European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday december.20, 1990 the stars and stripes m Pago 3 a Warmt crisis in the Gull by Deedee Arrington Doke a Middle East Bureau Eastern saudi Arabia a sgt. Lydelix Black spent much of a recent monday morning waiting to Star m his own Christmas video special Quot it la be a the sgt. Black show a a he said grinning As he sat Down before a video camcorder and prepared to talk for 15 minutes. A a in la pre empt Bill Black assigned to the 501st Ord co from trails him Germany is one of the Many service members taking the Uso up on project better than a letter the program enables the troops and their loved ones to Exchange 15 minute free video messages through $2 million Worth of donations including videocassettes camcorders televisions videocassette players and heavy envelopes. The troops Are taping their messages at various Toca turns throughout the desert shield area. The folks in the United states get free videotapes and taping services at Montgomery Ward department stores. The pcs sages to the deployed service members then can be viewed on the donated tvs and Vars. Christmas cards that feature desert shield themes camels and Wise men in traditional Arab clothing Are plentiful at military exchanges and in local shops but the videotaped messages can to be beat according to the troops. A a it a More personal than a letter a said spec. Charles Schlaegel also of the 501st Ord co. Schlaegel Black and other 501st members were headed to a military finance office when they saw pc pie queuing up in an open Sandy area. Black took the Uso up on its offer a twice. A i had to get Back in line to do it twice a he said. A i sent one to my mom and one to my spec. Corey Garner 20, said his video would a let my mom and dad know i love and miss them a this year Marks garners second Christmas away from Home. Last year found him in Panama a a in a telling my mom in Mok and ill be Back soon a he said. A a a a a a a. A a if we can to be there in person Well be there in spirit a said sgt. Willie Richardson also of the 501st. A Wei come to the sunny Sands of saudi a some soldiers peered seriously into the cameras Eye and spoke quietly even soberly. Others joked As relaxed As if their performances took place in their own living rooms. And still others invited their buddies into the cameras View to introduce them to their families. A Man that a the longest 15 minutes in be Ever spent a one service member said laughing a and wiping his brow As he left the hot seat. A after a while you run out of things to say if its just you of a a vie�tapin8 in Saj Quot Arabia pfc Dion feel invites his squad Leader sgt. Thomas Sloyer to say hello to Teel s folks in Fenton Iowa the soldiers Are assigned to the 50st Ord co from trails him Germany. In a airman s by Randy Pruitt Middle East Bureau Eastern saudi Arabia the . Air Force is in a quandary Over How to Deal with an airman a letters that Are being published As articles in his Hometown newspaper. Sgt Dick Runels of the 927th tac Airlift group wrote letters to the Bay voice in new Baltimore Mich., that were critical of . Policy in the persian Gulf Runels 42, wrote that the sole iraqi threat to the United states is a that we might pay $2 a gallon for he also commented on the meat fleas and frustration As Well As postal clerks who he said intentionally lose mail. Runels has received a verbal reprimand from his commander who said it is against air Force policy to publish articles without prior review by Public affairs officers. The releasing authority in saudi Arabia is the Central come. A the problem is that the sergeant did no to exactly release articles to the paper. What he did is write to his Friend the editor in a letter format and the editor prints those As articles a said maj. Lou Tiedemann a Central come spokesman. Tiedemann said the service does not censor private letters. A now we get into a Legal thing. What a the difference in a not qualified to speak on he said. Tiedemann said Runels comments could have been printed without objection if they had appeared As a letter to the editor. A the Basic policy is that if an individual Speaks As an individual for himself through a letter to the editor that s not cens Orabie a he said. Tiedemann said he thinks Runels is re a leasing articles instead of writing personal letters. Recently Runels submitted two items for review he said. A what i have been sent from the unit Are two letters to his buddy the editor a Tiedemann said. A what i am fixing to do is go Back and say a in a sorry i do not censor nor review personal if the gentleman would like to submit articles to the newspaper we will review articles to the editor Tom Stanton said he received another letter from Runels earlier this week but not to publish it and is consulting lawyers Over whether to print others. In his latest letter Runels writes a i am terribly frustrated because j done to know exactly what to write. This May be read by anybody. Or Grayling Mich. Up an army sergeant has been sentenced to five months in the stockade at fort Riley kan., for his refusal to serve in operation desert shield. A military judge at fort Riley sentenced George Morse to the maximum sentence monday after a special court martial. Army officials earlier decided against a general court martial which could have landed Morse a five year prison term. The 25-year-old Soldier a seven year army Veteran who objects to War on moral and religious grounds was found guilty on eight counts of failure to obey orders As his unit prepared to deploy for Active duty in saudi Arabia. Morse also was demoted to private and faces a bad conduct discharge when he finishes his jail term which begins immediately. His pay is to be Cut two thirds during his sentence. Col Richard Russell a military judge handed Down the sentence after one Day of testimony. Morse did not testify but his Mother Lorna Morse of Grayling testified that he grew up in an anti War Church environment. Morse has cite it his methodist Faith As a Factor in his decision to fight deployment. He was scheduled for honorable discharge dec. 20, but it was cancelled because of the . Buildup in the persian Gulf. Morse tried to file for a conscientious objector discharge last month after the division was alerted for duty but the army said he would have to file alter deploying. Charges were filed when he refused to help prepare cots for the deployment of the 1st inf div. Morsels unit the 1st my co will ship out in the next few weeks
