Northwest High School - Silvertip Yearbook (Wichita, KS)

Page 36 text:

ational International News o 0 ,, Soviets kill 265 people in Korean air incident To the shock of the world, a Soviet fighter pilot destroyed a Korean 747 jumbo jetliner kill- ing all 265 aboard, when the airliner strayed into Soviet airspace over islands nearjapan. The 265 lives were lost on Sept. 1, 1983 when a heat- seeking missile hit the plane, and sent it crashing into the Sea of japan. Among the victims were H30 plus Americans, in- cluding Larry McDonald, a House representative from Georgia. Secretary of State George Shultz declared there is no ex- cuse whatsoever for this appall- ing act. the State Department proclaimed that the account given by Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko as totally in- adequate. From his explana- tion, he neither acknowledged the fact that there had been a crash caused by Soviet missile fire, nor took any responsibility ed that the airliner was flying without lights and did not res- pond to Soviet interceptors and their attempt to guide it to a landing sight. Soviet govern- ment did report that signs of a possible crash have been found in the area of a Soviet island in the Sea of japan inside the Soviet territorial waters. Gromyko stated the Soviets would continue the search. Put- ting into action their own search, the U.S. sent a sophistocated AWACS radar warning plane from Okinawa to Northern japan, escorted by F-15's to aid in search efforts. Six days after the downing of the 747, the Soviets, claiming the civilian Boeing 747 was a U.S. spy plane, admitted that its warplanes destroyed a South Korean jetliner. The statement said, The entire,responsibility for the tragedy rests with the United States. for it. The Soviet explanation claim- -Siefany VunScoyk On peacekeeping assignment if 5 i in , . , s un- nv.: f Y.. PM-c'rv ' ' ' worn: sponsored by me John llveh Society Inlay signs In WIIYUQUNI L lvvvfw F' H on Thursday. Ron. ufvy UCDOIIIU. D-Go.. in :Ninn QI in oqldudon. 300 arines die in terrorist explosion United States Marines were sent to Lebanon as part of the United States peacekeeping forces. Other countries participating the peacekeeping forces were Bri- tain, France and Italy. Their primary purpose was to prop up the Gemayel government against opposing Moslem terrorists. Although their roles were as peacekeepers, they later became sitting ducks. An Iranian-backed moslem ter- rorist drove a truck loaded with explosives through a Marines' barrack. Nearly 300 Marines went to their deaths most tragically Questions were raised as to why the Marines' barracks were not sas secure as they were supposed to be. Why were there 300 sleeping Marines put together when a cardinal rule of separating troops under unfriendly fire is to disperse so that no single bomb or shell can cause so many casualties? Official answers were not satisfying. Blame was placed on those in charge such as Marine Corps Commander 32 ' Current Events General Paul X. Kelley. Nothing can work against suicide attack like that, said Secretary of Defen Caspar Weinberger. However, many fellow Marines sa the attack as a tragedy that could have been preventef Measures were soon taken to hopefully prevent sur future tragedies. However, no tragedies so momentoi as the bombing occurred during the rest of the Marine stay. The peacekeeping force of Italy, France, and Brita also suffered losses of men to terrorists. Many questio. were raised as to whether or not Lebanon was anoth Vietnam. 1' he peacekeeping forces' purpose to uphold tl Gemaye government was accomp ished. Peacekeepii troops started whth withdrawing from Lebanon first months of 1984. The last American troops depart: for home in March. -Siefony VnnSco-

