Defending Freedom Close to Home

While there is great debate as to the proper scope of Federal government activity, the vast majority would agree that defending our country against violent foreign threats is a proper and appropriate function of our national government. In this day and age it may seem that the United States Military carries out its mission on the other side of the globe: in the treacherous climes of Afghanistan or the newly liberated streets of Iraq. But for those living in North Utah County, much of that mission is being carried out a lot closer to home.

On December 11, Camp Williams hosted a reception for local government officials. I took the opportunity to attend, along with Mayor Bailey, Councilwoman Strouse, and Councilman-elect Liddiard. Camp Williams is a fascinating operation and plays a key role in the country's military readiness and deployment. It was explained to us that Camp Williams is federally funded and carries out a substantial federal mission. It offers unique facilities for training U.S. Troops and is considered one of the premier facilities in the country for that purpose. It also provides training, services and facilities for National Guard soldiers and for federal and local law enforcement.

The officers who debriefed us were obviously professional, committed, and took their duties seriously. These individuals are responsible for preparing the soldiers who go into harms way on our behalf. The types of training are varied. The elite 19th Special Forces
Battalion takes advantage of the distinctive climate and terrain of our area to prepare for their operations, there are also artillery and small arms ranges and urban warfare facilities. The training even extends to developing methods of defending against convoy ambushes, which have taken a toll in Iraq.

But even with such weighty matters on their minds, the thrust of the presentation from the Camp's top brass was to communicate Camp Williams' desire to be a good neighbor to the civilian communities nearby. Much of the discussion focused on the common threat that fire poses to the Camp and nearby cities like Lehi, Bluffdale and Eagle Mountain. While there is no perfect protection against wildfire, I was impressed that substantial measures are being taken to mitigate the risk, and a bit amused to learn that a program using goats to defoliate fire-breaks is in the works. It is also clear that the command takes its environmental stewardship seriously. In fact it presents an interesting dichotomy: a place where the finest fighting force in the history of the world is trained to devastate the enemy is also described as a refuge and preserve for the most fragile of species.

While I had toured Camp Williams extensively a few years ago, at the time our nation was not at war, "September 11" had not yet happened and my impressions of the tour were more superficial. After last week's meeting, which took place inside only one building on the base, I walked away with much more profound impressions. I know the officers there really wanted just to be neighborly, and they were. In fact, that is one of the things that caused me to ponder. Our inspired form of government provides for civilian control over the armed forces. These officers were powerful men who command tremendous destructive power. But they were courteous, almost deferential, to a handful of small town elected officials. They referred repeatedly to decisions that would affect them but would be made through the democratic and political process.

I have experienced the attitude of the military in countries where they exert great influence if not outright control over the political process. Officers can exploit their position for personal gain and are often a source of fear among citizens. To the contrary, the men and women of the U.S. military would lay down their life to liberate the oppressed half a world away. They do not pledge their allegiance to a man, to a party, or to the military itself. They swear an oath to defend the Constitution, a document that embodies a form of government where individual rights of the citizens -- the civilians -- are sacrosanct.

The country has depended greatly on Utah soldiers in recent months. Lieutenant Colonel Robert T. Dunton, who briefed us on Environmental issues at Camp Williams is scheduled to deploy to Iraq before the end of the year. He along with all of those working and fighting to protect our liberties and our way of life will be in my prayers. As we gather at this season with our loved ones and enjoy the blessings and the bounty of this nation, I hope we will take a moment to reflect to those who have sacrificed their lives and their fortunes to bring this nation into being and to protect it in generations past. I encourage each member of our community to make an effort to express in some way the gratitude we owe to those who wear our country's uniform today and who stand ready to protect what we all hold so dear.

One of the topics that came up during the briefing was the noise that sometimes comes from the exercises run out of Camp Williams. I was pleased to hear that not once had the Camp received a noise complaint from the communities to the south. Should any of us be inclined to think of the howitzers booming or the helicopters whirring overhead as a nuisance, I suggest that we think of them as Colonel Scot T. Olson, Camp Williams Training Site Manager does. He calls them "the sounds of freedom."