127 24 26018 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c21418d69fa2e9ce3a93d1a1f08b8e35.mp4 9e89a6b8e19eb47d462664b38a6ae4f0 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/abc193d55758172a69e264b6bb275814.pdf c7fd78aa81a2ca2749fe87fcab2d69fd PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Hello my name is Steve Hammond and I represent the Grand Valley State University veterans history project today we have the privilege of interviewing Mr. John Chenard and he was a Vietnam War veteran. He has quite a story to tell but first before we get into your military service John tell me when you were born and where you were born. John: I was born in Chicago Heights Illinois in 1948 Steve: Um could you tell me about your parents? John: well they're both dead now but I I had great parents my dad was a barber his entire life had a gigantic barber shop 13 chairs at one time my mother was just a dedicated housewife she was just a beautiful fantastic woman Steve: um trying to think any brothers and sisters? John: I have an older sister and a younger brother. Steve: Yeah well what did they do for a living? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: My older sister is retired she's up here in the Grand Rapids area and my younger brother he's down in Florida trying to survive. Steve: Hmm okay all right um how was a life growing up in that area? John: it was good it was good many activities from programs for kids growing up there and bought my first second third house down there and it was just good living. Steve: What uh where'd you go high school at? John: Crete Monee high school. Steve: Mm-hmm how was that? John: Yeah little redneck little little town high school about it and it's still that way now. Steve: You were born in 48 right? John: Yes. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Okay now when did you decide to go into the military? Were you drafted? [0:00-2:01] John: I really had no choice I was drafted okay and I went in in 67 didn't take long to draft was held on January 1st I believe or December. Steve: Of what year? John: Although every year they had a lottery. Steve: Okay. John: And mine the number I drew for June 23rd was number 8 so I think was the first of January they they did the draft draft. Steve: Mm-hmm. John: And I was in the Army by February 8th I believe it was. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Okay did you explain more about this lottery draft because a lot of people don't know about that. John: they drew numbers they people who qualified to be drafted was drafted by the way the numbers came up versus their birth date of birth so what if they had 365 balls in the basket and they draw one first one would be January 1 second ball regardless of what month or year or month was and it would be January 2 I had February 8th so it didn't take too long for them to get to me. Steve: Um where was your basic training at? John: Fort Polk Louisiana. Steve: Ok how was that, how was the training? John: Well it's a rude awakening from civilian life to military life but it was okay it was okay and took it down there in the spring so it wasn't too bad. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: now maybe next military they told us years later in the mid-80s when I took my basic training that if this was wartime they would cut from eight weeks to four weeks is that what they did with you? John: No, no at all. [2:02 - 3:57] Steve: How long was basic training? John: Eight weeks. Steve: Okay. John: Eight weeks. Steve: Okay they must have changed it after that then that's what they told us but anyway uh your advanced training what did you do? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Fort Polk I was in the infantry. Steve: Okay so you 11 Bravo. John: 11 11 Bravo yes. Steve: Okay how was that? John: It was a little harder a little bit more aggressive training. Steve: Mm-hmm. John: A little bit more anti- enemy training. Steve: Yeah. John: Teach you how to eliminate the enemy in several different ways. Steve: Yeah, could you describe that just briefly or. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Oh bayonet training we fired 50 caliber machine guns nothing everybody gets a chance to fire 50 caliber machine-gun I went through 2 live hand grenades climbed up rope towers walk through swamps with snakes. Steve: Poisonous? John: Bugs oh yes we're in Louisiana yes. Steve: Did anybody get bitten? John: No. [3:58 - 5:10] Steve: Okay. John: No snakes are afraid of us it just as much as we were them. Steve: Yeah that's what I've heard I've never I've been down south I never lived down there but my relatives and friends have always told me that. John: Yeah they wrote they there won't be no human contact. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Right what about Gators? were they they down there? John: Never saw a gator. Steve: Okay all right so well this is still 68 or or 67 is it gonna be or is it close to 68 now? John: No it's still 67. Steve: Okay now after that uh your MOS training military occupational specialty after that training where'd you go? John: To Fort Benning Georgia for Airborne training. Steve: Hmm tell us about that? John: Well you learned how to jump out of a perfectly perfectly good airplane and I still wonder why I did that not quite sure but no they teach all the facets of learning how to jump out of a plane properly with a static landing no freefall. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: How was that doing it for the first time? John: Uh everybody had to get pushed out of the airplane okay once he get up 1,500 feet you're going along a couple hundred miles an hour you you look at things differently and the guy behind you he's just told to push you. Steve: Oh so wow so everybody behind pushed each other. John: That's right. Steve: And what the last person wasn't one of the… John: There was somebody at the door for survival. [5:10 - 6:41] Steve: So when you were out I never was an airborne but when you when you went off when did you know how to pull the cord for you know? John: You didn't. Steve: Oh you didn't? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: You were hooked on with a static line. Steve: Okay. John: When you jumped out of the door the static line would pull your chute out and open it for you. Steve: Okay oh okay that's interesting it solves basically I was right away. John: Yep. Steve: Your chute open and stuff. John: Yeah you're flying about 1,500 feet so the chute opens very quickly and you're on the ground in five six seconds. Steve: What has it ever been where there are some kind of mix-ups there that nobody's dead or…? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: No. Steve: Okay. John: No, everything is those chutes are all packed under strict supervision and no everything's nobody gets hurt if you don't roll when you hit the ground you might sprain an ankle or something they teach how to land also. Steve: Oh so training was pretty good in Airborne School? John: Yeah it fun. Steve: Well what after that after you're airborne trained? John: Well while I was an Airborne School they approached me about Ranger School because my basic and AIT[6:42 - 7:55] Steve: Mm-hmm. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: -Scores were so so high so I signed up for Ranger and I went through the Ranger training program that was 12 weeks at that time and there you jumped out of helicopters at 15,000 feet and there are you your free fall then you open up a halo shoot and for the new people they had an altimeter that they wore that started beeping when they got so low on you then that's your cue to open your chute otherwise the older guys they just knew how to do it. Steve: They had that much experience so they could know... John: Oh yeah. Steve: Wow. John: I've had about a hundred jumps total so I don't need an altimeter anymore. Steve: Okay. John: But I don't jump out of perfectly good helicopters or airplanes anymore either. Steve: Yeah well that's pretty nice so after your Ranger training that was that still Fort Benning there? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Uh that was all over those Panama, Costa Rica Air Force Base in Florida… that was 45 years ago I can't remember the name of the base. Steve: You're good. John: It's on the Panhandle. Steve: Probably either Tyndale or Pen… I can't remember but it's there's a Navy Air Force Base right there. [7:56 - 9:15] John: Yeah. Steve: Yeah anyway um how was the countries of Panama Costa Rica did you get to see any of it? John: No. Steve: Did you get to interact with anybody there? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: No, we had special camps down there military reservations. Steve: Hmm. John: And that's where we did all of our training and had no contact with the locals at all no. Steve: You think that was good? John: Probably yeah it wouldn't interfere with our training. Steve: Yeah, so you're talking about 1968 now pretty much? John: yeah well 67 I'm still 67. Steve: Okay did you have to see the Panama Canal? John: No. Steve: Okay. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Yeah. Steve: How close were you? John: You know probably 75 80 miles. Steve: Okay you're quite a ways actually. John: Yeah. [9:16 - 10:08] Steve: Alright so after all that training when did you get the orders to leave the country to go overseas? John: Mm-hmm when I was done with my Ranger training. Steve: Okay alright. John: Didn't uh yeah well let's backtrack first of all I was sent to Washington DC not overseas. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Uh-huh. John: But I was assigned to the First Ranger Battalion that went overseas every couple weeks went back and forth. Steve: Mm-hmm, and then you got picked for one of them? John: Yeah. Steve: Okay alright uh how was that when you were chatting over there when you first what Vietnam how did you feel? John: Nervous they never know what you're expecting you're always heard all about the terriblest atrocities and the war stories from people come back but it was a was a chilling experience because you didn't know what to expect really. Steve: Sure. John: We did notice the first thing we got off the plane the heat the heat was just terrible in the humidity. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Hmm. John: But we had we we went back and forth to do one specific mission it wasn't a black op or wasn't anything like that we were hand-picked to go do one specific job and that was it when that job was done we'd come back come or come back to the base come back to the United States go right back to Fort McNair U.S.. Army Headquarters, that’s that was my duty assignment. Steve: And that's in DC right? John: DC yes. [10:09 - 11:54] Steve: okay could you tell me about those what do you call those missions or whatever? John: They were just specific search and seizure missions we were assigned to go extract POWs. Steve: Okay, American or…? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: American. Steve: Or South Vietnamese? John: No any well basically American. Steve: Okay. John: The fighter pilots they were flying over wherever they were dropping bombs they had cameras going all the time and they would pass over an area or close to an area that could have possibly been a POW camp and another pilot would go go by and take another picture and they decided well yeah that probably is definitely a POWs camp so then they would stick a ranger squad go in there and determine whether it is or not and if it was if they could take control of it or go back get more help there was no radio contact no radio contact at all well we were out there on our own but we were trained for that. Steve: Did you uh run into the enemy at all? John: Very very seldom we ran into more villagers and common people non-combatants as they would call it and we just tried to avoid everybody. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: yeah did you ever have to interact with any and locals when you did that or you just guys just went in and around them. John: We tried to avoid them. Steve: Okay. John: If there were if we actually were detected or intertwines and our paths actually cross there there are other ways that we rather not talk about that one. Steve: No problem no problem so in other words you just avoided them? [11:55 - 13:52] John: Yes. Steve: At all cost. John: At all cost. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Okay how many each time you had a mission there did you get how many POWs did you get out on an average? John: On an average about 20. Steve: That's pretty good. John: About 20 and that was on four different occasions. Steve: Mm-hmm. John: We brought back 20, 28 I think was the most and I think the least was 21 I think yeah. Steve: Those are pretty good numbers. John: Yeah. Steve: So they were in these camps right these POW camps so you would actually have to would you sneak in or would you have to actually have a small firearms combat or. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: It wasn't a small firearms combat we would detect the camp we would encase the camp we would they have no contact they did not know we're there we were just watching their movements. Steve: Mm-hmm. John: And then at a certain time specified time that we all agreed on we all hit we were all in our position, we knew where all the enemy was and we just shot them one by one we knew exactly where they were in ten seconds it was all over. Steve: And then you just went in and. John: Got them all in and got them out and started heading it back. [13:53 - 15:13] Steve: now of course I hear all kinds of stories too and the public sees all kinds of movies to where the action, what kind of cells were they in were they bamboo type things or what were they in, our POWs. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Yes there they were very primitive most done were taking over villages and they were grass huts most of them were on with most of the POWs were on leaders so they couldn't run off either way you could had things around their necks or things around their ankles. Steve: Mmm. John: And fifty foot cable enough to hit the latrine enough to move but that was it there was no concrete cells it was far from being a prison. Steve: Bamboo bars and all none of that stuff? John: Yes, oh their perimeter fencing was made of sticks. Steve: Okay. John: Sticks tied together that. Steve: Was the bamboo stuff kind of Hollywood type stuff. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Yeah we see sticks trees branches leaves it wasn't it wasn't I'm not sure what I'm trying to say. Steve: Whatever the environment there was? John: There were no concrete walls they don't… were very primitive. Steve: Okay. John: Very primitive people. Steve: So when you took when you did your took the guards out will say it was easy going there and getting them out. John: Yes it was. Steve: Okay. Very easy. [15:14 - 16:46] John: Very easy. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: The Americans the POWs when you saw them I know that what their reaction would be but were a lot of them abused were they or can you say malnutrition? John: More malu- you malnutrition and lack of medical. Steve: Okay. John: But I don't I don't think any of were really abused they weren’t beaten. Steve: Not tortured or nothing? John: No no. Steve: Could you tell me the reaction of the first ones that saw you? John: Oh they were just totally ecstatic they knew who we were right away that there's such a different sound of the rifles we were used in comparative our enemy combatants and they knew they didn’t even see us they know we were there. Steve: Wow, so would you have to identify yourself to them when you come up to. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: No. Steve: Okay. John: They know who we were. Steve: Alright yeah that's good. John: What took you so long shut up or we’ll leave yeah. Steve: How long were some of them there was someone there longer than others? John: Yes some were there longer than others they traded a lot of people off throughout the throughout the whole war but some of them died some of them died in custody but they were they were they were alive their spirits weren't broken and they wanted to go home we brought them back. [16:47 - 18:20] Steve: how far did you have to go before you got to the nearest base? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: About 200 miles and we did that all on foot. Steve: So did you have to carry some of them? John: most of this was done in Laos and we were never in Laos. Steve: Hmm so did you have to carry them at all or get a stretcher? John: Some um we did we had carry no no no stretchers or anything like that they two people helping them with walking out. Steve: Well well did you run into the enemy at all going back? John: Very seldom we ran into the enemy we ran into more village people villagers, common people and how we did what we had to do to get to keep going. Steve: Sure I understand. John: There was one time we ran into no we didn't run into but you remember who Pol Pot was? He was.. or the Khmer Rouge �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: I've heard of that yeah. John: Okay that's like a left-wing army of the North Vietnamese Army renegade guerilla type type type type tactics and if the leader was Pol Pot and our paths cross their paths one time never had contact with them no battle contact but we knew they were there and they didn't know we were there so we just laid low waited for them to leave down there they're an army of 150,000 people and. Steve: The Vietcong. John: Yeah apart Khmer Rouge. We were six, see I've got Steve: Just six in one platoon? John: Six six people is quiet there's flying well six seven or eight people who go in and extract these POWs no more. [18:21-20:14] �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Why was the six a good number to get them in and out and how do people know that there would be so successful was six instead of like fifteen or twenty. John: Our training less number less detected our cover would have been a lot better the lesser numbers you are and we were trained to take out a lot of people and didn't need anymore. Steve: Hmm yeah you still average between 21 and 28 American POWs out of there and were- John: The six of us could take out twenty to thirty guards in just a few seconds because we knew where they all worked. Two o'clock in the morning we knew where everyone was and just pew in one shot and take them out. Steve: Did you ever have to use any like grenades or anti-tank weapons or anything like that just all small arms. John: Small arms we carried M14s rather than 16, they’re… they were more accurate most of what muzzle velocity was greater more accurate as we used it more like a sniper what this my sniper rifle we had Twilight scopes. Steve: Hmm okay. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Just there was something new. Steve: Tell me about that or tell us about the Twilight scopes. John: Well you you could pick up heat signals at night you look through the lens since it's green and you can the heat from the… Steve: Body. John: People's body is warmer than the tree or the ground around them and you could see their outline so you knew exactly where they were you tell if they were taking a shower they were sleeping you could you could see it you you could pick up the heat signal through grass huts you can see them sleeping there so we just aim for that. Steve: Now how did you know all the grass huts that they were sleeping in compared to the POWs. John: Oh the POWs are always out there they were always out in the open. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock [20:15 - 22:21] Steve: Can you tell us more about that? John: Of the sub some of them some of the pens that they had they herded them in things like pig pens some of the Pens were and had covers on them but the sides were always open and people the enemy in the guard towers around but they really weren’t guard towers they were trees with platforms on them and very crude but they would they they saw they could see the POWs at any time there weren't any building. Steve: Hmm so what the kind of animals did you run any you've gone there back that would be like hurtful to you like it was it was there Cobras over there, poisonous snakes? John: Threy were poisonous snakes but they we never had any problem with snakes our biggest problems were leeches if we had to walk through a creek or a river you always came out full of leeches all over you and you just walked through this Creek waist deep for 30 seconds and he'd come out and you know leeches all over you you know really terrible but spiders not spider bites but nothing - nothing deadly a big problem with wild boars wild boars would detect you and they would they come snooping and they felt threatened they would they would charge you. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Sharp teeth sharp tusks. John: Tusks teeth I'm pretty sure they had pretty good teeth we never ran across any but I've heard nightmare stories about people who have and you got to get the boar otherwise the boar is going to get you. Steve: Now say like did you run any on your way to a POW camp that would give your position away at all? John: No, no we didn't run into any boars no I didn't other other members of the the group did I no I never ran in any any boars. Steve: So 200 miles you average between 21 and 28 POWs just the six of you. John: Yes. Steve: How long did it take you to get back to an American base? John: Three to four weeks. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: What did you do for food and water? [22:22 - 24:43] John: We were we learned how to scavenge there's there's rice everywhere out there rice everywhere so many good vegetable plants that grows in the wild we also had lurps, concentrateded meals in a squeeze packet to go on that they have they call it something else now I'm not sure what they call it now back then they called them Iurps and we survived. Steve: Water did you get it from the streams? John: Water was everywhere. Steve: Was it. John: Water was everywhere. Steve: Were there any plants that were actually not good for you that you ate from or? John: No we knew what plants we could eat from but wild vegetables grew everywhere out there and you just have to learn how to eat a sweet potato raw. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Yeah um what kind of vegetables besides a sweet potato were there? John: Uh Tomatoes you know the the local people they grow they grow everything that they eat and we could pilfer pilfer their gardens. Steve: Well you gotta do what you got to do to survive especially bringing POWs that many through and I'm sure they are probably glad to get something to eat. John: Yeah determination and willpower with far more important than putting food in your stomach they well we did to no there are times when we'd just eat one piece of food all day long but we just had the willpower to keep on going we're gonna get back home. Steve: Now when you got them to a base what was the reaction of the your commanding officers and NCOs at the base and the reaction of your POWs when you first came on to the base? John: They were all very they welcomed everybody with open arms we were like a Suicide Squad when once we left that base they thought they'd never see us again you know then a month later here we come back with whole bunch of people and they were just very very thankful they rushed them right off to medical medical before they were even debriefed we went �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock in we had to turn over our cameras we took a lot of pictures and we had to turn over our cameras we were debriefed then we got a chance to clean up and eat ourselves and we sometimes we had a chance to say goodbye to the POWs sometimes we didn't put us back on a c-130 and back to the States. [24:44 - 27:40] Steve: So how much time did you have between each mission? John: Maybe a month month and a half so I had a 30-day leave every 30 days. Steve: Was it enough for you to go to the next mission? John: Yeah. Steve: Was it? John: Yeah it was two weeks was out on our own two weeks for back at the base for not extensive training but refreshing training refresher training. Steve: Sure now did you have some of the same soldiers with you during the whole time or or you have different ones each time? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: People did come and go but normally this the squad was made up of the same people one person might leave and another one would join but as they got a rule there you went out there with more people that you've gone on missions before with then new people and if this this assignment was strictly voluntary strictly voluntary you were brought to Washington DC and then they explained everything to and you could say yes or no and you'd be surprised how many people said yes. Steve: Really, what made you decide to do this did you feel like you had to do it did you want to do it did you feel like it was something you should do when you put on the uniform for the first time or what. John: I'm real that's a question I really don't think I could answer I have always been helpful to other people that needed help I have all been that way my entire life and I just figured boy these people really need our help right now and they know our government picked me to go do this so I went yes I have no regrets well that was crazy when I'm on these missions you you you change your personality changes you go in there as a young man you come back as a crazy person you really do. Steve: Well you've seen a lot of stuff normal people that just live regular lives don't see. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Yeah. [27:40 - 29:59] Steve: Yeah that thought will change anybody. John: Yeah I didn't I didn't come back as a drug user as an alcoholic I don't use those for excuses this post-traumatic stress syndrome I'm sorry but I just I'm old school I just don't have pity for those people I don't they’re just using that as an excuse because they saw something that that wasn't pretty okay that's war that's war and they didn't have any PTSD when we came back we weren't even welcomed with with bands you know we were booed we had bricks and bottles and stuff thrown at us. Steve: Mm-hmm well we can we can go over that a little bit later. John: Okay Steve: I want to back it up a little bit more. John: Okay. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: So you said they found out the camps there with when they were dropping bombs. John: Well when they're evacuating area when they were after they drew succeeded with their mission they were on high tailing it out of them but they had cameras going on the bottom of their planes all the time and just reconnaissance that's all and they put together these series of pictures and they determine maybe that could be a POWs camp. Steve: Now when you guys got your mission did anybody have a map at all they just just go? John: No we were all briefed back at the Army War College before going there we we knew what path we were basically gonna take what we're gonna take with us how far away it was and every time they were right there right but we do all that before we've left. Steve: Okay, so you know pretty much which way to go what direction to go in. John: Yeah we knew where the swamps the creeks the rivers the villages we do all that. Steve: So basically they just assign you to one camp to go to? John: Yes. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Okay did they sign if you know us did they assign other groups to different camps? [30:00 - 32:24] John: Yes. Steve: Okay did you ever run any other Americans that would go to that? John: No. Steve: Okay so they pretty much separate just as much as they could in different areas to go to that's very smart yeah. John: Our paths never crossed. Steve: Okay now did you any of you ever get hurt injured or anything or wounded in action going to and from any of you six that was going to these POWs? John: Yes, yeah I got shot several times. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Okay I mean do you want to saying about or don't want to say anything? John: Well I'm still here I just have a couple extra holes in my body and luckily enough nothing hit vital organs and most of the time when we came under fire we were far enough away from the from the sniper or the enemy combatant to him by the time the rounds hit us the velocity had been cut in half so just when it just went into us and buried itself in the muscle but I I got I got several holes different new holes in my body but nothing serious. Steve: Now you said the bullets were still in you right? John: I still have fragments in me. Steve: Um did you have to have surgery right away when you got to the bait like a base or just? John: You know if it wasn't life-threatening they'd put a bandaid on it and take care of it at Walter Reed Army Hospital when you got back. Steve: Okay I see and obviously it wasn't life-threatening to you. John: No. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Was any of the other six life threatening or. [32:25 - 34:10] John: Well we did lose one of our people one on one occasion and another one we had to carry out. Steve: Okay along with the POWs? John: With the PO- POWs. Steve: So that's just five of you to take them. John: Actually there were seven of us on that that when there eight of us all together depending on where we're going and where we were travel and what type of terrain we’re traversing dependent whether it was six seven or eight. Steve: It's quite a mission. John: Yeah. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: But all together do you have a rough idea first of all how many times you go in and out of these POW camps? John: I went in and out six times. Steve: Six times so then do you have I got average how many you got out altogether you think over hundred probably. John: I would say right around 100 I don't know for sure I don't remember. Steve: Yeah that's fine. John: I go to a reunion every year down in Indianapolis. But, so many of us are dying and so many of them are dying. I don't even keep track I just... I don't know plus I'm so old Alzheimer's, I think, is setting in I can't remember anything else. Steve: Well you remember pretty good now so I don't think you have Alzheimer’s. Al right well okay so you went back and forth to Vietnam about six different times? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Six different times over a period of 14 months. Steve: Okay, well. So basically you're looking at 1969 pretty much right now. [34:11 - 35:52] John: 68 and 69 yes. Steve: Okay yep and of course as a lot of people know 69 was the height of the war or 68 excuse me not 69 68 was where we had the most troops over there and we had the most casualties too and stuff like that too um when they when you guys got the POWs to the to the American bases or camps wherever you went to were they pretty much taken back to the States after they were…? John: After they were checked out medically and after they were debriefed yes they came back to the States. Steve: And then they're probably discharged from there if they wanted to or…? John: I don't know what happened to them after that. Some of them were under longer military obligation, some of may have expired or turn past their expiration date. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Sure, now we're these enlisted guys or officers that you pulled? John: They were both. Steve: Both okay. John: They were both. Most of the enlisted were ground troops most of the officers were… Steve: Pilots? John: Pilots. Steve: For the helicopter or for..? John: Both yeah we lost a hell of a lot of helicopters over there. Steve: Yeah I think I still read stories today of a lot of helicopter crews and pilots that are still unaccounted for. John: Still unaccounted for. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: So, well I'm gonna say this during this whole- John: I would love to be able to go back there and traverse some of these paths that I took just to just to help locate. [35:53 - 37:24] Steve: Sure, I want to say this throughout this whole interview here John. Thank you very much for all you've done okay that's fantastic this story even so far and we got more time to go. John: I was crazy back then I was. Steve: Well it doesn't sound like you're crazy because you got Americans back home from a war that wasn't very popular in a war that a lot of young men were killed unnecessary it really is and you know thank you very much. John: This was the first war that we were really in where politics had a major major factor not the sake of winning the war politics. Steve: We'll get into that in a little bit here too. Alright so your last time you were over there did you do anything after that over in ‘Nam? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: No. Steve: That was it? John: That was it. Last time I came back I was injured I got shot three times nothing lifethreatening but needed some- some reconstructive surgery and they took care of that at Fort Belvoir Virginia and then they released me to Fort Myer Virginia it's right across the river from Fort McNair but I was still in an infantry capacity but more of a honor guard status. Steve: Okay. So, back to Vietnam have you ever been in the cities like Hue or Saigon or any of those? John: Nope never had time. Steve: Never had time. John: Never, never around any of those cities I never had time we were dropped off there and the next day we were out on our mission and we came back and sometimes we were gone the same day. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Oh. So then basically when you by- by 69 of course we had a new president Richard Nixon course you know did you guys ever hear anything about what’s going- anything going on in the states when you're over there? [37:25 - 39:49] John: No we all we really knew was well what we knew when between the trips going back and forth we we did know that Westmoreland lost the command and Creighton Abrams took over but that was about it. Steve: How did you feel about Westmoreland being relieved of command? John: Actually he was he was commander for troops in Vietnam for four years and I think it was a mistake changing him from a long-term combat warrior to a stateside non-combat general [note: Abrams had commanded armored units in WW II]. Steve: Right, desk job in other words. Now, some Vietnam vets they they don't think too highly of him they always call them waste-more-men that's what they called him. John: No... I, I never looked at it that way I never did. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: I was just curious about okay half of them said this half of them said that but it's the same a lot of veterans I've I've talked to a high generals like World War two Vets say the same thing about their high Admirals and Generals too and the same with later later ones too like Afghanistan and Iraq and all that stuff but. John: I know he did things a little differently it was a time of war we needed things to get done people had to do it people are going to get lost. Steve: Oh one question to you don't have to answer this but I always asked Vietnam vets this did you ever have any civilian especially children come up to you that had bombs. John: No. Steve: Okay. John: No. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: I'm sure you've probably heard all kinds of stories. So but anyway thank you for answering that. That's a hard question that I asked Vietnam vets but I always ask because some will say they'll tell me a little bit others won't. John: There's a second half to that “no” though. Because when we were on a mission and we came across any friend- any friendly people non-combatants they were dead when we left. Steve: Well like I said but the stories in history books and veterans have telling me and other people you probably wouldn't have been out of there alive. [39:50 - 42:28] John: Yeah well it's true. Steve: If you would uh some soldiers never came back that that hug the children but anyway we’ll leave that alone right now thank you very much for your honesty okay all right now so you came back to the states what 70 71? John: 71. Steve: 71. Uh, you mentioned- �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: No, no. 70. Steve: 70 okay so when you came back you're headed back to DC right? John: Yes. Steve: Okay, when you came back to the states did you stop off in California or? John: No. Steve: Just straight okay. John: Straight over. Steve: Of course you probably had some stops obviously to fill up fuel and stuff. John: Two, just to fill up the bird, that was it. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Yeah, we didn't have the supersonic jets we do now we’d probably fly start for that but yeah so anyway um you mentioned earlier about how you were treated stuff being thrown at you where was this at? John: Well one of them was one of our missions coming back we did stop at Fort Lewis Washington and we were pelted with all kind of anything that could be thrown most of mostly, it was glass bottles, cans that were still full, not had been opened, rocks, stones. Steve: Were you guys in uniform was that how they could tell? John: We were still in our in our combat fatigues. Steve: Okay and they were I'm sorry they did was that at the airport or…? [42:29 - 44:07] John: This was that the Fort Lewis Washington airstrip. This was they have loaders right right near the fence so anybody that came in they were within stone's throw of the fence. Steve: So didn't the security of the base trying to stop them or…? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: They- they would go up to up up to the fence but it- they wouldn't go inside the fence they would just sit there and talk to them. Steve: Did anybody get hurt with a glass bottle or ro- rocks whatever? John: Somebody got a couple bumps on the head maybe good stitch it to but nobody really got hurt. Steve: Well basically you guys pretty much ignored as much you can. John: Oh yeah. Yeah we just turned our backs on them. Steve: Probably the best way right there. John: Luckily we didn't have rifles with live ammunition so probably would have shot them too. Steve: Well the thing about that is they don't have the real store they only go and by what they saw in the news and what they've been hearing so they're they based a prejudice against you unfortunately. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: They had a prejudice against anybody that was in any military. Steve: Yep I mean if I was old enough back then if I wore a uniform they'd probably throw rocks me even if I hadn’t been to Vietnam you know and that's I know that's a sign of the times it's gotten better but it's no it's still no excuse for this country to do that no matter who they are that's how I've always felt and I was really young during that time but. John: Look at how they- what they did during this past presidential election. Steve: Yeah, yeah that's I know what I know. John: And this was 40 years ago 45 years ago you know it's just terrible it really is I don't know where some of these people get their.. [44:08 - 46:00] Steve: Right and that for everybody to know right now for future use the past presidential election was between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump with Donald Trump of course winning and that's all we're gonna say about that that's for future use for people that listens to this interview anyway. John: Yeah I've put in my two cents on that one no I'll leave it alone. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: You’re good you’re good this is the this is the United States of American you can- my way I'm just letting people know so you know the time frames and stuff like that too but you are right people get- John: And these are educated people. Steve: I know, anyway so you come back to the states and then did you want to continue with the army or are you done with it or. John: I was going to be done with it but I had two years of college under my belt I was a half a credit down in the end of my second semester second year second semester that's why I was drafted and the army came out with this program for every year that you extend we’ll give you a year's college education so uh I took that first year I'm in Washington DC now I meant now I'm in Arlington Virginia now I’m at Fort Myer Virginia and I can go to Northern Virginia Community College or University of Maryland in College Park so I extended for a year the army gave me the time off to go to school and yet I could still carry out my army duties and I extended a second year and got my degree. Steve: And where did you go to school at? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: University of Maryland College Park campus. Steve: Okay that's basically the Terrapins right their nickname okay yeah. How was it like there? John: It was I I thought it's fine I thought was just great that was just great I was a couple years older than everybody else there but everything worked out just fine. Steve: Um what was your major what was your degree? John: I got a degree in business accounting and management the worst thing I could’ve ever done. Steve: Why's that? [46:01 - 48:19] Steve: Because in 72, 73, and 74 the the personal computer came about and they didn't need a a degreed accountant anymore they just needed a computer operator with bookkeeping experience because a computer would categorize and keep all the records I got out and I did work for Sheraton Corporation as a hotel Auditor I would travel around and audit franchise hotels but that lasted a year then they didn't meet me anymore well now they're all the hotels �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock are setting up satellite dishes and like I said bookkeepers could take care of everything they didn't need an accountant. Steve: So let's let's back up just a little bit before the war before you went and drafted were you going to Maryland then or was it- John: No no I was going to college in uh Illinois. Steve: Okay. What was the name of the college? John: Prairie State College. Steve: Okay, Prairie State. and you were half a credit shy of two years if you had the extra half a credit- John: I wouldn’t have been drafted. Steve: So you know the terms of stay in school, it's just a joke. John: Yes I know yeah. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: So then when you get out when you were still in the military when you went to University of Maryland? John: Yes. Steve: Okay now of course we've heard all the college protests and stuff were they still protesting against the war when you were there? John: Not there anyway not there there were they were protesting a lot of other places but I didn't see any of it at university University of Maryland. Steve: Um did they treat you any different because you were a veteran the professors or the students. John: No no not really I was considered the old person in the class but no not really nobody yeah. [48:20 - 50:24] �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Nobody called you any names or anything that's good you know I've really impressed with I'll be a Terrapin fan for a little bit for that one yeah even though I'm a big Michigan State fan. John: oh no I wasn't treated any any differently. Steve: Well that's that's that's good to hear I'm I'm really glad to hear. John: There is so much military all around Washington DC all five services have major installations just around Washington and so much of their support live just around Washington nobody's gonna bad-mouth any any military around Washington. Steve: So obviously they had an effect of where it was at. John: Oh yes. Steve: Pretty much not like some places like California or even where the unfortunates that happen with the National Guard at Kent State they're in Ohio and they even had some here Michigan at MSU and U of M and even up at Ferris State where my brother went to school at the ROTC buildings and stuff like that but um anyway that's that's fantastic I'm glad to hear that �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock I'm sure a lot of people are glad to hear that too um no as far as Maryland goes by the way where's University of Maryland at? John: College Park. Steve: And where's that at? John: North east, northeast Washington DC. Steve: Okay I've been to Merrill many times but I've never been by the area for some reason John: North-East quadrant. Steve: Okay been to D.C many times too but I've never to[50:25 - 52:03] John: DC's set out or set up like Grand Rapids Northeast Northwest same thing. Steve: Alright, as far as of course a metal in service award you want to you you said you earned a Silver Star. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Yeah. Steve: Tell me how you earn that or can't you say? John: We can’t. Steve: That's fine. John: We can't discuss that. Steve: Same with the Bronze Stars right earned three Bronze Stars same thing okay. John: Actually all my works don't say what I did where I did it at it's just work services rendered in Southeast Asia. Steve: Understandable, congratulations thank you for them too they’re well deserved. John: Thank you. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: And course four purple hearts. You've mentioned a couple of them it's up to you if you want to talk about that. John: Got shot in my mouth, got shot in my ankle, got shot in my knee took one in the calf two in the back one hit my spinal cord one in the shoulder one here and one in my chest over here. Steve: The, the one that hit you in your mouth that's not life-threatening? John: No, it didn't enter anything except my mouth cavity but it did break off all my teeth at one time so yeah. Steve: Did you have the bullet in your mouth was it or…? John: No it wedged itself between two teeth and there was no place for the teeth to go so they just went sideways and broke them all off the gum level the the bullet wreckage ricochet ricocheted up and hit my jaw right here and same thing went between two teeth no place to go broke all the teeth off but one and stopped its forward momentum at that point. [52:04 - 54:01] Steve: Now, did you have to have reconstructive surgery on your mouth or just… �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Nothing reconstruct nothing reconstruct and just have to pull out all the roots and give me a false teeth but they took care of all that and they still take care of all of it. Steve: Oh really? That's good yeah. You mentioned your spinal cord. John: That one I had big problems with. It took many many years to catch up with me but I mean every problems with that now. Steve: Okay doesn't seem like you do because you you work pretty good and stuff but. John: As long as I stay active it's okay but as soon as I stop- Steve: You feel it. John: I feel it yes. Steve: And then your shoulders you said too, and then your ankle you still feel them too? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: I feel the one in my knee but the rest of them don't bother me at all the spinal cord one does the one in my right knee that there again 40 years later it's starting to I had an injury that wasn't really taken care of good 45 years ago. Steve: I've heard that a lot even World War two and Korean vets say the same thing that their injuries catch up to him 40 sometimes 50 years later you know Wow of course technology now is obviously much different. John: Yeah the back one is starting to bother me. Steve: Okay yeah you want us to stop for a minute or you're good? John: No I’m fine just got to reposition myself a little. Steve: Okay Alright um obviously Good Conduct Medal well deserved your special duties were assistant army aviator Pathfinder. John: Uh that's what the award is I was an aviation crew member. I was part of a helicopter crew. [54:02 - 55:56] �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Okay and you earned your combat infantry badge. John: Yes. Steve: Congratulations that's a very hard badge to earn. John: Yes they come in combat. Steve: They don't just hand those things out. John: They don’t even hand them out anymore. Steve: No I know, that's too bad I have some friends of mine that are Vietnam vets that I served in the National Guard that had that too and I was very proud to stand next to them and dress greens or dress blues in the air air army or Air Guard stuff like that too and believe it or not when we have an inspection by a lieutenant colonel or full-bird colonel they look at their medals say they say thank you very much for what you did in Vietnam that's very good some of them officers like that didn't even go over to Vietnam or got in after Vietnam so… John: I have a very good friend that retired as a full-bird colonel and I still address him as sir. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Alright obviously you earned your National Defense medal you're in the 82nd airborne okay how's that does that make you feel proud or does it do anything for you that you were in the 82nd second airborne? John: Well most Rangers are go through 82nd airborne hundred first most Rangers are eighty second it was just another duty station do the assignment that's how I got my airborne nothing to brag about but nothing to be ashamed about it's just a stepping stone in my ladder it's all it was. Steve: Hmm my medals are those are units that not the average service member belong to. John: They have to be airborne well I look more than orange Ranger tab bit more more important to me than the 82nd airborne. Steve: And why is that? John: There aren't that many Rangers. Steve: Okay well there's a lot of airborne, �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: There's a lot of airborne but they didn't go Ranger. [55:57 - 57:58] Steve: Of course you earned your Southeast Asia campaign medal and your public of Vietnam medal and then you showed me a patch earlier of the Washington Monument with a sword by it. John: Military District of Washington. Steve: Could you tell us about that a little bit? John: Well when I came back I was assigned to Fort Myer Virginia that's part of the Military District of Washington all army that's that's in the military around the Washington area wear that patch as their home patch. Steve: And you told me that you're very proud of that why? John: I was in a unit that very very few people have ever been- been in I don't know if you know this but like I said I walked the tomb of the unknown soldier number three months and I have a patch I have a badge that's a tomb guard patch it's made of sterling silver and you know that less tomb guard patches have been handed out than patches that have given to the astronauts that have gone up in space. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Actually be honest with me that doesn't surprise me but the people who would be viewing this interview it would. John: There have been less tomb guard patches or medals awarded than patches for going into outer space. Steve: Well I know it's quite a not just an honor but a quite a lot of restrictions you have to follow well for that because for obvious reasons because it's very sacred. John: When I did it it wasn't as sacred or it was sacred but not as many restrictions but ever since they identified the remains of the Vietnam unknown I don't know I just look at that whole system a little bit different now. Steve: Sure so you are you saying that you didn't want them to identify? John: I didn't want them to open up that tomb and do a DNA I didn't want I was against that. Steve: Why is that? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: He- he was part of he was the selected Vietnam unknown and they should’ve left left it that way technology caught up with the times the times didn't catch up with the technology and I just don't think… [57:59 - 60:40] Steve: They shouldn’t have done that? John: I don't think they should have done it because now we don't have a Vietnam unknown but we have unknown from all the other wars it will probably never have another unknown. Steve: See I thought they had another unknown in there but he was the only one? John: Oh they had unknowns from World War one, Korea. Steve: Yeah I knew that. John: They have a couple different grave sites it's not all one tomb okay. Steve: But see I thought there was another Vietnam unknown at the tomb. John: I don't think so I don't know. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Okay sure yeah I don't I don't know myself be honest with ya I'd have to look that up sure I've been to the tomb many times to stop there so you were the sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier the assistant commander for the second relief just go ahead and tell me about that. John: Well I was I was hand picked for that position also go through an extensive training period before they even put you out on the mat, and most honorable you're guarding the most honorable sacred thing that are all the military all the mili- military forces look as sacred that is sacred that's just how I looked at it. Steve: I mean it's that's good I mean a lot of people look at it that way and you were also a member of the army drill team for three months? John: Yes. Steve: What's that about? John: It's just a lot of performance gun rifles showmanship the guns around flipping them unison everybody doing thing in perfect unison or the ripple effect today. But that was fun we traveled a �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock lot with that they did a lot of presentations different places football games basketball games yeah. [60:41 - 62:49] Steve: Well that's still quite an honor to do that really and you were the honor guard at Fort Myer too right. Okay, what's that about? John: Everything that I just described the tomb the drill team that's all part of the honor guard company. Steve: Does it? Okay, same thing yeah okay alright. John: I was one of the few infantry personnel that still rode a horse almost in the caisson platoon for three months. Steve: Okay and what's that all about? John: They're they're the white horse squad or the black horse squad that carried that pulls the caisson with the casket in the flag on the flag draped casket for burials in Arlington National Cemetery I rode one of those horses so I was part of the cavalry. I had a very very very nice military career. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: You sure did, and I want to thank you for it again very much. John: They really didn't want me to get out but I had to go. Steve: Did yah? what it- was one of those things were it's time to go. John: Yes yeah it was time for me to go. Steve: Yeah yeah um okay well back up later and a few things but right now I want to bring up to the present time so when you got all the military what did you do? John: Well I went to work for Sheridan Corporation because I had that degree in accounting that lasted a year and Sheridan told me months in advance look we're gonna lay you off because we don't need this position anymore you've been been been replaced by electronics and back then a computer needed the whole room with air-conditioned floors [Unintelligible] operators but it was the start it was the start so I I went to operating engineer school became became a crane operator and did that for 40 years. Steve: What did you do as a crane operator was a part of construction? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Construction. I would hang steel lift concrete. [62:50 - 65:13] Steve: One of those big tall things that you see? John: Well that was the second 20. The first 20 years was in a big hydro crane they're portable and you can set them up in at any job- jobsite set them up on a daily basis second 20 I went tower crane those are the big ones that goes straight up and I did that for the second twenty more money the higher up you got you got more money for every five floors you went up. Steve: it's almost like more combat pay almost. John: Yeah I like to working for a hundred dollars an hour. Steve: Yeah I don't blame you. John: It’is nice it's not like very comfortable for me. Steve: So obviously you didn't have no fear Heights. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: No, well I jumped out of airplanes perfectly good airplane afraid of a crane that's a three four hundred feet tall. Steve: So fit right in. Now did you ever get married? John: Yes. Steve: Okay you have any children? John: Yes I have three girls. Steve: Okay tell me about them? John: Uh they're scattered all over the country right now yeah I think I have on in New York one in Florida one in LA. Steve: You certainly do yeah. John: They they're all professionals and they're all doing well and I talk to them see them all time. my wife passed back in 1990. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Sorry to hear that. John: I had[65:14 - End] � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27_ChenardJ2115V1 Title A name given to the resource Chenard, John (1 of 2, Interview transcript and video), 2017 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-03-26 Description An account of the resource John Chenard was born in Chicago Heights Illinois in 1948. He grew up with a barber father, and a stay at home mother, he also had a brother and a sister. He went to Creek Moni High School. He was drafted through the draft lottery in 1967. He was shipped off to Fort Polk, Louisiana. He did 8 weeks of basic infantry training, and then is advanced training there as well. After Basic and Advanced, he went to Fort Benning Georgia for Airborne training. After that, he signed up to be a Ranger, that training consisting of 12 weeks, which was near the Panama Canal. After that, he was hand picked for a small operation, search-and-rescue. He was based in Washington D.C, but would fly into Vietnam and rescue POWs. In 1970, he finished that tour in Vietnam, received surgery for bullet wounds he had acquired throughout his time in Vietnam, and was given an "Infantry/ Honor Guard" status. His return to the states was rocky, a crowd of being throwing things at him and yelling at him. He went to University of Maryland College Park campus for 2 years while extending his military contract for two years as well. For his service as well, he earned a variety of metals, including 4 Purple Hearts. He became a soldier at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Also, he was apart of the Army Drill Team, and would go around to public outings and do shows of gun maneuvers. After that, he retired from the military and did accounting for a year. He was let go from that job, and was a crane operator for 40 years before he retired. He had a wife, who has since passed away, and has three daughters. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Chenard, John Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hammond, Steve (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Veterans History Project collection, RHC-27 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401. Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/b3b2403f8fd28bba1a8721695de97cb3.mp4 476343e5141e47a0f3d4217efc30951e https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/8ff81399d0fc08b4dad81b34fef03baf.pdf 36098770bcbabe5ce62396d7ee102529 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: -Girls by myself but it worked out. Steve: Was it? Obviously it sounded like it's pretty rough. John: Well you must like the only man in a mother-daughter banquet for Girl Scouts they want me to go on their overnight camping trip to their Girl Scout camp no no no no no yes it was hard sometimes. Steve: Did you have a sister or sister-in-law or some other cousin that would fill in for you? John: I had my parents they live about five miles away they helped out a lot but my brother and sister they were we're scattered all over the country too. Steve: Right so um what are- what do your daughters do for a living you said they- John: One’s a veterinarian. Steve: Well okay. John: One's a doctor an MD and one is a special education teacher for NASA. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Oh wow hmmm, works at Cape Kennedy huh. John: Yes yes I really hate the tugs to put it this way but she has a master's degree in special education and her husband is one of the deputy director of safety for NASA but all the brightest most intelligent people on this earth work for NASA all their kids are a mess. All their kids are screwed up in the head I did I'm sorry I got to say that but they they are. Steve: So do you have grandchildren from her? John: Oh yeah I got grandchildren. Steve: From all three daughters? John: No I got a couple grandsons but no uh I'll get grandchildren also [Unintelligible] I see them all the time, keep in contact with them. [0:00 - 1:58] Steve: Oh that's good. John: I'm up here all by myself in Grand Rapids right now. Steve: Why why Grand Rapids? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Well when I retired I had a place in on camp hall lake for years I was part of that big migration on Friday night from Illinois that would tie up on the expressways eat all the food out the grocery stores that all Michiganders hated well I retired up here and my sister is is lived up here for the last 35 years so I'm close to my sister we will always always been close. Steve: well it sounds like you raised your daughters right being a single parent. John: It was hard two went to the University of Illinois and one went to North Carolina State and they were all smart enough to get into the good schools but they weren't smart enough to get scholarships so uh we had a look at different different avenues and dad made too much money to qualify for grants I didn't like the terms of student loans because it was like a fifty year mortgage so I decided I was making good money well pay as I go and that cost a lot of money but there was only one year when I had all three in school it's several years where I had two but it worked out. [1:59 - 3:34] Steve: Did it all get paid off eventually? John: They were paid as we went. I paid cash every month as it went through school. Steve: Uh-huh that's good. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: I was making money then. Wish I was making that kind of money now but I retired and it's too late now but. Steve: So nowadays what are you doing? John: Oh I paint. I paint just to keep myself occupied. Steve: It keeps you pretty busy don’t it? John: If you- very busy too busy busier than that wannabe. Steve: Alright did you ever help anything out with a Vietnamese refugees at all towards the end of the war or even when you were there? John: We evacuated my squad evacuated a family of Cambodians and okay we we evacuated them out we took them under our wings and got them over to South Vietnam turned turned them over to the refugee people at the fire base we littered them for two and a half almost three weeks we carried their babies and just help them they helped us with a line of food and we said our good-byes at the base and the refugee people took them away and we went our way and we just did we felt like we did something good during the war to save these people from the khmer Rouge Pol Pot. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Now was this between your your missions that you have? John: This was at the end of one of our missions. Steve: End of it okay. John: Yeah at the end of our last mission Oh second-to-last mission. But we we went our separate ways and eighteen years later I bump into these people. Steve: Where at? [3:35 - 5:49] John: I was taking my crane to a place on the west side of far West suburb of Chicago and I bumped into him and in Downers Grove Illinois I parked my crane went and had a cup of coffee and a doughnut because I knew once I get the crane set up I'm going to be there all day and I walked in and people are looking at me I'm looking back and that felt like pins are sticking me all over and on and I and I I left put the coffee and donut down and I went back in and the guy behind the meat meat counter goes yak from Illinois and I knew who they were right away those were that same Cambodian family that we evacuated and turned over to the refugees they were sponsored by a Baptist Church in Downers Grove and they're alive and doing well otherwise �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock they would have been dead by the Khmer Ruth so that's one good thing that I feel I've done out of all that out of that entire war. Steve: Even more so than American POWs? John: It's a close call that's a close one the POWs were military they knew the consequences these poor people were running for their lives. Steve: Right yeah I don't blame you for that that's… [5:50 - 7:26] John: Okay but I bumped into him 18 years later and reason why I said yak from Illinois's there is no J in their vocabulary so they replace it with a Y so it's yak yeah Jack and Illinois I don't know how they got that rather than Illinois but had an S on the end so it's Illinois but I still talk to them I still see them. Exchange Christmas cards and it's here these are Cambodian people's then all speak English they’re all American citizens now they celebrate Thanksgiving they don't know what they're celebrating because everybody else's. Steve: Are they still like Buddhist or whatever religion they were there? John: I think they're all Baptist now. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: They’re all Christian okay yeah. John: Well Christian brought over- they were brought over by a Baptist Church at downers grove yeah they sponsored them and just beautiful people no different than you and me. Steve: And it was a restaurant that you were at? [7:27 - 8:31] John: Oh it was a 7-eleven store. Steve: 7-11 store okay. John: And after after talking with them they owned the Phillips 66 gas station the dry cleaners the laundromat the 7-eleven store they owned the whole city block they really prospered. Steve: I've heard that for a lot of refugees from Southeast Asia. John: Yeah they really prospered. They had a little help but the whole family runs it. Family works everything. Steve: They've given a lot to this country and West Michigan too because I when I did a paper in a foreign relations class like I told you about earlier at Grand Valley my last semester under �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Gerald Ford [Unintelligible] loved West Michigan refugees they they got from Arkansas and I saw a picture of a family that runs the first walk right on out by down the street and I go to them we go to them a couple times a month and here I talked all the time but they were part of the group when they were young children but anyway you said they called you Yak huh? [8:32 - 9:38] John: Yak. Steve: And this because a jack is it? John: Well jack is short for John everybody calls me Jack. Steve: Ok alright so. John: No there is no J in their vocabulary. Steve: So they noticed you right away how they called you Yah. John: yeah they were looking at me you know they were giving me I thought I was getting hit with pins and needles and I left and no I gotta go back in there's something about those people Steve: Oh all right now all the time you were in Vietnam did you rely any faith with God or to get you through this to help people out like you did or. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: I've always been a religious man Roman Catholic and I'm true Christian true believer I just relied on faith for my for my own inner well-being. [9:39 - 10:40] Steve: Sure but it definitely helped you over there. John: Yes. Steve: And and probably afterwards too. John: Yes. Steve: Now when you were over there in 68 that was quite a thing over here too there's two assassinations that year one of them was Robert Kennedy did you hear about that one when you were over there? John: Yes. Steve: How? John: I was back here as much as I was over there. