THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, March 16, 1996               TAG: 9603160349
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                         LENGTH: Short :   31 lines

ADMIRAL WHO WAS FORCED TO QUIT IS HIRED BY INTERNATIONAL FIRM

Navy Adm. Richard C. Macke, forced to quit as commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific last fall after he made insensitive remarks about a rape case involving three American servicemen, has been hired by an international communications company to handle its Pacific Rim operations.

Wheat International Communications Corp., which helps other businesses plan and develop their telecommunications and information systems, said Macke will be its vice president for the Pacific Rim and will be based in Honolulu.

Macke was forced to announce his retirement last fall, just hours after suggesting in an interview that three American servicemen charged with raping an Okinawan girl could have hired a prostitute for less than they spent to rent a van used in the attack. The remarks inflamed public opinion in Japan, where the rape charges already had further angered residents about the stationing of American forces in Japanese territory. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Adm. Richard C. Macke lost his job over rape remarks.

KEYWORDS: U.S. NAVY RESIGNATION by CNB