European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 18, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The sad Fate of the United states once great liner lies unused and unwanted Baltimore Sun the Alp a a once elegant lounges and the Cabins have been stripped Bare. By David Lamb the los Angeles times it was the fastest largest most luxurious Ocean liner America Ever built 12 stories High five City blocks Long a red White and Blue advertisement for a nation that settled for nothing less than supremacy and excellence. When it pulled into be Havre France in 1952 on its Maiden voyage from new York 1,700 passengers danced and raised toasts on its decks. The United states had made the trans Atlantic crossing in a record three Days 10 hours and 40 minutes the record still stands Quot we worked like monks Quot the ship s navigator Richard o Leary recalled a few years ago. Quot they had us hyped up to believe we were supermen. On gala nights you d be in bed and hear the swish of Ball gowns outside your door smell the perfume hear the wine glasses  but the vessel s Golden age lasted Only 18 years and today two decades and three owners after its last voyage the United states is a ghost ship moored at a Coal pier at Newport news va., the subject of lawsuits and perhaps destined to be turned into scrap Metal in some asian port. Facing eviction Here for unpaid rent the vessel May move on to Baltimore until its future its settled. The ships owner United states cruises inc. Run by Seattle Developer Richard Hadley filed for bankruptcy earlier this month scuttling the . Government s attempt to auction off the liner on the Steps of the Federal courthouse in Newport news . Marshals had taken custody of the vessel in october As a result of a suit against Hadley by Cox transportation inc., which owns the Coal pier and is owed $225,000 in Back rent but a judge Here the United states once a source of National Pride now rusts away at a Coal pier at Newport news a. Returned the vessel to Hadley last week Quot it s sad but most of the real interest in the ship has come from parties who would scrap it a said Cox spokesman Lynn Johnson. Quot there Are people with a passionate interest in the United states because of what it  in its Day the United states was so fast and its prow so Sharp that it once impaled a whale. It sped thousands of passengers including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor across the Atlantic but by 1969, with costs soaring and Boeing 747s symbolizing a new Era of jetliner Comfort Quot the big a Quot As it was known was cast into retirement after a final voyage to new York Quot we had no idea she was being taken out of service Quot said Leroy Alexanderson the ship s last Captain. Quot when the Crew was notified a lot of them left their possessions on Board thinking the ship would come out again soon. We were getting ready for an around the world  the United states a built for $80 million half of it Federal funds a was sold in 1972 for $12,9 million to the . Government which intended to convert it into a Hospital ship for troops. Those plans fizzled and Hadley bought the Pride of America s maritime Fleet in 1981 for $5 million saying that he would spend millions renovating the ship and use it on san Francisco Hawaii cruises. But Short on financing Hadley auctioned off for More than $1.6 million everything that was not bolted Down in 1984. The Bridge fittings including two Helms wheels and the main binnacle brought $17,000 triple plated knives sold for $150 a dozen Eagle embellished plates $300 each. Then workmen smashed the porcelain sinks and toilets to get at the Nickel plated traps under the drains. With no on deck swimming Pool a the United states was designed for heavy weather travel a and with pipe installation made of Asbestos it would Cost $200 million to transform the ship into a cruise liner maritime experts  action line phone service upgrade should help Mannheim 0 a i p in Vukio a hot line service to Usa eur aviation units although i have a Bunde Spost Telephone in addition to my ets Telephone most of my customers aviation units must use the ets system. Ninety percent of my customer units have voiced Strong dissatisfaction with the e is system. The problem appears to be a Lack of off Post Telephone lines at most Usa eur locations. At times i receive the circuits All Busy signal when attempting to dial Here in Mannheim and in a in Mannheim. I can imagine the frustration one feels when trying to dial a number Only to hear the circuit All Busy signal. Now put yourself in the shoes of a aviation unit requiring aircraft historical information to enable one of his unit s aircraft to be placed Back in a serviceable condition. Are we going to fix it is it going to get better just what is up with ets Thomaa a Greer Mannheim Germany ave col. Thomas d. Dale Deputy chief of plane he 5th signal come Public affairs office replies there was a recognized ets trunking deficiency in the Mannheim area on or about Jan. 27, the number of trucks was increased from 60 to 84. This should result in a substantial improvement to All subscribers. We constantly track any problems at our theater command control Center but we cannot track customer satisfaction. Thank you for your feedback on our services. Any further questions can be directed to 5th signal come chief voice network integration Branch. Capt. Violette 383-7618. To write us _ readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and done to know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes unit 29480, 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 March 18, 1992