European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday september 4, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 9 housing shortage has service members angry frustrated by Ron Mckinney staff writer sgt. 1st class Raymond Johnson hardly has to Click his heels three times to reach Home from work. For Johnson Home can be found up the Steps by the company Guidon past the cd desk and Down the Hall across from the Community bathroom and showers. Its not much of a walk from work for the platoon sergeant who occasionally is the acting first sergeant. And living in the same building where he works keeps Johnson close to his troops a closer than he cares to be. A a there a no privacy a Johnson said. A being a sergeant first class in the Barracks someone sat the door All the time if something goes wrong or if they need  Johnson could be living in senior enlisted Bachelor quarters at building 4090, located just outside the Gates of Cambrai Fritsch Cavern. But that building is being converted to transient billets As part of a major expansion of its temporary quarters. Unfortunately for Johnson the expansion leaves Only one building with 22 rooms a in nearby Griesheim a for senior enlisted bachelors. The waiting list there is about a year. Community officials said they Are giving the senior sergeants the Opportunity to live in an apartment on the Economy. A it is also important to know that unaccompanied senior cos receive additional funds when government housing is not available and they Are required to live off Post a Darmstadt officials said. But the senior sergeants said those funds done to cover the costs of living in an apartment. Johnson said he had Only overseas housing allowance funds of $454.70 about 700 Marks with which to rent an apartment because his Basic allowance for quarters goes to his sex wife As child support. The 15 year army Veteran said the overseas allowance Isnit adequate to rent a one bedroom apartment which costs about $615 950 Marks with utilities. He said had no Choice but to move into the Barracks. A it was either that or pitch a tent i guess a said Johnson assigned to cob 94th engr in. A i thought this was an injustice being done not Only to myself but to the other senior enlisted on this  a with the Mark rate As bad As it has got the overseas housing allowance does no to do any Good a said sgt. 1st class James Edwards of he co 11th Sig in. A you still have to take dollars out of your pocket to make ends meet a he added. Johnson also said the living conditions in the Barracks Are not up to the minimum standards As outlined by army regulation. According to table 3-1 in army regulation 210-11, senior enlisted soldiers quarters Are required to have a minimum of 200 Square feet of space and a private Bath. Chapter 35 allows a 10 percent reduction in space due to military necessity. Johnson said his room is about 90 Square feet. He also must use Community showers and bathrooms. Many of the troop billets in . Army Europe do not meet the space criteria for non commissioned officers As outlined in regulations according to a Darmstadt statement. It said that was because Many were built before the turn of the Century or shortly thereafter. Johnson Isnit alone in his displeasure Over the loss of senior enlisted Bachelor quarters. A a in a not too Happy with it a said sgt. 1st class Carl Conaway who is training to become the no in charge of the Messel Small arms Range in Darmstadt. Conaways family returned Early to the states to care for his brother in a amps Michael Abrams transient billets just outside Cambrai Fritsch Cavern Gate in Darmstadt. Law who has cerebral palsy. Since his bad is being used by his family in the states Conaway expected to live in Bachelor quarters. Instead he was told he would have to live either on the Economy or in the Barracks. Not wanting to spend More Money because of his family crisis he chose the Barracks. Conaway currently assigned to the 165th military intelligence in said the biggest drawback to living in the Barracks is room inspections. A after 17 years i thought id be away from that a Conaway said. Johnson meanwhile has escaped the senior enlisted Bachelor quarters waiting list. While on leave to the states to attend his brother a funeral he married his Girlfriend Gabrielle whom he met during his previous tour at fort Leonard Wood to. Housing officials then told him the wait for family quarters was Only six to eight  from Page 8 building 4090 is Complete. As of this month nine of the 22 rooms in building 4090 Are still occupied by senior enlisted bachelors. The total of 77 single rooms and 24 suites at the four transient billets could be expected to generate at least $ 1.2 million a year. That assumes 90 percent occupancy at the lowest temporary lodging rate of single rooms. Last year the Community raised its rate for service members who Are receiving temporary lodging allowance for transient billets from $15 to $35, said an official at the billets operations. A family of four now pays $95 a night for the government billets. Before the increase a family of four paid $40 a night the official said. A family of four could stay at a hotel on the German Economy for less than half what the military charges. The Prinz Heinrich hotel located in the Darmstadt suburb of Griesheim charges 68 Marks a or about $43 a a night for a family of four staying a month or longer. That hotel is used frequently by new arrivals to the Darmstadt military Community. A it is possible that local facilities May be available at a rate less than what is charged by the transient billets a Mcferron said. A however those facilities Are not conveniently located for personnel who do not usually have automobiles and Are not yet versed in using local Public transportation. A in our opinion it is better that this Money is returned to support soldiers than being paid to German facilities a Mcferron added. In either Case the . Government is picking up the Tab through the temporary lodging allowance whether its a $43-a-Mght German hotel or $95 for the military billets. Contributing to Thea report atari writer a cml Jonah Imelda Marcos greeted by supporters in Hawaii. Honolulu up a former philippine first lady Imelda Marcos arrived Back in Hawaii to cheering and singing supporters after a seven month absence during which she was tried and acquitted on racketeering charges. Marcos dressed in Black and appearing relaxed and Happy was greeted at the Airport sunday by about 100 supporters Many with children who held a huge Banner saying a Welcome Back Home May am and  several supporters held american flags. Some gave Marcos bouquets of Flowers and piled leis on her shoulders As she smiled and greeted them. They snapped pictures of her shouted a Ama Buhaya Long life and Sang a god bless american and a i am a  a a it a Nice to be Back. Its Nice to see All our friends Here a Marcos 61, said. A thank you so much for your support and for your prayers. This has Given me a lot of  a a it a almost Halfway Home a she said repeatedly. Marcos has often expressed her wish to be allowed to return to the Philippines. After leaving the Airport Marcos went directly to the Valley of the temples memorial Park to visit the temporary resting place of her husband the late Ferdinand Marcos who died sept. 28, 1989, in exile in Hawaii after a Long illness. He has not been buried because his widow Hopes to take his body Back to the Philippines for burial. He lies in a she like Structure built against the Side of a Hill in the memorial Park. She was acquitted july 2 after a 10-week trial in Federal court in new York on charges she helped her husband loot the philippine Treasury of More than $220 million using the Money to buy new York buildings artworks and jewelry