As BRAC deliberates, think about our once great country's history .....

[Stinky The Clown]

Its coming down to 'fish or cut bait' time for base closings. As it happens, my own state, Maryland, stands to benefit from new installations, expanded installations, and maybe 10,000 new jobs. So if self-interest were at my core, I'd be damned quiet (and smiling) about the BRAC results. But I am more than a citizen of Maryland. I am an AMERICAN and a New Englander born to first generation immigrant parents.

Consider the following three bases slated for closure:


Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS), Cradle of American Shipbuilding, located in the Piscataqua River Estuary between New Hampshire and Maine where in 1690 the first naval warship in North America was built, is the oldest naval shipyard continuously operated by the United States Government since its establishment in June 1800

http://www.ports.navy.mil/history.htm

Portsmouth is the very cradle of the birth of our Navy. I am a former Sailor. This closing pisses me off.
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Navy Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London is the Navy's first Submarine Base and the "Home of the Submarine Force". In 1868, the State of Connecticut gave the Navy 112 acres of land along the Thames River to build a Naval Station. Due to a lack of federal funding, it was not until 1872 that two brick buildings and a "T" shaped pier were constructed and officially declared a Navy Yard. This new yard was primarily used as a coaling station by Atlantic Fleet small craft.

On October 13,1915, the monitor Ozark, a submarine tender, and 4 submarines arrived in Groton, CT. With the war effort in Europe and the Atlantic in full swing, additional submarines and support craft arrived the following year and the facility was named as the Navy's first Submarine Base. Although physically located in Groton, CT, the base had their main offices and housing in the larger city of New London, hence was christened as Naval Submarine Base New London. Following World War I, the Navy established schools and training facilities at the base. Today, the Naval Submarine Base New London (SUBASE NLON), located on the east side of Thames River in Groton, CT, proudly claims its motto to be "The First and Finest."

This one bothers me for the historical significance of the base (actually across the river from New London, in Groton), but more importantly for the strategic significance. We currently have sub bases at the four corners on the country. This one serves Blue New England and the Northeast.

http://www.subasenlon.navy.mil/

We also have a personal connection. My wife, Sparkly, grew up in New London. She lived on the west bank of the Thames River and grew up watching the monstrous boats set off to sea and return. Her mother was an activist in New London in the 60's and 70's, with her crowning achievement the saving of New London's historic train station ... virtually single handed. A plaque with her name and the story is in the station to this day.
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Lastly, we have Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

May 1, 1909: Walter Reed General Hospital Opens
Congressional legislation authorized construction of the Walter Reed General Hospital, and on May 1, 1909, the new facility admitted its first patients. The medical center, named in Major Walter Reed's honor, was founded on principles that would integrate patient care, teaching and research. In nine decades, the hospital has grown to a vast medical complex, treating hundreds of thousands of patients.

http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/

True enough, a new hospital to replace Walter Reed is a good thing. Period. True enough, the new hospital is likely to be called Walter Reed, too. But why must it move? Even to nearby Bethesda. Could it be the lucrative development opportunities represented by its current NW DC location? I mean, money rules, right? Who cares about the local community employees who work to serve our military vets, right? Who cares if a commute to Bethesda in order for some lowly dietary worker to keep her job is difficult? I mean, these are minority employees. Who cares?

**I** care, gawdammit!

[firefox]

1. Isn't Maryland a southern state

Disregard the War for Southern Independence as a reference. By geography isn't Maryland a southern state? The Mason-Dixon Line is between Maryland and Pennsylvania.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Yes, Maryland, geographically, is south of the Mason-Dixon line

That line is, as you point out, the Maryland/Pennsylvania border.

And our governor is a strong bushbot with strong ties to idiot son's politburo. Further, his lt governor is Mike Steele, running to take Paul Sarbanes' senate seat for the repubs ... with LOTS of help and $upport from Rove and the politburo.

[calico1]

2. Portsmouth and New London were

taken off the list yesterday.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. They were????

That's great news! I was away from all news for the last two days. I had not heard that.

Panel votes to keep open 2 submarine shipyards in New England
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/12466867.htm

[calico1]

6. Yes! And both by big margins, 7-1.

We are still celebrating here. I live near the New London Sub Base.

[tx_dem41]

4. Historical significance and regional employment issues should play...

NO role in these decisions. Strategic and budgetary issues related to the DOD should be the sole criteria.

As it is, 2 out of 3 of your bases/facilities were taken off the list.

[calico1]

7. I agree. Most members of the commission

felt that there were too many bases targeted in the North East.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. I generally agree with you, however, some bases have a special

place in our nation's history.

Portsmouth is such a case. Not only is it a working base today, it is, in fact, the first Navy shipyard. They built the first ship for our Navy. It is historical. I'm glad it will now stay open. I can't argue one way or another its strategic importance, nor will I even try. But if it ever comes down to it, I would want to see it remain open as long as the United States exists. Even if it were to be drastically reduced in the scope of its mission, it should continue to be the 'longest continuously operating naval shipyard in the country'. Even if they only have twenty guys there repairing nothing but admiral's launches.

History, like culture, means something. It has value.

Similarly, New London is historically significant as the birthplace of the modern nuclear sub fleet. But I also see a strategic importance there. It is right next to Electric Boat, where we have the capacity (the VERY specialized capacity) to build nuke boats. True enough, we have that capability elsewhere, too, but there is something to be said for redundancy. Close New London and it gets harder for EB to remain afloat (no pun intended).

Walter Reed is another issue entirely. The fact is, a new facility will be much better for our guys than the worn and outdated facilities that exist at the current hospital. But since they decided to **replace** it on another site with new facilities, why not just rebuild at the current site? I know the current site. There is enough room on it to build a new building, demolish an old one, build another new one, demolish another old one, and so forth, until it is all new.

You wanna talk about outdated military hospitals? Look into Bethesda Naval Hospital some time. It is waaaaaaay outdated. But like Walter Reed, there is enough land on its current site (right across the street from the National Institutes of Health, by the way) to build new and open it before closing and demolishing the old building.