European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 13, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes . Wednesday july 13, 1994gay naval officer dealt setback by the Washington Post a a a a / it. . Tracy Thorness dramatic admission on television that he is a homosexual earned him a hearing before a Navy discharge Board two years ago. A military lawyer ruled monday that the appearance remains valid evidence now that the Pentagon is again trying to throw him out under the new a a done task done to Tell policy. Thorne 27, an aviator who became one of the military a most celebrated homosexuals joined a handful of people to be adjudicated under the old and new policies regulating homosexuals in uniform. A discharge Quot Board in 1992 recommended Thorness dismissal. Last january however a Federal judge reinstated him to Active duty with the understanding in the stars and stripes 10 years ago july 13,1904 a Walter mandate announced that he wanted new York rep. Geraldine Ferraro to be his running mate on the democratic presidential ticket. 20 year Sago july 13,1974 a a Federal jury convicted president Nixon a former no. 2 aide John d. Ehrlichman. On three counts of perjury and one count of conspiracy in connection with the burglary of the office of Daniel Els bergs a psychiatrist. 30 years ago july 13,1964 a the Republican platform committee favouring Barry Goldwater completed the party so Plank after rejecting a number of planks pushed by backers of Pennsylvania gov. William w. Scranton Goldwater a rival for the presidential nomination 40 years ago july 13,1954 a . Secretary of state John Foster Dulles prepared to leave for Paris to discuss indochinese truce negotiations with French and British leaders. 50 year Sago july 13,1944 a As major Battles began in Eastern Poland and other areas the ferocity of nazi resistance against soviet forces indicated the Gravity with which the German High command viewed its military situation. A. 50 years ago today july 13 1 9 4 4 red army soldiers capture Vilna after several Days of brutal fighting in the streets of Lithuania s capital the Victory increases the soviet threat to Cut off German forces on the Northern front. In Italy free French troops take san Gimignani and push near Pogg Bonsi and Castellina. American soldiers fight. A their Way Back to the Dri Numor River in new Guinea Sai tape sector. Source 2194 Days of War w. H. Smith a publishers inc. The world almanac of world War ii Bison books corp., 1981 a that his Case would come under the new rules which went into effect last february. Those rules part of a Compromise the Clinton administration reached with Congress allow homosexuals to serve so Long As they stay celibate and keep their sexual orientation private. A Thorne made his orientation Public on abcs night sine in May 1992. Rejecting arguments from Thorness lawyers Marine maj. , the Legal adviser to the Navy Board said that statement and others by Thorne Are admissible even though they occurred before the new policy took effect. One of Thorness attorneys Patrick Lee said afterwards that he was disappointed by the ruling but still intends to show that Thorness admissions of Homo sexuality were made within the context of a political debate and do not prove an intent to engage in homosexual acts. The military a new rules which took effect earlier this year say that declarations of homosexuality create a a a presumption that a service member has a Quot propensity to engage in Gay sexual acts. But the rules allow service members to rebut that presumption in a hearing. Thorness hearing is scheduled to last until today at a Navy facility in Southeast Washington. Quot Gay rights advocates embraced Thorne As a spokesman for opening up the. Military to acknowledged homosexuals in part because his service record was so impressive. His lawyers monday sought to emphasize that background in opening statements and with witnesses a Bombardier navigator Thorne was ranked at the top of his class in three consecutive stages of his training. Thorne is no longer on flight duty since reinstatement he has worked As a computer trouble shooter. His current Boss cmdr. Craig Luigart testified that he was initially worried that Tho rite might be More interested in a pushing an Agenda a rather than doing his Job. But Luigart said he has since con eluded that Thorne is a a hard charging lieutenant a whose a professionalism has been  but the Navy a lawyer it. Peter Dutton noted that Thorne has Only civilians Imper his command in his new Job and cited Congress findings last year that having openly Gay people in uniform would destroy morale in the ranks. Navy Crew members sit with their disabled helicopter after it was hit by a private plane monday and made an emergency Landing in Northampton county a. The Pilot of the Small Cessna aircraft was killed in the collision Cessna plane hits Navy copter killing 1 Cape Charles a. A a Small private plane collided with a Navy helicopter monday and crashed into Chesapeake Bay killing the planets Pilot. No one aboard the helicopter based at the Nas Norfolk was seriously Hurt said coast guard it. Scott Decker it landed safely in a Field in Northampton county. A body was recovered at the watery crash site of the Cessna 172, initially authorities did not know How Many people were aboard so they searched for possible survivors. Later they determined the Pilot was flying Solo. The cause of the collision was under investigation. The Pilot was identified As William m. Sklar 60, of Portsmouth who worked As an airborne spotter for a fishing company guiding fishing boats by radio. Officials did not know if Sklar was working at the time of the collision. Costs delays submerge sea Wolf Gao says Washington a the first sea Wolf attack submarine is plagued by Cost overruns and construction delays congressional investigators say but the Pentagon insists the vessel will join the Fleet on schedule. A report by the general accounting office made Public monday said design and construction costs of the nuclear powered submarine went $56 million Over budget last year. And the Gao said those Are Only the latest in a series of Cost run  and delays that have made the sea Wolf one of the most controversial items in the defense budget. Both the Pentagon and the electric boat division of general dynamics corp., which builds the sea Wolf in Gro ton conn., defended the work being done on the first of three vessels president Clinton Hopes will be built. Frank Kendall a defense department acquisition official in charge of tactical warfare programs said electric boat will meet its delivery Date of May 1996 for the first submarine. A since the Gao completed its audit work the shipyard has made significant Progress a Kendall wrote in response to the report. Electric boat said that this year workers have completed sea wolfs pressure Hull nine Days ahead of schedule tested the nuclear propulsion Plant and begun training the Crew. The first sea Wolf is already bought and paid for and the second has been approved. But the report by the Gao the investigative Arm of Congress is sure to intensify next years debate on whether to build a third sea Wolf. Congress has already funded that project partially and Clinton is expected to seek $1.4 billion next year to Complete the vessel. The Cost of the first sea Wolf is expected to be about $2.4 billion. The second and third would Cost slightly less. Earlier this month the Senate voted unanimously to impose a Cost Cap of $4.76 billion on the first two submarines. Sen. John Mccain r-ariz., said he will propose killing the third sea Wolf next year on grounds that the Money could be better used a to counter the Clear and present threats of today a