Back at the Gap by Major General Frank Smoker

"Back at the Gap"
Major General Frank H. Smoker, Jr. (USAF, Retired)

Gap Growth

New Exchange Planned

43rd in a series

Major General William B. Lynch, then state adjutant general, on November 10, 2003, announced his plan to retire from the Air National Guard and from his position as head of the Pennsylvania National Guard to pursue other pubic service opportunities.

“Bill Lynch has served the citizens of Pennsylvania as adjutant general for about five years,” said Governor Rendell. “I wish to thank him for his dedication and service to the commonwealth.”

A New York native, Lynch was named to the post as 49th adjutant general and commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard by then Governor Tom Ridge in March 1999 and reappointed by Rendell in February 2003. Prior to this assignment, Lynch had served as deputy adjutant general of the Air National Guard since July 1995.

Lynch began his Air Force career in 1965 and became a trained combat pilot who flew more than 100 combat missions over North Vietnam. Subsequently throughout his 39-year career, Lynch served in numerous leadership positions, including commander of the Pennsylvania Air Guard‘s 171^st Air Refueling Wing at Pittsburgh International Airport.

In early January, shortly after his retirement, Bill Lynch announced his candidacy for Congress; however, he was unsuccessful in his bid for the Republican nomination for the 17^th Congressional District.

In November 2003, Governor Rendell selected Brig. Gen. Jessica L. Wright, the deputy adjutant general for army, to be the next leader of the Pennsylvania National Guard to replace Lynch.

Rendell said he expected a “seamless transition” from Lynch to Wright, adding that Wright has a “complete operating knowledge of everything the Guard does. We got the right person to lead the National Guard.”

When Wright was appointed as deputy in June 2001, she had been promoted to brigadier general and became the first female general officer in the Pennsylvania National Guard.

She was appointed as the 50^th adjutant general on February 3, 2004 and following Senate confirmation, was promoted to the rank of major general at her promotion ceremony at the capital on March 5.

As adjutant general, Wright is responsible for the command, control and supervision of all Air and Army National Guard units allotted to the state. In addition, she oversees the six state-owned veterans’ homes, the Scotland School for Veterans’ Children and programs for Pennsylvania’s 1.3 million veterans.

General Wright has had a remarkable career. Born in Monessen, Pa, she holds a bachelor’s degree on social work from Alderson Broaddus College and a master’s degree in management from Webster University, St. Louis, Mo.

She joined the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1975 and attended Army Aviation helicopter training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, graduating as the first female Army aviator in the Army National Guard. She became qualified as a UH-1 Huey and CH-47 Chinook pilot.

Wright added another first to her rising career when she was appointed as the first female in the Army to command the Aviation Brigade of the 28^th Infantry Division at Fort Indiantown Gap. Prior to this assignment, her 28-year service included periods of duty with the Georgia National Guard and the National Guard Bureau.

Wright was the recipient of the 2003 Athena Award from the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce. Chambers across the nation present this award to women, who, in addition to being successful in their profession, have also assisted women in reaching their leadership potential. Wright was the 11^th person to receive the local award.

Gen. Wright is also the recipient of numerous other awards and decorations including the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Reserve Component Achievement; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Senior Army Aviator Wings; Army Staff Identification Badge; Order of St. Michael; and the Order of St. Joan of Arc.

General Wright resides on the fort with her husband, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Wright, and their son Michael.

Activity on the military post continues to flourish. In March 2004, officials from the Army and Air Force Exchange Service announced plans to build a mall at the Gap.

The exchange service has earmarked $5,293,000 for the 17,089 square-foot shopping center that will replace three stores, World War 2 era buildings scattered at several locations throughout the base.

  The center will be located just northwest of the community club. Construction is expected to be completed in fiscal year 2006.

Called the Main Exchange, the mall will house a retail store, military clothing store, fast-food restaurant, barbershop and gas station. The stores are expected to do about $7.2 million a year in business. The stores will be owned and operated by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service based in Dallas.

The Exchange Service based its decision to build at the Gap because it was aware that the daily population at the Gap is growing at a tremendous pace. Besides being the largest employer in Lebanon County, the Guard is performing mobilization processing and training more soldiers than ever.

General Wright said the mall will prove to be a valuable addition to the Fort Indiantown Gap community, providing excellent support to our retired military veterans, active duty and National Guard and reserve members.

“More importantly, it will positively impact the local economy through the purchase of goods and services from local vendors” Wright said in a news release.

Construction of the mall points toward a continual growth at the Gap. The Guard has been continually upgrading the base since taking it over.   Permanent dormitory buildings and school buildings incorporating the latest technologies have been built and more than 50 percent of the World War 2 era wooden buildings have been removed.   Other new construction is planned, or in design, and by 2008, the Stryker Brigade Combat Team will start training at the Gap.

In early June, Col. Ray Hulings, former garrison commander, met with nearly 100 business leaders gathered at the Gap for the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Issues breakfast to inform them of the business opportunities at the Gap.

Hulings told the Chamber members that future construction at this local military base could mean extra revenue for local businesses. “What all this means to us, is improved customer service. What this means to all of you, is millions of dollars flowing into the local economy in salaries and purchases of goods and services.”

The Pennsylvania National Guard was selected to receive the only Stryker Brigade Combat Team in the reserve component. The transformation of the Guard’s 56^th Brigade will bring about $300 million worth of construction to Pennsylvania, he said.   Overall, the direct and indirect economic impact for the state is estimated to be more than $1 billion.

“These projects will pour $79 million into the local economy in Lebanon Valley,” Hulings said.   He added that the Gap is the third busiest National Guard training center in the nation, serving about 200,000 people a year.

Considering these possibilities, Chamber President Harriet Faren said, “With all this construction on the horizon, this is a great opportunity for our local members to become part of these projects. We want our businesses to know that and take advantage of this opportunity.”

Published in the Wednesday, June 29, 2005 edition of the Lebanon Daily News

© 2005 Frank H. Smoker, Jr. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of the author.

Go "Back at the Gap" Index