European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 10, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 the stars and stripes sunday february 10,1991 at a glance a. V  Tel Aviv citizens View scud damage. Israel hit again israelis resumed a familiar ritual saturday scud cleanup. The latest iraqi missile ravaged a residential Section of Tel Aviv damaging dozens of Homes and setting cars ablaze in debris strewn streets. A paged prewar huddle the Battle plan for the upcoming ground War is designed much like a football coach designs a game plan for a respected foe. A. A a a a a a. V. A. A a a Page 4 of retirees called up the air Force on Friday ordered More than 130 retired personnel involuntarily recalled to Active duty. It was the first time retired air Force personnel have been recalled to duty involuntarily. A a a a a a a or. A Pagas a a a a a 5 / a a a a. A. To Quot postcards via video letters come rarely to the men of a support battalion in saudi Arabia. For some whose loved ones were first on the army list to make postcards by videotape it was a Long awaited glimpse of those they had. Left behind. A pages battleship mothballed the new Jersey the Navy s most decorated battleship and survivor of three wars was decommissioned Friday for a fourth time As other battleships join in the persian Gulf War. A Page 10 on project Washington apr ask a general when the persian Gulf War will be Over and hell say he does no to know. But ask the Pentagon when an Airport in Kuwait will be rebuilt an Dicey the Al you by May 31 a maybe. A Quot a a a that a a Little optimistic a army corps of engineers spokesman Scott Saunders said Friday referring to the May 31 completion Date. He said military procurement officials a put dates on those contracts and then sometimes change them later a. R a a the uncertainties of War can turn Mill tary contracting into Guesswork and make deadlines somewhat less than firm. A new contract awarded to Raythelon co. To help rebuild Kuwait after the War is a Case in  a a a a a a a a a it. Vuk. The $5.7 i nil Jon contract with the corps of engineers Calls for a control Tower and other Airport equipment and specifies that the work will be done in Kuwait and completed by May 31 of this year. V a a k that could be Tricky since the work can to be started in Kuwait until occupying iraqi troops leave the country. Although the United states and its allies Haven to yet begun an expected ground offensive against Iraq the May 31 deadline reflects an Assumption that the iraqis will be driven from Kuwait t veil before then. Larry Mcc Mackeri a spokesman for Raythelon at its Headquarters in Lexing. Ton mass., said the contract deadline is flexible. A k v Quot a a he said the May 31 Date is really a guideline for Raythelon a to be  for example the Airport equipment could be move to another country in the Gulf i Region and ready to be installed by that Date. A a a a \  the contract Calls for Raythelon one of the nations largest military contractors of to provide an air traffic control Tower runway lighting communications equips ment and other facilities. Air Force maj. Michael h. Whitaker sorts through a Box of mail and gifts destined for Servic members in the Gulf. Is fun playing a year says postmaster in Gulf it  a v it in r a  it it s t it11 a a \ y. T Quot it of j n Soldier found dead in apparent suicide berlins amps a Berlin brigade Soldier was found dead saturday morning of an apparently self inflicted gunshot wound at the Wil Flecken training area. The Soldier was assigned to guard ammunition when a fellow sentry noticed he was missing from his Post spokesman Russ Anderson said. A single set of tracks in the Snow led searchers to the Soldier. The soldiers name is being withheld until the family can be notified. By Joseph Owen Middle East Bureau Riyadh saudi Arabia if air Force maj. Michael h. Whitaker thinks he s got a heavy workload As manager for . Central come postal operations he a partly got himself to blame. After All a Guy with 100 pen pals might As Well Reserve his own mailbag at the Post office. Whitaker a Phoenix native who attended postal school in Indiana started picking out pen pals from a any Soldier or Sailor letters from Phoenix or Indiana whenever the mail Sorters at his duty station opened boxes of mixed mail. A it just kind of mushroomed on me 1 he said. The military postal service has been inundated with tons of mail addressed to any service member. Whitaker s correspondents include a radio reporter College students three or four elementary school classes Bank employees prison inmates and employees at a mail order Catalon company. J a i had several pen pals Call me right after the War started to make sure 1 was of a Whitaker said acknowledging that while he d like to answer his mail promptly he does t. A efm always  one woman wrote to him from a Kentucky prison seeking a Job and some companionship after her release in january. A i wrote Back and said a gee id really like to help you but ill still be incarcerated in january of 91,�?T a Whitaker said referring to his deployment in saudi Arabia. He is commander of the 4401st air postal so and the Central Comdr a postmaster which makes him responsible for about 1,350 air Force army Marine and Navy postal workers. He also serves As a sort of traffic director for stateside people trying to find a service member to console. Love had single women write to me As postmaster and Send me a photo for a lonely ,&Quot.he said. �?o1 have fun being matchmaker and fun playing Santa Claus 365 Days a  Whitaker said one Benefit of saudi arabians remoteness and the pen pal Boom will be a written record of personal observations that will survive the War. A up until now we have been a nation of instant gratification particularly with regard to communication a he said a and All of a sudden with desert shield people Are taking time out of their Busy schedules to put pen to paper.�?�. He also thinks it will affect the lives of people who write to each other. A there Are some lifelong relationships that have been established because of this Quot he said. And what about the relationships that already existed Whitaker a wife Susan a sergeant first class in the army reserves was activated arid now is at fort Jackson s.c., helping process troops deploying to operation desert storm. A i spend More time on the phone with my wife than i do w rating to her a Whitaker said