European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 27, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse B the stars and stripes wednesday november 27, 1991u.s. Flag lowered at Clark a Many mourn closing of historic base in Philippines Clark a Philippines apr the american Flag was lowered for the last time tuesday As the United states abandoned one of its oldest and largest overseas military bases. The base was heavily damaged in last june a eruptions of mount Pinatubo. About 1,000 people watched As a . Air Force Honor guard lowered the Flag and handed it to ambassador Frank Wisner. . Officials said about 250 american troops remained at the base but would leave later in the Day for new assignments. Philippine employees at the base embraced the departing americans and Many in the crowd wept during the two hour ceremony marking the end of nearly a Century of american military presence at Clark. Looters already were swarming Over the sprawling base taking appliances cables and other gear said . Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. In february looters stripped another . Facility Camp of Donnell of virtually everything that the americans left behind. A the longstanding . Military presence is ending a said maj. Gen. William a. Studor who commands the 13th air Force. He said the commands Headquarters would move to Guam with other units deployed elsewhere in the Pacific. In recent years the United states maintained about 20,000 troops military dependents and defense department personnel at the base a major transit and training facility for . And Allied forces in the Pacific. The 130,000-acre base was heavily damaged when nearby mount Pinatubo erupted raining Down tons of volcanic debris. . Officials decided to abandon the installation and negotiated an agreement with the Philippines to keep the Subic Bay naval base for 10 More years in return for $250 million in annual Aid. A i think the general mood is probably excitement about going Home being Back with your families again sadness at leaving your friends Here All mixed up with some fatigue from working the Way we have for the last four or five months a world the . Ambassador to the Philippines Frank Wisner receives Clark Abs Flag from a member of an air Force Honor guard. Said a base spokesman it. Col. Ron Rand. During the ceremony . And philippine officials expressed Hope that Clarks closure will not spell the end of cooperation Between Washington and Manila. A we in the Pacific air Force look Forward to continuing this partnership As we seek to preserve the peace of this Region in the years ahead a said Gen. Jimmie v. Adams commander of the Pacific air forces. A your departure from Clark does not eliminate the importance of that pres ence in this vital Region nor does it diminish the strategic importance a he added after giving the symbolic keys to the base to the philippine military a chief of staff Gen. Lisandro Abadia. Wisner said the closing of Clark will require a new Security arrangement in the Western Pacific and a the United states is ready to associate herself with a a it a sad a said sgt. Harry Sharp 27, a member of the Honor guard who was assigned to Clark in May. A a it a a goodbye to your friends and move the closing of the giant base is expected to further damage the Economy of this area which is still suffering from the effects of the Volcano. Antonio Abad Santos mayor of nearby Angeles said about 30 percent of the City a 250,000 people had left in search of jobs elsewhere. He said at least 15,000 people had lost their jobs when the base closed and Only about 400 have found new employment. Placards were placed near the ceremony site praising the americans and expressing regret they were leaving. A no country can replace you in our hearts a one of them said.200 British protesters Greet North in Oxford from wire reports Oxford England a about 200 demonstrators monday protested retired Marine it. Col. Oliver North a appearance at the Start of a United kingdom promotional visit saying he had no place in a City a with a University of Wisdom and to avoid a hostile confrontation North the Central figure in the Iran Contra scandal had to use a Back Entrance of a hotel where he was attending a dinner to promote his new Book under air crash kills 37 Moscow a a soviet Airliner crashed on Landing tuesday morning in the town of Sugul main the tatar autonomous soviet Republic killing 33 passengers and four Crew members the soviet news Agency Tass said. Tass said the an-24 plane crashed at 5 04 . As it was completing a flight from in the Tyumen Oil Region of Sibera to Bug Ulma a town of 88,000 about 500 Miles Southeast of Moscow. The soviet Agency gave no further details but said a commission had been set up to investigate. Soldiers returning from Kuwait feel extra thankful this Holiday by Gary Pomeroy Staft writer Rhein main a Germany a this year like last year sets. 1st class Tom and Ruth Crownover will spend thanksgiving together. But this year unlike last year they will enjoy it. They will also take time to reflect upon a year that began with his preparations for deployment to saudi Arabia and ended when she returned from Kuwait on tuesday afternoon. She was among 101 . Army Europe soldiers who arrived at Rhein main a after a three month tour of duty in Kuwait where they provided Security. The remaining 1,400 soldiers of the task Force mostly from units within the 8th inf div will return to Germany during the next three weeks. The United states will not replace these troops in Kuwait a Pentagon spokesman said monday. Tom Crownover had a just come along on the support detail that greeted the plane carrying his wife. A this time last year we were loading our vehicles to go to saudi a said Tom who deployed to saudi Arabia from dec. 6, 1990, to april 26, 1991, with the 4th trans in from Stuttgart Germany. As they prepared for their thanksgiving non Celebration last year Ruth Crownover assigned to the 198th personnel service co in Stuttgart was making sure departing soldiers had their records straight before they deployed. After he returned from the persian Gulf Region they had Only a Little More than four months together before she left for Kuwait on sept. 10. This Holiday the couple will savor their Solitude. A a we la stay Home and Cook a Turkey a she said softly wiping a tear. A i can appreciate what we be one word described what spec. Jerry Jeffers will be thankful for this year. A everything a said Jeffers of the 5th personnel group in Wurzburg Germany who also returned tuesday from Kuwait. A a something has prevented him and his wife Audrey from being together for each of the three thanksgivings since their marriage. As the couple reunite the 21-year-old Soldier said he will be thinking about some of the poverty stricken citizens in the country he left hours earlier. A the poor people have it pretty rough a said the Clinton n.c., native. His experience in Kuwait has helped him a appreciate Home like Jeffers Cpl. Clarence Martin of the 25th chemical co in binding in Germany looks Forward to a rare thanksgiving with his wife Cathy son Richard and daughter Cayanee. He recalled upon his arrival that army commitments have kept them apart for most thanksgivings during their five year marriage he said. A a in a just glad to be with my family a Martin said. Ruth Crownover said the Turkey would have to wait while she enjoyed a Well deserved treat she had not experienced since she left for Kuwait. A a in a taking a hot Shower a she said. Tom Crownover Shook his head a what a
