spent All my time at work to include off Days holidays weekends and even Days i was on leave. Result Early return of dependents to conus Continental United states. I urge All husbands to learn How to balance their time Between a military career and their families. Respect your wife a feelings and ambitions. Be supportive. Spend As much time with your family As possible. Share the responsibilities at Home. Do these things and i assure you you la have a Loving caring family to share your life with. In be Learned this lesson the hard Way. A name withheld Stuttgart West Germany european edition col. Gene e. Townsend Usan 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. Contents of the stars and stripes Are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the . Government the department of defense or the . European command. The appearance of advertising in this publication including inserts or supplements does not constitute endorsement by the department of defense or the stars and stripes of the products or services advertised. 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