The White Falcon - 02.02.1968, Side 1

U. S. NAVAL STATION, KEFLAVIK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ICELAND
Volume XI, Number 5 Friday, February 2, 1968
Misuse Of Coin
Machines Rises
On Station
Annual Campaign
Begins Here Soon
It has been noted in recent
weeks that an increasing num-
ber of slugs, foreign and altered
coins are being used in the ven-
ding machines on station, accor-
ding to Navy Exchange officials
in charge of the vending machines.
This has the result of often
jamming the machine when some-
one places a slug or foreign coin
in it.
Losses through misuse of these
machines are a direct deduction
from the station welfare and re-
creation program, of which the
Navy Exchange supports through
its revenues.
In addition, Section 491, Title
18 of the United States Code,
makes the use of slugs and for-
eign coins in a vending machine,
or other coin operated device, a
federal offense punishable by a
fine of $1,000 or one year impri-
sonment, or both.
Notice
Sunday the Chapel will host
the Icelandic Filadelfia Choir
and Orchestra for a special
concert which will be presen-
ted at 7 p.m. in the station
chapel.
This group is well known in
Iceland having been on the
radio many times.
All personnel and their de-
pendents are cordially invited
to attend.
PROJECT OFFICERS—Mr. E. B. Cleaver, left, and Commander J. D.
Brett, are the project officers for the Overseas Combined Federal
Campaign. Here they are preparing kits to be distributed to liaison
officers of the various commands and departments.
Social Security Withholding
Total Increased For New Year
Social Security pay check de-
ductions have been increased for
military personnel and all other
Americans under the system by
legislation signed into law shortly
after New Year’s Day by Presi-
dent Johnson.
The President pointed out these
increases will increase Social Se-
curity benefits by at least 13 per-
cent for about 24 million Ameri-
cans beginning in March.
How Many Ground Hogs
Did You Notice Today ?
Today is Ground Hog Day and according to folklore,
should have been a time of extreme happiness or sadness,
depending on whether you are a lover of the winter or
summer.
For the ground hog, or wood-®
chuck, on emerging from his win-
ter burrow is supposed to check
the sky and if he sees cloudy-
weather, stay outside in anticipa-
tion of the balmy weather that’s
sure to come. But if the sun is
shining, casting a shadow, the
rodent quickly returns to his bur-
row and that is a sure indication
that six more weeks of winter is
in store.
The tale of the ground hog fore-
casting the weather for the next
six weeks was brought to the
United States by British and Ger-
man immigrants.
In the early part of this cen-
tury, a group of wags near Quar-
ryville, Pa., organized the Slum-
bering Ground Hog Lodge. On
the morning of Feb. 2, members
would don silk hats and carrying
canes, go into the fields seeking
the burrow of a woodchuck.
(Continued on Page 4-)
Holiday Dates
Eight National Holidays obser-
ved as days off for members of
the Armed Forces for the year
are outlined in current Armed
Forces regulations.
The regulation outlines the fol-
lowing days as National Holidays.
Jan. 1, Feb. 22, May 30, July 4,
the first Monday of September,
Nov. 11, the fourth Thursday of
November and Dec. 25.
In addition, .such other days as
may be designated by the Presi-
dent shall be observed as holi-
days.
Whenever any of the above- de-
signated dates falls on Sunday,
the following day shall be ob-
served.
While Social Security pay
check deductions remain at 4.4
percent, the old $6,600 annual
salary maximum from which de-
ductions are taken has been raised
to $7,800. This means that the
maximum possible total deduction
is increased from 1967’s $294 to
$343.20.
Specific benefits stressed by the
President in signing the legisla-
tion were:
• Maximum benefits for a re-
tired couple will rise from $207
to $234 and ultimately to $323 a
month.
• Minimum benefits for an
individual will be increased from
$44 to $55 a month.
• Outside earnings can total
$140 a mo»th with no reduction in
benefits.
The Overseas Combined Federal Campaign is scheduled
to begin at U. S. Naval Station Keflavik in mid February.
Last year’s campaign conducted under the auspices of
the Department of Defense, had endorsements of President
Johnson, Secretary McNamara and military commanders
overseas.
---------------------------s
More Daylight Hours
Rising Temperatures
Arrive With February
Rising temperatures and
more hours of daylight are
in store as the Iceland win-
ter begins a gradual break
with the arrival of February.
February is the beginning
of a gradual transition from
the winter season to the sum-
mer season. Although winter
will linger on during the month,
the Greenland high pressure area
gradually begins to weaken and
the temperature begins its seaso-
nal rise. The most notable change
in the weather during February
is the increasing number of day-
light hours.
Monthly precipitation, tempera-
ture and wind averages based on
records from 1949 shows average
snowfall for February is 14.5
inches with a record snowfall of
50.9 inches in 1962. Maximum
and minimum temperatures range
from 36.9 to 29 degrees respective-
ly with average 33.2 degree tem-
perature for the month. The re-
cord high temperature was 48
degrees recorded in 1965 and the
(Continued on Page 4.)
PRESIDENT OF ICELAND, Asgeir Asgeirsson addresses an esti-
mated 300 invited guests attending the Northern Lights Masonic Club
installation dinner held last Saturday evening on board the NATO
base here at Keflavik. This marked the second Masonic installation
at the NATO base in two years attended by the President, Iceland’s
Grand Master of Masons. (For complete story with pictures, please
turn to Page 3.)
Participating organizations are
the American Red Cross, nine
American Overseas Agencies and
12 National Health Agencies. In
the past years the three groups
conducted separate campaigns in
the Federal establishments over-
seas. This Combined Federal Cam-
paign is a one time drive, and
no separate fund drive involving
any one of the 22 organizations
will follow this campaign.
Last year $11,473.65 was do-
nated by members of activities
here by cash and allotments.
Commander J. D. Brett and Mr.
E. B. Clever, supply officers, are
this year’s project officers for the
Combined Federal Campaign. Con-
tributors will receive a fair share
guide which suggests amounts
(Continued on Page 4.)
AF Promotes Eight
To Rank ot Sergeant
Eight Air Forces Iceland per-
sonnel were notified Tuesday
that they were promoted to the
grade of Sergeant (E-4) effec-
tive Feb. 1.
Those promoted in the 57th
Fighter Interceptor Squadron
were: Richard E. Hamel, Roger
H. Newton, John A. Boot and
Marvin E. Beezley.
932nd AC & W Squadron per-
sonnel promoted in this increment
were: William E. Barnhill, James
R. Chapman, Thomas A. Cimino
and Windell L. Rice.
School Revises
Bus Schedule
A revised afternoon bus sche-
dule went into effect Monday for
the A. T. Mahan Elementary
School students.
On base students in grades 1,
2 and 3 will now be dismissed
from school at 2:30 p.m. Off base
students in these grades will re-
main with their teachers until
2:45 p.m.
All students, on and off base,
in grades 4, 5 and 6 will be dis-
missed at 2:45 p.m.
According to Mr. Robert Joblin,
in charge of the dependents school,
the changes were necessary be-
cause of an increasing enroll-
ment and a limited number of
I school buses available.