September 30, 2005 - Sodrel pursuing ordnance cleanup

“By working with my colleagues who represent military sites that have been used for ordnance exercises, we hope to be able to solve some of the long-term challenges facing these communities.” — U.S. Rep. Mike Sodrel

U.S. Rep. Mike Sodrel has joined a bipartisan group of House members who want to focus congressional attention, funding and legislation on cleanup of unexploded ordnance and on UXO safety issues.

The U.S. Army left tons of unexploded ordnance at Jefferson Proving Ground, where munitions were tested from 1941 to 1994. JPG officially closed 10 years ago today under the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1988.

Most of the UXO is still there and is on the 50,000 acres that now is the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge.

“The former Jefferson Proving Ground, Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge and Camp Atterbury continue to deal with the safety, health and environmental concerns from unexploded ordnance,” Sodrel, R-New Albany, said in a press release. “By working with my colleagues who represent military sites that have been used for ordnance exercises, we hope to be able to solve some of the long-term challenges facing these communities.”

Unexploded ordnance has been cleared from JPG areas south of the firing line that have been turned over to private or public-agency ownership. But tons more — at a higher concentration because of the direction of fire — remain north of the firing line, the land that became the wildlife refuge. Two thousand acres of that area also is contaminated with toxic, radioactive depleted uranium. DU weapons were tested at JPG from 1983 to 1994.

Of the munitions fired for testing and evaluation, about 1.5 million did not detonate, and about 7 million inert rounds that were fired to test live detonators, primers or fuzes also did not function as intended, and so remain, according to Army reports.

The Army has said it cannot remove the estimated 77 tons of depleted uranium for safe disposal because of the danger of unexploded ordinance. The UXO that was cleared from sites south of the firing line wasn’t in as dense of concentrations as that found north of the firing line, according to Army reports.

Sodrel was the 11th member of Congress to join the UXO Caucus, which is new. It was founded by Reps. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., Don Manzullo, R-Ill., Sam Farr, D-Calif., and George Miller, R-Calif.

Unexploded ordnance has come up as a recent public topic because some of the military bases on the closure list have unexploded ordnance.

The RAND Corp., a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank that studies and seeks solutions for worldwide problems and issues, recommended earlier this year that Congress create a nonprofit governmental corporation to take over management of cleaning up and transferring ownership of closed bases. The individual armed services and the Defense Department currently are responsible. Real estate, environmental cleanup and development are not what the military do best, so those duties should be lifted from the military’s shoulders, the RAND Corp. said.

Peggy Vlerebome, Madison Courier - Madison,IN,USA

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September 20, 2005 - Atterbury chapel best-kept secret

THE best-kept secret of the Joint Maneuver Training Center at Camp Atterbury is the chapel.

The chapel is located near the corner of Fairbanks and Evans streets. It is one of the oldest and best-maintained buildings on campgrounds.

Tens of thousands of soldiers have attended services there during their mobilization to war and their de-mobilization for home.

Last Sunday, I arrived at the chapel about 30 minutes early and entered the front door. In the foyer was a large pot of coffee on a small table. I made myself a cup of the blackest and hottest coffee the Army could muster.

I entered the sanctuary and took a seat by myself. As I collected my thoughts, I noticed the large wood beams across the ceiling and the sunlight shining brightly though the windows.

I centered my thoughts and became focused. I began thinking about the soldiers who have passed through this chapel over the years. For a moment, I began to feel like I was at home. I felt a cold rush and a sense of peace filled my heart.

After the service, I waited until all the soldiers left. I sat in my seat alone for another 10 minutes or so. I felt that same sense of peace come over me again.

As I left the chapel, a young enlisted soldier walked up to me and snapped a smart salute.

“Sir, did I miss the chapel service?” he asked.

“Yes, but if you walk through that door and have a seat you might find a sense of peace,” I replied.

The soldier smiled and walked by me briskly through the door into the empty chapel. I saw him stop at the coffee pot just as I did earlier that morning.

I may never know if the soldier found what he was looking for. However, rest assured; I enjoyed sharing the chapel, the best-kept secret of Camp Atterbury.

Columbus City Councilman Craig Hawes, a correspondent with 738th AS Medical Company of the Indiana National Guard, writes an occasional column for The Republic on military activities.

Craig Hawes, Columbus Republic

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September 02, 2005 - Indiana becomes crossroads of aid

About 2,300 Indiana National Guard troops have now left Indiana for disaster-torn Mississippi, while another plane-load of hurricane victims from New Orleans arrived this afternoon in Indianapolis.

The second Republic Airways plane bearing people from New Orleans -- some requiring medical care -- landed just after 3 p.m. at Indianapolis International Airport. It was not clear how many passengers were on board. Friday night, another Republic flight arrived carrying 60 passengers.

The Indianapolis-based airline has flown twice to New Orleans loaded with food and other relief supplies and returning with people who agree to come to Indianapolis. At least eight passengers from this afternoon’s flight were taken by ambulances to Wishard Memorial Hospital. Five of them needed dialysis, hospital spokesman Todd Harper said.

