thedrifter
09-21-04, 03:43 PM
Local World War II veteran expresses concern over base closures
Published Tue, Sep 21, 2004
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By MICHAEL KERR
Gazette staff writer
Dominick Rufrano probably won't stay too long in Beaufort if the area's military bases close.
The World War II veteran and commander of the local Military Order of the Purple Heart organization said he's too dependent on the medical services provided by Naval Hospital Beaufort.
"If these bases do close, a lot of people will be moving," Rufrano said.
A Defense Department-mandated round of Base Realignment and Closure is scheduled for next year to eliminate excess facilities in an effort to improve the military's efficiency. About 25 percent of the nation's bases are expected to be impacted.
On Monday, retired Marine Corps Col. John Payne, the chairman of the local Military Enhancement Committee, spoke to the Purple Heart organization about the realignment's possible impact on the Beaufort area.
The committee, an off-shoot of the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, has been working for more than a year toward protecting Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Naval Hospital Beaufort from closure.
"I think, of all three installations here, probably the air station might be a little bit at most risk because there are two competing air stations on the East Coast that the Navy owns - Oceana and Cherry Point," Payne said.
Still, Payne was quick to remind the audience that Parris Island's historic status doesn't guarantee that it won't be affected by the closures.
"Unfortunately, nostalgia is not one of the criteria," Payne said. "(Secretary of Defense Donald) Rumsfeld is not looking at nostalgia."
Al Silvano, a Beaufort resident who has spent the past year as the Military Order of the Purple Heart's national commander, said he wants to see the state put more money into protecting its bases.
"It's incumbent upon the state and the citizens of South Carolina to put in the effort and the funding to keep the bases open," Silvano said.
For Rufrano, who lives at Sun City along with more than 600 other military veterans, the bases are a major factor in attracting military retirees.
"A lot of them are only here because of the military bases," he said in reference to Sun City's veterans. "The military bases and the good living."
Contact Michael Kerr at 986-5539 or mkerr@beaufortgazette.com.
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local_news/military/story/3833268p-3434161c.html
Ellie
Published Tue, Sep 21, 2004
ADVERTISEMENT
By MICHAEL KERR
Gazette staff writer
Dominick Rufrano probably won't stay too long in Beaufort if the area's military bases close.
The World War II veteran and commander of the local Military Order of the Purple Heart organization said he's too dependent on the medical services provided by Naval Hospital Beaufort.
"If these bases do close, a lot of people will be moving," Rufrano said.
A Defense Department-mandated round of Base Realignment and Closure is scheduled for next year to eliminate excess facilities in an effort to improve the military's efficiency. About 25 percent of the nation's bases are expected to be impacted.
On Monday, retired Marine Corps Col. John Payne, the chairman of the local Military Enhancement Committee, spoke to the Purple Heart organization about the realignment's possible impact on the Beaufort area.
The committee, an off-shoot of the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, has been working for more than a year toward protecting Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Naval Hospital Beaufort from closure.
"I think, of all three installations here, probably the air station might be a little bit at most risk because there are two competing air stations on the East Coast that the Navy owns - Oceana and Cherry Point," Payne said.
Still, Payne was quick to remind the audience that Parris Island's historic status doesn't guarantee that it won't be affected by the closures.
"Unfortunately, nostalgia is not one of the criteria," Payne said. "(Secretary of Defense Donald) Rumsfeld is not looking at nostalgia."
Al Silvano, a Beaufort resident who has spent the past year as the Military Order of the Purple Heart's national commander, said he wants to see the state put more money into protecting its bases.
"It's incumbent upon the state and the citizens of South Carolina to put in the effort and the funding to keep the bases open," Silvano said.
For Rufrano, who lives at Sun City along with more than 600 other military veterans, the bases are a major factor in attracting military retirees.
"A lot of them are only here because of the military bases," he said in reference to Sun City's veterans. "The military bases and the good living."
Contact Michael Kerr at 986-5539 or mkerr@beaufortgazette.com.
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local_news/military/story/3833268p-3434161c.html
Ellie