European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 27, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 b the stars and stripes Friday december 27,1991former go says he s victim of bias3-year Legal baffle has yet to Clear name by Janet Howells Tierney Washington Bureau Washington a the costs of Battle arc still mounting for one former no. Three years of Legal warfare with the army has left Romeo Skepple with no More savings mounting Legal fees and rejection slips from would be employers unwilling to hire someone with a Federal conviction indicated on his discharge papers. But Skepple who spent 17 years in the army insists that the conviction that led to his discharge was based on race not evidence. Documents detailing Skepple a allegations have reached top army and defense department officials. His is one of Many complaints lodged against the military and sent to the . Commission on civil rights in Washington in the past year. In documents sent to the army Board for correction of military records in alexandria., va., Skepple alleges that the military erred when a military court in Stuttgart Germany found him guilty of sexual harassment. A to not ask gang a Keppie mercy. In a just asking for Justice a said Skepple who works As a Cook in a retirement Home in Newport news a. The Pentagon had no comment on his Case and would not discuss previous courts martial. Skepple a problems began in january 1989, when he arrived at the 22nd Maint co on Wallace Barracks in Heilbronn Germany. He took Over the dining facility from staff sgt. Shirley Mundy who had supervised the Cooks for More than a year. Mundy remained at the facility As a subordinate. A a the resentment Mundy evidenced by being Dis placed by Skepple formed the skeletal motive for Lundyy a subsequent attempts to destroy his career a Gary r. Myers Skepple a lawyer in Washington d.c., states in a Brief submitted in March. The Brief requested the army Correct the sex soldiers military records. Soon after Skepple arrived in Heilbronn Mundy apparently went to work to discredit him according to the Brief. Court records show that Mundy solicited statements from other women in the dining facility asserting that Skepple had sexually harassed them. In testimony during a court martial in Stuttgart in november 1989, All but one of the women who alleged sexual harassment against Skepple admitted they had made the statements Only because of Mundyk surging. Before the court martial the investigating officer major Larry r. Burkhart of the army a trial defense service questioned More than 30 witnesses about the Case. The report cited an a Aroma of  his report noted Mundyk a influence on the women whom she supervised. Burkhart suggested that the army press a Case against her for conspiring against a senior no and for other offences but the army a pumped his suggestion and pressed its Case against  m not asking for mercy. I m just asking for Justice a Romeo Skepple the special court martial began nov. 20, 1989, and lasted one Day. Skepple was found guilty of maltreatment indecent assault and indecent acts. He was sentenced to a reduction in rank to staff sergeant and the court ordered that a formal reprimand be placed in his official files. The conviction was the first blemish on his otherwise spotless military career said Skepple a father of four. He has been married to his second wife Maria for five years. Skew. Moved to new York when he was 11. He was drafted in 1972 at the age of 19. In 1978, he was Cook of the year at Rort Campbell ky., and received a humanitarian service award for cooking meals for the vietnamese boat people while stationed at fort Chaffee Ark. Skepple served two Tours in Korea two in Panama and one in Germany. After the trial to his commands Chagrin Skepple continued to protest the verdict then wrote a letter to sen. Alfonse do Amato. . In the letter Skepple claimed that the charges against him were made by a a racist system that treated White soldiers with similar charges against them much less harshly. Capt. Martha l. Cowan Skepple a company commander at the time conducted an investigation following the letter and found no basis for the accusations. A few months after Skepple a court martial Cowan initiated proceedings to separate shepple from the army due to misconduct which the army refers to As a chapter 14. Under regulations a chapter 14 Board must find that a Soldier has a record of disciplinary problems and Abili Tate the Soldier failed. That efforts to rehabilitate it i Epple was born in the West indies and his family Stol. J Skepple said Cowan told him his discharge was a what the Community commander and command ser want major wanted and besides she was not fond of having to do  a they were hoping i would go away and they would t have to look at what they had done a Skepple said referring to the military Community leaders who prompted his ouster from the army. Capt. Susan Krones Skepple a military lawyer represented Skepple at the chapter 14 Board. She recalls Cowan saying it had been strongly