The Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 10, 1980 Page: 1 of 28
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VOL 39 NO. 19
A Fort Hood soldier is dead as the
result of an apparent drowning
which occurred in four feet of water
at the Abrams Field House pool late
Saturday morning.
PFC ROBERT P. Hendrickson
Co. A 15th S & Bn. 1st Cav. Div. a
Boca Raton Fla. native was pro-
nounced dead at 12:20 p.m. that day
spite early 45 in tes of
emergency efforts by pool life
guards a doctor called to the scene
from Darnall Army Community
Hospital (DACH) and other DACH
staff members.
Results of an autopsy have not
been officially released but offi-
cials at DACH described the death
as “a fresh water drowning.”
According to life guards on duty
at the time of the accident the vic-
tim was apparently “hyperventilat-
ing” by holding himself under wa-
ter for prolonged periods. The vic-
tim was “warned” by two of the
guards to stop a life guard noted
but later he submerged himself and
failed to surface.
MEMBERS OF THE four-man
life guard crew pulled Hendrickson
from the bottom of the pool and
notified DACH for assistance they
The sedan was parked on the side of
the road flat on its bottom with all
tires removed the windshield and win-
dows shattered the motor compart-
ent empty except for a few loose
wires.
THE CAR’S INTERIOR had been
gutted by fire then used as a dumping
point for passing litter-bags. All identi-
fication such as license plates had been
removed. The fenders were bashed and
someone had used spraypaint on the
roof.
This car is just one of the many pri-
vately owned vehicles abandoned on
Fort Hood this year and according to
Sgt. John J. Meade the III Corps MP
abandoned property NCO represents a
problem that is getting worse.
Meade says the number of such vehi-
cles being discovered by MPs is in-
creasing each month with a monthly
average of 20 abandoned vehicles being
reported. Of this number Meade says
more than half wind up being the re
v*
Fort Hood GI drowns
in post swimming pool
CAVALRY’S CHARGE Members of the 1st
Cav. Div. Horse Platoon kick up some dust dur-
ing their demonstration at the combined Fourth
of July-2nd Armd. Div. Organization Day celeb
reported. Finding no pulse they
administered mouth-to-mouth re-
suscitation cardiopulmonary re-
suscitation and abdominal thrusts
in repeated efforts to revive him.
W within minutes a doctor and
ambulance crew from DACH ar-
rived and continued these efforts
while en route to the hospital.
Emergency Room personnel work-
ed for an additional 35 minutes to
save the victim said a DACH offi-
cial.
Several organizations are investi-
gating the incident among them
the post Safety Office.
Officials there point out that no-
thing conclusive can as yet be
drawn from their findings but did
say that hyperventilation appeared
to be the cause of the accident.
“When someone hyperventilates
the normal chest pain indicating a
need to take a breath is not experi-
enced. If a person hyperventilates
and swims under water he or she
can suddenly without warning
lose consciousness and become a
drowning victim.”
The drowning was the second at
the Abrams pool since the facility
first opened. The first drowning
occurred in December 1975.
the post and not the Army’s job.”
Abandoned ransacked cars increase
sponsibility of the Property Disposal
Office (PDO) fpr disposition.
“During the month of June” Meade
says “we experienced an increase in
the amount of abandoned vehicles here.
A lot of people are forgetting that it is
the responsibility of the owner to have
unserviceable vehicles removed from
EXPLAINING THE CRITERIA used
to determine if a vehicle is abandoned
Meade says a car or truck is so judged if
the owner can’t be located and the vehi-
cle has not been moved for a period of
three days or appears incapable of
Easy rider
TTd)Swt
By NANCY PHELPS
To report auto burglaries
call 685-CRIM
A smaller turnout at the Fort Hood
Dragway is one way soldiers are dealing
with the heat-wave which has bathed
area residents in record-breaking tem-
peratures for the past two-and-a-half
weeks.
“WE’RE STILL RUNNING“ says
Roy Baggett director of motor sports
and assistant to the director of competi-
tive sports for the post “but we’re just
not getting as many people as we’re
used to.”
According to Baggett post-wide
co etitiv sports av en ’t been
affected by the scorching temperatures
since most of the scheduled events are
softball games which are played in the
late evening when the temperatures are
lower.
“Most of the players are in good shape
physcally” says Baggett. “The games
only go on for about an hour each and
of course the players aren’t active the
entire time.”
“We haven’t seen any heat injuries
during sporting events over the past
few weeks. I’d say we’ve been very
lucky.”
As of yesterday only one person had
been admitted to Darnall Army Com-
munity Hospital for a two-day stay dur-
ing which he was treated for possible
heat stroke then released according to
a hospital spokesman. Several more
movement under its own power such
as having missing wheels or extreme
damage.
