European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 11, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Germany edition vol. 49, no. 329 monday March 11,1991 b authorized unofficial4 publication for the . Armed forces 35$ d 8693 army ends Stop loss policy unlocks door for Many gis by Rosemary Sawyer staff writer the army has unlocked the door for Many soldiers wishing to get out of the service ending a.3vi-month personnel freeze instituted during the persian Gulf crisis. The army issued a message saturday announcing the end of the freeze called Stop loss which began nov. 23 to keep the Branch ready to respond to needs in the Gulf. An army in Washington on sunday was unable to say whether a freeze on army reassignments had also been lifted. Stop loss forced retiring soldiers and those wanting to leave the service to stay on Active duty indefinitely. It also covered members of the army Reserve and retirees who were called to Active duty for operations desert shield and storm. A the freeze had forced a Quick change in plans for Many soldiers. Master sgt. Michael Lacefield for example would have been sitting on his farm in Wrens ga., on sunday instead of being in Heidelberg Germany. Lacefield who was to have retired March 1 after 21 years of service said he had heard a Strong re Morse that Stop loss was to be lifted i think its great a he added. His wife who is already at the farm near Augusta will be a ecstatic a said the 181st signal co Soldier. Not All soldiers will be Able to leave As soon As they might like however. A. Major army commands overseas Are still authorized to retain soldiers with critical skills up to 120 Days past saturdays effective Date if they Are needed to meet operational requirements or to maintain readiness the message said. Major stateside commands however have to request approval from army Headquarters to extend soldiers for readiness reasons. Both overseas and stateside commands must get approval from Headquarters for All extensions beyond 120 Days and these extensions cannot exceed one year beyond the soldiers retirement or separation Date. Ready reservists cannot be extended More than 12see policy on Page 10no More Gorbachev hundreds of thousands of backers of russian federation president Boris n. Yeltsin chant slogans in Moscow on sunday that soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev must resign. See Story on Page 10. Army staff sgt. Daniel j. Stamaris jr., his wife Rinc beside him manages a Salute despite his injuries. . Greets returning pos with open arms Cheney says Andrews fab my. Apr a someday finally came for 21 former american prisoners who returned sunday to the embrace of their families the Praise of their military Bosses and the cheers of Ordinary citizens. Flags snapped in a stiff wind the air Force band played and hand lettered signs proclaimed the theme of the Day Welcome Home. A your country is opening its arms to Greet you a said defense Secretary Dick Cheney and the several thousand onlookers applauded. A someday finally came and we re glad to be Home a said4air Force col. David w. Eberly the highest ranking of the former pos aboard tvs flight he dubbed a Freedom Zero one from Bahrain. The reunion produced some remarkable scenes. Navy it. Robert Wetzel of Virginia Beach va., his right Arm broken saluted the Flag with his left hand. Army staff sgt. Daniel j. Stamaris jr., propped on a Gurney still managed a regulation Salute. Army spec. Melissa Rathbun Nealy rushed into her parents arms. And an unidentified Man threw his arms around Eberly As tears streamed Down his face. Air Force it. Col. Jeffrey d. Fox 32, of fall River mass., was greeted by a Friend Audrey Murawski. A the sounded Happy he sounded glad to be Back a said Murawski a real estate broker from Alexandria a. A i think he is ready to get Back to families and invited friends of the returning pos were the Only ones allowed close thousands of other welcomes were kept behind a Fence. Yet distance did nothing to Dampen their enthusiasm. Every one it seemed had an american Flag. Yellow ribbons were the dominant clothing accessories. But there were sobering notes that this was a scene of War. Stamaris 31, was flown Home apart from the others on a c-141 medical evacuation plane because of a broken leg and other injuries. The helicopter crewman was captured while participating in the Rescue of air Force capt. William f. Andrews of Syracuse . Andrews 32, was also taken prisoner by the iraqis and he walked off the air plane on crutches. Stamaris parents had been told he was killed when his helicopter crashed. However they Learned the next Day that he was still alive but missing. Stamaris from Boise Idaho was wheeled to the welcoming ceremony on a Hospital Gurney and sat up clutching an american Flag. He was in dress uniform his red Beret Crisp against a White Pillowcase. The others wore fatigues As they emerged from a Blue and White plane from the presidential Fleet Promisee pos on Page 10
