National Guard Called Up for Airports By NICOLE ZIEGLER DIZON Associated Press Writer

September 28, 2001, 5:45 AM EDT

Airport security will soon mean armed National Guard troops patrolling concourses, checking bags and watching for weapons.

The country's governors began calling up Guard personnel Thursday after President Bush urged them to station uniformed troops in major airports until better long-term security measures are in place.

Within hours of Bush's announcement, military police units of the Illinois National Guard were notified they would be receiving instructions from the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday.

"Hopefully, the risk is none. Hopefully, we have weeded out all of those evil-minded individuals who would do damage in an airport in this country," said Maj. Gen. David Harris, adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard.

California Gov. Gray Davis told a news conference at Los Angeles International Airport that Guard members will be on duty there for four to six months -- and they will be armed.

"They'll be trained in reviewing baggage, looking for deadly weapons, conflict management and a variety of other techniques the FAA thinks is important," Davis said.

Only Rhode Island immediately refused Bush's request. Gov. Lincoln Almond said he was satisfied with security at the state's largest airport. A few governors said they needed to know more about the proposed mission before deciding.

Most states offered no details about numbers of troops or specific units to be called up, and a national spokeswoman for the Guard couldn't provide that information.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said he had been told that about 3,000 guardsmen would be deployed across the country at roughly 400 airports. A spokesman for Missouri Gov. Bob Holden put the number at about 4,000.

Massachusetts Acting Gov. Jane Swift said Guard personnel would be sent to Boston's Logan Airport, the starting point for the two planes that destroyed the World Trade Center towers.

A spokesman for Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore said the state's top priority would be Dulles International Airport, near Washington, where the plane that hit the Pentagon originated.

New York Gov. George Pataki said he would comply but it would be difficult since the Guard is already heavily deployed in New York City.

In Wisconsin, nine National Guard troops were sent to security checkpoints at airports Thursday. In Hawaii, where armed Guard personnel patrolled Honolulu International Airport for 10 days after the attacks, Gov. Ben Cayetano said troops would be back at airports late next week.

Cayetano called the move "a solid step forward in assuring the American people and the world that our airports are secure for travel."

In his announcement, Bush said he would put the federal government in charge of airport security and more sky marshals on jetliners, and he pledged $500 million to upgrade security features on airplanes.

At Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, where the president spoke earlier Thursday urging Americans not to shy away from flying, airline workers welcomed the call for an immediate military presence in the nation's airports while Congress considers Bush's proposals.

"I think it's been long overdue. I think the government should have been running those metal detectors and X-ray machines long ago," said David Nowacki, who manages employee scheduling for American Airlines.

Pilot Jeff Yeargain said he was used to seeing military officers in airports overseas. "I like that idea, everybody in uniform," he said.

In Florida, Maj. Cheryl Spence of the 53rd Infantry Brigade said she was ready to go if called even though she might have to place her children, ages 4 and 7, with relatives. Both she and her husband are Guard members.

"We're 100 percent behind what the president is doing," said Spence, a stay-at-home mom and weekend National Guard member. "The Guard is perfect for the homeland defense mission." Copyright © 2001, The Associated Press

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001