Citizens, community leaders rally to save military bases
IMPERIAL, Pa. (AP) – The Defense Department should not only rethink its decision to close or realign three military bases in southwestern Pennsylvania, it should also consider expanding its presence here, community leaders told a member of the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Retired Air Force Gen. Lloyd W. Newton, one of nine commission members, toured the 911th Airlift Wing on Tuesday as a group of civic leaders, business owners and retired military members made its case as to why the Army’s Charles E. Kelly Support Facility in Oakdale and the Army’s 99th Regional Readiness Command in Coraopolis should remain open.
In May, a Pentagon panel trying to streamline the nation’s military recommended closing the 911th and the Kelly Support Facility and moving the 99th Regional to Fort Dix, N.J. If that happens, more than 1,400 jobs – 845 at the bases and 571 private-sector jobs – will be lost, according to western Pennsylvania officials.
Although the Pittsburgh-Base Realignment and Closure Task Force, known as Pit-BRAC, defended all three bases, discussion at a news conference and a rally held after Newton’s tour seemed focused on the 911th.
The Defense Department justified the closing of the base by saying land constraints prevent it from housing more than 10 C-130 aircraft.
But Pit-BRAC and leaders such as Gov. Ed Rendell and U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., argue the base owns and leases enough land to house 13 aircraft and has a land agreement with the Pittsburgh International Airport that would allow it to house another seven C-130s.
Newton acknowledged that seeing the available land around the 911th will have an impact as the commission considers revising the Pentagon’s closing recommendations.
“That’s why it’s important for us to come and visit a facility. Clearly, I saw there is land available here,” Newton said.
But Newton stressed that no decision has been made regarding the 911th or any other base.
The commission will make recommendations to President Bush by September. Before then, Pit-BRAC will have another opportunity to defend the bases with a presentation before the commission on July 8 in Baltimore.
When Newton arrived at the 911th, he was greeted by roadside signs that said “Save Our Bases” and “We Have Land.” After the tour, he was met by about 150 concerned citizens, veterans and other supporters who had organized a rally on behalf of the bases.
For retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Will McMurray, discussion of the 911th closure was unpleasantly familiar.
He was a member of a coalition that successfully saved the 911th when the Defense Department considered closing it in 1995.
As the rally wrapped up, Rendell remained cautiously optimistic that at least one base would be saved.
“Remember, they’ve only been able to reverse about 10 percent of these (base closings). But let’s hope,” Rendell said.
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On the Net:
Pit-BRAC: http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/pitbrac