Post officials request unit comman-
ders to inspect their areas of responsi-
bility for abandoned vehicles. If such a
vehicle is discovered and the owner
cannot be determined Meade should
be contacted at the MP Abandoned
Property Office Bldg. 2223 telephone
685-4025 or 685-5407 for assistance in
proper disposal.
Once notified the sergeant or a col-
league checks the suspected vehicle
then attempts to locate the legal owner
by all means available. If the owner can
ration held Friday at Prichard Field. See related
photographs on Pg. 6C.
(Photo by Robert Lusby)
FT. HOOD SENTINEL
“PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE PERSONNEL OF FT. HOOD
FT. HOOD TEXAS THURSDAY JULY 10 1980
“Published by Bell Publishing Company a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Army. Opinions expressed by writers herein are their own and are not to be considered an official expression
of the Department of the Army. The appearance of advertisements and advertising inserts does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the products or services advertised.”
people were treated for mild heat-
related injuries.
Physical activity on Fort Hood is gov-
erned by the Wet Bulb Globe Tempera-
ture (WBGT) a reading based on out-
side temperature humidity and wind
factors. It is reported hourly by the Pre-
ventive Medicine Activity MEDDAC to
the post Operations Center.
A “Hot Point” (modification of train-
ing) is put in effect at any time the
WBGT reflects a reading of 80 degrees
or above. At that time units are notified
and commanders are instructed to take
appropriate actions. Every hour on the
alf hour the O perations enter
NCOIC SFC Irvin Clemons makes
conference calls to the units in addition
to the airfields and recreational facili-
ties once the WBGT has been reached.
“DURING THE PAST two-and-a-half
weeks the WBGT has reached or ex-
ceeded 90 degrees each day” reports
Clemons. “Some days it has gone as
high as 104 degrees.”
According to FH regulation 350-16
when the WBGT exceeds 90 degrees
commanders are instructed to cancel
outdoor physical activity for all person-
nel. This doesn’t include mission train-
ing which continues as usual.
For the 1st Bn. 21st FA 1st Cav. Div.
physical training has been modified
“for the health and welfare of the sol-
dier” according to Executive Officer
Maj. J. Wilmeth.
be determined Meade contacts him or
her and ascertains when the vehicle will
be removed from the government reser-
vation.
“If after we have made repeated
efforts to find out who owns the car and
are unable to do so” the abandoned
property NCO says “we get a wrecker
out to the site and tow the vehicle to the
post PDO’s abandoned property yard.
“IF THE LEGAL owner cannot be
found within 120 days of the day it was
impounded” Meade continues “the
vehicle is then released to PDO for dis-
posal.”
The sergeant says that if he or the
unit commander determines the iden-
tity of the owner of an abandoned vehi-
cle that individual must report to Bldg.
2223 with proper documentation in
order to claim it.
Anyone having any questions con-
cerning abandoned vehicles on post is
encouraged to call Meade at 685-4025
for information.
WASHINGTON (ARNEWS) A fair
benefits package for the military ser-
vices was announced May 26 by Presi-
dent Carter and the Secretary of De-
fense Harold Brown.
THE FAIR BENEFITS package in-
cludes more compensation to service
members for costs brought on by reas-
signment moves increased enlistment
and reenlistm ent bonus levels plus
bonuses for enlisted personnel with
over 10 years service improved sea and
flight pay increased basic allowance
for subsistance a station housing allo
WASHINGTON (ARNEWS) Regu-
lar Army (RA) Warrant Officers will be
considered for permanent promotion to
CW4 CW3 and CW2 this sum er
according to MILPERCEN officials.
SELECTION BOARDS WILL con-
vene around Aug. 19 for those Warrants
meeting the following criteria: To CW4
all active duty permanent CW3s with a
Sept. 301975 or earlier date ofrank. To
CW3 all active duty permanent CW2s
with a Sept. 30 1975 or earlier date of
rank. To CW2 all active duty perma-
nent WOls with a Sept. 30 1978 or ear-
lier date of rank.
Warrants in the zones of considera-
tion who were considered but not
selected by last year’s board must have
an Officer’s Evaluation Report (OER)
C-rf f/f/i'f ag goidierg cope with heat
“Our object has been not to break any
records just to stay fit” says Wilmeth.
During the period when the WBGT has
indicated possible effects from high
temperatures the 1/21st has seen their
daily PT regime altered to include calis-
thenics and swimming rather than a
two-to-three-mile run.
