European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Bush lauds War role outlines delivery of armaments greek and american officers Welcome president Bush upon his arrival Friday at Souda Bay a Airfield on Crete. Souda Bay Greece apr president Bush toured a strategic . Naval base in the Mediterranean on Friday and said the United states was accelerating delivery of armaments to Greece to thank a a key member of our coalition in the persian Gulf War. A Greece stood with us from the very first moment of desert shield to the final Victory in desert storm a Bush said. The president was to travel saturday from Greece to Turkey which also was hoping for a Concrete Reward for its unflinching cooperation and major contributions to the War. The president began the final Day of his visit to Greece a the first by an american president since 1959 a by touring the ancient temples on the acropolis and giving a speech to the Rcck american chamber of Commerce. After a flight to the Souda Bay naval base on the Island of Crete Bush toured the . Navy frigate do Wert and the greek frigate Limos and paid tribute to greek and american sailors for what he called their key backstage role in the persian Gulf War. The excursion to Crete brought a Surprise for the president. He ordered his motorcade to Stop along the Road so he could Greet some local residents. A Are you from across the Street a he asked a woman who rushed up to him. A no a she replied a a in a from new  the unidentified woman said she was married to a . Serviceman on Crete. After touring the ships Bush spoke to an audience of . And greek forces under a broiling Mediterranean Sun. A today not As president or head of state and without regard to Flag or rank but As a former Sailor i a see Bush on Page 2 panel temporary halt to rims by Chuck v1nch Washington Bureau Washington the Senate armed services committee concerned that All benefits for involuntarily separated service members Are not yet in place wants to give career service members an extra measure of Protection during the current draw Down. Citing the Pentagon so a lethargy in devising its separation benefits policy the committee would like to bar involuntary separations of qualified personnel with Between five and 20 years of service until All the pieces of that policy Are in place. The provision is part of the committees defense authorization Bill for fiscal 1992, which includes a military pay raise of 4.2 percent effective Jan. 1. The Bill would not bar the military from separating personnel for failing to meet weight standards substandard performance or for being passed Over for promotion among other reasons. Even if no draw Down Effort was under Way a certain number of people would normally be involuntarily separated each year in such circumstances and those people will still go the staffer said. A what the Bill says is that there will be no rims reductions in Force a the staffer said. A no one who is otherwise eligible to stay in will be kicked out solely because of the  the Pentagon budget for next fiscal year includes separation pay for 15,400 service members who would be involuntarily separated under the services current plan. It is unclear How Many of those might be in the category that the committee is seeking to protect but military officials said the number will be Small because the services do not like to Cut qualified career personnel just to meet strength limits. The provisions Impact on the Pentagon a Overall Force reduction efforts is also Likely to be Small. The military expects to meet 75 percent to 80 percent of its draw Down goal of 500,000 Over the next few years by slowing recruiting tightening first term re enlistments and separating retirement eligible personnel. The limited separation freeze provision was easily approved by committee members who Are impatient with the Pentagon for still not completing its separation benefits policy More than 10 months after see panel on Page 2 of delays reassignments in Europe by Peggy Davidson and Amy Geiszler Jones staff writers the air Force is delaying the moves of about 5,000 service members assigned to Europe who were scheduled to leave for new assignments in August and september. The delay is due to a Money shortage in the 1991 military personnel appropriations account according to a july 14 message from the military personnel Center at Randolph fab Texas. The unexpected evacuation of thousands of family members from Clark a in the Philippines helped Drain that account said the chief of the consolidated base personnel office at Raf Laken Heath England at a briefing Friday. About 50 people affected by the involuntary extensions attended. A they did no to count on a Volcano exploding a said maj. David Tom referring to the eruption of mount Pinatubo located about 10 Miles from the air base. A a everybody a seen in the newspaper that they re closing Clark. Everybody a moving from Clark  on june 10, about 17,000 . Service members and family members were evacuated from Clark with most returning to the United states. Only about 2,500 uniformed personnel remain at Clark mostly involved in Security and clean up operations. The . Announced tuesday that it is giving up Clark because restoring it would be too expensive. Nearly 2,300 officers and enlisted members in Europe will be moving during the first two weeks of september rather than their original departure dates in August said Doug Moore a . Air forces in Europe spokesman. More than 2,400 members scheduled to leave in Early september will be delayed until the last two weeks of that month Moore said thursday. Civilians who work for the air Force Are not affected Moore said. Affected by the delay Are most air Force members stationed overseas on Tours for 24 months and longer with reassignment dates of aug. 1 through sept. 30. Service members scheduled to report to overseas assignments in August and september will be delayed until october or later. The delay also affects people who Are already assigned to Europe and were see Europe on Page 2