From: CMSgt Mike Bergman <bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil>
Subject: AF News Svc 12/15/92
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 17:43:26 GMT


From CMSgt Mike Bergman <bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil>

945.  Bases close
946.  Somali aid
947.  USO Awards
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945.  Bases close
	WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force officially ended operations at
three of its stateside bases Dec. 15 as part of a list of bases the Defense
Department had recommended for closing.
	Eaker AFB, Ark., England AFB, La., and George AFB, Calif., each held
ceremonies Dec. 15 to mark the end of Air Force operations.
	George was named on the first round of military installation closures
in 1988, while Eaker and England were recommended for closure just 20 months
ago under the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure commission.
	The commission's recommendations to close the three Air Force bases
were presented to President Bush and Congress last year, and became law Oct.
2, 1991.
	The closures are one part of an overall DOD base closure plan that is
expected to accommodate a military that will shrink by 25 percent in the next
five years.


946.  Somali aid
by TSgt. David P. Masko
Air Force News Service
	WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Pentagon's plan to increase its humanitarian
relief operation in Somalia is translating into a larger role for Air Force
cargo aircraft, senior Pentagon officials said.
	Marine Gen. Joseph P. Hoar, chief of the U.S. Central Command, told
reporters Dec. 14 that the Air Force has been flying food and medicine into
Somalia since August, and continues to fly into Baidoa, where some of worst
famine is found.
	"We have flown over 700 flights into Baidoa," Hoar said.  "We have
flown airplanes into Baidoa everyday, save two, in the month of December.
That was the 11th and 12th in which no airplanes went in, and that was because
the airplanes couldn't make radio contact with anybody at the air strip."
	Although Baidoa has been the scene of continued violence, and is one
of the first inland areas the Marines will have to secure, the Air Force has
averaged better than six flights a day into the war-ravaged city.
	"Clearly, the whole country is in a state of anarchy," Hoar said.
"But I mention that to put it in perspective.  The day goes on, we continue to
fly supplies, we continue to have airplanes on the ground, we continue to have
people meet the airplanes and offload them that represent the non-government
agencies, and take the food off.
	"It's a very difficult situation."
	Hoar wouldn't predict how long it will be before the Marines move in
and secure Baidoa, but thinks it could happen as soon as the forces become
available.  "Baidoa is key to this, and will happen shortly," he said.
	Baidoa is located in the Somali countryside where almost 2 million
people are facing starvation.
	The Somali people occupy a country about the size of Texas, but with a
little more than 8 million population.  Somalia borders Kenya on the south,
Ethiopia on the west and Djibouti to the north.  It's on the coastline of the
Horn of Africa, about 2,000 miles in length.
	Since August, after President Bush authorized relief aid, the Air
Force has flown more than 1,570 humanitarian missions into Somalia and
northern Kenya.
	"During the same period, the U.S. Air Force was pulling together the
required airplanes and support materiel to support the (Restore Hope) air
bridge," Hoar said.
	Air Mobility Command has set up airfields at Bale Dogle and Mogadishu,
Somali, that are capable of landing its C-130 and C-141 cargo aircraft.
However, the larger C-5 only has a landing capability at Mogadishu.
	In addition, the United States is using wide-bodied commercial
airliners to move troops in country.  As of Dec. 14, the United States had
4,500 troops ashore in Somalia, and close to 8,000 aboard its Navy carrier
battle group, and on other Navy ships off the Somali coastline.
	Pentagon officials said the total operation will be in the
neighborhood of 28,000 people, or about a 10th the size of Desert Storm.


947.  USO awards
	WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Defense Secretary Dick Cheney received the United
Services Organizations' Distinguished Service Award Dec. 3 at the World USO
1992 Christmas Celebration in Washington.
	Cheney was one of four individuals honored at the annual fund-raiser
for their contributions to the success of the USO.
	Also recognized were country music singer Randy Travis, USO Bob Hope
Entertainment Award; General Dynamics Corp. Chairman William Anders, USO
Outstanding Civic Achievement Award; and the president of the USO Council of
Wiesbaden, Germany, Helga Haub, USO Ambassador Award.
	Also honored was SSgt. Christopher Shoulders from Tempelhof AB,
Germany.  Shoulders was the USO-General Dynamics Community Service Award
winner.
	He was cited for his work with children, both in his current and past
assignments.  This includes funding a trip to the May 1992 Tempelhof open
house for Russian children with illnesses caused by the Chernobyl nuclear
power plant disaster in 1986.
	"Supporting the gala allows America's leaders to thank U.S. military
personnel for protecting the country's freedom" said World USO President
Chapman Cox.
	"Proceeds from the gala help provide a touch of home for America's
sons and daughters in uniform."
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