The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 1

Happy homecomings are near First freed POWs named SOUTH 2 7 I I 27 FROM If i. I QUAN LOI VIETNAM QSaigon Vietnam map shows prisoner release points. (UPI Map) 20 CENTS (Related stories, Pgs. 2 and 5) WASHINGTON (AP) Here are the names of 134 American servicemen who will be released from Communist prisoner of war camps in North and South Vietnam on Monday. The Pentagon began releasing the names Saturday afternoon after notifying relatives.

Of the 134 servicemen, 19 will be freed in South Vietnam, 115 in Hanoi. The Defense Department said the list includes 71 Air Force men, 42 Navy, 17 Army and four Marines. The list includes Li. Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr.

of Santa Clara, has been held by the North Vietnamese for 8Vz years. He was the first U.S. pilot shot down and captured over North Vietnam on Aug. 5, 1964, during the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Under the U.S.-North Vietnamese cease- fire agreement, all 562 U.S.

military war prisoners in North Vietnam, South Vietnam and Laos and 31 civilian prisoners are due to be released by late March. Meanwhile, the United States will com- The Such is the patriot's boast, where'er we roam. His first, best country ever is at home. Oliver Goldsmith 11720-17561 plete the withdrawal of the last American troops from Vietnam. At last official count, there were 18,600 Americans still in South Vietnam.

Officials said they know of some American prisoners who have been wounded but were not on the first list to be released. They did not give names. And while Alvarez is on the list, the name of Army Maj. Floyd Thompson was not. Thompson has been held longest.

He was captured in South -Vietnam in March, 1964, nearly nine years ago. The Pentagon released the men's name, rank, service and hometown. Additional information comes from files. SUNDAY EDITION Salina Journal 102nd YEAR No. 42 SALINA, KANSAS, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1973 80 Pages Concrete collapse crushes 43 workmen in fiery cone NEW YORK (AP) An explosion collapsed the concrete top of a volcano- shaped gas storage tank on Staton Island Saturday and fire officials said 43 workmen trapped under tons of rubble inside the smoldering cone were feared dead.

The tank had been emptied of liquid gas for some time to permit repair of insulation, cleaning and maintenance work within. Fire Chief John O'Hagan sai'd there was "no sign of life" within the 8-story-high, gray cinder-block tank as acrid billowing smoke kept rescue firemen from descending to the floor of the fiery cone. "The fire is burning vigorously under the concrete and we are still trying to control that fire," O'Hagan said after nearly seven hours of firefighting operations. "It is very discouraging. We may have to cut through the concrete and the reinforcing rods and that will be a prolonged operation.

It's a matter of days, not hours." A workman who was in a crane shack just inside the opening at the top of the tank at the time of the explosion said he was warned by "a hissing sound in the hole, like air blowing the smoke out." In Washington, meanwhile, the head of Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration said an inspection team was on its way to the scene to find out if any federal safety standards had been violated. Hours after the explosion, thick dark smoke poured from the shattered dome of the squat, truncated cone, giving the tank the look of Mt. Vesuvius in eruption. No flames could be seen from the hole in the top. "It was like a science fiction novel, or Dante's 'Inferno'," said Fireman Edward Cooper who had been lowered by a crane from atop the masonry tank to survey the holocaust.

Sees flames Cooper and other firemen who made the exploratory descent into the pit said they could see flames beneath the rubble at the floor of the tank, where the workmen were believed trapped. "It's worse than we thought," said Chief Site of the tragedy where 43 died. (UPI Photo) O'Hagan after receiving reports of the damage inspection. The storage facility is owned by Texas Easter Cryogenic a subsidiary of Texas Eastern Transmission a natural gas company of Houston. It is located on a 53-acre marshland site opposite New Jersey and measures 267 feet across the base.

Six years ago, Fire Commissioner Robert 0. Lowery opposed construction of the liquified gas storage, tank as a potential fire hazard. In recent weeks, Staten Island members of the City Council had opposed Texas Eastern's request to build eight similar tanks on another Staten Island site. 1. Alvarez, Lt.

Cmdr. Everett, Navy, Santa Clara, first captured pilot, shot down Aug. 5, 1964. 2. Kelrn, Col.

Richard, Air Force, Tampa, believed to be the first U.S. tiler shot down by a SAM missile, captured July 24, 1965. 3. Mutton, Cmdr. James, Navy, Lakeland, captured October 1965.

4. Perkins, Mai. Glendon W. Perkins, Air Force, Orlando, captured in 1966. 5.

Browning, Capt. Richard Air Force, Orlando, captured 1966. 6. Albert, Spec. 4 Keith Army, Thibodaux, held In South Vietnam.