Page 35 text:

signs f fe i were X 3 . ,gp Represent 2 nations Four foreign exchange students were part of the American Intercultural Student Ex- change QAISEJ program. Two students were from Germany and two were from Sweden. The primary purpose of the program was to improve the foreign student's knowledge of American culture and language through active participation in family, school and community life. A secondary purpose was to improve American knowlege of a foreign culture and to contribute to international understanding through personal ex- periences in schools and communities throughout the United States. Clemmons Koch, from Bonn, West Ger- many, stayed with the Eakin family. He participated on the swim and soccer teams. His fondest memory of Northwest was the super nice teachers that really made his stay in Wichita enjoyable. From Munich, West Germany came Jens janisch, who did not enroll at Northwest ching soccer was a major pasttime. He spent his spare time playing on the T-95 soccer team and supporting the Wichita Wings. His most memorable moment of his ex- change was attending the junior-Senior Prom. Patric Lager came from Engelholm, Sweden. He also took part on the T-95 soc- cer team and the Northwest golf team. ln his spare time, Lager enjoyed learning the aft of break dancing . He said that his most distinct memory of Kansas would be the funny and unusual questions he was asked about Sweden. A typical question was Are there any phones or cars in Sweden?, The other Swedish student was Carl Zet- terstrom from Upsula, Sweden. In his spare time, Zetterstrom enjoyed playing and competing in the sport of ping pong. Dur- ing his stay he won many awards for his playing ability. He also participated on the tennis team. S. until second semester. Playing and wat- .sind Robeffs Seeing his parents for the first time in 10 months, Senior Pattic Lager, from Sweden, and parents pose for a famil portrait at the home of the host family, Y Student Life ' 31

Page 37 text:

After 15 months Andtopov di g Chernenko takes over After being in power for 15 lonths, Soviet President Yuri tndropov died. Taking His lace was Konstantine lstinovich Chernenko, 'who at 2, was the oldest member of ie party considered to be a otential replacement. There ad been some concern with xoosing such an old leader, ecause of health problems :lated with age. Health and ge had been Andropov's pro- lem. Appointment of the new premier was of special interest to the United States.Under An- dropov, the Soviets walked out on Arms talks in Geneva, Switzerland. Administrator of the Central Committee and Leon Brezhnev's appointment secretary, dismissed Chernenko as a second choice for the office. The Kremlin's new master did not offer to take any bold foreign policy initiatives. However, he restated the Soviet Union's committment to peaceful co-existence and rallied against the reckless adventurist actions of im- perialism 's aggressive forces. On the Arms races, he said that the Soviet Union had no wish for military superiority, but would not allow other na- tions to upset the strategic balance of arms. In his acceptance speech, he made some tough statements that pleased the military establishment. Chernenko pro- mised to see to it that our country's QSoviet Unionj defense capacity be strengthen- ed, that we should have enough means to cool the hot heads of militant adventurers. ' ' Balancing his tough words, he gave vague assurances that Moscow recognized that it had a responsibility for perserving and strengthening peace. He said, We are for a peaceful set- tlement for all disputable inter- national problems through serious equal and constructive talks. As the regime settled in the Kremlin, Western analyists scrutinized Chernenko's stance, but could not gather that much from it, for his main concern was the Soviet economy. -Sfefuny VanScoyk Named as the new Soviet Premier, Konstantin Chennenko has received media coverage since his appointment. American troops invade Pacific island Granada On Oct. 25, 1985, only two days after the suicidal bombing of Marine barracks in Lebanon, America had an additional crisis with the invasion of a small Pacific island called Grenada. President Ronald Regan said the invasion was aimed at restoring law and order and a constitutional governing body on the small island where a brutal group of leftist-thugs violently seized power. The forces consisted of nearly 2,000 Marines and Army paratroopers and were followed by 300 soldiers from six Carib- bean islands. During the pre- dawn invasion, they attacked with an airborned strike, battl- ing with Grenadian troops and armed Cuban workers. Reagan called the invasion completely successful. The troops has seiz- ed the main airports of the small island. In the initial fighting two U.S. Marines were killed and 23 wounded, according to Con- gressional services in Washington. It was reported that three members of the Greneda forces had been killed, 30 Soviet advisors and approx- imately 600 Cuban workers had been captured. Many Soviet weapons were also seized. Another major purpose of the invastion was to secure the safe- ty of American citizens, the ma- jority of whom were medical students at St. George's Medical College. There were all reported ro be unharmerl -Stefcny VunScoyk Current Events 0 33