Congressmen stress that Earle naval base secure
Say base will be strategically
important
in war on terrorism
By alison granito
Staff Writer

Area legislators described Naval Weapons Station Earle as "secure" and highlighted its strategic importance in the event that the United States undertakes overseas military action in the war on terrorism during a press conference Monday at the Earle pier in Leonardo.

Representatives Frank Pallone (D-6) and Rush Holt (D-12) undertook a tour of the base and its operations on Monday before being briefed by the U.S. Navy commanding officer on site, Capt. C.B. Shaw, on the role that Earl’s personnel will play in the war against terrorism.

Earle would most likely play a supporting role in any conflict with ships loading and unloading ammunition at the piers, and sailing out to replenish ammunition to ships in combat areas, similar to the role it played in the Persian Gulf and Balkans conflicts.

"The mission of Earle is a part for which it is infinitely well suited," said Holt. "Earle is not like anywhere else in the country," added Holt, noting that the infrastructure of the base, composed of a major ammunitions depot connected by railroad to piers with access to the open sea, gives Earle a unique strategic importance in the ability to replenish ammunition to ships stationed in combat during an overseas military operation.

Both Holt and Pallone said they were impressed with the efficiency with which the base was operating under the increased threat to the nation.

"These people have a difficult job under the best of times, and more so now under a heightened security alert," said Holt.

The legislators said that a major part of their visit was to extend a "gesture of support" to the 1,949 men and women who live and work at Earle. "These people are well trained, well drilled, and are prepared to handle the heightened pace and activity," said Pallone, who described activity at the base as an "orderly process."

Although the Navy does not release information on exactly what type of weapons are kept on hand at the base, Pallone said that "anything that could be fired from a ship" had the potential to come through Earle. He also said different types of ships may dock at Earle to load and unload ammunition in the event of heightened military activity.

The congressmen could not say whether any of the ships that are permanently based at Earle were slated for deployment to the Middle East or any area where it would be likely they would see combat.

Currently, the piers are empty with all the ships that dock at Earle out to sea in keeping with their normal North Atlantic Fleet schedule, said Holt.

Despite stressing its strategic importance, both Pallone and Holt said it was "very unlikely" that Earle would be targeted in some kind of terrorist attack.

"The very nature of terrorism is to go after more dramatic, civilian targets," said Pallone. Pallone noted that since the ammunition at Earle is stored in "dozens of locations over dozens of square miles," making it a very difficult target to strike. "Even if someone wanted to cause trouble here they would have trouble getting very far," added Holt.

As the potential for overseas military action in the war on terrorism intensifies, Holt said that area residents might notice stepped up security in the vicinity of the base, including the presence of armed soldiers guarding crossroads to prevent traffic from traveling on the road, which connects the ammunition depot in Colts Neck to the piers in Middletown’s Leonardo section.

An armed soldier and military truck could be seen standing guard Monday afternoon at the intersection of the military road and King’s Highway East in Middletown. Both legislators noted that since Earle would be "critically important" to an overseas military operation, they would continue to push for increased funding for improvements to the infrastructure at Earle, particularly improvements to the piers, which are currently under way.

"We want to highlight the fact that Earle is strategic and significant," said Pallone. "That is why we think it is important to continue the effort to provide funding for upgrades to the piers here."

Holt also said that if a protracted military campaign is undertaken, the amount of missions based at Earle might rise as the overseas action intensifies, lending even greater importance to the base. "Earle is not going away," said Holt.