European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 29, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday january 29, 1993 the stars and stripes b Page 3 a by Chuck v1nch Washington Bureau _ Washington a the army has just finished notifying hundreds of senior officers and warrant officers that they were selected for Early retirement officials said thursday. The fiscal 1993 army selective Early retirement boards known As serbs that met last october and november chose 179 colonels 143 lieutenant colonels and 60 majors for forced Early retirement from among its line officers officials said. Line officers include All officers except those in medical specialities the judge advocate general corps or the chaplain Branch. Also picked for Early retirement were 64 colonels lieutenant colonels and majors in the medical services corps and 106 colonels and lieutenant colonels from the. Army nurse corps veterinary corps dental corps and chaplain corps. The fiscal 1993 retirement Board was the first to consider warrant officers for Early retirement officials said. Eighty nine chief warrant officer 4s and 166 chief warrant officer 3s were selected. Officers selected by the boards must retire no later than july 1, or when they reach 20 years of Active service whichever comes later personnel officials said. Some officers selected by the boards have fewer than 20 years of service but they will be allowed to stay in until they reach 20 years making them eligible for All Normal retirement benefits. The Arr Ray has regularly used Early retirement boards a As Well As reductions in Force for personnel with fewer than 20 years of service a in the past few years the army is trimming its ranks of those in the late stages of their careers who Are unlikely to be promoted. The cuts provide promotion opportunities As the service draws Down to its target strength of 536,000 soldiers. Currently the army has about 607,000 troops on Active duty. Although a considerable number of officers were selected by the fiscal 1993 boards last year s retirement Board which involved More than 2,000 officers and senior enlisted personnel was the largest forced retirement Effort Ever undertaken by the army retirement boards Are made up of senior officers who pore Over the records of those eligible for Early retirement. By Law no More than 30 percent of those scrutinized by a Board May be selected for retirement. Army personnel officials Are unsure whether More retirement boards and reductions in Force will be needed or How extensive they might be because details of the new administration s first budget proposal to Congress arc unknown. A at this Point we just Don t know what s going to happen Quot one official said. A president Clinton May have plans that we re not aware of  Naples Italy a amps a although military facilities in Naples have been exempted from a weekend driving ban announced by italian officials Drivers still must be careful what routes they use to get there. Driving through restricted areas to reach the facilities can result in $70 fines for offenders. According to local reports Drivers can reach naval support activity Naples using the Tangen Viale an expressway around the Northern Edge of the City. People who want to reach military facilities in downtown Naples can take the Agnano exit and follow via Agnano Agli Stroni to the Asa turnoff or continue on the Roadway to nato base a South. Viale Kennedy near a South also has been exempted from the driving ban. Cap Dichino Airport which also houses . Military personnel was exempted from the ban last saturday but included in the ban sunday. A spokesman for naval support activity Naples said thursday afternoon that he did t know when the driving ban would be enforced this  schedule today for victim of car collision Heidelberg Germany a amps a the civilian army employee killed tuesday evening in a two vehicle collision on autobahn 6 was Wynette Howerton 38, according to the army a 26th area support group a memorial service will be held at i . Today at the Mark Twain Village Chapel in Heidelberg. The Accident occurred As the German Driver in the other vehicle was driving in the wrong direction on the expressway near the Village of Watte Nheim. Howerton was alone in her vehicle. According to Watte Nheim police spokesman Winf ried Knoll the 38-year-old German Driver of the car that killed the american Secretary just missed crashing into three others before hitting hers. He was also killed in the  other three cars avoided head on collisions but were sideswiped before Howertons car was hit. A when he hit the american four other cars crashed into the pileup injuring one woman Driver seriously and another Driver escaped with Light injuries Quot Knoll Saul. Damages were estimated at 120,000 Marks or $77,922 at current Exchange rates he said. Knoll said there was no apparent reason for the car to be on the wrong Side of the Road. He said there was no construction in the area that could confuse a Driver nor were there any confusing Highway exits or entrances. A unfortunately its not uncommon for people to kill themselves in this manner Knoll said. German police Are currently investigating the Accident. Howertons survivors include her Mother Winnie Mae Nealy and her sister Samantha Mcclary both of Philadelphia. 16 into strangulation of Soldier by Mark Kinkade staff writer Bremerhaven Germany a the Pace of the investigation into the murder last week of a arc Mchaven Soldier has stepped up with the arrival of a team of army investigators Ana the offer of a Reward. The army a criminal investigation come assembled the team of 16 agents tuesday and wednesday in this Northern German port to investigate the dearth of pfc. Erica Holder. Holder 19, was found dead in her bar Racks room on Carl Schurz Cavern on Jan. 16. Investigators have posted fliers around the Post and in the Bremerhaven Community offering a $5,000 Reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person or persons responsible for the crime. Frank Shirar spokesman for the Bremerhaven military Community said the $5,000 comes from a Central fund established by the Cid and authorized for use in the Case by Cid Headquarters in Falls Church a. An army autopsy Jan. 17 revealed that Holder of the 176th personnel service co was strangled. Cid officials have refused to comment on the Case but Heidi Geurtz a spokeswoman for the German Justice department said Jan. 22 that police believe Holder knew her killer because there was no sign of forced entry into her room. Robbery has also been ruled out As a motive because nothing appeared to have been taken from the room she said. Soldiers in the Barracks where Holder lived said Cid hed residents outside their rooms tues agents photograph Day morning Ana asked questions about Holder and their relationship with her. Some residents told the stars and stripes that they had been asked if they had contracted a venereal disease from Holder. Neither German officials nor Legal officials at the Cavern would confirm if the army autopsy revealed whether Holder had a sexually transmitted disease. But German police officials said the autopsy ruled out the possibility that Holder had had sex in the hours before her death. One reason for the Large number of agents on the Case is that the investigation comes As the . Military presence is about to end said col. Jules w. Hampton commander of the 543rd support group Here. Hampton said he is concerned that the person or persons responsible for Holder s death could be reassigned to another command before the investigation is Complete. A that possibility is of my mind Quot Hampton said. A the Cid is questioning everyone who s leaving soon and i expect that they will continue doing that As the Case . The installation is scheduled to be returned to the German government in september. With Only 500 people still assigned to the Cavern most . Service members will be out Bremerhaven by july Hampton said. He would not Rule out the possibility of delaying reassignments for anyone who might be implicated in the investigation. Cid and German police Are conducting a joint investigation into the Case Shirar said. The status of forces agreement gives the germans jurisdiction in the Case but in the past they have routinely turned jurisdiction Over to the americans when a Soldier is involved Shi  and know a do it yourself alcohol tester is demonstrated at the International Trade fair in Frankfurt Germany by Onno Luttmer of Cosmos automated. Introducing the new electronic device the bad Segeberg firm said that for one Mark about 65 cents a user can immediately determine the alcohol level in his or her blood