From the January 17, 1974 edition of The Wayne Herald
'Local National Guard unit is a $100,000 industry'
Wayne could lose a $100,000 "industry" if the local National Guard Unit is disbanded because of insufficient strength in the
unit. That was the gist of what Dennis Spangler, administrative supply technician for the unit told the Chamber of Commerce
board of directors Monday night. Spangler spoke to the group in an attempt to spread the word that the local National Guard
Unit is in trouble because there are not enough men in the unit.
Wayne is one of several units in the state which are below
strength, according to Spangler, and if the number of men in the units does not increase in the next several weeks the units may
be forced to close.
Spangler was repeating fears voiced last week by Major General Francis Winner, state adjutant general, during a visit to
Wayne. Winner told mayor Kent Hall that five or six of the 30 National Guard units in the state may be closed if they do not
reach 100% strength within the next few months. Wayne's unit currently has four officers and 60 enlisted men. If it is to remain
open, the unit will have to get very close to its authorized strength of four officers and 79 enlisted men within the coming weeks, according to Spangler.
