The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, March 23, 1979, fathom, Page page 2, Image 14
Introduction The cover photo is a shot of i radar shack at an abandoned missile site north west of Davcy, Neb. It represents another aspect of pastoral Nebraska, the side which has participated In the nation's military efforts. "The state provided strong support for the Vietnam War and the Nixon admini stration and currently shows little interest in amnesty for draft evaders according to "Nebraska's Other Tradition' an article by William C. Pratt, associate professor of history at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. ' But, Pratt continues, a survey of history books shows that this wasn't always the case. Pratt said there is an anti-military tradit ion and it is evident by the state's choice of early leaders. Senators William Jennings Bryan and George Norris both spoke against military growth. "War brings prosperity to the stock gamblers on Wall Street ... I feel we are about to put the dollar sign on the Ameri can flag. The only reason America is enter ing this war (World War I) is to preserve the commercial right of American citizens to deliver munitions of war to belligerent nations," Norris said, as he voted against U.S. entry into the war. Talking about the Idea of preparedness, Bryan said, "If individual pistol toting is a menace to the peace of the community, pistol toting by nations In logic must be a menace to the peace of the world." But World War II brought a change and Nebraska started making a substantial con tribution to military activity. Pratt questions the Increasing role of Nebraska in military roles-rhe asks whether it Is due to World War 11, the tensions of the Cold War or the development of the defense industry as an important compon ent of the state's economy, or a combinat ion of all three. In his story, Mike Sweeney explores the defense industry in Nebraska. Alice Hrnicek gives the background of the Strategic Air Command which has its head quarters in Bellevue. Kim Wilt talked to SAC personnel about the military procedure in case of a national emergency, while Kathy Chenault talked to civil defense officials about the civilian pro- cedures. ... , Brenda Moskovits Interviewed Lincoln attorney Richard Vestecka about the shelter he has built In his basement. MaryAnne Golon and Cindy Coelianese, tell the story, through pictures and words, , of the university's ROTC program. In other military matters affecting university stu dents, Lynn Mongar researched the history of the G.I. Bill, and Betsie Amnions talked to Rep. John Cavanaugh about his new draft proposal. Stan Gillespie found the Air National Guard, housed at Lincoln Municipal Air port, and talked to guardsmen about their manuevers. The main controversy today between military circles and others seems to revolve around the issue of nuclear power. Shelley Smith did some research about the peace ful uses of nuclear energy. In addition, in this issue, we are announcing photography, poetry and Action contest sponsored by Fathom. The details are on page 8. Magazine editor: Deb Shanahan. Lay out editor: John Mlnnlck. Editor in chief: Pete Mason. Advertising manager: Denise Jordan .'Photography chief: Ted Kirk. Pro duction manager: Kitty Policky. Business manager: Jerri Haussler. Fathom is a magazine published and distributed tri-weekly on Fridays by the Daily Nebraskan. Unless covered by another copyright, material may be reprinted without permis sion if attributed -to Fathom, magazine of the Daily Nebraskan. Cover photo by Jerry McBride. Nebraska houses world's 'most influential military force-major By Alice Hrnicek Housed in a building with seven stories, three above ground, a basement and three underground, rests the "most influential military force operating on a global basis." The headquarters of the Strategic Air Com mand, located at Offutt Air Force'Base in Bellevue just south of Omaha, controls 47 SAC posts scattered worldwide. Of the 12,000 military personnel employed at Offutt AFB, 7,000 are involv ed with SAC. Across the globe, a total of 120,000 people work at the strategically located bases. That Nebraska can claim such a power ful force results simply because Offutt was available as a central location with room for growth in 1948 when SAC needed to relocate from Andrews AFB .in Maryland, according to Major Harry Sunderland, a SAC public information officer; SAC'S MISSION IS to deter war, parti cularly "nuclear war, by supplying strategic offensive forces capable of defending against a spectrum of threats to the security of the United States, Sunderland said. He added that SAC functions as the United States Air Force long-range strike force of combat aircraft and intercontinen tal ballistic missiles. General Richard H. Ellis, commander in chief, ranks above all management posit ions in operations, finance, legal, personal intelligence, logistics, plans, administration, historian, surgeon and information depart ments, Sunderland said. The force of SAC, composed of manned bombers, aerial tankers and intercontinen tal ballistic missiles, has proved especially important during the Korean War, the Cold War of the 1960's, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam Conflict, Sunderland said. DURING THE Korean War, SAC con fronted its first real test of combat readi ness by dropping 167,000 tons of conven tional bombs and destroyers on strategic industrial targets in North Korea in three months, the major said. SAC represented the strength and power to preserve peace throughout the world during the Cold War, he added. Playing an even more crucial role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, SAC was ready to support Kennedy, should the need have arisen, with the B47, B-52 and ICBM alert force, Sunderland said. "The command formed for the presi dent an umbrella which enabled American diplomacy to resolve the tenseness.' In 1972, the bombing of Hanoi helped bring to a close the Vietnam Conflict. "After 1 1 days of bombing, they were brought to the peace table," Sunderland said. Created by the Department of Defense to perpetuate the strategic bombing super iority that helped bring an allied victory in World War II, Sunderland said, SAC was born in 1946. Two years later, the com mand was moved from Andrews AFB to Offutt. THE HEADQUARTERS building was completed in 1947 at a cost of $8.5 million. Only one addition has been made. Much more significiant growth of SAC can be seen in the advanced techniques in aircraft and bomber systems introduced in its 33 year history. When General George C. Kinney was appointed commander in 1946, he started with 100,000 men and 1,300 aircraft, according to information published by SAC. The force included two types of air craft. In 1948, two new aircraft were delivered and General Curtis E. Lemay took command. A major breakthrough at this time was the introduction of inflight refueling, giving SAC's bombers true intercontinental range, By the time General LeMay was re assigned in 1957, SAC's force included the , "t V 'a 'wmm ,-,w4-y!..f- ,7' -f- ..V . . - : : '- ' " ' ' . '.. . "1 ' II 1 B-52 and KC-125, and the non-stop around the world "Power Flite" of three B-52's had demonstrated the command's world wide capability, the publication said. CLASSIFIED AS THE heavyweight among SAC's bomber force, the Boeing B-S2 Stratofortress Is designed as both a nuclear and conventional bomber. In three models, D, G and H, the B-52s proved flexible In Southeast Asia. Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers play a special fold by transferring fuel to bomber, fighter and cargo aircraft while In the air. Sunderland said that SAC Is the Air Force's single manager for such operations as well as the manager for every major air com mand that possesses ait refuelable aircraft. SAC'S third corrimahder, General Thomas S. Power, supervised the intro duction of intercontinental ballistic mis siles in the force from 1957 to 1964. A Solid-fueled ICBM, the Minuteman, has been on alert since 1962 and currently is at a level of 1 ,000 missiles. The Minutemen II has a large engine which provides long range and heavy change ; THE MINUTEMAN III has a larger engine and has more power and flexibility in delivering its charge. Changes in this re entry system increase its chances of surviv ing enemy attacks. . Since 1963, the Titan II missile has been the largest and most powerful of the ICBMs. Unlike earlier missiles, the Titan H's propellants are stored inside and do not need to be added immediately prior to launch, saving minutes in their reaction time. - Sunderland said that the Offutt location has had a major impact on the economy in the area. In 1978, the total SAC outline payroll was $207 million. Expenditures from civilian pay, services, supplies, equip ment and family housing totaled $33 million in fiscal year 1978 and $39 million in 1979. With 2,680 housing units on the base, the population at Offutt includes 35,600 officers, airmen, dvdian&snd dependents. ffrMsY. fnsrch 23,1979