recommended to her that Skepple be chartered out and Krones assumed the impetus to do so came from the Heilbronn Deputy Community commander. Krones said she thinks it was improper that Skepple was subjected to the chapter 14 proceeding several months after his conviction with no incidents occurring in Between. Skepple was honorable discharged on july 26, 1990, and the reason for separation was listed As a Smiscon  commission of a serious  that statement has hampered his attempts to land a Job Skepple says since potential employers often asked for details regarding his past. Skepple Scase is in the hands of the army Board for correction of military records. Along with a Host of Legal documents is a request by his lawyer that the army Clear his client of All charges and reinstate him in the army at his former rank. Army officials said they expect to Rule on the request some time in 1992.lucky Soldier wins the Volvo of his dreams by Vince Crawley staff writer army staff sgt. Isaiah Mcgahee won his dream car for Christmas last week a a $21,000 Volvo. A a in a still pinching myself a the 30-year-old Supply sergeant said dec. 18 shortly after being told of his prize. A a in be never won anything in my  Graham Carmichael Volvo military sales manager in Frankfurt Germany said Mcgahee was a absolutely Over the Moon when told that his name had been drawn from about 7,500 entrants. The sweepstakes for a free 1992 Volvo 940gl, was offered this autumn to . Military customers at Volvo dealerships across Germany Carmichael said. Mcgahee who works for the 147th Maint co in Schweinfurt had been ogling the swedish luxury cars All autumn. He was at an after duty basketball game when his wife Wilma answered the phone Call saying they a won. A i came Home at about 8 p.m., and my wife said a what do you want for Christmas a a a Mcgahee said. He replied a you know what i want but we done to have the  then his wife told him the news. Extension granted to raise funds for women in military memorial by Janet Howells Tierney Washington Bureau Washington Congress has granted a two year Extension to the deadline for the fund raising efforts of the women in military service for America memorial foundation. Congress gave the project the go ahead in 1986. Plans Call for the memorial to be built at the Gateway of Arlington National cemetery in Virginia to Honor All women who have served in the american military. Efforts to raise the $18 million needed for the memorial have floundered but retired air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma l. Vaught said she was optimistic that the goal could be achieved following an 85 percent increase in contributions during the past year which she attributed to the persian Gulf War. Vaught is the foundations president. Kuwait saudi Arabia and Qatar have pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars to the fund. Major . Corporations and three . States have also agreed to help fund the project. Saudi Arabia has donated $850,000 to the memorial. A the government of saudi Arabia is pleased to support a lasting memorial to the Brave women who served with distinction in the persian Gulf a said Prince Bandar bin Sultan the country a ambassador to the United states. A the citizens and the leaders of saudi Arabia have great Admira Tion for the bravery and skill of americans servicewomen. They proved themselves worthy of such a  major corporations that have contributed Are coca cola company Martin Marietta Rwjr Nabisco inc. Northrop corp. Raythelon company Xerox corp. And Tam brands inc. Montana Florida and Arkansas also have donated to the memorial. A recent military operations have Cre said and Only about $400,000 is in the foundations construction fund. A this project is not just building the building a Vaught said. A a major part of the project is setting up a computer data base of names and individual histories which is being worked on right  the expense of fund raising and the Cost of operating the building once construction is completed is included in the $18 million Vaught said. I hey american servicewomen proved themselves worthy of such a Monument Prince Bandar bin Sultan ated renewed awareness of the invaluable contribution and talents of american women to our country a defense a said Helen g. Goodman a senior vice president for Tam brands in a letter to Vaught. The company donated $10,000 to the memorial. Despite the recent contributions Vaught noted that a we will need the support of Many individuals to build this  construction of the proposed Structure is expected to Cost about $12 million she about $4 million has been raised through registration fees a $25 donation is suggested for each name entered in the memorials computerized Register and through a raffle that offered a prize of a million Dollar House. Through direct mailings and Magazine ads the foundation is trying to Contact every Active duty or retired servicewomen to solicit donations Vaught said. Contributions can be sent to Wimsat department 560, Washington dc., 20042-0560