European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 21, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday april 21, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 9deserters May account for sightings senator says americans Likely weren t my As Bangkok Thailand a soldiers who deserted during the Vietnam War May account for a number of sightings of americans in Indochina after prisoners of War were returned in 1973, a . Senator said sunday. Sen. John Kerry d-mass., said at a news conference that there was evidence of a a significant enough number of deserters to take into account when evaluating reports of missing americans seen alive. All american prisoners from the Vietnam War were supposed to have been repatriated in 1973 under the Paris peace accords. But the Fate of Many americans listed As missing in action has never been definitively established. Kerry and four other members of the Senate select committee on pow Mia affairs were to begin a visit monday to three indochinese countries a Cambodia Vietnam and Laos. The committee can identify no specific cases of american deserters who might still be alive said Kerry the committee chairman but it does hold information about deserters and others who May have remained in Indochina after the War. The committees Mission said co chairman sen. Robert c. Smith r-n.h., is to determine if any pos were left behind in Indochina after 1973 and if so whether any is alive. Kerry said a there is some evidence still being measured that some people were still alive in Laos after the 1973  he declined to provide any details but said some of the evidence had been provided in Public testimony before his committee and some was gathered in documents. The committee is to visit caves in Laos where american prisoners were known to have been held. During a one Day visit to Cambodia on monday committee members were to meet with Premier Hun Kerry sen Prince Norodom Sihanouk chairman of the supreme National Council and american and . Diplomats. They also were to meet with an unnamed individual who has provided several photographs purporting to show missing americans still alive. Quot the group planned to leave Cambodia today for a the acc Day visit to Vietnam and then was to Fly on to Laos and Hong Kong before returning to Washington next monday. Meanwhile american military investigators flew to Vietnam on monday to resolve the fates of the missing servicemen. One team flew from Bangkok to Hanoi the vietnamese capital. Another team was to Fly later monday to Danang in Central Vietnam. The 58 specialists Are to conduct a 30-Day search in seven provinces in Northern and Central Vietnam. Pentagon officials said last week that the teams will investigate 20 cases. These include eight excavations and 12 investigations that could Lead to More  blame Gulf War for mystery illnesses Indianapolis a staff sgt. Steve Robertson returned from the persian Gulf War complaining of aching joints and a stubborn cough. He ended up in the office of a psychiatrist who prescribed an anti depressant. A they informed me my problem was anger and i needed to vent it a said Robertson 42, a member of the National guard from Fredericksburg va., who served with the military police in the Gulf. Twice last year Robertson took his anger and that of other veterans to hearings of the Senate veterans affairs committee and told about illnesses they blame on wartime exposure to petrochemicals and microwave radiation. Their afflictions include chronic fatigue thickened saliva rashes aching Gums and hair loss. Virginia Stephanakis a spokeswoman for the army surgeon general said few veterans have reported such ailments. And Robertson now an american legion lobbyist in Washington would not venture an estimate on How Many have been afflicted. The military recently tested and examined 100 army reservists based at fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis after they complained of illness. The american legion in Chicago said it has received about 60 inquiries. Reports of the mysterious ailments prompted about 10 Calls to the associated press from members of the armed forces from Maine to California seeking More information. Robertson expects the numbers to multiply after american legion Magazine publishes its May Issue which discusses the topic. A a we re afraid this is agent Orange revisited a Robertson said referring to the problems Vietnam War veterans suffered years after exposure to the defoliant. However col. Norman Teer head sur Geon for the Indianapolis based 123rd army Reserve come said a a it a Only natural for some to conclude that these ailments Are connected to service in the persian Gulf area but there is no proven connection at this  Teer and a team of doctors from Walter Reed army Institute of research in Washington conducted urine blood and enzyme tests on the Indiana reservists. Results wont be known for weeks. But Stephanakis said that so far a there does no to seem to be evidence of one particular cause linking the complaints to the War. Also under review is the reservists Contact with hydrocarbons from Oil Well fire fumes refuelling activities diesel Heaters and other Petroleum sources. Army Reserve capt. Richard Haines of new Albany ind., a former fuel division officer investigating the illnesses said he did find a evidence of heavy hydrocarbon  such exposure can cause malnutrition which requires a special diet. Microwaves from radar or microwave ovens also Are suspect ill veterans say. Teer said studies show exposure to microwave radiation does no harm to humans. But Jeffrey Don yell 24, believes exposure contributed to the fatigue muscle aches and headaches that caused him to miss work so much he son probation. Don yell a Security guard from Jeffersonville ind., said he spent nearly five months in saudi Arabia with the 417th quartermaster co working around microwave communications towers and burning garbage that produced thick Black smoke. His units Shower water had a a Petroleum feel to it a and every week the groundskeeper sprayed pesticides around the campsite he said. A i put my life in the army a hands and Here they be still got it in their hands a he said. National guard staff sgt. Steve Robertson holding his persian Gulf War uniform at his Home in Stafford va., is fighting for soldiers with illnesses they blame on the  panel to visit Dodds Sites in Germany by the stars and stripes Washington a members of the military school systems advisory Council on dependents education will visit schools in Germany later this month and again in the next school year officials announced Friday. The Council members Are particularly interested in How the military draw Down in Europe is affecting department of defense dependents schools and a ensuring that school offerings Are not diminished during the restructuring of communities a an official said. A six member team headed by Bart Lagomarsino Deputy director of Dodds will visit schools and conduct meetings with parents and Community members in the Frankfurt Hanau and Giessen military communities today through thursday. Congress established the Council in an Effort to increase the a participation of parents teachers students school administrators and members of the armed forces in the operations of the schools a according to statute. The councils main responsibility is to suggest changes on general education policies to overseas school system officials. Parents Community members students and teachers Are Welcome to meet with Council members the of Lucial said. More information on local schedules can be obtained from school principals in Frankfurt Hanau or Giessen or by calling the Germany regions Headquarters at 49-611-88239. In addition to Lagomarsino Council representatives visiting Germany schools next week include a Sharon Hennessy principal of want lamp High school Wayland mass. Stateside school administrator representative. A col. Thomas Whaylen Deputy director of personnel and administration for the . European come in Stuttgart Germany military representative. A Patrice Dixon educational aide at at Teheny elementary school Frankfurt go Many Parent representative. A Lauren dec Eric  High school Seimu at Raf , England student representative. A Joseph Ferreira co chairman of the National advisory panel on the education of handicapped dependents Liaison to the Dodds advisory Council