Love - The Odessa Record "By Your Relative"

Odessa Record subscriber Larry Fisher of Spokane continues his series of articles on the history of the Batum/Lauer area (where his wife, the former Joyce Kiesz, grew up).

Hi, here I am again.

TOR – 1/9/1964 & 4/16/1964 - Through testing and operation of the Titan I missile system, certain maintenance and modification tasks have been identified and must be accomplished to maintain this strategic weapon system operationally efficient. Work at the site on updating, will begin about 5/15-5/18 and last between two/three months. Note: As it turned out, none of the sites were ever operational, their concept becoming obsolete before they were ever completed.

TOR – 6/26/1964 – Defense Secretary Robert S. McNarmara last week announced that 14 Atlas and Titan missile bases are among the 95 military installations to be closed by the Pentagon, subject to congressional approval. If approved, the Larson AFB Titan missiles will be gone by March, 1965. Also, the Larson AFB is on the list for closure in 1966. Figures released about 10 days before the announcement gave the military strength at Larson as 4,124.

TOR – 2/24/1964 – Missile Site Gear Sold. Equipment contained in three Titan 1 missile complexes, purchased for $313,789. Removal work to be completed by 11/28/1964. Prior to bidding, $8.5 million worth of support equipment had been removed from the sites.

END OF STORY – Because missiles were never operational at Batum, because only a small portion of the missile site was on Herman’s land (later owned by Gordon Kiesz), I’m sure that many of you including Joyce’s sister Marian Kiesz Monroe will not claim the missile site as a relative, but I will. It will be my “honorary relative.” Note: I have it from a very reliable source that one missile was placed in one of the silos, but only one.

Until next time.

Your Relative,

Spokane