The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, January 18, 1995            TAG: 9501180494
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS            PAGE: A8   EDITION: FINAL 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   58 lines

WEEKLY BRIEFING

RESCUE AT SEA: The Legare, a Portsmouth-based Coast Guard cutter, helped rescue a storm-battered sailboat about 150 miles west of Tampa, Fla. The Legare was dispatched to the boat, which was drifting in 9- to 15-foot seas, and towed it to safety. The sailboat was from Corpus Christi, Texas.

THRIFT SHOP OPENS: The thrift shop at Oceana Naval Air Station opens Saturday in its new quarters during a ceremony and reception from 10 a.m. to noon. Operated by the base chapter of the Navy Wives of America, the shop sells pre-owned uniforms (50 cents for dungaree pants or shirts, $2 for khakis) as well as children's clothing, housewares and other items. Volunteer work by husbands turned the old base library, building No. 416, into a center with more than triple the space of the old store. The store is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Tuesdays, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays. A dropoff box is available around the clock. Proceeds benefit base and community charities.

ASBESTOS VICTIMS: The Naval Asbestos Victims Association, a nonprofit group of veterans suffering from various asbestos-related diseases, offers assistance and advice in an effort to increase benefits for those disabled by the diseases. The group's president, Ron Gordon, said it also provides records and statistics related to personnel diagnosed with cancers caused by asbestos. Call (800) 216-6282, or write the NAVA, P.O. Box 1195, Theodore, Ala., 36590.

NAVAL HISTORY LECTURE: Anyone interested in the history of naval conflicts can attend a lecture by William Dudley on Jan. 25 in the living theater at Nauticus. Dudley, senior historian of the Navy Historical Center, will talk on the ``Chesapeake Affair.'' The speech starts at 7 p.m. and is free to the public. It is sponsored by the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, on the second floor of Nauticus.

REACHING OUT: Two hundred volunteers from the guided-missile cruiser Bainbridge are taking part in a community Outreach Week by helping pack food for the Foodbank, renovating a church office building and painting a center for mentally ill patients. The volunteer effort will start today and last through Saturday. The ship will be honored in February for its work in this outreach program.

- Staff report

COMINGS & GOINGS

CHANGE OF COMMAND:

Capt. Christopher W. Cole relieved Capt. David J. Montgomery as commanding officer of the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge during a Jan. 13 ceremony aboard the ship. Cole has been executive officer of the Kearsarge since July 19, 1994. His prior assignment was as the commanding officer of the amphibious cargo ship El Paso. Graphic Staff IT'S AN ACRONYM CHALLENGE SOURCE: U.S. Navy [For complete graphic, please see microfilm] by CNB