PRESS RELEASES
5/07/2005
Contact: Adam Terry
(202) 225-8490
Armed Services official pledges to fight for Polk
By Jim Leggett
(c) Copyright 2005, Alexandria Daily Town Talk. All Rights Reserved.
The chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee said Friday while in Alexandria that Fort Polk is a "national treasure" which plays a major role in ensuring American soldiers are as prepared as possible for combat.
"We are going to make sure we maintain this great asset," U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter said.
Hunter, R-Calif., flew into Alexandria International Airport with U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, and they held a brief airport press conference before heading to Fort Polk to observe training there.
They were accompanied to Fort Polk by Brig. Gen. Michael D. Barbero, commander of Fort Polk and its Joint Readiness Training Center.
'No substitute'
Hunter, an Army veteran of Vietnam and the father of a Marine son who has served in Iraq, said, "There is no substitute for having your people prepared" to go into combat, a role played by the JRTC.
Hunter said he would work with Alexander and the entire Louisiana congressional delegation to meet Fort Polk's needs, especially if there are Base Realignment and Closure 2005 recommendations which call for more units to be stationed at the Vernon Parish installation.
More training land is needed along with more housing, he said.
As for land, he said, other federal agencies own land around Fort Polk, and "we should have a good-neighbor policy" with them.
Hunter pledged to work with the Louisiana delegation "for any additional lands that are needed. I think we will see good cooperation. I look forward to working with Rodney for many years on Fort Polk."
Alexander, noting that U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery, R-Shreveport., is heavily involved in Fort Polk issues since it is in his district, said Hunter "sees the potential in people working together. Good things are happening and will happen in Central Louisiana."
After the press conference, Hunter asked Jon Grafton, England Authority executive director, about the airport's 10,000-foot runway. When Grafton nodded, Hunter said the runway "is a great asset to have next to a military base. It's another plus."
While introducing Hunter at the airport, Alexander said, "We're optimistic about the future of Fort Polk and England Airpark."
Later, he was asked if he knows what is going to happen and whether he is worried about the upcoming announcement of 2005 base realignments and closures.
"I'm not at liberty to say, but if I was worried, I wouldn't be grinning. I feel good," Alexander said with a big smile.
A surprise visitor at the airport press conference was former U.S. Rep. Clyde Holloway, a Forest Hill Republican, who has known Hunter since they served in the U.S. House in the middle 1980s.
Photo Caption:
U.S. Rep. Ducan Hunter (right), who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, listens to England Authority Executive Director Jon Grafton (second from right), along with Alexandria Mayor Ned Randolph (left) and Chamber of Commerce president Mike Johnson on Friday in Alexandria. -- Leandro Huebner/The Town Talk
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