7. Carlson, Albert Army, San Lorenzo, held captive In South Vietnam. 8. Hestand, Chief W. O.

James Army, Oklahoma City, captured South Vietnam in 1971. 9. Necon-Quinolnes, S. Sgt. Felix Army, Santa Maria, Rio Pledras, P.R., held in South Vietnam.

10. Smith, Capt. Mark Army, Lima, held in South Vietnam. 11. Springmar, Spec.

4 Richard Army, Long Beach, captured In South Vietnam In May 1970. 12. Wanat, Capt. George Army, Watertord, captured in South Vietnam in April 1972. 13.

Walsh, Capt. James Marines, Wlnstead, held in South Vietnam. 14. Baker, Capt. David Air Force, Huntington, N.Y., held in South Vietnam.

15. Anderson, Capt. John Air Force, Portland, captured In N. Vietnam on Dec. 27, 1972.

16. Arcuri, Lt. William Air Force, Yuba City, captured In N. Vietnam on Dec. 20, 1972.

17. Barrett, Capt. Thomas Air Force, Lomax, reported prisoner In N. Vietnam, October 1968. IB.

Berg, Mai. Kile Air Force, Seattle, captured July 1965. 19. Bolstad, Richard Air Force, Minneapolis. 20.

Borling, Capt. John Air Force, reported POW March 11, 1970. 21. Boyd, Mai. Charles Air Force, Rockwell City, captured April 1966.

22. Brudno, Capt. Edward Air Force, Quincy, captured October 1965. 23. Surer, Arthur Air Force, Arlington, Va.

24. Byrne, Col. Ronald Air Force, New York, N.Y., listed as POW Oct. 22, 196B. 25.

Chesley, Capt. Larry Air Force, Burley, Idaho. (Continued to Page 2) Dear Sal I can't think of a nicer Valentine for at least 134 families. Yours, Ina Highlights LOCAL SALINA skydiver is killed, Pg. 1.

FALLING wheat prices prompt chorus of protests, Pg. 2. TWO more file for city commission, Pg. 10. STATE MARYSVILLE man is "Editor of the SCHOOL finance tops list of Legislative priorities, Pg.

28. NORTHWEST Kansas school trains retarded at Atwood, Pg. 20. NATION COURT puts new roadblocks in path of trans-Alaska pipeline, Pg. 1.

NIXON administration tries to cut benefits to disabled Vietnam veterans, Pg. 36. WORLD NAMES of first 142 freed military and civilian POWs are released, Pgs. 1 and 2. MONETARY officials conduct secret talks on crisis, Pg.

2. INSIDE FEATURES Sunny day decision Judy Wells, 16, is forced to choose between game of tennis or garden puttering as one of those rare, warm and sunny winter weekends engulfs Salina area. Judy is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Wells, 924 Spruce.

(Journal Photo by Dennis Lundgren) Trans-Alaska pipeline faces a legal minefield Area News 33 Comics 43 Courts 9 Cross Puzzle 7 Deaths 9 Dr. Thosteson 3 Grain Trade 18 Hospitals 9 Jeane Dixon 7 Local 10, 20 Markets 8 Opinion 4 Pop Scene 35 Sports 23-27 TV-Films 34 Want Ads 36-43 Weather 9 Women 11-15 WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. Court of Appeals has planted a legal minefield that may block construction of a trans-Alaska oil pipeline for years, even if Congress acts to permit the controversial project. In its ruling Friday night the court said a 1920 law, limiting permissible right-of- way to 25 feet on either side of a pipeline across federal land, could not be stretched to meet the needs of 1973; all parties agreed the huge Alaska pipeline could not be built within that limit. That problem can be solved by Congress, either by changing the law's limitation or by passing a special exception for the Alaska pipeline.

Beyond that hurdle, however, the court chose to bury still more legal issues that may be touched off only when the project tries to move forward again. One of the most intricate questions of the case remains unanswered. It is how much consideration must be given to alternative plans required under the National Environmental Policy Act--such as a pipeline route through Canada instead of Alaska. The court said the question was "not ripe for adjudication at the present time" because the conditions surrounding Alaskan and Canadian pipeline routes may have changed by the time Congress clears up the right-of-way situation. That leaves the' Interior Department (Continued to Page 2) Salina skydiver killed in long fall HERINGTON A 27-year-old Sali- nan's first attempt at a vertical hook- up, a sky-jumping maneuver, ended in his death Friday afternoon near the Herington airport.

