European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 4, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                New ship provides More Comfort sailors and marines on Board the Wasp have some of the Best living conditions of any ship in the Navy. Some of them just Don t know it yet. Quot Wasp has the Best habitability of any ship Quot said master chief Petty officer Calvin Rennels the ship s command master chief. Quot it has things people take for granted but will learn to appreciate once they go to other ships Quot Rennels said. Among the Wasp s attributes he listed Are modern berthing spaces lounge areas in All Crew and troop compartments and a fully equipped gym. The modern berths Are an extra plus for marines whose quarters on older ships seemed to be design afterthoughts. Many of the Wasp s marines have spent months at sea on other ships sleeping on bunks that consisted of Canvas stretched across a Frame covered with a thin mattress. The Beds known As Racks were stacked four High and so close together that anyone wanting to turn Over had to get up to do so. Quot the difference is like night and Day Quot said Cut. Mark Salmons of the 26th Marine expeditionary unit. Quot the living quarters Are designed to make marines More comfortable More relaxed. Quot the sailors have the Best berthing on a lot of ship Sci. Of Corgi Stone Troob my tuck of one of two video Gomboc on Tho weep. Unee for the Gemmee often con be love Tel dozen people  action Lin estate Check bounces individual penalized it on july 30, 1990, i cashed a $4 refund Check issued by the state of Ohio. The . Navy disbursing office in Naples Italy accepted the Check and paid me the $4. On oct. 25, 1990,1 was Given written detailed instructions to effect restitution to the disbursing office of the $4 plus a $20 administration fee the Check had been returned. Confronted with possible consequences listed in the letter i elected to pay. Subsequently the state of Ohio re issued the $4 Check. I Felt and still Leel the $20 administration Lee was assessed wrongly i have exhausted All possible chief Petty officer whose see prep Eree me uniform at Hla bar thing Araa Quot coffin  and marines had kind of overflow areas a he said. Quot on this ship its All the same. What the sailors have the marines  everyone on Wasp has what a called a coffin rack a Bolike Structure with the occupant s locker beneath the mattress. Coffin Racks also feature privacy curtains Reading lights and individual adjustable air conditioning vents. They Are usually stacked three deep. Although the Racks Are big improvements the Overall layout of Wasp s berthing spaces has some sailors and marines upset. Quot its like 1-64,&Quot said Seaman Paul Goon comparing the traffic through his berthing compartment to the interstate Highway that cuts through Norfolk a. One of the ship s main passageways goes through his sleeping area said Goon a deck Mechanic on an air Cushion Landing Craft. Sgt. Ray Morrical a Huey helicopter Mechanic has his own reason for preferring life on Wasp. Quot we Haven to been on water hours a he said referring to the practice of rationing fresh water because most older ships can t produce enough to allow everyone to use All they want. The Wasp produces enough water every Day to meet the needs of 7,800 people More than twice the ship s population. A this is the Only cruise in be been on that i Haven to had water hours a Morrical  Miller channels locally to recover my $20 from the . Navy disbursing office. I see no real intention on the part of the disbursing officer to repay my $20. He quotes local instructions and Nav comp manual 042484-5b As prescribing directives which preclude reimbursement. I solicit your intervention to recover my $20 and possibly have the prescribing directives amended if need be to Avert similar incidents from happening in the future. Angelo Zaccardelli Naples Italy Felt. Cmdr. Dawn Ann Jameson officer in charge . Navy personnel support activity detachment Naples Italy replies the $20 charge referred to is authorized by the local banking contract Between naval support activity Naples and Bank of America i italia for All returned checks for continued from Page 15 landings would be close in support of troops on the Beach. Quot if the ship is so Miles from Shore it Means we re Only 10 minutes away and can spend 40 minutes on station a he said of they had to however the jump jets could protect Wasp and the rest of an amphibious task Force from enemy aircraft. The traditional aircraft on amphibious ships Are helicopters and the wasps size and facilities also make their operation and maintenance easier. Quot on lpns an older class of assault ship helicopters skids Are on the Edge of the deck. Here we can keep the Tail Over the flight deck and work on the whole aircraft Quot said sgt. Ray Morrical a uh-1n Huey Mechanic. Quot As a Pilot i have More deck spots a said capt. Russ Powers who pilots ch-46 sea Knight helicopters. Quot we have a lot More options for moving Power ashore. Quot Wasp is a real Good platform for command and control a Powers said. A a its not unlike being around a regular Airport Quot but noting that boldness and Surprise Are still important elements of amphibious operations Powers said Quot Wasp has a Tot of potential that has t even been realized yet Quot any reason. The pad has provided assistance to the member in recouping this Money from the state of Ohio and the department of the Navy. The Naples disbursing officer has no Means of local  write us readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or quest bus about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes. Apo a 09211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers. Page 16 a the stars and stripes wednesday december 4, 1991