Brigadier General Allan C. Griswold. CINC-NEBCONFORCE
TO: Governor J. Robert Kerrey
FR: Brigadier General Allan C. Griswold, Commander of Nebraska National Guard.
RE: Public Safety and Military priorities, Post-Attack.
Governor,
Our world is very different now. The attacks of February 21, 1984 saw to that.
Because of your courage and foresight, combined with cooperation across a number of sectors, Nebraska has a fighting chance to live on. We could continue as a piece of the United States of America, or as an independent entity should situations warrant it.
We both have served our nation in war. We understand what that means. We understand what it costs.
Before the missiles came, Nebraska National Guard troops, Nebraska State Patrol and Dodge County deputies were called upon to neutralize a terrorist threat to our state. Such threats have intensified in the days since the attacks in sporadic pockets.
We are in a situation that could be more volatile than the days leading up to the war. We can ill afford to improvise a response to this volatility.
With that in mind, I make a proposal to reorganize our state's public safety apparatus.
INITIATIVES
1. Nebraska Combined Forces (NCF)
Governor, pending your approval, our state will merge then ranks and functions of surviving National Guard, State Patrol, Sheriff, Police and Civilian Defense Units (CDUs) into a unified structure.
Much of this reorganization has happened by necessity. I seek to formalize this and make one unified force at all levels of the state to directly deal with the maintainance of public order.
Many of the functions of each separate branch will be kept, but personnel will be reorganized along the lines of what roles best fit each individual member.
The combined forces will deal directly with four key areas. Defense of the state of Nebraska against external threats. Protection of citizenry against antisocial elements within the state. Prevention of the rise of such elements. Protection of critical infrastructure and resources in Nebraska.
2. Civilian Defense Units (CDU)
The indvidual citizen is the first line of defense within surviving communities to aid and access where greater NCF forces may be delayed in response.
In many communities CDUs have begun informally. Neighbor helping neighbor. In merging this forces into the NCF structure, our goal is to add greater training and discipline to the forces, in affect making them additional professional law enforcement that can also be militarized if needed and can provide a higher level of protection and manpower.
This has already started in a few communities, and it has been a success. I point to recent events in Kearney, where a small CDU force prevented the loss of life, destruction of shelter, and aided investigation into a major threat to the recovery efforts we are painfully engaged in.
Also, the CDU Air Auxiliary will be formed through the auspices of Nebraska Squadrons of the Civil Air Patrol with oversight from the Nebraska Air National Guard. The CAP was an early training source of an estimated 33% of our flight-ready manpower within our Air National Guard. Lieutenant Todd Trofholz, A pilot in our 173rd Tac Recon/Interception Squadron was trained as a youth in a CAP program in his hometown. Lieutenant Trofholz's action on February 21, shooting down a Soviet bomber threatening a priority economic target in our state, save thousands of Nebraskans thanks in part to his training in the CAP.
3. Conscription
Dr. Jennifer Suhr and Resources Executive Kay Orr both says that at this point there may be as many as 500,000 people in Nebraska who are between the ages of 18-45, who could be eligible for some type military or law enforcement duty.
Our current manpower, including surviving member of police, county sheriffs, fire and EMTs stands at approximately 6,000 according to our estimates and unofficial stats from the FEMA/NEMA Control Points.
Some counties have already deputized qualifying males within their borders, but we need to formalize that structure in greater detail, plus we need to put the refugee population who can serve into action if they meet qualifications.
Priority Conscription Refugees classes.
1. Gunsmiths
2. Metal Fabricators
3. Electricians
4. Metallurgists
5. Chemist
6. Military trained medical personnel
7. Combat veterans
8. Automotive Mechanics
9. Aviation Mechanics
It is our goal to reach a troop-strength level above 10,000 by the end of March 1984, and reach a level of at least .5% of the Nebraska population in some form of active public safety/military service by the time when harvest activities commence.
4. Strategic inventory of surviving assets of critical interests to state security (food, fuel, weapons, vehicles, etc)
This is already underway, combined with the recent Air National Guard missions to Lincoln and Omaha.
5. The means to fabricate, repair, and construct tools critical to force structure maintainance.
Main Threats/Priorities
1. Greater coverage along the state's main access routes for aid and commerce.
Food and medical aid will be dispersed over the next two weeks. Right now, we are limited by manpower, organization and fuel. We hope to rememdy this situation at least enough to carry out as many protected missions as we can.
2. Pacification of antisocial elements and prevention of the rise of such elements.
Our action against the so-called "Nebraska White Man's Front" at Snyder Lake February 21 was a small part of a larger problem.
We lost 37 members of what will be our state Combined Forces that day. Despite our best efforts, the ringleaders of this terrorist group remain at large. One of those ringleaders is a wanted federal criminal and the mastermind behind the material supply of at least four cadres of similar ilk who have conducted criminal operations in our state.
That man is named Tyler Tyles.
We have hard evidence that in four incidents since before the nuclear attacks, Tyles has directly supplied terrorist organizations with weapons, and munitions. All of these implements are military-grade and highly destructive. The incidents have killed over 50 Nebraskans and have destroyed needed shelter.
A recent attack against a shelter in Kearney was stopped by members of a CDU there. It has been confirmed that the weapons used were provided by the priority target above.
Governor, I consider Tyler Tyles a threat to the security of the state of Nebraska. I propose that he must be terminated with EXTREME PREJUDICE.
In addition to the structure above, I formally ask to create a special branch dedicated to dealing with people such as Tyles.
I understand your objection and the Attorney General's objection to this policy. I do not wish to turn Nebraska into an armed camp. I swore an oath to protect, preserve, and defend the highest laws of our state and our country.
However, people like Tyles have to be dealt with before they can build another Snyder Lake, before they can infiltrate a city government like they infiltrated Fremont.
We must fix this hole in the roof while the sun is shining. If this man is allowed to rain on our state, it will be a harder rain and it will cost us more in materiel, troops and the lives of our citizens.
3. Long-term defense of the territory of Nebraska.
We know we have a government structure.
But who else does? And will they do us ill?
We've had limited contact with the outside world?
Who is there? Are they friendly?
What if Kansas, or the Dakotas or Colorado or Iowa are ran by someone similar to Tyles?
What if the Soviets return with troops and bombers?
My goal is to build a defensive response for Nebraska that is so strong that no one would dare attempt to attack us for our resources or dare attempt to put our people under an iron heel.
The goal of PLAN GOLDENROD is to maintain Nebraska should come to the worse. It is a goal for which I am prepare to pay any cost to meet and exceed.
Si vis pacem, para bellum!
