
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 22, 1994                    TAG: 9406220524 
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS                     PAGE: A6    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Staff and wire reports 
DATELINE: 940622                                 LENGTH: Medium

WEEKLY BRIEFING

{LEAD} GI BILL'S 50TH YEAR: Today is the 50th anniversary of the GI Bill, which has paid to educate millions of veterans and helped transform the majority of veterans from renters to homeowners through government loans. Signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 22, 1944, the act was called the ``Serviceman's Readjustment Act of 1944,'' or the GI Bill of Rights. The program was set up to help World War II veterans ease back into civilian life, but benefits now are used as incentives for joining the all-volunteer military.

NEW LEGAL HEAD: Capt. Charles ``Ed'' Ellis Jr. stepped down as the head of the Navy Legal Service Office on Tuesday, handing over the command to Capt. Donald J. Guter in a ceremony at Norfolk Naval Base. Ellis headed the office, considered one of the area's largest law firms, for three years, during which time his lawyers handled 2,500 judicial cases and offered legal advice to some 120,000 sailors. He has been reassigned to Pensacola, Fla., where he will work as the top legal adviser for the Chief of Naval Education and Training. Guter's most recent assignment was as special counsel to former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Frank B. Kelso II.

MEMORIAL TO WAR DOGS: An often forgotten combatant from World War II will be honored next month when the first memorial to dogs that accompanied U.S. soldiers in the battle for Guam is dedicated. The War Dog Sculpture - of a Doberman pinscher, the most common breed used to fight in the war - will be installed at the U.S. Naval Base at Guam. Of the 350 dogs used in the battle from July 21 to Aug. 10, 1944, 25 that died in action were buried at an informal cemetery there. Dogs are still formally part of the military. Two hundred graduate yearly from a San Antonio training center with a ``rank'' of private first class.

\ FAMILY SERVICES

PARENTAL DISCIPLINE: Norfolk Navy Family Services is sponsoring ``Discipline is Not a Dirty Word'' - which will cover parenting skills for those with children ages 1 to 6. Meetings are 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, July 7-Aug. 11. Topics include effective discipline techniques and the effect of the Navy lifestyle on children. For more information and registration, call 444-2102.

\ COMINGS & GOINGS

CHANGE OF COMMAND: Cmdr. Richard C. Bedford is relieving Cmdr. John W. Sherman as commanding officer of Fighter Squadron 41, an F-14 Tomcat squadron at Oceana Naval Air Station. Bedford is executive officer of the squadron. Sherman is awaiting new orders.

DECOMMISSIONING: The Barnstable County, a tank-landing ship, is scheduled to be decommissioned and turned over to the government of Spain in ceremonies today at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. The ship was commissioned 22 years ago.

BY THE NUMBERS: Watching the coast - President Clinton's policy on Haitian refugees has drawn international scrutiny, but the impoverished island nation ranks just third among sources of Coast Guard refugee interceptions. by CNB