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis processed last night's passengers, and the city and other organizations have pledged to help any ferried by the airline.

As victims of Hurricane Katrina arrived in Indiana, more than 2,000 Indiana National Guard troops were on buses by this afternoon to Camp Shelby in Mississippi, spokeswoman Capt. Lisa Kopczynski said. More than 600 vehicles also had departed in several convoys from Camp Atterbury near Edinburgh, Ind., which served as most units' departure point.

The Indiana Guard's 38th Infantry Division will command 9,000 troops from 11 states in the Task Force Cyclone relief effort across Mississippi. Several Gulf Coast cities, including Gulfport and Biloxi, were severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

In total, the Indiana Guard is contributing 2,300 members from the Army and Air national guards.

"They're from just about every corner of the state," Kopczynski said, adding that they had mobilized within two days of receiving their orders on Thursday.  Jon Murray, Indianapolis Star - United States

Donate tonight

The City of Indianapolis and Indianapolis International Airport are sponsoring a disaster relief donation drive tonight. They are asking for water, non-perishable food and personal hygiene products. Donations will be collected from 8 p.m. to midnight at the airport’s Maintenance Building, 2745 S. Hoffman, Gate 35.

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September 02, 2005 - Task Force Indiana - Indiana National Guard sends troops to assist in hurricane relief efforts

 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Indiana National Guard will deploy specific units and capabilities to support the rescue and recovery relief efforts of Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi.

 

Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, the Adjutant General of Indiana, has received orders from the governor's office and at the direction of the National Guard Bureau to provide personnel and equipment in support of these relief efforts in Mississippi.

 

The operation is called "Task Force Indiana."  By order of the governor and through Emergency Management Assistance Compact, Indiana units from around the state will deploy to Camp Shelby, Mississippi to begin its humanitarian relief mission on the Gulf Coast. 

 

Task Force Indiana's primary mission is a joint effort by both Indiana Army and Air National Guard where service members will be providing assistance in the form of transportation, medical, security forces, logistical support, aviation assets and support through the Joint State Task Force command and control.

 

Command staff members from within the Joint Forces Headquarters-Indiana Indianapolis, will provide overall command and control of Task Force Indiana and will be lead by Brig. Gen. Michael Kiefer, Land Component Commander, Indiana National Guard.  Units called to active duty will report to home station and will convoy through Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center to receive rations and supplies for their mission.  A media release as to the times and locations will follow.

 

Units called to state active duty include, Company A, 205th Medical Battalion (Area Support Ambulance) from Camp Atterbury and soldiers from the 638th Division Aviation Support Battalion from Shelbyville, Noblesville and Kokomo.  Aviation support assets with personnel include units from the 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Bn in Shelbyville.

 

The Indiana National Guard will also provide logistical capabilities from units within the 38th Division Support Command headquartered in Indianapolis and with subordinate units, such as the 38th Main Support Battalion, headquartered in Terre Haute with sub-units from Brazil, Seymour and Indianapolis. 

 

The 181st Fighter Wing from Terre Haute and the 122nd Fighter Wings from Fort Wayne will provide support elements Air Expeditionary Combat Support Team, some civil engineer, logistics readiness and security force squadrons and both medical and services teams in support of these missions.

 

Transportation units and support include the 1638th Transportation Company from Gary, Remington and the 1538th Transportation Company out of South Bend and Elkhart.  Others include the 2nd Battalion, 150th Field Artillery in Bloomington, Spencer,

Greencastle, Danville,  Lebanon, the 3rd Battalion, 139th Field Artillery, whose headquarters is in Crawfordsville, and sub-units in Attica, Rockville, Lafayette and Kempton and the 190th Quartermaster Battalion out of South Bend.

 

Up to 40 soldiers from the 113th Support Battalion with units located in the cities of Columbus, Bedford, Evansville, Muncie and Fort Wayne.  The 113th Support Battalion recently returned from Afghanistan, however, of the 40 soldiers assigned to this current state active duty mission, none were previously deployed in support of the global war on terror.

 

The security forces mission will be lead by the 38th Division Artillery, whose subordinate units include the 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry in Fort Wayne, with armories in the cities of Angola, Warsaw and Huntington.  Also the 2nd Battalion, 152nd (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion, headquartered in Marion with units in Hartford City, Portland, Muncie, New Castle, Richmond, Winchester and Connersville. The 293rd Infantry (Light Anti-Tank) Battalion includes units from Peru, Frankfort and Logansport, the 151st Infantry (Light Anti-Tank) Battalion in South Bend, Elkhart and Plymouth and the 38th Military Police Company in Indianapolis and Delphi.

 

The National Guard has the unique dual mission of providing forces at both the state and federal levels and is the only service that abides by two Oaths-of-Office, one to the governor and one to the President of the United States.  Indiana, like other states across the nation, is stepping forth to help other states in need and is glad to be able to offer up any and all assistance to our fellow American's.  It is what the Guard is all about, helping others and defending a nation all at the same time.