European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday september 18, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 3 Usa eur s no. 1 soldiers give credit to the 1st in by Peggy Davidson Kaiserslautern Bureau Kaiserslautern Germany a soldiers assigned to the 1st in 7th air defense arty at Rhine ordnance Barracks in Kaiserslautern Are doing a lot of bragging since the 1991 Soldier and no of the year were named. A it would be very hard for it to Ever happen again a said command sgt. Maj. Larry j. Gunnels the battalions sergeant major. The a a it he refers to is having both the Soldier and no of the year for . Army Europe from his battalion. A to the Best of our knowledge this is the first time two people from the same unit have won both the Soldier and no of the year in the same year a said staff sgt. Elaine Venoma a Usa eur spokeswoman. She added that there have been years that two soldiers from the same command have won but not from the same battalion. Staff sgt. Umesh k. Dureja 29, said he was excited when his name was called out As the top non commissioned officer for the command. Spec Christopher m. Mitchell 25, said he almost fell Over backward when his name was called. A there was a lot going through my mind a he said a i was worried that i did no twin. I knew i had done my  both soldiers Are modest about their achievements citing the help of everyone in the battalion As the primary reason they won. The recognition came after nearly a year of studying and appearing before boards where they were judged on appearance presentation and knowledge of military subjects. The soldiers worked their Way up through Bat just because we won does t mean we re the Best a spec. Christopher m. Mitchell we just had a better Day than the  a staff sgt. Umesh k. Dureja Tery battalion brigade and major command boards to become two of 14 finalists from throughout Usa eur according to a statement from the Darmstadt military Community Public affairs office. A just because we won does no to mean we re the Best Quot Mitchell said. A we just had a better Day than the others Quot Dureja added. Dureja a communications chief in b Btry said a i thought 1 should win because 1 was very  that preparation included pre Board quizzes by battalion members who asked questions on every conceivable subject to get him ready to face the real thing at Usa eur. Besides the pre boards Dureja said the other soldiers also a gave me a lot of books messages changes in regulations to keep him up to Date on army policy. A amps Peggy Davidson staf sgt. Umesh k. Dureja left and spec. Christopher m. Mitchell of the 1st in stand near unit Headquarters. Mitchell a Patriot missile Crew member assigned to d Btry said he also spent a lot of preparation time Reading books Field manuals and regulations. The questions at the Board were Basic simple Quot Mitchell said. A the hardest question was How did i think i did. It was difficult because i did no to want to sound cocky but i did feel that i did  As a Reward for their efforts Dureja and Mitchell were presented with meritorious service medals. They also received $500 each in cafes merchandise two $1,000 savings Bonds and a $500 shopping spree from the commissary. The soldiers will also be receiving new dress Green uniforms their second prize set they said. Dureja was awarded the use of a Saab 900 for one week. In october the soldiers will travel to the association of the . Army a annual conference in  closure delayed until popular vote held Manila Philippines a the government tuesday withdrew a notice closing Down the Subic Bay naval facilities to give president Corazon Aquino time to hold a popular vote she Hopes will allow the americans to stay. The lease for Subic the largest . Naval base in Asia expired monday but by tuesdays move was in effect extended indefinitely. The philippine Senate on monday rejected a new lease in an attempt to end the 93-year-old . Military presence. Aquino has promised to launch a a people Power referendum to let the Public decide the issues. She told reporters tuesday that she was considering timing the vote to National elections due for May. . Officials said they would wait until the referendum Issue is resolved before withdrawing from Subic 50 Miles Northwest of Manila. Approval of two thirds of the 23 senators was needed to ratify he lease agreement which provided for $203 million in annual compensation and for the closure of the second largest base in the country Clark a next year. The decision to withdraw the notice represented a major reversal of policy for the Aquino government and could Lead to a constitutional crisis. When talks on a new bases agreement began in May 1990, foreign Secretary Raul Mang Lapus issued formal notice that All . Military facilities must close by sept. 16, 1991, unless the Senate ratified a new agreement. Washington protested but Aquino said that the bases agreement had been superseded by the Constitution adopted after she took office in 1986. The Constitution said All forces must go after leases expire. The switch Means that the government now will allow the americans to stay until the time set in any new termination notice. Mang Lapus told reporters that the a notice of termination a which was to have taken effect monday was withdrawn after the Senate vote. Aquino said no new notice would be served until she had exhausted All efforts to overturn the Senate decision. She reviewed the Senate action during a special Cabinet meeting tuesday. Afterwards press Secretary Tomas Gomez told reporters the members discussed possible Legal obstacles to a referendum and what Steps could be taken if the plan failed and the base were closed. A a we re studying holding the referendum along with the National election to save Money a Aquino said later. Such a move would make the american presence a major Issue in voting for a new Congress and a successor to Aquino whose term ends in june. Most filipinos Are believed to support keeping Subic Bay open although surveys also indicate about 25 percent of the 61 million filipinos arc unaware of the . Presence. To Call a referendum the government needs to collect of least 3 million signatures. It remains unclear whether the administration would use the referendum to change the Constitution ratify the agreement or refer it Back to the Senate. The . Government praised Aquino. A we do appreciate her efforts. She a trying to engender Public support for the treaty a White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said on monday. In a related development the communist dominated National democratic front offered direct peace talks with the government less than a week after declaring a unilateral cease fire effective. Such talks would be the first at the National level since negotiations collapsed in january 1987. The National democratic front opposes the . Military  forces recruiters to be in Italy next month Schwet Zingen Germany special forces recruiters will hold several presentations in Italy next month for prospective applicants. Applicants will take a physical fitness and swimming test after the presentations. The swimming test is a 50-meter swim in Battle dress uniform and boots. Locations dates and times Are As follows Vicenza oct. 1-4 presentations will be at the Post theater at 10 30 . And 1 30 . Daily. For More information Call ets 634-7070 or 7708. Camp Darby oct. 8 presentations will be held at the education Center at 10 30 . And 1 30 . For More information Call ets 6337387 or 7502. Interested soldiers must bring a copy of their forms 2a and 2-1 and their physical fitness score card. If local Contact persons Are not available soldiers May also Call ets 3796430 or 6558 or 06202-806430 or 806558. Kohl warns of mass exodus if soviets lose Hope for future Washington apr if the soviet masses Are kept waiting too Long with Little Hope in their future they might abandon the country and flood other Western european countries in overwhelming numbers warns German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. A if they cannot see any prospects for their personal lives if they do not see any economic prospects for themselves they would quite simply leave a said Kohl. A there will be a mass emigration to the West and just think of what that would  after talks monday with president Bush Kohl told reporters that Germany cannot continue carrying the major Burden of soviet Aid. He urged other Western countries and Japan to seize what he described As a historic moment of Opportunity. Bush declared at the chancellors Public sendoff after their three hour meeting that a in principle wed like to be of some  but he added that Washington will not to go beyond shipments of food and medical supplies needed for the severe russian Winter until the soviets qualify for financial help with economic and political reforms. A i think it is Wise to help and it is reasonable to help now so that a free and Liberal order can be established in the soviet Union a Kohl said. A later on i predict that things will get far More expensive than they Are  later at a news conference concluding his weekend visit to the United slates Kohl said his words were directed More at Congress than Bush. A i done to think this is a question of my. Trying to persuade George Bush a he said. Kohl said he and Bush agreed that some form of Federal Structure is essential for the soviet Region