European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 28, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday january 28, 1993 _ . Quoth the stars and stripes a Page Shalt urged on contract for c-17 Washington a1j a senior lawmaker tuesday asked for suspension of a $6.7 billion contract to build the military s next generation cargo plane because of reported collusion Between Pentagon officials and the contractor rep. John Conyers jr., a min chairman of the House government operations committee said he was also asking the Justice department to open a criminal investigation into the Conyers c-17 program. Conyers sent a letter tuesday to defense Secretary Les Aspin that said he was outraged and Quot saddened by what i in the stars and stripes 10 years ago Jan. 28,1983 a West German foreign minister Hans Dietrich Gen Scher said the soviets will negotiate seriously on intermediate Range missile cuts Only if they Are convinced that the West is determined to install its own weapons in Europe. 20 years ago Jan. 28,1973 the United states North and South Vietnam and the Viet Cong signed agreements to end the Vietnam War and . Secretary of defense Melvin a Laird announced the end of the nation s draft. 30 year Sago Jan. 28,1963 a president Kennedy a senatorial Mission to Berlin has recommended that the United states consider reducing its troop commitment to Western Europe. 40 year Sago Jan. 28,1953 a former president Truman said he had some doubt that the soviet Union has a workable a bomb. 50 year Sago _ Jan 28,1943 a the Navy informed the Senate military committee of plans to increase its strength to 2,200,000 by december for a total . Armed forces strength of More than 10.4 million by year s end. L world War ii 50 years ago today Jan. 28 1 a 9 a 4 �3 Adolf Hitler s government announces that All men 16 to 65 will be mobilized for military duty and women 17 to 45 for War related work. On the Southern soviet front. Red army troops Lake Kastor Noye japanese forces on few Guinea launch a last Effort to reach port moresby across the Inland mountains but Are repulsed by australians defending Wau. Source 2>94 Das of War. W h. Smith  inc world almanac Book of world War i. B Oon boo 5 corp .1961 a see As a betrayal of the Trust placed in general officers of the military by the american  he said that a the credibility and integrity of the services has been severely Lar wished by a concerted plan by the Pentagon to bail out its largest contractor a Mcdonnell Douglas corp. Conyers letter quotes at length from a report by the Pentagon a inspector general. The report accuses air Force officers and others involved in the c-17 contract of improperly advancing Money to Mcdonnell Douglas to help cover up Cost overruns and delays. Conyers committee requested the investigation a year ago. Mcdonnell Douglas is $1 billion Over budget on its $6.7 billion contract to develop and build the first c-17s. The air Force also says flight tests of the plane being built at Mcdonnell a Plant in Long Beach calif., wont be completed until reservist is no War hero friends learn Dayton Ohio a Gary l. Locks was a local hero Vietnam War Pilot who was shot Down and taken prisoner but who escaped from his Bamboo Cage by chewing through his bindings and returned to  captors. He led the 1989 memorial Day Parade in suburban Fairborn where he lives and. Served on a committee that screens area applicants to . Military academics. Now it seems it was All a lie and people in town Are stunned. Federal prosecutors say locks never was taken prisoner never was shot Down a and never served in Vietnam. Locks a 49-Ycar-old civilian employee at Wright Patterson fab and a lieutenant colonel in the air Force Reserve pleaded no contest last week to making a false statement to the government. He had told the Board of correction of air Force records in 1990 that he was entitled to a purple heart and prisoner of War medal because he was shot Down tortured and held prisoner. Quot the air Force said these things Are not documented in his record a said a prosecutor who spoke on condition of anonymity. Quot they never  locks was found guilty by . District judge Walter Rice. He could get up to five years in prison and a $250,000 Fine at Wright Patterson base spokesman Bobbie Mixon said locks would t comment locks Home number is unpublished. Fairborn City manager Mike Hammond said locks was respected and his Story was Well known. Essie Tackis who was mayor of Fairborn when locks was. Parade marshal said she was shocked. "1 knew of him and the Story a she said. Quot you would not Ever suspect anything like that at All. Its very disappointing but you also feel sorry for  late 1994 or Early 1995, a year behind schedule. The air Force intends to eventually build 120 of the troop and cargo carriers at a Cost of,$38 billion. The inspector general a report said that in 1990 the air Force expedited payments to financially troubled Mcdonnell Douglas Quot that exceeded appropriate amounts by $349  it said financing also Quot exceeded the fair value of undelivered work by an additional $92  a improper contracting actions reduced contractor financial risk on the c-17 program by $1.6l>illion and created a false appearance of Success a the report said. It said air Force officials intent on seeing the program succeed Quot relied on intimidation and abuse of their positions of responsibility to cause improper actions to be taken. One air Force colonel who objected to the techniques used in fun cling Money to Mcdonnell Douglas was criticized for not being a Quot team player and was Given a reassignment that led to his retirement the report said. Pete Sloan spokesman for the St. Louis based Mcdonnell insisted the company was paid Only for work performed a a we did no to do anything improper on this a he said a and we Don t see any reason for suspension of the  he said Mcdonnell would Complete a review of the inspector general a report this week. Conyers noted that the Navy in 1991 cancelled the a-12 fighter plane project involving Mcdonnell Douglas and general dynamics because of misrepresentation of facts. No problem Mudd a Labrador retriever owned by Willie Gobep of Salina kan., goes up on a limb to fetch a flying disc tuesday in the City s Sunset Park. Puerto rican legislators vote for 2 official languages san Juan puerto Rico apr English will apparently soon take its place beside Spanish As an official language of this . Territory. The legislature dominated by pro statehood lawmakers late monday passed a Bill making English and Spanish official languages. They Bill passed 18-8 in the Senate and 37-13 in the House. Pro statehood gov. Pedro Rossello is expected to sign the bit this week. It then would take effect. The plan revokes a 1991 Law making Spanish the islands Only official language. The Issue is sensitive for puerto Picans Many of whom Are uneasy about what they see As the americanization of the Island. Spain colonized puerto Rico and controlled it for 400 years before ceding it to the United states in 1898, on sunday an estimated 100,000 people marched to protest the Bill. Puerto Rico a 3.6 million people have . Citizenship receive Many Federal benefits such As social Security and food Stamps and Are eligible for military service. They do not pay . Taxes and May not vote in Federal elections. They Are represented in Congress by a non voting Delegate