“RUNNING WOULD be suicide when
the WBGT goes over 93 degrees” says
Wilmeth “so our battery commanders
were instructed to take their people to
the pool of their choice for their PT.
“I think the system is working well. I
haven’t seen any inuries from the heat
either during duty hours or from off-
duty activities.”
Wilmeth adds that the battalion is
given weekly safety briefings during
which all aspects of summer accident
prevention are covered.
IN ADDITION PEOPLE with ques-
tions about heat-related problem
should see their company commanders
who in turn should consult their high-
er headquarters. Commanders have the
responsibility to contact their surgeon
general if they have questions about
heat injuries and hot weather activities.
Army personnel haven’t always been
so lucky about heat injuries. According
to “Countermeasure” an Army news-
letter published by the U.S. Army Safe-
ty Center Ft. Rucker Ala. “During
World War II 268 Army soldiers died
Carter announces benefits package
with cost of living adjustment plans
wance that provided increased pay for
members who are assigned to especial-
ly expensive areas in CONUS larger
payments for TDY costs and an addi-
tion to medical care (CHAMPUS) of a
Dental Care package for dependents of
active duty members.
According to DoD the President out-
lined three steps to be taken in getting
the fair benefits package through Con-
gress.
First those parts of the Warner/Nunn
amendment that support the benefits
package will be pushed according to
DoD. These proposals would cost about
Selection board to convene next month
to consider permanent WO promotions
with a through date not earlier than Oct.
5 1979 say officials.
Those who have not already received
an OER during this period may have a
mandatory OER or an optional “com-
plete the record” OER submitted now.
Either report must cover at least a 90-
day rating period and have a through
date of July 21 1980. These reports
must arrive at HQDA on or before Aug.
12. This requirement will not affect
officers not considered by last year’s
board.
THOSE BEING CONSIDERED may
also send personal letters in their behalf
to the board say officials. Letters
however should include only those
matters important to an officer’s record.
Any letter the promotion board consid
Physical training modified
Inside
VA pension increase................................ g.5A
Running running running................ Pg. IB
Heat injury prevention tip ................... Pg. 3C
July 4th photo feature.............................. .. Pg. 6C
l/6 6 th ’s nighttime training.................. Pg. ID
TWENTY-EIGHT PAGES
and 35398 others were hospitalized
from heat injuries. Surprisingly almost
27000 of these injuries occurred in the
United States.
“In Vietnam” it continues “heat in-
juries were less of a problem because
commanders used the lessons learned
in previous conflicts. In most cases sol-
diers were allowed to adapt to the heat
and were taught preventive measures
before they assumed full duty.”
The newsletter gives the following
advice for those who must work in ex-
cessive heat conditions. “During accli-
matization (the adjustment of the body
to climatic conditions) workload and
exposure time to heat ust be in-
creased gradually. Troops must get
plenty of rest at night and between acti-
vities. They must consume adequate
water salt and food.
“WORK PERIODS WITH frequent
rest breaks should be scheduled for the
coolest hours of the morning and after-
noon for the first few days. Following
this initial adjustment period work ses-
sions can be extended and performed
during the hotter hours of the day.”
In addition a soldier doing heavy
work should drink a gallon and a half or
more of water in a 24-hour period. As
water intake is lost through sweat vital
body salt is also lost. If the daily water
intake is increased to more than a gal-
lon extra salt must be added to food
and water.
$85 million for the remainder of FY 80
and increase from $435 to $700 million
in FY 81.
SECOND PROGRAMS contained in
the FY 81 budget which include in-
creased TDY payments and family
separation allowances for junior en-
listed personnel will also be pushed.
The cost for these programs is expected
to be about $200 million say officials.
Third the Defense Secretary is to de-
velop a legislative plan that provides a
dental program through CHAMPUS at
a cost of $110 million in FY 81.
ers becomes a matter of record and will
be maintained by MILPERCEN. Let-
ters should be sent to president WO RA
promotion selection Board. ATTN:
DAPC-MSS B 200 Stovall Street Alex-
andria VA 22332. They must arrive
within 10 days after the board convenes
or before the board adjourns whichev-
er is earlier.
MILPERCEN has set up a special
processing section to update the official
records of officers eligible for consider-
ation. Documents except OERs which
are needed to complete the official
military personnel files (OMPF) may be
sent to CDR MILPERCEN ATTN:
DAPC-PSR-RP 200 Stovall Street Ale-
xandria VA 22332.
Warrant Officers may contact local
MILPO’s for more information.
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The Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 10, 1980, newspaper, July 10, 1980; Temple, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth309458/m1/1/?q=%22Business%2C%20Economics%20and%20Finance%20-%20Advertising%22: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Casey Memorial Library.