Lacey crowd hears from Fort Lewis, Mcchord about changes in planes, people and housing

LIONA TANNESEN THE OLYMPIAN

LACEY -- Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base are moving ahead with planned changes, even amid the duties they've added since Sept. 11.

"Well, as you know, we have been very busy in the war against terrorism," McChord Col. Jim Fellows told a crowd at the Norman Worthington Conference Center at Saint Martin's College on Thursday.

Commanders from Fort Lewis, McChord and the Washington National Guard discussed the effects the military has on South Sound and what is ahead for the military in the upcoming year at an annual breakfast, hosted by the Lacey Thurston County Chamber of Commerce.

McChord personnel will say goodbye to the last C-141 planes on April 9. The planes are being replaced by C-17s.

However, McChord canceled its annual popular air show because of wartime work. About 250 people are deployed from the base at a time, Fellows said.

Fort Lewis expects to welcome new armored vehicles called Strykers in mid-April.

"We are at the tip of the spear here at Fort Lewis," said Maj. Gen. Robert Brautigan.

Fort Lewis also is going to privatize housing on post at the beginning of April.

Also at Fort Lewis, Maj. Gen. James Collins will be replacing Brautigan. Collins currently is in charge of the Army reservists of the 70th Regional Support Command in Seattle and is being called back to active duty for three years.

Army reservists are working as military police at Fort Lewis, and Collins said he is going to talk to families in Tacoma about support they can expect while reservists are deployed.

The National Guard has people stationed at airports at least until the end of May.

A handful of doctors and nurses from Madigan Army Medical Center are elsewhere, Col. Virgil Deal said. "We hope that they remain relatively bored, and we hope to see them home soon," Deal said.

At the end of the breakfast, Steve Walsh of Spanaway stood up and said he appreciates the efforts of the men and women in the military.

"Thank you very much," Walsh said and started clapping. The entire room followed, standing up and clapping.

On the Web:

- Fort Lewis

- St. Martin's College

For more local stories go to the South Sound section.

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