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: How did that make you and the rest of your unit feel? John: Didn't. I just felt sorry for the family I just think it was a terrible thing to happen but it happened nothing to do all I can do is give them my prayers. Steve: Yeah and of course the other one was Martin Luther King the same- John: The same same same thing just felt sorry something like that should’ve never happened...never happen. Steve: Back when you in the service obviously you had known black soldiers did you ever have any with you that went on these missions or..? John: Yeah, several. Steve: Okay so you became- John: Maybe a third of our unit was black our unit consists of 120 people that's all we called ourselves a battalion but we were actually company size okay. [10:41 - 12:07] �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: So yeah it's uh years ago of course before 1947 they were all segregated and of course there you trained with them stuff like I did too and I think that was one of the best things that this nation can do is integrate the armed forces you know and so obviously they're a big contribution what you were doing over there without a doubt and they got hit hard too with Kennedy and King's assassination too and some Vietnam vets they comforted their friends that were black on especially with King's assassination did you have any black friends that you talked to that we're really down about it or didn't you guys even talked about it? John: We talked about it but these were people that we- we relied on each other for sole survival okay so we just gave our condolences and said prayers and that's all we could do. Steve: Yeah that's true. John: When Robert Kennedy died oh I was depressed I could you know he was our Attorney General and but everybody consoled everybody else every time something happened I think anything any death in family. [12:07 - 13:29] Steve: Now as far as women in the military did you see any women nurses a lot over there in ‘Nam? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Oh yes there were a lot of women nurses a lot of them they weren't allowed in the combat areas they were back in the major cities well protected but they were never in there never in the combat zones never in the fire bases. Steve: Right but they were definitely some some something that was needed over there for the for the troops and I'm not just saying that because they were women either understand why they did their job. John: They they played a very important job they kept a lot of people alive yeah yeah. Steve: So um so in 69 when Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin got on the moon the first time were you still over ‘Nam when that happened? John: I was stateside when that happened. Steve: How did you feel about that? [13:30 - 14:24] John: I thought it was wonderful I thought it's just great we made it to the moon we actually made it to the moon and Kennedy said you do it in ten years and he did it. Steve: Yeah he did. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Even though he was long gone but. Steve: Well he set it in motion him and his brother and a lot of other people too of course but um John: But I thought I was glued to that TV set really glued to it. Steve: See it a lot a lot of people in the armed forces including myself even years later because all those astronauts were former military. John: Yeah some of them were still military. Steve: yeah they were yeah yeah they were. John: They were most of them were Air Force they're all Colonels or general no Colonels I think there were Lieutenant Colonel's. Steve: Or Navy somewhere Navy pilots you know but uh. John: Oh no I was I was ecstatic over that I thought that was a great thing that ever happened made it to the moon Wow. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Does it pretty uplifting for the whole US Army all the troops and stuff? John: Yes it was yeah it was. Steve: And this country definitely needed it for the war and not just for the war before I just mentioned the assassinations in 68 we definitely needed it as a country that's for sure and I feel like it brought us together a little bit too it really did but anyway moving on here the president's that you served under and didn't serve under I normally go through this if you don't want to come in on this you don't have to but how did you feel with each president I go through how they were to the military first of all Johnson you don't want to answer you don't have to. [14:25 - 16:12] John: Johnson inherited a mess with the military that's all that's- he inherited a mess about- he didn’t have much to work with. Steve: Mm-hmm, what about Nixon? John: Nixon I thought was was pretty good he actually got us out of Vietnam the only thing Oh No different wrong person Oh Nixon Nixon was okay he just got it got caught up in Watergate otherwise I think he was a great person except for Watergate. Steve: Mm-hmm Gerald Ford? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: That's the one that I have bitter feelings about is what was his first presidential what he called declaration or action. Steve: Action wasn't it pardoning Nixon? John: No it was giving amnesty to all the people that ran to Canada. Steve: That's right yeah we'll get into that later but- John: I resent that because I was drafted and I went I didn't run in these guys got a free pass and they come back with nothing nothing held against them no didn't like that but as for being Gerald Ford I understand he's from Greene from Grand Rapids but… Steve: How do you think he handled the end of the Vietnam War in the military he was only in almost the same time Kennedy was just under his time. John: I don't know I don't know it was a little after my doing my my time I I don't know can't answer that one. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: See a lot of presidents before and after Johnson were affected by the Vietnam War I know if you knew that or not. How about Jimmy Carter you don't have to get anything else I'm just talking about them in the military that's all you know. John: Jimmy Carter was just a nice man okay I'm not going to say anymore you know he was a nice man he was, he still is. [16:12 - 18:18] Steve: He still is yeah. Ronald Reagan? John: He was Pro military pro-military go Ronald. Steve: Yeah do you think he brought this nation back up to respectability. John: Yes I think so. Steve: Mm-hmm from the Vietnam War the scars from the war and yeah. John: Yeah I think he he did wonders there. Steve: He was my favorite commander-in-chief when I was in the military uh George Bush Senior? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: I think I think daddy Bush was pretty good too. Steve: When the Desert Storm happened he made a promise that this wasn't gonna be another Vietnam did you think it was gonna be one or did you think he was gonna follow his promise or what did you think? John: Actually I think he followed his promise after the fifth day cause he pulled our troops back wasn't our objective objective was to get Saddam and we didn't we didn't find him in five days so he pulled the troops back. Steve: His main objective was to free Kuwait. But if they could get Saddam Hussein was… John: No they did that yeah I was thinking the second Bush. Steve: Yeah we'll get him later okay yeah. John: Yeah Kuwait was a NATO country and Saddam invaded and that was the main objective but he was also going to get Saddam and he backed that off of that because he couldn't find him in the first five or six days. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Well something like that and also it would have ruined the coalition or the allied thing with the other Muslim nations that was part of it too you know we all know about Bill Clinton okay um I served under him you know in in the military myself in the National Guard I feel that without saying anything bad bottom you know I felt he served this country like he he wanted to serve it and he didn't you know beat around the bush too much you know regardless of anything that happened in his administration as far as military goes how do you think without even thinking about Vietnam how do you think he actually handled the military without even bringing anything up about Vietnam we all know that he didn't go to Vietnam we all know that. [18:19 - 20:47] John: I guess he did an job okay I think he could have used the military a little bit more in certain events or something I think he did okay. Steve: Okay George W Bush? John: I think he was a pussy through the whole thing but he was relentless on making Saddam abide by the agreement that he made like the Iraqi people or the Iraqi air force or whatever it was left of it flying into Saudi air space or the no-fly zone and he did go after them and other than that I think he was a pushover he did that much. Steve: How do you feel he handled the the whole thing after 9/11 do you think he did right by military aspects? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Don't know because nobody knew, okay nobody really knew. Steve: It's a different type of war terrorism it's not going after one nation like we've been used to doing and he even said that you know it's… [20:48 - 22:17] John: that's that's an area of politics and I just never never really got interested in. Steve: We all know that Barack Obama's administration's the one who got Osama bin Laden just briefly what do you think Obama was as far as running military? John: Terrible. Steve: Okay that's all well say okay he did make the authorization to get Osama bin Laden and we'll leave it that okay but he did serve eight years just like any other president well some some served less than that but he did serve the way he wanted to serve and stuff like that so i feel in that aspect people who voted him in he did good for them same with clinton and anybody else that has been elected so anyway now back to all the the movies about vietnam we'll get to the fake ones first and we have we have a good laugh me and some vietnam vets have good laughs and other people service about the rambo the chuck norris movies what did you honestly think about those movies when they came out? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: I thought they were very comical really i I couldn't just very comical very untrue they're just trying to build Chuck Norris or Sylvester up to being some superhero superhero or Arnold Schwarzenegger he was in a couple war movies just claude van damme. Steve: Yeah Kung Fu the whole nation down. [22:18 - 24:10] John: It's a thousand gun shooting at them not one bullet hits them why do you take that one bow and arrow and go 500 people or you throw a hand grenade and this big explosion of fireball okay grenades don't do that but people don't know that, they don't know that. Steve: Now the first movie I feel most people feel that gave a true depiction of Vietnam was the Oliver Stone movie platoon. John: Yes very true. Steve: Tell me. John: Very more just more accurate. Steve: Was it emotional did you see the movie? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: I saw the movie. Steve: Was it emotional for you to see it the first time. John: it wasn't emotional it's just that I came out going that that was a good movie it showed how things really were no that was I think that was the first one that ever had napalm and napalm explosions or how they dropped it you know and I was wondering how in the hell did he get a hold of something to do that. Steve: Yeah it's a Hollywood mistake but I think for the most part of this book but more the first not just Vietnam movies but any war movies that told the real star instead of having a one-man John Wayne type Armia you know it's the John Wayne movies I still watch them you know and I still they're entertaining but let's face it they're not realistic and obviously the Rambo Chuck Norris movies are even worse they can’t even be realistic but anyway the latest movie that remember the Vietnam is we were soldiers by Mel Gibson did you see that? John: That was great that was good. Steve: Do you think the movies are getting better as far as not just Vietnam but as far as any movie like Saving Private Ryan I don’t know if you've seen that or. John: I've seen that. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock [24:11 - 25:56] Steve: Okay do you thinkJohn: I thought that was an excellent movie excellent. Steve: So do you think the movies that Hollywood portraying gets better to more realistic events instead of superhero type movies? John: Yeah I really good trying to make it more more realistic. Steve: So do you think that the Morris this time for Chris's they'll get even better you think? John: I hope so. Steve: Yeah alright let me see. John: Yeah it's not as good as lost in space but. Steve: Oh speaking of which back during that time when you were you know during the late 60s and stuff what was your favorite TV shows of the time? John: Oh wow. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: That does that kind of set the tone for the whole decade too with Vietnam war and everything. John: Smothers Brothers, just like that they were very political oh wow Oh laughin laughin. Steve: A lot of Vietnam vets like that laughing. John: Yes you're researching brain cells that haven't been touched in many many years here. Steve: It doesn't bother you does it? John: No no no no I just kind of think of some of these fellas. Steve: You mentioned lost in space you like that all? John: I just it does not compute Will Rogers and dr. Smith oh yeah and I was so realistic. Steve: What about like funny sold besides laugh and like say Gilligan's Island Beverly Hillbillies. [25:57 - 27:45] �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: I used to watch Beverly Hills I don't know why I think it was Ellie Mae no she was so sexy to me back in the 60s Wow. Steve: Now what about like it still comes on today while still come back on, still they make movies about Star Trek. John: I like the I like Star Trek as the TV series I like the first couple of movies but I've I've been drawing away from that Steve: You think shows like that and laughin and the other shows you mention too you think they were significant at the time to helped a lot of you soldiers out over there that for entertainment wise you know the genre or whatever you know. John: We did have a lot Oh especially over in Vietnam there weren't that many normal TV shows there they were they're all comedy all the shows that were that they sent over there were comedy just and I think it's just still uplift the humor of the people. Steve: Did it? [27:46 - 28:53] �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: I don't know I was never there long enough to see any other shows but they would talk about all the time you know Dean Martin had a a good fellow with a lot of comedy in it I watched it back stateside but boy they're rampant and ravin about it over there yeah. Steve: I have to stop you just for a second here. [Brief Pause] hello we're back again with Mr. John Chenard and we're just gonna finish up this interview here I've learned a lot thanks to John here telling us very much about part of Vietnam a lot of us don't know about us and stuff and just a few more quick questions and we'll be done thank you very much for that answering all these questions too I appreciate it and so is Grand Valley and so do everybody else is gonna watch this the refugees the Cambodian refugees that you talked about that you helped and some were Vietnamese were they. John: No they're all Cambodian. Steve: Cambodian okay you mentioned a little bit earlier that they doing great and stuff like that how do you feel towards uh how did you feel the time when they got over here did you did you think they were gonna make a living over here or did you think they were gonna make it being away from a strange in a strange country or. [28:53 - 30:24] John: I really can't answer that I didn't know because we left them in South Vietnam and I did they were turned over to the refugee people and I did not I had no idea what was going to �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock happen to them we just got in this a safe territory and long and behold 20 years later they're here in the United States a happy ending for them and me. Steve: Mm-hmm um do you feel the US government at the time could have done more to get more refugees out to help the United States out over there what do you think they did all they could do? John: I think they did all they could do their hands were tied to a point everybody's hands were tied I think they did a good job they probably could have helped more but they had they did help a lot they did a lot of people came over. Steve: You know who was behind all that? John: No. Steve: President Ford. John: President Ford. [30:25 - 31:27] Steve: Yep I found out for my research in my paper I did on Vietnamesse refugees that he pushed Congress to get it going to get the money for the refugee camps and stuff. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Well sorry gerald I might look at you a little different now. Steve: That's okay that is true I found out from his library and everything that it did research on I I didn't either um. John: I love this library. I've been there several times. Steve: Or do you mean the museum or- John: The Presidential Museum. Steve: Yeah see the library the museum are in two afferent spots oh yeah see- John: First down here on- Steve: Yeah that's the museum yeah it's a great museum yeah and it's good spot where him and his wife Betty are buried too the library is down ann arbor at University of Michigan where he went to school played football and stuff um that one right there is the only Presidential Library Museum that's separate all the others like Nixon Carter Reagan Clinton FDR Eisenhower Truman all them their libraries are right by each other but Ford wanted that �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock separately done at the University of Michigan so anyway basically he had to fight Congress to get it going because they were gonna deny that but believe it or not there was two senators leading the way against that one of his Patrick Leahy I don’t know if you ever heard of him the other one you know he was just left our vice president Joseph Biden really yes that is a fact he did yeah but there was a lot of animosity back then towards Vietnam for obvious reasons I'm not saying that Mr. Biden did or Leahy did and stuff but they that is a fact they were leading the way that no we can't spend any more money over there but then Ford brought it up like what we spend a lot of money for the Jewish people to get them over here from the Holocaust in World War two and the Cuban refugees when they became communist to in the late fifties early sixties you know so then okay that's that help get it going money which helped the camps here in America for it and stuff and but overall you think it's a good thing that what we did for the refugees yes it is I feel myself were a better nation for that myself and that right there we mentioned earlier to about I know being a VFW member myself the VFW magazine shows former Vietnam vets going over to Vietnam and you mentioned earlier you would like to do that. [31:28 - 34:02] John: I’d like to go back over there. Steve: Sure how would you feel towards the Vietnamese people if they welcomed you over there ? John: No animosity against that no none, I’d feel fine. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Most Vietnam vets I've talked to they want to make the journey back there even though I know one of them they took to a memorial towards there they call it a victory over the Americans they got their pictures right there like you said no animosity a big deal you know I said you know but it was quite a I guess closure for them it's what it looks like. John: Closer it was something that happened 40 years ago it's time you get over it. Steve: Yeah how did you feel about the Vietnam wall when it came up in DC have you ever been to it? John: Yes I've been to the one in DC I hadn't been to the traveling wall. Steve: I've been a traveler once but what do you think about the the wall in DC? John: I think it's I think it's wonderful it's a beautiful thing. Steve: You do know that a Vietnamese woman designed that don't you? John: No I did not. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Mya Lim. John: You're telling me things I didn't know. Steve: Matter of fact if she did the Rosa Parks Circle down here too. Now I don't know if she was a refugee or if she's former Vietnamese I'd have to look that up but. John: You know whether their former Vietnamese or that that doesn't make a difference don't no difference to me there's still a human being we got to get along with everybody and if she's making a not a political statement but a something for the good of all I'm for it. Steve: Yep um how do you feel towards the whole thing happened 40 years ago do you think you mentioned political stuff I mean our hands were tied they're real was there any real rate we could have actually even done anything over there besides get the refugees out or what do you think as far as political stuff goals in that whole situation over there? [34:02 - 36:22] John: If we would have gone all balls out we could end it very quickly our government just didn't want to do that for some political reason I don't know but when we get what every time we get into wars it's just a little shove and push match we don't go in there to win. Steve: You think it started with Korea? �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: No I don't think no Vietnam didn't start with Korea. Steve: No I'm talking do you think little pushing and instead of going all out do you think it started with Korea that we went like halfway or whatever you're talking about? John: I don't I don't know when we dropped the bomb that's when we let the whole world know we mean business I'm not saying dropping the bomb again but let them know we mean business. [36:23 - 37:27] Steve: Right one quick question John F Kennedy I don't I'm sure you remember him obviously this is actual fact on CBS News you can look it up on YouTube on the computer he said a month before he was assassinated soon before he was assassinated that the Vietnamese people are going to have to do this themselves we can't go in there full force and and do this has to be their fight do you think if Kennedy would have lived on this is just speculation nn your part and stuff he wouldn't have escalated as much. John: I don't know I don't don't remember that statement I'm not sure he said it but I'm not doubting your word but wasn't it the French that got us into. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock Steve: Yeah it goes all the way back actually I did another research paper in American history Vietnam goes back to Franklin Roosevelt and on that the whole Vietnam mess was and he was going to try and keep the French out after the Japanese surrendered and stuff like that after was gonna get him cuz he died before the Japanese or even the Germans surrendered FDR did and but of course we never know that either like Kennedy what would happen and then Truman basically let the French go back there because they were our allies during World War two and you know I guess Ho Chi Minh sent him letters to help get the French out but he ignored him because it's you know they’re our allies like thing so it goes yeah it did get started by the French. [37:28 - 39:01] John: I was gonna say it goes back years before that. Steve: Sure yeah but anyway um thank you very much for this interview anything else you'd like to add on that you'd like to say or not say or? John: No no if anybody has any kind of question I'll gladly answer if I can I'm not afraid to talk about any of my experiences over there some people don't wanna relive their past it doesn't bother me it doesn't bother me it was just something that I had to do at the time whether I did good or bad it got done. Steve: Well from my perspective you did good. �Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: John Chenard Interviewed by Steve Hammond Transcribed by Chad Hitchcock John: Thank you. Steve: You did good with American POWs and with a Cambodian refugees. John: The Cambodian refugees sends chills up and down my spine because I I can actually see something good of what we did and we weren't supposed to bring them back that was a no-no we did we got our asses reamed for that and but they're doing well. Steve: That's right in the long run it worked out and I want to thank you very much for your service again and thank you very much for this interview okay thank you very much. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27_ChenardJ2115V2 Title A name given to the resource Chenard, John (2 of 2, Interview transcript and video), 2017 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-03-26 Description An account of the resource John Chenard was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, in 1948 and was drafted into the Army in 1967. Chenard attended both basic and advanced infantry training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, before being sent to Fort Benning, Georgia, for Airborne training as well as Ranger School near the Panama Canal. For his first deployment, he was selected to run small search-and-rescue operations in and out of Vietnam, recieving several bullet wounds during this action. Chenard's return to the United States was rocky, as crowds threw things and yelled at him. For his service, he earned a variety of metals, including 4 Purple Hearts, became a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and was a part of the decorated Army Drill Team. He also mentions crossing paths with several Cambodian refugees in the United States he had not seen since his service in Vietnam. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Chenard, John Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hammond, Steve (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Veterans History Project collection, RHC-27 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401. Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/8cad4b9c35cd28bb30cee7e92eb88e0a.mp4 c11f0eb07195e0202bbb51a16ba17cdd https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/456a4271ea2d57ecdf9b43053446264e.pdf b66af25b96a668749d9de45e6e5c1278 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Interview Milford Cherington World War II Total Time: 26:06 Pre-War (00:00) • • • Was drafted, but was put on 4F because he had a hernia. He was living at home when he was drafted. He picked the Air Force because he wanted to fly. Training (01:08) • • • Attended basic training, where he learned the general shills needed for the Air Force. After basic training, he ad to go to school to become a gunner on a B-17. He was then transported to Utah to gather a crew, and then to Sioux City, IA for more training, and then to Europe. Active Duty (03:42) • • • • • • • • • Worked on a B-17 stationed in England. They made bombing runs into Germany. (04:30) They crossed the Atlantic Ocean by plane, stopping in Greenland. He worked as a gunner in the bottom of the plane. There were very few injuries on his plane. His bomber was part of the first group to bomb Berlin in the daylight. Stayed in touch with his family by writing letters. They always had ample supplies for their bombing runs. During leave, they would do various activities, including traveling around England. (20:40) He was sent to Texas after the war was over and was discharged there. Post War (21:45) • After the war, worked in Grand Rapids, MI � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Cherington, Milford (Interview outline and video), 2004 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Cherington, Milford Description An account of the resource Milford Cherington Served in the Air Force during World War II. He joined the Air Corps after being classified 4F by the Army draft board. He wanted to train as a pilot, but wound up as a gunner on a B-17 bomber and flew numerous bombing missions over Germany. He was also part of the first group to bomb Berlin in daylight. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Timmerman, Andrea (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings United States. Air Force World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2004-04-18 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CheringtonM Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/990cd75f4db7bc202ee221fc14d19f9e.mp4 6b1071f9eb854dac3bac32f0fb609ae1 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/fc08a7267309c6272646845654435f1a.pdf 7a2f266c1e3344374c4958f1e89e3bee PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: Mike Chiarelli Interview Length: (1:24:52) Interviewed by James Smither Transcribed by Chloe Dingens Interviewer: We're talking today with Mike Chiarelli of Lavon, Texas and the interviewer is James Smither of Grand Valley State University. Okay Mike can you start us off with some background on yourself and to begin with where and when were you born? Okay I was born in Brooklyn, New York, 1949 and then my parents when I was about eleven or twelve they moved out to Long Island for the suburbs to raise their children, at a- at a better place and then I stayed on Long Island, I worked, I went to barber college, I got my draft notice, I sent in I was still in school, they let me finish, after I got out and went to work I got the draft notice again. (1:09) Interviewer: Okay now to back up a little bit, what- what did your family do for a living when you were growing up? Oh, okay well both my parents were born in Palermo, Sicily and they came over and my mom, she had enough education to at least take a driver's test and get her license. And my dad was a longshoreman, and I didn't know till a little bit older that he was pretty much illiterate, he could just sign his name, but we didn't know that. My wife, I mean my mom, was a seams- seamstress where she would let's say sew on the sleeves all day long and she got paid according to piece work, this is back in Brooklyn. And every now and then there wasn't work with my mom and my dad so they put us on welfare, but it wasn't for long, it could have been a week, a few days, ten days. And I remember standing in lines and being embarrassed that my friends see me, that were, but it was there just to help out and when it was over, they went back to work. �Interviewer: Yeah. (2:10) So that was- that- that was good. So, really education wise I think my mom made it to the sixth grade, I don't think my dad made it to even the fifth grade. So, other than that we moved out to Long Island, and he used to commute back and forth from the Long Island Railroad. Interviewer: Now was he with a union, I mean did he get decent pay? Yeah, he was and the sad part of it, I was, he- he was killed when I was fifteen. He was, the Long Island Railroad back and forth, he was mugged at the train station. Interviewer: Wow. And there was those cops there nearby, the transit police, they recall four guys running from a situation and the cops said that they threw my dad on the tracks but the train that he crawled underneath and they think he died then when he was underneath so he wasn't mauled or anything like that. (3:05) Interviewer: But still, it’s… Yeah, yeah, I was only fifteen and it was really sad not to have your dad, I was always jealous of people that were older than me and still had their dad. I just, I wished I had my dad when I was drafted, I wish I had my dad when I came home but it’s okay. Interviewer: Yeah, and how many other kids were there? I have three brothers and one sister, I was in the middle, two above, two below. The girl came at the end number, five. Interviewer: Alright and then your older brothers, had they gone into the service or got? My- my older brother Sal he went to Germany and Korea but during pit- peacetime. �Interviewer: Right. And then the one right under him, he never went in or whatever because he was married with kids at the time. Interviewer: Okay. So, he was I forgot what they called that that you don’t… Interviewer: Now did you finish high school yourself? Oh yes, I did- I did finish high school and I continued on to get a business associate degree, a two-year degree. Interviewer: Okay and so now where does barber college fit into that? (4:09) Okay, that was of course I finished before I went into service. Interviewer: Right. I finished bar… well I came back afterwards, and I got a job barbering and I was with it ever since 1971 on I didn't stop, I- I've owned a salon here and there, small business, two or three chairs, more headaches than anything else and I just found it better that I just found my niche where I would just go rent a room and that's all I had to worry about was pay rent for the room. Interviewer: Right. And everything else was there. Interviewer: Okay so that comes a little later, okay now you did the business degree after you got back from Vietnam? Yes. Interviewer: Okay, okay so you just go to barber college after high school, you finish barber college and then Uncle Sam takes you. �Takes me. Interviewer: So, so when do you start basic training then? Okay I was, it was in New Jersey where we were… (5:04) Interviewer: Fort Dix? Yeah, Fort Dix where we were, what’s the word, indoctrinated. Interviewer: Inducted yeah. Inducted and from there they put us on a plane I remember it left from Newark, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Interviewer: Okay. Yeah, and so we were there, and basic training started, and it was really intimidation at the time, you know forty years ago they just got right in your face and just scared the heck out of you and just would tell you things like at night if you're not awake Charlie is gonna come and cut your throat. And they just- just harassed us and made us hard I guess and any little thing you know, “drop give me ten, drop give me twenty, you know run, run, jump, why'd you come down, I didn't ask you to come down, get back up there,” you know. Peel- peeled potatoes in the mess room for hours and hours. Interviewer: Did your older brother tell you anything about what to expect? No, no, he- he never said a word, he never said a word and we really never talked, and I don't