Air Guard silent...

[Guest guest]

his article ran in today's paper, Fort Wayne Ind. This reporter called me

today, we talked for awhile...

http://www.jg.net/jg/news/top2.htm

Air Guard silent on anthrax refusals

By Gray

The Journal Gazette

Local Air National Guard officials wouldn't say how many pilots have refused

to take the anthrax vaccine, but said reports that 12 pilots had refused

were incorrect.

Col. J. Goodwin, executive officer at Indiana Air National Guard

Headquarters in Indianapolis, said the number of pilots who refused the

vaccine is classified because it would reveal information on the air wing's

strength.

He did, however, say that the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne has all the

pilots it requires.

Lt. Col. Tom Heemstra, a pilot at the Fort Wayne base who has testified in

opposition of the anthrax vaccine before Congress, said he went to the base

Sunday. He said several pilots did not take the anthrax vaccination.

In January, several pilots in Fort Wayne were taken off the flight schedule

when they indicated they would not take the anthrax vaccine. The deadline

for beginning the series of vaccinations was Sunday afternoon.

Goodwin said the same battle over the anthrax vaccine has been fought in

many places.

The Pentagon has ordered that all of its 2.4 million active and reserve

personnel be inoculated against anthrax.

About 200 to 300 people have refused the vaccine, according to the Pentagon.

Several have been prosecuted, and many reservists have quit because of the

shots.

Rep. Mark Souder, R-4th, has attended several congressional subcommittee

hearings on the anthrax controversy, and he supports voluntary vaccinations.

" I say it has to be a personal decision, " Souder said, adding, " I understand

if they choose not to do it, but I believe for almost everybody this is

going to be safe. "

Souder will attend another congressional hearing on anthrax Thursday.

Goodwin said Air National Guard pilots were given pilot training worth $3

million to $4 million and that they agreed to serve a specific amount of

time in the Air National Guard in exchange for that training.

Taking the vaccine is not optional, he said.

" Our purpose is to prepare to go to war, " Goodwin said. " If this was the

Fort Wayne Flying Club and we were just punching holes in the sky, it would

be different, " Goodwin said. " Our purpose is to prepare to go to war. . . .

The chance you take going into a high-threat environment and not having this

shot is a big mistake. "

Goodwin said pilots who had objected to the anthrax shots were asked to

explain their concerns. There was no consensus in their opposition, he said.

Some were afraid they could lose their airline pilot jobs.

Pilots who still have an obligation in the Air National Guard will undergo

legal and educational counseling. That includes information on the vaccine

and its possible side effects and possible penalties for refusing to take

it.

Penalties, Goodwin said, could run the gamut from a reprimand to a

court-martial.

Pilots who have fulfilled their commitments to the Air National Guard can

resign or retire. Goodwin said many might be using the vaccine issue as a

reason to resign.

Most National Guard members must spend two days a month on active duty.

Pilots routinely spend five or more days a month on duty.

Over the years, flying fighter jets takes a toll on a pilot's body. Goodwin

said he has spent time around pilots who had experienced the pull of gravity

in fighters for 15 or 20 years, " and they get pretty creaky. "

" The bottom line is, this is a trust issue, " Goodwin said. " I live in a

world where the government tells me what to do and I trust that. . . .

The Associated Press and Sylvia of The Journal Gazette contributed to

this story.

PUBLISHED TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2000

Copyright © 1999 Journal Gazette

All rights reserved.

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