| |
| During
the Khrushchev era in the 1950’s, there was a lot of tension and potential civil
unrest with news accounts of conflict with the (former) USSR and its promoted
policies toward a domination of world politics. Many measures were undertaken
to mitigate threats of attack. Today, we have Homeland Security as a deterrent
to hostile and terrorist attempts to disrupt and damage the American way of life,
harm its citizenry, or destroy its infrastructure. |
| “During
World War II, new long-range
bombers appeared. They could fly so far and so fast that even the wide oceans
no longer protected the United States. American leaders realized that the country
needed a new, strong civil defense program. Congress passed the Federal Defense
Act of 1950. This act gave the responsibility for civil defense to state and local
governments. The Federal Defense Administration was established to carry out the
act. It had the job of coordinating the civil defense plans made by states and
cities. Late in 1958, the act was amended to make defense a federal-state responsibility.”
[The New Book of Knowledge; Grolier, Inc; New York; copyright 1969] | |
In our senior high
years, a number of students joined the Harris County Civil Defense Corps. A lot
of us were ROTC Cadets from schools across the District who became members of
the Communications Division, meeting one evening a week at Houston’s
old downtown City Hall Building that had been vacated to new facilities.
We
learned techniques and skills of gathering information in order to disseminate
alerts and bulletins to the public for awareness and action. Keep in mind, this
volunteer involvement was prior to the technology of today with wide access via
vast television media networks and relatively instantaneous cyber communications.
We felt that we were performing a potentially useful service. It was a good experience
for me, personally, as I somewhat pursued that avenue of activity during my military
service following graduation from high school. The disciplined attention to detail
also benefited me throughout my career pursuits afterwards.
©
Bruce Martin
They
Shoe Horses, Don't They?
December 19, 2012 Guest column
Related
Topics:
WWII | WWI
| People |
Columns | Texas
Town List | Texas | |
| Book Hotels Here
- Expedia
Affiliate Network | |
