Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 15, 1994                   TAG: 9404150089
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Medium

SENATE PANEL SAYS NAVY CHIEF SHOULD GET TO RETIRE AS FULL ADMIRAL

In a 20-2 vote, the committee recommended to the full Senate that Kelso retire at four-star rank, as recommended by President Clinton. If the Senate accepts the recommendation, Kelso would retire with an annual pension of $84,340. Rejection of the proposal would mean that Kelso would automatically retire at two-star rank, which would reduce his pension by $16,873.

No date was set for a Senate vote.

Most of the committee members accepted Kelso's statement that he did not witness any of the misconduct at the Las Vegas hotel where the 1991 Tailhook convention was held.

``It would be totally out of character for him to deliberately deceive the investigators,'' said Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., the committee chairman.

Voting against the four-star retirement were Sens. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., and Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, the only woman on the committee.

``I think it was widely known in the Navy what kinds of things did happen at previous conventions,'' Hutchison said. ``The investigation was inadequate and he must be held accountable.''

In an earlier committee hearing Thursday, the candidate to succeed Kelso said the problems bedeviling the Navy, such as the USS Iowa explosion, Tailhook and academic cheating, ``were actions of individuals.''

Adm. Jeremy M. Boorda, nominated by Clinton to be chief of naval operations, also said any image problem the service has is the result of media reporting, not any institutional failings.

Boorda got only a few questions on Tailhook and other Navy difficulties in Thursday's confirmation hearing.