remember why, I think he might have been living in California I think maybe that's why. (6:08) Interviewer: Okay now what time of year was it that you went down to South Carolina? At the spring of ‘69? �It probably was the spring yeah, May/ June maybe. Interviewer: Yeah, okay so in ’69, now at the time you went in, how much did you know about the Vietnam War and all of that? Very little because I remember in junior high, even in high school I remember saying to myself, “oh I’m sure it'll be over by the time I graduate, I don't have to worry about that,” but no, no it wasn't. And I remember at the induction area over there there were guys that were dressed up like women, guys that were acting like they were crazy, you know guys that were taking off their clothes, just whatever and walking around, they were just doing anything and everything not to get… Interviewer: Right. Inducted, they were just doing it and I don't know. Interviewer: Were you not prepared for that? (7:00) No I wasn't, I really wasn't it was- it was just kind of funny in a way and- and then afterwards they had us up in a platoon formation, you know so many rows and then they just randomly, they went Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, Navy, each row, I happened to be in the row that was Army so I- I had said to myself I remember because I don't really like the water, I don't really know how to swim that good and I don't really like getting on airplanes I figured not the Air Force, not the Navy, so the Army was good. So, I was happy with that, but they harassed the heck out of you. Interviewer: Yeah. �And they took everybody, even if you were 300 pounds plus they took you and you were slim trim when it was all over. And after the eight weeks, it was eight weeks I believe of basic they sent us to AIT which I believe stand for Advanced… Interviewer: Advanced Individual Training. Individual Training, yeah. Interviewer: Okay with the- the basic training there at- at Fort Jackson you said they were, where there people who just couldn't do it, or did they basically keep everybody? (8:02) You mean couldn't go through the… Interviewer: Yeah. The basic training? Interviewer: Yeah. Well, there might have been a couple or three that we didn't see, they- they were gone, they weren't there, but then also maybe they were gone and maybe one came back. So, I guess some of them would just they couldn't make it I guess they just mentally couldn't make it. Interviewer: Well, I'm asking because in other times you might wash out a lot of people who really aren't fit, but if they really need the people. Yeah, they take everybody. Interviewer: They take everybody. They still took people that were very overweight, but these days forget about it, you're three pounds overweight they're gonna have you lose that before you sign up. Interviewer: Right, okay now what kind of shape were you in when you went? Oh I was really pretty good I was kind of really skinny, I was five foot six, 118 pounds, twenty- �four-inch waist, so I was- I was okay I mean I never really exercised I guess it was just my makeup, I was just thin, skinny. Interviewer: And were you able to handle the physical training okay? (9:02) Oh yeah, I was fine, I did it you know there was that fear, that intimidation that you did things that you didn't think you could, and you did them anyway so. Interviewer: Alright and then how easy or hard was it for you to adjust to the discipline part? Well, you know really under my breath when we were in formation and the drill sergeant would walk up and down, I would try to keep a smirk off my face because I'd be telling myself that this is not, they're just doing this to us. That I shouldn't get to them and a couple of times the drill sergeant would say something to me about, “what- what's going on with you, what are you doing?” “Nothing,” I- I don't know, “yes sir, no sir, yes sergeant, drill sergeant.” Interviewer: Yeah. “Okay well you just drop give me a number ten, twenty, I don't know just do it and get up again.” I guess he caught the expression in my face because I just tried to tell myself this isn't real, they're not gonna hurt us. Interviewer: Now did the atmosphere change as you got to the end of the training or were they the same to you the whole time? (10:07) No, same the whole time. Interviewer: Alright. The whole time. �Interviewer: Okay now when you, so you finish the- the eight weeks of basic now you go down to AIT and where do you do that? It was Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Interviewer: Okay. Also, the AIT and I did the, well they trained me for infantry I was- I was a grunt. The M16, they put me in mortars also, all I call them war games in a sense because it wasn't real, but they were preparing us, they were war games, we had to do this or we had to do that, we had to fire a certain amount hit the targets, just different things. Introduced us to different things like a 60caliber machine gun, a 50-caliber anti-aircraft weapon, they even brought in a- a- an attack helicopter the, I can't think of the name of what- what it was then, they were, I think they're Apaches these day. (11:09) Interviewer: But were they Cobras? Cobras, they were Cobras and they were giving us a demonstration that it was so far off and it put a round ta ta ta ta ta like that and it even landed and we got to look and do whatever, so that was, little did I know that one day I'd be in the bush and there with the Cobras shh shh shh helping us, you know, without- without all of that air support artillery I don't know, there would be more than 58,000 names on the wall. Interviewer: Yeah. There really would be, it was- it was really a terrible war. It shouldn't have happened, it was terrible there wasn't a line to where you say you're not in enemy lines, you're here, you're safe here, so you don't have to pull any guard duty you could sleep all you want and everything— there was nothing like that. Nothing whatsoever I mean it. �(12:00) Interviewer: Alright. I’m jumping but after- after AIT was crazy, they sent me to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. Well anyway they had me shoot and qualify with a .45 for three weeks, we were out there, me and about six other guys from nine to five and you were there ‘til six or seven at night if you didn't qualify that day and we shot at silhouettes all day long. And I don't know after the first week or so I think we were there three weeks, I asked the Sergeant I said, “why did they send me here? What's going? Why did- are they doing this to me?” He goes, he said, “you must have scored something somewhere on the test and they just don't have an opening yet, so they're just kind of moving you around.” Interviewer: Alright I want to back up a little bit back into the AIT part of things, so they're having you do sort of field exercises where you’re kind of going out in the woods or whatever and pretending it's Vietnam? Yes. Interviewer: Okay did you have instructors who had been to Vietnam? (13:04) I would say yes, yes most definitely I think they all were, in fact at the very end of the training it was something we had to go on a course and we had a compass with us, two or three guys together, and then they had us low crawling, really you got to stay down like that and crawl with the sixteen like this, and because right up above you was wire, barbed wire you didn't want to lift up and these rounds would be going and they would tell us that you don't lift up your head, they're real, the rounds are real so don't. And I don't know if they were or they weren't, but of course no one lifted up their head you know, it was, I don't know what was more frightening than �that, to see all these things shh shh shh and machine gun fire ta ta ta ta ta, you know so it was like we called it low crawl like this, flat low crawl and of course that really came into play when I was in the jungle a number of times, it taught me how to stay real low and do a little bit of this that we could because certain areas were open a little bit, otherwise it was triple canopy jungle, it was unbelievable. (14:13) Interviewer: So at least some part of what you got in training wound up being useful later? I believe so yes, most definitely and even to be able to shoot my M16 at, to be decent at it and to feel comfortable with it. You know they taught us in training how to take it apart and put it back together in a matter of, you know I don't know under a minute you could probably do it maybe under 30 seconds and all of that came into play when we had that down time. Really all of us, we cleaned our weapons, took it apart and cleaned it. I- you know they said the M16 was inferior, it was inferior to the AK-47, it really was but we never had a jam problem with it whatsoever, I think if everybody kept it clean it would have been okay but that AK-47 I believe it was from Russia, it was a superior weapon and ‘til today you know I could hear that crack it made ‘til today certain, they have me diagnosed with 70 percent PTSD. It's okay you can leave it on. Interviewer: Okay. (15:25) It just, just no one, no one really knows, you know you're scared, no one knows, you just don't know until you've been there. And it is very frightening and the whole time I was there I never saw one group or… Interviewer: Yeah. �NVA body even though we were being fired upon and they would tossing in RPGs and then when we approached the hill from the LZ, this was after the Cobras were entered, we still approached it with care and there was one guy he was dead and he was by no mean Asian whatsoever, the man was tall, broad shoulders, and he looked Russian. And we heard through the grape vine that the captain said, “it did help he had some papers on him,” but I don't know why they didn't take him away, maybe he was just too heavy to carry. Interviewer: Yeah. (16:30) And- and- and I was kind of one of the new guys, myself and this other guy and the Sarge, you know whatever said, “you Chiarelli? and you, grab ‘em by the ankles and you grab ‘em by your shoulders.” And I said, “we're gonna need three people, this guy is huge,” and they just you know toss ‘em in the foxhole and it just seemed so sad, it was a body, it was a human being. Interviewer: Right. And I just- I just felt so hurt by it and I thought to myself, why are we even here? I just don't understand it all this bloodshed. I- I just didn't understand it. Interviewer: I mean some part of it there is you- you kept some part of who you were in your own humanity and you're still using it at that point, which makes it harder to be a soldier. Let's go back and kind of follow you sort of in sequence. Alright so- so… Interservice: So, you’ve done, you've kind of… .45 where I was… Interviewer: Yeah, you got to .45 in Aberdeen. (17:26) �So, after that three weeks then they sent me to Fort Knox, Kentucky. I thought what the heck are these guys doing? So, I go there, and everybody was a Vietnam returning vet and I thought to myself, oh my god they're going to make it so hard for me, but they were the nicest guys- guys ever. And I even, because you got a day off if you volunteered to give blood, they said it was for the Vietnam veterans, you would get the day off, and I did do that one day. And like I said they were very nice to me, we played war games with tanks and APC’s, APC’s: Army personnel carrier. Interviewer: Yeah. And in the APC’s sometimes there was a platform where they had the mortar tube, okay and tanks and I drove tanks and it was fun. And it was even got the snow one day and doing this and we were skidding, and but it was fun, all the guys were really, really nice to me. And then I finally got my orders to go to Vietnam and I remember telling the guys and I didn't think much of it but when I got to Vietnam, I realized their expression on their face when I told them I was going to Vietnam. I- I said to myself, that's why they looked that way because they knew, they knew it was terrible. You get off the plane and honestly it smelled like feces, feces, it really did, a lot of guys said the same thing. So, I don't know from there they put me on a bus and the bus had bars on it, so this way they couldn't throw grenades and whatnot in there and it was terrible. Interviewer: Now do you know where you landed? Were you at Tan Son Nut or? Could it be…? Interviewer: Or Long Binh or Bien Hoa or one of those? Could it be Phu Bai? �Interviewer: You could have landed in Phu Bai, sure, I mean it's less, Phu Bai is probably, you norm- most people fly into Vietnam and they would land usually at Cam Ranh Bay or Tan Son Nhut or… I think it was Cam Ranh Bay. Interviewer: Yeah, and then they would have flown you from there up to Phu Bai. To Phu Bai, right. Interviewer: Yeah. (19:27) That's when I was on the C-130 for the first time. Interviewer: Okay, I want to, just to fill out the story a little bit, you do three weeks in Aberdeen proving grounds then you're at Fort Knox and now were you just… were you actually assigned to a regular unit or were you just waiting or training or? No, no I was assigned, I- I forgot the actual name I was in the motor pool I believe possibly and no I was assigned there to a unit there. Interviewer: Okay, so they weren't sending you, so you but you to this day you don't really know what they thought you were supposed to be doing? No. Interviewer: Okay. Even though I put down an application I wanted to be a cook. Interviewer: Yeah, okay and do you, how long were you at Fort Knox? Probably, oh probably three months, yeah three months and then I got my orders. Interviewer: But late enough into the year that there was snow on the ground one day when. �Yeah, there was. Interviewer: Yeah so, you’re out there. Now, so went to Vietnam now is it, now gonna be, you think so in early 1970 now that you actually go over there or is it still…? Yeah, it was because I was there ‘70- ‘71. Interviewer: Right okay so you go over there okay, and they've taken you and you go up to Phu Bai and that's the base for the 101st Airborne Division. (20:39) Just I don't know if everybody, if it was a mixture but that's where you were transit. Interviewer: Yeah. ‘Till they got orders to go wherever. Interviewer: Right. Because every morning in formation the Sergeant would call out. And I remember when I called out my name and he signed me to 101st Airborne, after formation broke, I went up to him and I said, “sergeant,” I says, “I never was trained to jump out of an airplane. I never did this,” I said, “I’m gonna be a POW, my legs are gonna break or something.” “Take it easy, soldier take ittake it's- it's airborne, air mobile you're fine, airborne air mobile.” Air mobile, being we made assaults with the Huey we were under Huey choppers that- that took us to different hilltops and some of them were hot LZ as we called them, hot landings zone and some of them weren't. But I believe most of the time we knew when they were hot, the captain kind of knew so and- and- and the choppers, the Hueys barely, they- they wouldn't hit ground, they just hover real low. And I remember the door gunner would tap me on the head you know, go, go and there was another scary situation when it was a hot LZ because you could see bullets around hitting the dirt that you're gonna jump into and you're going, oh my god you're dead, you know. But then there was a �situation with the same thing there was some clearing, I jumped, and I stayed low, and I low crawled right up to behind a big tree and so did the other guys do the same thing, they all did that. And we were putting down fire with the M-16, but you really weren't sure if you were really hitting anything or anybody because it was a thick jungle and it was like it's like pray, I even said to myself, “what- what am I shooting at?” I says, “I really don't want to kill anybody anyway,” that's kind of how I felt. And it was triple canopy jungle, you- you couldn't until the- the Cobras came in and they did their thing back and forth you know shh shh shh shh you know do do do, and hopefully by then you say it was pretty clear and then they gave orders to advance up to the hill, the hilltop and that's what we did with caution and we got up there and it was fine, it was safe at that point. It was safe, we were- we were up there, oh yeah that's right on that Hilltop 805 when we first got off and laying down fire to 60- to 60 gunner machine gunner and he had an assistant with him always and all the other grunts we would carry two or three bandanas so we could pass it down the line. I don't know how but they hit him, he was wounded the 60 gunner because he was laying down fire so I don't know how the heck he got shot but he got CAed right away and then the assistant gunner took up and someone right next to him helped the assistant gunner. I don't know how he got hit unless it was shrapnel from an RPG or something I don't know. But they took him away and he was- he was okay, we knew he was okay. So, anyway we're at 805 and we were there at least three nights, it might have been four nights but every night we got hit, every night. And then at night they'd call in artillery