Skelton Makes Pitch To Have Special Army Unit Headquartered In Missouri

Army officials are considering forming a unit to coordinate chemical, biological, and nuclear attack responses with civilian agencies. Missouri’s top man on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee wants to see that group headquartered at Fort Leonard Wood … and headquartered there earlier than currently planned. West Central Missouri Congressman Ike Skelton does not see this as another layer of miliatry bureaucracy. Skelton says the group would train civilian first responders as well. He says it’s important to get the unit up and running now, not by 2007 as is currently planned.