U.S. Presidents Have Visited Post in Past from Staff Reports
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RedstoneRocketwww.theredstonerocket.com February 12, 2020 Vol. 69 No. 06 PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF PERSONNELMILITARY AT SCENEREDSTONE ARSENAL, AL U.S. presidents have visited post in past From staff reports America will celebrate Presidents Day, Monday. Four com- manders in chief have visited Redstone Arsenal throughout history. President Dwight D. Eisenhower made the first presidential trip to the Arsenal in September 1960 to dedicate the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. Greeted on the Redstone air- strip by Wernher von Braun, Eisenhower spoke of the amazing strides for humanity accomplished on post. “All that we have already accomplished, and all in the future COMMUNITY NEWS that we shall achieve, is the outgrowth not of a soulless, barren Library dedicates month technology, nor of a grasping state imperialism,” Eisenhower straight from the heart. said. “Rather it is the product of unrestrained human talents PAGE 5 and energy restlessly probing for the betterment of humanity, by courage to overcome disappointment and failure, by free ranging imagination, by insistence upon excellence, with none of it ordered by a domineering bureaucracy. “In this fact is proof once again of that hard work, tough- ness of spirit, and self-reliant enterprise are not mere catch- words of an era dead and gone. They remain the imperatives for the fulfillment of America’s dream.” Less than two years after Eisenhower’s visit, President Army photo John F. Kennedy, accompanied by Vice President Lyndon B. President John F. Kennedy addresses a crowd gathered at Redstone Army Airfield May 18, 1963. This was the second See Presidents on page 9 of the president’s two visits to Redstone Arsenal. Signs point out restricted access to post MILITARY SCENE Aviation hotline team By SKIP VAUGHN one thing in common: they are identified fixes data, ups safety. Rocket editor by signs which declare in no uncertain PAGE 23 [email protected] terms that this is restricted area. It has been declared a restricted area “by au- In the 1971 rock song “Signs,” the Five thority of the commander in accordance Man Electrical Band complained about with the provisions of the directive issued “signs signs everywhere are signs.” by the secretary of defense, pursuant to But at Redstone Arsenal, there’s good the provisions of Section 21, Internal Se- reason for the security signs because this curity Act of 1950,” the sign says. is a restricted installation. “When you reach the guard (at the Access is limited to those authorized perimeter gates), you’re now entering a to be here. Redstone Arsenal has ex- restricted base,” Marcus Clay, a physical clusive jurisdiction. This means, in ac- security specialist in the Garrison’s Di- cordance with U.S. Code Title 18, all rectorate of Operations, said. federal laws including firearms laws and Anyone would be foolish to try to Alabama state laws are enforced by Red- breach the fence. stone law enforcement. “They would be detained by the police So people should know when they and cited for trespassing,” Clay said. are approaching Redstone property and WIN OR LOSE Courtesy graphic where the installation perimeters start. This illustration, from the Garrison’s Almost Semi-Pro adjusts Redstone Arsenal has six entry control Directorate of Public Works, shows the to drive past Hard Knox. points, and its perimeter line varies at installation boundaries for Redstone PAGE 31 each entry point. But the gates all have Arsenal. 2 Redstone Rocket February 12, 2020 Redstone Arsenal: Federal Center of Excellence RocketViews Letter to editor: Lance veteran remembered Forgetting to save a jacket for a rainy day Remembering my Lance missile David still attended the 2015 Lance brother, retired Staff Sgt. David Nuncio, reunion at Fort Sill two months before Editor’s note: This column is for the who helped me to initially start the first his death. person who is moderately interested in the Lance Missile Veterans Reunion at Fort This is why my wife, Petra, and I weather. If you are extremely interested in Snippets Sill, Oklahoma, in 2006. have continued to invest our time and the weather – and you know who you are – By Jonathan Stinson I had the honor to serve with David limited monetary resources to set up our stop reading. This column will only disap- Assistant editor in the 2/377 Field Artillery, Lance Herzo outreach events – due to