European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 15, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Briefing appears to Back account of eyewitness by Rosemary Sawyer staff writer the claim of a Soldier who lost his leg in the persian Gulf War that Friendly fire killed three of his fellow soldiers was apparently confirmed by the Pentagon on tuesday although officials Are refusing to identify Friendly fire victims by name. Staff sgt. Hilbert Potter told the stars and stripes in March that he believed . Troops accidentally killed three soldiers from his Bamberg Germany Engineer unit feb. 26 and wounded three others including himself. Potter who was platoon sergeant for the seven soldiers from co a 82nd engr in maintains that sgt. Dodge Powell and sgt. William Strehlow were killed by machine gun fire from an m1a1 Abrams tank and that a third pfc. Aaron Howard died when . Fire hit the personnel Carrier the group was Riding in. Powell and Strehlow were shot on the ground after the soldiers abandoned the burning personnel Carrier that Howard drove Potter said. He said the two were see briefing on Page 2 in Gulf by Janet Howells Tierney Washington Bureau Washington a american forces mistakenly fired on other . Forces 28 times during operation desert storm killing 35 service members and wounding 72 others the Pentagon announced tuesday. The defense department previously announced Only six Friendly fire incidents that had resulted in 11 deaths and 15 injuries. A total of 148 service members were see related Chart on Page 2 killed in action and 467 were wounded during operation desert storm officials said. The announcement was made during a noon briefing by representatives of the army Navy air Force and marines. It includes All known and suspected cases of Friendly fire casualties. Low visibility caused by rain darkness and smoke often contributed to mis identifying Friendly forces said army col. Roger Brown assistant to the Quot Deputy chief of staff for operations and plans. Another Factor was the . Weapons ability to strike Long distance targets. Of the 28 Friendly fire incidents 16 occurred during ground Battles and nine were the result of air to ground engagements military officials said. No disciplinary action is pending against any . Service members involved in mistakenly firing on or subsequently killing any other americans officials said. Officials would not identify those who died or were wounded by Friendly fire citing deference to family members. Military officials on tuesday would not link specific units to the incidents because a Pentagon policy forbade it they said at the briefing. However a list was released later that Day linking specific incidents see fire on Page 2tracy flies Home for further medical treatment Wiesbaden Germany apr american Edward Tracy who roamed the world for nearly 30 years before he was kidnapped by shiite muslims left wednesday for his Homeland for medical treatment that is expected to include psychiatric care. The Vermont native underwent two Days of psychiatric and physical exams at the . Air Force medical Center in Wiesbaden where american hostages traditionally Are taken immediately after they Are freed. Tracy a pro iranian kidnappers freed him sunday after holding him for five years in Lebanon. He left Rhein main a outside Frankfurt on wednesday aboard a . Air Force Jet. He was to arrive at Hanscom fab in Bedford mass., wednesday afternoon. Tracy was accompanied by medical personnel a state department team that has been debriefing him and his two daughters Monica and Margaret who came to Germany from their Home in the Canary islands. Tracy was applauded by air Force personnel and gave a fist Salute to waiting journalists As the bus carrying him to the Airport passed through the Hospital Gates. In Boston a spokesman for the veterans administration medical Center said Tracy will be taken to that facility which specializes in Post traumatic stress disorder. Tracy who was born in Rutland vt., last visited his Home state in 1965, seven years after leaving the area for foreign lands. He has lived in Germany Iran Iraq Ethiopia Australia Italy the Canary islands Trinidad and Lebanon where in 1986 he was kidnapped by shiite muslims who claimed he was a spy. Edward Tracy stares from a bus window wednesday morning As he leaves Wiesbaden for Rhein main a. A amps Kon Reorg Israel urged to free some arabs this weekend Geneva apr . Secretary general Javier Peez de Cuellar said wednesday that he hoped Israel would release some Arab detainees this weekend to try to Speed the release of westerners held in Beirut Lebanon. A we could have a gesture on the part of one or the other. That would be extremely positive a he said. But he warned against false expectations that talks with senior israeli negotiators who arrived in Geneva on wednesday morning would solve the Long hostage crisis. A i am not expecting that the israelis will give me the magic formula a Perez de Cuellar said. Top israeli negotiator Uri Lubrani said he would stay a was Long As it takes me to carry out my  in Beirut a senior shiite cleric close to leaders of pro iranian Hezbollah the umbrella group for hostage holders said there has been a breakthrough in the stalemate and that the process of freeing hostages would Likely continue. Israeli Media reported that at the talks israeli negotiators would propose a two stage Exchange of Western hostages for Arab detainees. And Arab diplomats said they believed a Broad agreement had been reached for a series of hostage swaps that could end the ordeal of the 11 westerners including five americans still held. While the reports about prospects for a Swap differ in details there Are common threads. The major Points of any Deal would be Freedom for the Western hostages israelis release of Arab detainees and a release of seven missing israeli servicemen or the return of their remains. Perez de Cuellar asked if he expected Israel to free some prisoners As Early As the weekend replied a a that a my