The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 184, Ed. 1 Sunday, December 24, 1961 Page: 44 of 52
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Civilian Crewmen
Direct Nike-Ajax
1960-61, as were three companion
By DICK BARNES 1960-61, as were three companion
TORRANCE, Calif (AP) — The batteries which help guard Los
call comes every Thursday after- Angeles. Their record made the
noon somewhere in the United 4th the only 100 per cent honor
States its summons to test-fire!roll battalion in the nation.
a pair of Nike air defense mis- Organizations like the 4th were
siles. created in April 1958 when the
it sounds like a strictly military Army decided to turn some of its
job But the summons frequently Nike sites over to civilians em-
is directed at men like Ron Ly-ployed by the National Guard.
ster He is a civilian, one of 32 All Must Join
supervisors of civilian Nike-Ajax To assure mobilization of the
battalions cities in event of attack, the
Save Money Guard said all employes must
These outfits are saving Uncle join its reserve program
Sam money, yet providing the This was a perfect situation for
country with air defense as effi-a man like Lyster He had joined
cent as at Army-manned sites the Guard as a private in 1962,
"The call shook me up a bit," faithfully attended his every-
says Lyster of a recent surprise other-Sunday meetings, and was
telephoned order informing him a sergeant when the changeover
his unit was next on the test was announced
schedule He was employed as a tool de-
Though he had bowsed the unit signer at the time, but applied
for only seven days. Lyster took for a civilian job at the site and
more than 30 men to McGregor was hired He went to Ft. Sill,
Range, N.M . Oct. 8 and rolled Okla., for officer candidate school,
up the highest score of the test came back a reserve second lieu
year, outshooting military and tenant, and went to work for the
civilian Nike units from all over state. After leading a platoon, he
took command of the battery
the country
“We needed a bit of luck," says Sept 28
the deep-voiced missileman who
is 27 and looks like a pro half-
back. But the performance of his
Battery B of the 4th Missile Bat-
talion. 251st Artillery, was no sur-
prise
It was an honor roll battery in
because they want the job, not
because they were drafted and
have to serve.
Doesn’t MM
Lyster sometimes spends 60
hours a week at work, but says
his wife doesn't mind his job—
She knows I’m happy with the
work I couldn’t make as much
money somewhere else.''
The Army likes the system be-
cause it saves money Richard G.
Wilde. Lyster’s predecessor and
now supervisor of a 4th Missile
Battalion battery in Playa del
Rev. explains the economy:
"It’s cheaper for the Army be-
cause there are no fringe benefits
for civilian employes. An Army
private gets $78 a month and a
beginner here gets about 3400 But
the hidden costs are eliminated
and the Army saves about 50 per
The employes wear military
uniforms at work and salute the
officers. But they're civilians,
paid through the states and are
subject to the terms of employ-
cent.”
There are no commissary priv-
ileges. full-scale medical pro-
grams, quarters allowances or re-
tirement plans for the civilians.
At present 76 Nike-Ajax batter-
ies in the continental United
States are manned by 4.332 full-
time civilian employes.
Recruiting workers is no prob-
lem. "We've had 200-300 applica-
tions at a time," says Wilde.
quit. The Guard baa a privilege,
too: it can fire them
War would quickly federalize
the civilian outfits-no problem
since every employe is aa active
reservist "When I push the button
to fire, we’re oa active duty,”
says Wilde
Batteries alternate in an alert
status. A battery on alert must
be able to fire a missile within
15 minutes of an attack warning.
When on alert, employes work
firemen’s hours—24 on, 4 off. The
22 p THE ABILENE REPORTER-NEWS
44-D Abilene, Texas, Sunday Morning, December M. 1961
Rudolph May Gain
Table Fame, Too
rest of each month is devoted to
eight-hour shifts of training and
maintenance, scheduled so that
the site is always manned.
Air Force Sends
Up New Satellite
POINT ARGUELLO, Calif.
•APi — The Air Force says it
launched a satellite Friday—but
won’t disclose any details.
It was launched at the Point
Arguello naval missile facility,
adjacent to Vandenberg Air Force
Base.
MEKORYUK, Alaska (AP) —
Some 03.000 herded reindeer are
giving Alaskan natives from Noa-
tak to the Yukon-Kuskokwim del-
ta a measure of economic stabil-
ity they’ve never known before.
And a new experiment in mar-
keting reindeer meat in the 48
states to the south promises to
bring reindeer herding up from
a marginal to a profitable opera-
tion.
Restricts Ownership
Under the Reindeer Act of 1937,
the federal government restricts
the ownership of reindeer to na-
tive Alaskans.
The Air Force recently has
been close-mouthed about launch-
ings of so-called sky-spy satellites,
designed to orbit over Russia and
detect missile launchings and
photograph military bases
The satellite launched Friday
is presumed to be a military
spacecraft.
