THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 27, 1994 TAG: 9408270246
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DALE EISMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
Planeloads of military dependents and other civilians - described as frustrated, confused and angry - are expected to begin leaving the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station on Tuesday, forced from their homes to make room for thousands of Cuban refugees.
As the population of Cubans in tent cities at Guantanamo hit 10,000 on Friday, preparations were under way at Norfolk Naval Base to help disperse the evacuees to other assignments or to the homes of families and friends. More than 14,500 Haitians also are at Guantanamo, living in tents on a former airport runway.
Authorities expect the refugee total to continue climbing next week as the weather in northwest Cuba clears and more people there take to rafts to escape the political repression and economic stagnation of their island's communist government.
Rain, high winds and choppy seas Friday slowed the flow of refugees to a trickle.
Lt. Susan Haeg, a spokeswoman for the Atlantic Fleet, said evacuees arriving in Norfolk would get help with travel arrangements and temporary housing in the Norfolk area.
In telephone interviews, some of those who'll be making the trip described the base population as stunned and depressed by the forced evacuation and fearful for the safety of the soldiers, sailors and Marines who'll be staying behind.
``It's just an emotional, physical, total stress-out,'' said the wife of one man stationed at the base. ``Everything is `probably,' `basically,' `maybe,' `hopefully' '' as a changing mix of facts and rumors sweep the base, she said.
``Morale here is at the lowest right now,'' said another service wife. ``This used to be a very happy base. They just turned it into a miserable place right now.''
Like a half-dozen other service members and dependents interviewed for this story, the women spoke only on the condition that their names not be used. Authorities have told base residents not to speak to reporters, several said.
Several of those interviewed said their spouses volunteered for duty at Guantanamo, attracted by the chance to live with their families and raise children on a safe, quiet base.
Now, they said, the base's narrow roads are choked with trucks hauling in tents, equipment and food for the emigrants. And while adequate supplies of food, water and other necessities have been maintained for residents, the influx of new troops brought in to cope with refugees has created long lines at the base's stores and laundry facilities.
``The quality of life just went through the crapper down here,'' one Navy man said.
``We came together to be here as a family. This was going to be a real time for us to be together,'' said one woman who's kept her family together while her husband has gone on 10 Mediterranean cruises.
Several of those interviewed Friday praised base officials for trying to keep them informed about evacuation plans, but complained that those plans seem to keep changing.
There was confusion, for example, over whether the families can bring their pets back to the United States Military spokesmen said those who want to take their pets can do so, but some residents said they've been told space for pets will be limited and animals left behind will have to fend for themselves when the food left for them runs out.
Departing residents also said they've been told they'll be allowed to bring two suitcases of clothes when they leave but that their furniture and household items will have to stay.
Service members remaining at the base will pack up those items, which the Navy will ship to the families' new homes and duty stations.
``What I'm upset about is that they've lied and cheated us,'' one Navy wife said. About 4 Friday afternoon, she said, residents who had understood their transfers from Guantanamo would be temporary were told that instead they'd be getting new permanent duty stations.
The shift would've meant a substantial loss in financial assistance the Navy provides for the families, a loss that in her case could have totaled more than $2,000, the woman said. But by 9 Friday night, the plans had changed again and the transfers were reclassified as temporary.
Though several residents said such abrupt changes of plans probably are inevitible, they also are undeniably frustrating. ``You take a whole base of American citizens and just shove 'em aside for migrants, for Haitians and Cubans,'' one woman said. ``It's just blowing everybody's minds that we're being treated this way.''
KEYWORDS: CUBA U.S. NAVY
U.S. GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL STATION
U.S. NORFOLK NAVAL BASE
by CNB