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More than Survival. The idea that an old military installation is vital to local prosperity is mostly myth, as has been demonstrated time and again by communities that have not only survived the loss of bases but actually benefited. Thus, when Donaldson Air Force Base in Greenville, S.C.. was closed in 1963, the city and county took over 2,400 acres, turned the property into an industrial park that will create 4,800 new jobs in the area—more than the base ever provided. Firestone and General Electric acquired parts of an Army signal depot in Decatur, III., have expanded employment by 50%. Most notable was the bounce back of Presque Isle, Me., which converted an abandoned airbase into Skyway Industrial Park, quickly brought to the area plywood, shoe, and box manufacturers, along with propane, paper, and printing companies. All told, the industrial park as part of a complex drew 2,000 new jobs to the area, compared with 1,475 at the old installation.
Many former military sites have been taken over by educational institutions, including the Universities of California, Kansas, Pittsburgh and Miami. Examples: 500 acres at San Diego, once owned by the Marine Corps, now serve as a new campus for the University of California; a site in Louisiana is being transferred to the University of Southwestern Louisiana for a new branch that will have 3,000 students.
To appreciate all that, of course, requires a long-range view, and, in making his bold move, Secretary McNamara risked shortsighted attack. It is clear that he had the full backing of the President. Lyndon Johnson's willingness to shoulder the political consequences demonstrated a high degree of courage and sense.