European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 20, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday april 20, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 7 Doolittle a raiders take part in reunion festivities saturday at the South Carolina state museum in Columbia. 50th anniversary celebrated by Doolittle s famed raiders Columbia . Apr a band of untested volunteers who scored a Surprise hit on Tokyo celebrated the 50th anniversary of their daring air raid saturday in the town where they first formed under the direction of Jimmy Doolittle. The men 35 of whom returned to Columbia for their annual reunion were honoured As real life heroes in a Celebration that for them brought Back a flood of memories. A it enlivens and reawaken those memories that we had a said retired Brig. Gen. Richard Knobloch of san Antonio a co Pilot in the raid. A each year those memories get a Little More  led by Doolittle now 95 and unable to make the reunion this year the 80 aviators took off in 16 b-25s from an aircraft Carrier named the Hornet on april 18, 1942, and dropped payloads on Tokyo Kobe and Yokohama. They planned to land in Friendly chinese territory but Stormy weather made that impossible. Most of the planes crash landed in China after running out of fuel some in japanese held areas. One plane landed safely in the soviet Union. Seven of the volunteers died including three who were executed by the japanese. The bombing run was the first time Japan was hit after its attack on Pearl Harbor and it marked a psychological turning Point for the War in the Pacific. A nothing took place in world War ii i done to believe that stirred the american people More. Than the Doolittle raiders a sen. Strom Thurmond r-., himself a world War ii Veteran said at saturdays ceremony. Thurmond also read a congratulatory letter to the raiders from another world War ii aviator president Bush. The raiders began training at the Columbia army a now the City a Airport when Doolittle asked them in february 1942 to Volunteer for a Mission whose purpose he would not disclose. After about a week in Columbia the raiders then trained at Eglin a in Florida until the april raid. Informal reunions of the group began in 1943 in North Africa. The first formal reunion took place in 1945 in Miami. The reunions give the raiders a Chance to talk once again about their world War ii Days something that rarely happens in the intervening months Knobloch said. A when we sit around with a soft drink in our hands telling stories then we think about things. Sometimes its embellishment too a he admitted. The three Day Celebration that ended saturday however was a the greatest reunion we be Ever had a Knobloch said. About 2,000 people attended saturdays ceremony at the South Carolina state museum Many of them military history buffs such As Richard i. Davis of Columbia. A i think that they were indeed Brave Fellows a said Davis who lived in Columbia during world War ii. A i think that they did do a lot for a propaganda Effort and helped get our Victory on our  Knobloch thinks of the raiders in simpler terms. A a group of Young men that were willing to serve their country when called a he said. A a that a about the size of  humpbacks spotted off Florida coast Jacksonville Fla. Up a a surprising number of endangered Humpback whales known for their dazzling leaps and eerie a songs a has been spotted in Waters off Northeast Florida. Scientists with the Florida department of natural resources have counted at least seven humpbacks since january said Jim Valade a biologist who conducts Aerial whale surveys for the department. Researchers from the new England aquarium in Boston also have spotted humpbacks off Florida a East coast As have several oceanfront residents. Last week a Young 28-foot Humpback washed ashore on Crescent Beach near St. Augustine. The carcass was too decomposed to yield Many clues about what killed the animal Valade said Friday. More humpbacks have been seen this year than in any of the seven years since scientists started keeping track of whales in Florida. About 5,000 Humpback whales live in the North Atlantic spending their Summers off Nova Scotia Newfoundland and new England and travelling South every fall to their Breeding grounds in the Caribbean. Although the adults normally pass Florida some scientists speculate that Young whales not old enough to Breed May be staying for the Winter. Most of the whales spotted this year were 1 or 2-year-old juveniles. Other scientists say the increase in sightings could be a sign that Laws to protect the whales Are working. Researchers estimate that when whaling began in the Early 1800s, there were at least 150,000 humpbacks in the worlds oceans. Records show that in one six year period from 1910 to 1916, 60,000 were killed. The Atlantic population was so depleted that whalers abandoned Eastern ports to Hunt humpbacks in the Pacific. Atlantic humpbacks have been protected from whaling since 1956, while Pacific herds have been protected since 1966. Adult humpbacks May reach 62 feet and weigh 53 tons. They Are about the same length As right whales who Bear their calves off the coast of Northeast Florida but Are not As portly. Humpbacks occasionally have been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico. Several years ago one was even seen near the Mouth of Tampa Bay. The Humpback today is easily the most recognizable whale thanks to its enthralling leaps and eerie whistling underwater songs. People turn oui by the hundreds for whale watching expeditions off new England and  ejected from disco is stabbed by assailants from wire reports Hempstead . A teen Ager who ran into a disco to escape a band of assailants saturday was thrown out of the dance bar into the arms of his attackers who then stabbed him a police spokesman said. Mario Lino 17, of the Long Island Village of Hempstead was in mercy Hospital in serious condition suffering from multiple Stab wounds said a Nassau county police spokesman. Three teen age suspects were arrested. Detective Frederic Eno said Lino was in an a a altercation with a group of teen agers and ran into the Takisaki disco shortly after Midnight Friday. A Security employees of the disco observed Lino enter the premises and ejected him from the disco a the police spokesman said. A the males caught up with Lino in front of the disco and proceeded to Stab him several times in the Back and  regrets sentence Stuart Fla. A a judge sentenced a woman to six months in jail for repeatedly strapping her Young daughter to a Board but said he would rather have put her away for life. A i want you to know i am very sorry i cannot sentence you to spend every last Day of your life behind bars for what you have done to that child a circuit judge Larry Schack told Vicky Hedrick at the hearing. Under an agreement with prosecutors Hedrick pleaded guilty to child abuse charges and gave up parental rights. Hedrick 32, was arrested in july 1991 after her daughter Cassandra then 3 a was hospitalized with a Black Eye two missing Teeth deep bruises and infected cuts. Doctors said some injuries were caused by tape used to keep the youngster strapped naked to a Board in a bathroom of the family Shobe sound  dealer vows fight Evansville ind. A a dealer in american Indian artefacts pleaded guilty to Selling illegally excavated items but will continue challenging the Law he is charged with breaking. Arthur j. Gerber 54, of Tell City ind., entered the plea Friday in . District court. He remains free. No sentencing Date has been set. Gerber was charged with violating the Federal archaeological resources Protection act which forbids taking illegally excavated antiquities across state lines and Selling them. In an unusual arrangement his plea was entered on the condition that Gerber be allowed to go to a Federal appeals court to Challenge prosecutors interpretation of the Law. If his Federal Appeal fails Gerber faces up to five years in prison and a $500,000 Fine smile with your voice Trenton . A imposing a decorum that is frequently lacking in their own debates in the legislature new Jersey lawmakers Are promoting a Law that would require the state to teach All of its new employees a Telephone  the measure officially known As the a smile with your voice act a passed in the state Senate 21-8 recently and was sent to the Assembly where it is expected to be passed. A the vast majority of contacts Between the Public and state government occur Over the Telephone a said the Bill a sponsor state sen. William e. Schluter a Republican from Pennington. A while most state employees conduct themselves in a courteous Businesslike manner on the Telephone it is important that the state ensure that All its employees Are Well skilled in the proper tools of Telephone  the Bill requires a training program to address topics such As listening skills conversational Courtesy enunciation articulation and message taking. A the state of new Jersey should always strive to put its Best voice Forward a Schluter concluded. And As he did not add but perhaps should have a a done to forget to have a Nice