THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 17, 1996 TAG: 9601170400
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
BOSNIA DONATIONS PLANNED: The Defense Department plans to announce in February a plan to transport donated items from charities to U.S. troops assigned to duty in Bosnia. Although it is not soliciting bulk donations, an increasing number of private organizations have inquired about such a program. Organizations are asked to wait for details of the program next month before starting a donation effort. Donor organizations will be responsible for meeting acceptance criteria and for transporting items to central locations within the United States. A 24-hour telephone recording is available now for further information by calling 703-767-5266. A toll-free number will be announced soon. Additional information and announcements will be made available on the Internet (http://www.dtic.dla.mil/bosnia/) at the BosniaLINK home page. An electronic bulletin board also is available to answer questions about the program at ``bosnia donations(AT)hq.dla.mil.'' The start-up of this program will not affect the ongoing shipment of small items, up to 70 pounds, to the troops by the Military Postal Service Agency.
MACARTHUR CHAPTER AWARDS: The 28th annual Douglas MacArthur Chapter of the Association of the United States Army will honor Steven R. Black, vice president of sales and service for Boddie-Noell Enterprises, operators of Hardee's restaurants, during its annual dinner meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Fort Story Club, Virginia Beach. Black is to receive the chapter's meritorious service award, a tribute for providing over the years free refreshments to troops coming home from deployments. Also being honored are: Spec. James R. Springstube of the 368th Transportation Company, Fort Story's Soldier of the Year for 1995; Sgt. Jeffrey D. LaPan, 2nd Platoon, Military Police Company, Fort Story's Outstanding Non-commissioned Officer of the Year; and Cadet Maj. Michael A. Patrick, Cadet Battalion Executive Office at Norfolk State University, receiving the G. William Whitehurst Leadership Award as the ROTC Cadet of the Year. For reservations, call 422-7381.
GUARD JOINS BLIZZARD DUTY: Twenty members of the Virginia Air National Guard's 203rd Red Horse Civil Engineering Squadron, headquartered in Virginia Beach, was activated for duty in Northern Virginia to help with last week's snow removal. The squadron took five road graders and four transport and support vehicles to assist the Virginia Department of Transportation. More than 400 National Guard personnel statewide have been used to provide emergency services during the recent snowstorms statewide. The Virginia Defense Force, a nonpaid auxiliary to the Guard, also provided nine members from its 2nd Brigade in Portsmouth, and had an additional 27 people on standby to assist at the Dove Street Armory in Richmond.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
RETURNING:
About 200 members of the 1st Fighter Wing's 71st Fighter Squadron returned home to Langley Air Force Base in Hampton early Tuesday following a 90-day deployment to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch. The overall operation began Aug. 27, 1992, when a ``no-fly zone'' was established against Iraq to ensure the safety of coalition aircraft monitoring Iraq's compliance with United Nations' sanctions. This was a troop return only. Langley's F-15 fighters are expected to return home on Friday.
OVERHAUL:
The amphibious assault ship Kearsarge has moved from its homeport in Norfolk to Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, where it will receive $16.4 million in renovations during the next five months. Kearsarge returned from its maiden voyage in September to the Mediterranean Sea, during which it led the amphibious forces that rescued Air Force Capt. Scott O'Grady, who was shot down over Bosnia.
- staff report by CNB