University of Central Oklahoma
THURSDAY December 9, 1993
The Student Voice Since 1903
War not over for Desert Storm vets unit commanders said the nerve gas warning devices were set off by the oil Staff Writer field fires. The men were instructed not to talk about the incident. Another member of Linville's unit, Lance Corporal Andrew Lucas, suffers Uncertainty. That's what bothers Gulf from symptoms he terms "embarrassing." War veterans Tim Linville, Andrew Lucas reluctantly shared his symptoms Lucas and Paul Bowman. as chronic diarrhea, fatigue, coughing, Wondering what the future holds congestion and shortness of breath. health wise spurs fears in Oklahoma vetBesides the nerve gas warnings, Lucas erans suffering from what is now being said he found it particularly alarming that called the Gulf War Syndrome. his unit camped in several areas where The symptoms vary from vet to vet. there were mulSome complain of aching joints, chronic tiple dead diarrhea, rashes, forgetfulness or dizzigoats and ness. Some complain of perennial0 other headaches, bleeding gums, shortfarm ness of breath or even cancer. \-) But the most common complaint is ° fatigue—debilitating fatigue. Many of the veterans are reticent to complain. "I don't want to make a big deal of this," said Tim Linville, University of Central Oklahoma student and advertising director of the Vista. He suffers from fatigue CZ) and aching joints. Linville was a Marine serving in Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine, stationed with the artillery about a half mile from Kuwait City. One night as Linville's unit slept, nerve anigas warnings went off. He woke abruptly mals. to a fellow Marine pounding on his chest. Lucas is working on "It was about two or three in the mornfiling a claim, having had ing. It's 40 degrees and I'm running an oral interview with the around in my underwear, trying to get my Veterans Administration (VA.) gas mask on," said Linville. But in spite of his health probAfter several hours of being in chemilems, Lucas says he is still happy with cal warfare readiness, termed MOPP 4, his decision to enlist in the Marines and By Carol Cole Mills
U.S. Surgeon General suggests legalizing drugs for safe streets WASHINGTON (AP) — Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, no stranger to controversy, was enmeshed in a new one today after suggesting that legalizing drugs could help make America's streets safer. The White House quickly made it clear Tuesday that President Clinton doesn't see eye to eye on that issue with the health crusader who accompanied him from Little Rock, Ark. "If the surgeon general has to have a study to see if drugs are hazardous to your health, we need a new surgeon general," Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla., said today. "Americans must be wondering if the surgeon general is hazardous to our health," cracked Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole. U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet, a supporter of legalizing drugs, said on ABC the nation should learn the lessons of Prohibition and the crime that
Knife used in plane hijacking TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Brandishing a surgeon's, knife, a Chinese businessman and a female accomplice hijacked a China Northern Airlines passenger plane to Taiwan today. It was the eighth hijacking from China to Taiwan since April. State radio said Beijing scrambled four fighter jets in an unsuccessful bid to stop the plane from flying to Taiwan. It was the first time China was reported to have taken such action, and could reflect the Beijing government's frustration at the rash of hijackings. The plane seized today had been hijacked to Taiwan less than a month ago. To curb the hijackings, Taiwan plans to change its present policy of allowing hijackers to stay in Taiwan after they serve prison terms, and instead send them back to China.
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UCO Police
Hoops
Sgt. Joe Perry of the UCO Police Dept. recalls incidents from earlier times on campus.
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proud of his role in the war. "If I hadn't gotten to go—well, I would have been really disappointed," said Lucas who comes from a "patriotic family." His father served 26 years in the Air Force. "It's a Marine tradition. We don't just enlist. It means something to have the opportunity to serve your country," said Lucas. Paul Bowman was also with Fox Battery in a different capacity. His job was as a radio operator for a forward observer team. He now suffers from frequent, intense headaches, chest pains and shortness of breath. Like Linville and Lucas, Bowman says he was in perfect health before the Gulf War with no family history of any similar problems. Split from Fox Battery, Bowman's job was providing support for infantry. Much of the time he spent time with "grunts," or infantry men assisting them in picking targets on the front. "I carried the radio on my back," said Bowman. "When the grunts go out, we were attached to vehicles. They'd drive us up to the point and let us out." Bowman remembers their biggest battle coming two days before the ground war started. "We went seven miles into Kuwait to check whether there was enemy in the area," said Bowman. "We would shoot off preparatory fire to soften up targets before the ground c. s. jennings✓ troops went The Vista in. We took sniper and mortar fire." V See SYNDROME, Page 6
O hoops the 91 fall part of the season this week. Get the facts inside.