Jon Seusy, 419 W. Ash, was killed after a mid-air effort to link with a diving partner failed, and he fell more than 3000 feet after his main parachute failed to open. He was a former paratrooper and had made a substantial number of pleasure jumps. Witnesses said Mr. Seusy pulled the rip cord for a reserve safety parachute, but he was too close to the earth for the chute to function.

Mr. Seusy's body was found in a pasture about 200 yards west of the airport's main hangar. The airport is in Morris county, 7 miles east of Herington. David Snyder, a managing partner of Mid- Kansas Sky Sports located at the airport, said Mr. Seusy arrived alone at the hangar about noon Friday.

Snyder said Mr. Seusy visited with friends and checked out his per- Jon Seusy sonal jumping gear before leaving for a 4 pm takeoff. Mr. Seusy was to attempt a vertical hookup with Dale Boyer, a Mid-Kansas employe who has been sky-diving for 18 months. Mid- Kansas sells and services parachutes and rents planes and jumping gear.

Mr. Seusy, a former Army paratrooper with Vietnam combat experience, was attempting his 36th sport jump. Mr. Seusy and Boyer boarded a plane flown by Snyder. Boyer said they had decided ahead of time to link up several seconds after both had bailed out at 7500 feet.

During the maneuver, the divers were to link both hands while they "floated" downward. Boyer, who has made almost 300 jumps, said he had no idea why Mr. Seusy could not get the ripcord of the main parachute to work. When the main 'chute was stripped from the body, it opened perfectly, he said. "Jon left the aircraft before I did, because I weighed more and thought I'd fall and catch up.

Then we were to begin the maneuver, which involved moving horizontally, prone, face-down to the earth," Boyer said. "Because I am heavier, I would fall past him. Then I would assume a stable position, and by moving his arms and legs he would try to maneuver to me and we would hook up," Boyer said. Boyer said he lost sight of Mr. Seusy after falling below him.

When Boyer reached 2000 (Continued to Page 2) What is the lure that colls them high in the sky? By JOHN MARSHALL In the warm months Don Seusy sails his boat on the lakes of Central Kansas. Sometimes his son, Jon, would join him. "But Jon was an adventurer, and he always thought it was funny because I sometimes went so slow. Jon was a guy who always wanted to go full speed," Don Seusy said Saturday. "He 'died thaf way, I guess.

He loved parachuting best." "A kind of feeling. Jon, 27, was killed Friday afternoon while sky-diving near the Herington airport. His friends agree that Jon loved sky-diving. "Jumpers don't tend to be too talkative about the sport, but Jon loved it. You could tell by the way he acted, the way he took care of himself and his gear.

He used his own stuff and he was an ex-military jumper and he knew the basics well," said Dave Snyder. "A kind of very peaceful world." Snyder is a managing partner of Mid-Kansas Sky Sports at the Herington airport where Seusy did his jumping. Snyder piloted the plane for Jon the day of his death. Seusy enlisted in the Army following his graduation from Salina high school. After basic training, he joined the 101st Airborne Division and trained as a paratrooper.

He was a combat veteran, having served in Vietnam in 1964-65. "Sky-diving, of course, was different than military combat jumping but the thrill of the jump itself left its impression," Jon's father said. "It didn't take much to get him going. He was such an adventurer. He loved the outdoors and he hunted and fished." Something else Snyder says there is something about the sport of sky-diving that cannot be related in words something about the feeling that "soars through your bones a weightless kind of feeling, and your adrenalin really going really going.

"Then you open your chute and for a moment there is dead silence, a kind of very peaceful world all to you. Then, on lucky 0 "Part of is fear." "You may hear birds and crickeis." days under that chute in that vacuum, you may be able to hear birds and crickets and sounds from many miles away it's like nothing you've ever done or imagined." Jon Seusy had done it, for sport, 35 times before his final jump. "Part of it is fear," Snyder says. "You look at fear and you meet danger head-on. But at the same time it is all very peaceful and free-feeling.

You don't flirt or play with danger. I've never known a reckless sky-diver who isn't a little afraid. Jon Seusy was scared every time he went up. It was part of the adventure." His diving partner, Dale Boyer does not know why Jon Seusy died. "He left the plane before I did.

I weighed more and would fall past him, and we planned that he would catch then we would hook up," Boyer recalls. Something Federal Aviation Administration investigators do not yet know what happened. But Jon Seusy began to "tumble," or slowly somersault in mid-air. Perhaps he became disoriented, Boyer said; "perhaps he'got lost'..