12 hours ago, Cal said:

I spent about Jan. 4-April or May, 1971 there.

While you were in Yankee land, I was just finishing HS a little over an hour almost straight East of you. We could have met in Danville, IL for lunch. I think I-74 had just opened the entire distance from Champaign to Indianapolis the previous fall. 

 

Funny, because by mid August, I was a Yankee living in Rebel land in Nashville, TN.

Regarding closing all those bases from 1987 to 1995, many of the small towns near those bases went either belly up or still recovering.  The situation here in Pensacola was hit hard.  We had 4000 civil servants rebuilding aircraft and helicopter including the H-53.  The supporting Supply Center and the Defense Accounting Centers had another 800 employees.  Many small restaurants, barber shops, and other local businesses closed never to return.  Pensacola is now a tourist area.  The average worker cannot afford the houses the civil servants could afford and housing prices fell.  

I now in the first round in 1987 that Army participated most with a couple of AF bases.  Second round in 1989 more AF bases closed.  Navy threw in a few Marine bases in 1990 and finally had to play in 1993.  Navy closed 7 of 9 rework facilities including a shipyard, and 6 of the aircraft rework sites.  Thousands of federal employees had to take a reduction in retirement and thousands more got no retirement at all.  It was a good thing for the last group that they were under Social Security for their retirement.  At least, they got credit for what they had paid in and could apply it to their next job.  I know of several former employees working at Lowe's, Walmart or driving school buses.  Since the rework of Pensacola has folded, many banks have closed.  Basically, there are no jobs like that around here.  And, I have taught some folks to garden so that they can survive.  Besides, it's healthier and fresher food.  Just thought I would share some history on that 10 year BRAC with 5 rounds of closures.