David’s loss point you. Base, in Germany from 1985-87 and and many others over the years in our Last year I bought one of those Colum- in D Battery, TCB MLRS, at Fort Sill veteran community to cancer and other bia jackets with a rainproof outer shell and as collective training instructors from illness. an inner puffer shell for $30 or $40, and I gest stretch we had without any precipita- 1983-85. Always be a promise keeper and swear it didn’t rain at all that year. In fact, tion in January was four days. And funny as it seems, we lived 10 honor your veteran family guys, like Since Jan. 1, we’ve gotten 10.65 inches David did for me. I don’t even think it got cold, because I had minutes apart in San Antonio, Texas, totally forgotten about that jacket. of rain as of Feb. 6. That’s 4.74 inches more until he died. Retired Sgt. 1st Class John Williams I was on my way to buy one when I hap- than our average rainfall. That’s more than David and his wife Jackie and I had San Antonio pened to reach my hand into the closet and last year’s 7.26 inches of rain. been friends since 1983. She attends my Editor’s note: The 13th Lance Missile pull it out. I was aiming for the hoodie my If you look at the numbers since Decem- reunions regularly in San Antonio. and MLRS Veterans Homecoming Cel- wife frowns upon me wearing in public. ber, it’s even worse. David was a true friend who never ebration is Sept. 3-4 at the Holiday Inn She also hates my second favorite cold- Since Dec. 1, there have been 18.38 inch- backed away from his word when he Research Drive in Huntsville. To register weather staple: my old photographer’s es of rain, which is 6.7 inches more than for the reunion, call Williams at 210-209- made a promise. jacket. our average rainfall. Even when he was sick and dying, 7007 or email [email protected]. It has detachable sleeves and at least 26 If you’ve been thinking it has rained a pockets. That’s not an exaggeration. What lot this year, you’re right, and it’s not just more could you want from a coat? Every your imagination. The data backs you up, year I break it out, it’s like Christmas all but as far as why I forgot I bought a coat, over again. So many things get lost in those the numbers are not in my favor. Final Salute wonderful pockets. That’s because, this year, it’s only rained Here is a list of Tennessee Valley veterans who have died recently. The Red- But I digress, this column isn’t about my 1.32 inches more than a year before that. stone Rocket salutes them for their service. jackets. It’s about how our perception of That’s a pretty damp winter. the weather matches the actual weather. That would’ve been December 2018 go- Raymond Williams died Feb. 2 in Birmingham at age 92. Have you noticed that when it rains two ing into January 2019, which means I had He was a corporal in the Montford Point Marines, the first all-black Marine unit. days in a row, it’s tough to remember the a brand-new jacket hanging in my closet. last time it didn’t rain? You would think that I would’ve used Editor’s note: If you know a veteran who has passed away, email their When that happens, you just default to the brand-new raincoat to help me stay dry information to [email protected] to be included in the thinking it’s been raining all week, month during that time, but no. next Final Salute. or year. That means one of two things happened. If you’re like me, you tend to take a more One, I bought a jacket, stuck it in a clos- myopic view of the conditions around you. et, and immediately forgot about it. I think that’s natural. Two, I wore the jacket and didn’t re- So, let’s see what the numbers say. member it. I didn’t find anything in the Quote of the week I’m writing this on Feb. 7, and the last pockets when I pulled it out this winter. I day with no recorded precipitation was know that’s not ironclad evidence I didn’t ove means not ever having to say you’re sorry.” Monday, Feb. 1. wear it, but I’m pretty consistent when it In February (as of Feb. 7), it’s rained five comes to not cleaning out pockets. “L – From the 1970 movie “Love Story” out of seven days. Maybe I’m just getting older, or maybe In January, it rained 15 days. The lon- it’s just the weather. Editorial office: 256-876-1500 Editorial Fax: 256-955-0133 Retail Advertising: 256-340-2463 Classified Advertising: 256-260-2218 Advertising Fax: 256-260-2211 RedstoneRocket Rocket articles are available at: Co., Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the Depart- exclusive written contract with the Department of Army.