The Air Force's terse announce-
ment said only that: “A satellite
Now, along the coasts of the
Arctic Ocean and the Bering Sea
and on desolate Nunivak Island,
there are W herds of reindeer,
comprising approximately 43,000
animals.
Here at Mekoryuk on Nunivak
Island, a modern slaughtering
and refrigeration plant was con-
structed in 1944 to handle the
15,000 deer which graze on the
island under the watchful eyes of
. —or . employing an Atlas Agena B
Many of the employes are e booster combination was launched
servicemen who worked on mis-
subject w -------------------------- . .. . other by the Air Force today at Point
ment laid down by their states siles in the Army. Other appli- Arguello.
Most importantly, they're working cants just show up at the gate.
. a: “It is carrying a number of
Employes must have prior mili- classifi ied test components.”
ka Native Service hospitals and
to Bureau of Indian Affairs board-
ing schools.
their native herders.
Nunivak Island produced some
150,000 pounds of reindeer meat
Ship South
Approximately 10 per cent was
shipped south to the 48 states on
the mainland. A full-grown steer
will weigh about 150 pounds
dressed.
Island The wholesaler will pay
40 cents a pound.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs,
which keeps a tight watch on all
reindeer operations, believes the
reindeer meat will sell readily as
a gourmet item at a price com-
petitive with the better grades of
beef, such as sirloin steak.
Within the past few weeks, the
Bureau of Indian Affairs negotiat-
ed a contract with a Seattle firm
for the sale of 25,000 pounds of MANILA (AP)-Gen: Carlos P.
Romulo, retiring Philippine am-
bassadur to the United States will
be replaced by Emilio Abello, the
Foreign Office announced Satur.
New Ambassador
prime reindeer steaks.
The fresh-frozen steaks will be
this year. .
About 90 per cent went to com- packaged in cellophane and flown
mercial outlets in Alaska, to Alas- to Seattle direct from Nunivak day.
AFTER
CHRISTMAS
WINTER COATS
AN wool and cashmere blends
95
AND UP
SAL
DRESSES
Fall and Winter Styles
All winter dresses reduced for sale
Foo
J AND UP
GREETINGS TO ALL OUR GOOD FRIENDS
May your holiday be happy and bright!
Thanks To You . . ,
for 29 years of pleasant service
to you in the Abilene area.
tary service or take six months
active duty training. They must
be high school graduates and able
to gain a secret security clear-
PAINT
% Glass, Linoleum
Awnings — Woll Paper — Window Shades
cine Builders Supply Co.
1182 NORTH 3rd St. DIAL OR 4-8553
ance.
Less Turnover
Wilde says performance at civil-
ian sites is helped because there
is less turnover than at Army-
manned installations.
Sixty per cent of the air defense
technicians at Lyster's battery
have been there since 1958.
They have one privilege the
Army doesn’t grant: they can
The Air Force wouldn’t elabor-
ate on whether the launching suc-
ceeded in reaching orbit.
Satellites of the Midas and
Samos sky-spy series sometimes
are launched from the pad where
the rocket roared aloft.
BEST DEAL
IN TOWN
ON
DIAMONDS
The Pawn Shop
357 Walnut OR 2-3197
rting Tuesday
Big Annual
re-inventory
Terrific Savings in every
Dept. .
at all 4 stores
Books Closed!
Charge purchases payable Feb. 10th
Check Tues. Reporter-News
for Our Outstanding Values . .
4th & Oak
River Oaks
Elmwood West
Merchant Park
Valuable Key Stamps
with every purchase
All Thornton’s Stores will be Closed Christmas Day
WOOL SUITS
Betty Rose quality, all
winter suits on sale
1995 na .p
CAPRI PANTS
Entire stock on sale.
Were 3.95 and wp.
29
and up
DRESSES
Group of after 5 styles.
NOW
IO0”.- op
SWEATERS
All styles now reduced.
Reg. 6.95 and vp
4” .....
• ROBES, rayon and nylon quilted and others. Sale priced 4 95 and up
# SALE PRICES ON OTHER FALL AND WINTER APPAREL. SHOP AND SAVEI
ALTMAN'S
v€
The Yuletide Season offers a magnificent opportunity for us to express our heartfelt
appreciation of all the fine things that have been ours to enjoy during the past year, chief
among which is the splendid patronage that you have given us. Your consideration has
made it possible for this firm to have a successful year from the standpoint of material gain,
of growth and service, of acquisition of new and valued associations and of maintenance
of old friendships. It will be our purpose to merit continued good will in the years to come.
We are not without gratefed
humility when thinking of
the splendid patronage that
has been ours, and we wish
to thank each of you for shot
ever part you may have had
in making possible the prop
ress of this firm.
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The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 184, Ed. 1 Sunday, December 24, 1961, newspaper, December 24, 1961; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1672170/m1/44/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Public Library.