also and they're calling, we call it a Puff, Puff the Magic Dragon because they had these, I think a 55-millimeter rounds that run this round thing that would just keep rotating. (24:14) Interviewer: A mini gun was what we called it. �Yeah, and it looked like a dragon with fire, and they would do that just about every night, everyevery night. But every night we also had it, we called it LP from that perimeter, outside the perimeter maybe 25 yards you would go out you and two or three other guys because you would you know share the guard duty to stay awake and we were out there with a radio and you wouldyou would hit the button as if to talk and that would mean you would squelch it so I don't remember what it was, one for no movement, two for movement you know if we heard anything to make them aware of it so I remember and- and the biggest thing was they said, “don't take your weapon with you,” and I remember this guy my- my- my dearest friend was killed. He- he liked me, and he was there before me and he said, “it's okay Chiarelli, don't, it's fine, don't take your weapon, you're okay,” he says, “because you're going to be running.” He says, “and that with the weapon is only going to hinder you. So, we're out there on LP and eventually that's the most scariest thing, we were starting to hear movement until that movement went into RPG’s shooting and that's when we all got up and we ran and we're running towards the perimeter. Then we're yelling and stuff like Yankee Stadium, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty just to let them know it was us breaking for the perimeter and not the NVA. Interviewer: Okay. That- that I don't know what's more scarier than that to be on LP listening post. (26:02) Interviewer: So yeah okay, let's, to kind of go back and help the outside people kind of follow your story, so you get out to Vietnam, and I think you thought it was probably, so it's early 1970 but it's not too early because you joined- you joined what- what specific unit did you join within the 101st, which company? I was with 2nd, 506 B Company. �Interviewer: Okay the 2nd battalion, 506th. Infantry B Company, second platoon. Interviewer: Now do you remember, now because you and I, let's see I think you told me this off camera but how did you, how did they get you out to your unit? When you first, you come into Phu Bai and then your… Oh, oh with a Huey chopper. Interviewer: Okay. A Huey chopper yeah, it- it come in and that's when RPG’s came by and the 60 gunners opened up and I was the only one on the thing and I'm going “I want my mom.” Interviewer: Yeah. And so, they brought us to an LZ, a landing zone and I remember someone came right to the chopper and got me off he said, “you go over there,” there were like three other guys in the woods. And they were like, I don't know what they were but of course they were very, very nice and they said, “take off your rucksack,” because it wasn't done properly, I didn't do it or whatever you think they would have taught us to- to that but they didn't. But they fixed it up for me that made it more comfortable for me and the rucksack, yeah, the rucksack... I forgot what I was going to say. Interviewer: Well basically you're, so you- you actually got some help right away from the guys in the squad that you joined. Oh yeah, I did. (27:39) �Interviewer: Yeah so, they're looking at, because some- sometimes in some places they just didn't say much of anything to the new guy and sometimes they did, but so you had guys who had been there a little longer who were going to show you the ropes and what to do. They were very nice, yes, they were, they really were. Interviewer: Alright. They had empathy for you they really did. Interviewer: Okay and do you, let’s see do you remember like who the squad leader was, or your platoon leader was at that point? No but months into it, I don't know what happened to my squad leader I don't- I don't remember, but all of a sudden I was in charge and I was a spec four, but then this sergeant came in, he was, we called him Shake and Bakes, you know he was, he came in and he was assigned, he took over, we talked to him and I remember that first night in the foxhole, of course you take turns pulling guard duty to stay awake and that morning into late morning he came out there and he said, “you- you pushed the clock ahead to so this way you could go back to bed,” and I was meaning it was and I said, “no I didn't, I would never do anything like that. I don't know why you're saying that.” So I went right to my lieutenant- lieutenant hand and he knew who I was and he goes, “Chiarelli, don't worry about it wherever you want to go, which squad you want to go in.” So, I did it and I was there with that squad ‘till, until I left. And there was this guy, Roberto Flores and- and he really turned out to be really my- my best, my best of friends. And he's the one that helped me when- when about going out to the listening post, just, not that he didn't help everybody else, but you know he goes, “are you Spanish?” “I don't know,” I said, “I’m Italian American, but that's okay they take me for Jewish, Greek, whatever,” and my hair was black, �Middle Eastern really. And I thought he was, and he says, “no,” he says, “I’m Mexican.” I don't think I heard the term Hispanic ‘till we moved to Texas. (29:56) Interviewer: Yeah. But he was real nice with me and for the longest time he told all the guys, he said, you know if in- in- in few words or less, you know I don't want to curse, he said, “whoever blank, blank with Chiarelli, they're going to blank, blank with me.” So just don't mess and he was just, he was- he was really, really nice, he… it's okay. He was killed on Ripcord. Interviewer: Alright now you're joining your unit and this is probably kind of sometimes after the Ripcord base has actually been established so there's a base on a hilltop and the companies of your battalions would take turns patrolling around the hills in the jungle, around the base and you've been talking a little bit about some of what that was like, about when you were being on the Hill 805 at a certain point and there you actually stayed in the same place for several days which is dangerous because the enemy knows where you are. Exactly. (30:57) Interviewer: Alright now most of the time would you stay in a different place each night as you were patrolling? No, no not really, we was probably for like two or three nights really but Hill- Hill 805 was the worst. I believe we were there four nights and every night we got hit but then there was also Hill 1000, and they would get hit also. I can't remember the other one if it was 900 or what I don't remember. Interviewer: Well, there was one called 902 and that's where C Company got hurt bad. �Oh, that's it then. Interviewer: Early, early in the battle. Now when you're out in the field, kind of for an extended period, how long would you be out in the jungle before you go back to a base camp? It's terrible at- at least 60 days, at least. And you would hope to go back, and you could take a shower and you have a hot meal and what was I gonna say, yeah formation, what we wanted out in the field for supplies was extra socks, just even if they were dirty, they'd be dry for your feet because then we would hang the wet ones on our rucksack to dry. But they keep ordering them and ordering them and they never get them, they never send them out. And after maybe the second time I went back in the rear I had enough nerve to go up to the lieutenant and say, “you know what's with the socks?” “Well how many do you want?” I said, “well just one, because I have these.” So, he got me two pairs and I gave one pair to somebody else and just so you could keep your feet dry that's all you wanted, you didn't want wet socks all the time. And somebody said the supply sergeant was not found or heard of after a while because he was giving stuff to the enemy, he was giving it to them, selling it or doing what I don't know. And here our guys in the boonies needed was something so basic and we couldn't have it to make it a little bit better for us out there, just a little bit. I hated it, I mean every night you know we had to pull, stay awake for guard duty every night. You know, rained whatever you could go to sleep, you know in the rain or wake up in the rain or go to sleep wet and for some reason our fatigues would dry by the morning, I don't know why but they would dry at that material or the body heat, but it was something somebody says, “well don't you have a poncho?” I go, “no its war, a poncho would hinder you with the weapon and whatnot, no it was nothing.” You know you, some places there �wasn't even a foxhole at night we didn't even dig in, you just slept on, right on the ground, right on the ground. (33:36) Interviewer: Now would you not dig in because you couldn't dig in or just, they, just didn't get orders to? You know I don't remember, but I’m sure it was “don't dig in tonight,” and we didn't and for some reason or another those nights where we didn't dig in, we never got hit. Interviewer: I mean it may be that they, at least the commanders had at least some intelligence for kind of where the enemy might be or what was going on yeah. It's, yeah, it’s very possible. Interviewer: Or maybe you just got lucky, but I guess also there could be a lot of tree roots in the soil or just be rock. Yeah, Interviewer: Yeah, so who knows, anyway now when things were not too hot and there wasn't a lot of contact, what's a typical day like out in the jungle? Well of course you know you weren't battling every second, every minute of every day. There was down time you know, obviously and that was the time where we would just kind of do nothing, we knew it was kind of secure, we'd take off our boots and socks and make sure our feet were dry. Clean our weapons, there might be a- a package from home, a care package and we allwe all shared it whoever got it and I remember when I got, my mom sent me some, a can of mushrooms and at the time it must cost under a dollar I'm sure for a can but this- this forward observer lieutenant just got assigned to us and I got the care package and I opened it up and a can of mushrooms and he said something like, I think he said “oh I’ll give you fifteen dollars for �that.” I said, “no, no, no.” I said, “we just will share and then he I believe he went to twenty and I said, “no honestly we just all share, everybody has a plastic spoon and just pass it around and luckily for him a lot of the guys didn't like the mushrooms so he had a bigger portion but he wanted the whole can, but he got quite a bit of it and like I said whoever got a care package we all divided it up, we all shared it. There might have been a letter in there, photos were passed around, and anybody who you were with if they were just even from the same state as you, you felt the closeness to them you know, you felt the closeness. That would be it because most of the time we were hopping the boonies, we were just going, it felt like a forty-five-degree angle. And I remember one time we needed water and there was, we called it the blue line water running down and this captain had the medic handout water purification tablets and I didn't know any difference, you put it in, you put the water, but you know from that point on I think all of us had dysentery after we drank that because come to think of it who knows what was in that stream, I mean it was terrible. I mean after a while we didn't even bother asking for any- any boxer short underwear we didn't want it anymore it was just too much trouble, we didn't wear it anymore, it was just easy to do without it. And I remember that I mean when you get that feeling that you got to go at one time I was taken up to rear, we were on- on a squad going in and pretty much I was probably that far away from the next guy or maybe a little further it hit and I had to drop my pants and I thought to myself, oh my god please I hope I don't become a prisoner because I couldn't see them, I couldn't yell, so I did it as quick as I could and I ran. But I thought, oh my god am I going to be captured you know so that dysentery boy. Interviewer: How long did you have that? (37:29) It felt like all year on and off. �Interviewer: Okay, alright. A lot of the guys the same thing, you know just like the- the- the jungle- jungle rot or nail fungus from your feet being wet and even the jungle rot comes back every now and then. I don't know why after all these years you just start scratching somewhere and then it festers and you big whatever and it goes through its cycle and then it scabs and then it's done, but why that still comes back I don't know. Interviewer: So, I mean you didn't get malaria. No. Interviewer: But you got a lot of other things instead. Yeah, yeah, we did. Interviewer: Now what would you normally eat out on the field? Well, we had to the C-rations, and it ranged from ham and eggs, to beef with potatoes, to franks and beans, which everybody of course wanted the franks and beans, especially to new guys. You I mean to open up eggs in a can like that and you're oh my god, but you know after a while I guess, after a while everybody started eating everything, we just- we just ate everything and then occasionally we would have a Kit Carson scout come out with us and he was a- a- a South Vietnamese I guess, yeah and he would carry bags of rice and he wanted the meat and we wanted the rice so we exchanged and we would just make our own dishes with rice and throw the beef in there with a ham or whatever it is and make our own dishes, but it was- it was good I mean it tasted good after a while it tasted really good. Interviewer: Well, you needed the food. (39:07) You definitely needed the food. �Interviewer: Because you’re burning off a lot of calories while you’re out there. Yes, yes, we were, we were. Interviewer: Alright, okay now do you remember who your company commander was when you joined the company? Yeah, it was Captain Williams. Interviewer: Okay what sort of character was he? Well ‘till today he comes to the reunions, he isn't here this time because he had a hip replacement, and he was- he was very nice. I mean he was referred to as the old man, you know he was about 27/ 28 and we were 19/ 20/ 21. So, but he I guess really, he knew, I always said hehe brought us home, you know he- he made us safe. Besides everybody else under him you know they took his direction and a lot of times when we get to a- a site to dig in you know our first superiors whoever they are they could be a spec four or a PFC it was passed down Captain said, “do like zero silence as much as you can,” so you know try to make the littlest noise as possible even when you're digging to dig in a little bit more. And usually those with the times that we'd get hit believe it or not it was crazy and I thought to myself, they know we're here because we're not completely silent and I remember one guy that he was supposed to go out on LP that he was and he refused to and he refused an order and he didn't want to go, well everybody was scared so he didn't go and I don't know, he was a different culture but I didn't know why, but the next day he got a CAed out to, back to the rear. We never saw him after that, somebody said he probably would have gotten an Article 15, which was kind of like a, you might say a traffic ticket or something, they would take some of this pay but I could understand, we were all scared I mean everybody was scared it was just- it was just terrible. And- and on Ripcord where my friend he was killed July 21st, he used to volunteer to, for do these assignments throughout the- the Hill �and he always did too much, he always and I think only two people know this, but like I said he took care of me and he said, “no, no you don't go Chiarelli I’ll- I’ll- I’ll go this time.” I said but you do more than me, it's… “no, no, no it's okay you stay.” And that's the day he got killed and the lieutenant came down to let us know, and I was in my foxhole with a couple other guys. I wanted to run out to go see him and the lieutenant says, “get back in that hole, don't leave without your M16, get back in there.” But for some reason it was really quick, they already had him wrapped up and a chopper took him away and it just happened like that, sometimes a body could be there for days, but I guess it was just timing that that chopper was there, and he took him away. So, I- I didn't get to see him and I try up ‘till today to contact somebody, his wife, his uncle, his brother but- but nothing, I don't and it's really funny because I was from New York then and he was from Texas which I didn't even know he was from Brownsville. So, I looked up his information and it said Brownsville, Texas and then I said to myself, “well it's the holy spirit,” you know that we moved to Texas that I’m close to Brownsville. I says, I don't know maybe one of these days we might find somebody I- I don't know. Interviewer: Yeah, and it’s got to be tough because Flores is a fairly common name so… (42:53) It's like John Smith. Interviewer: Yeah, yeah, it's really kind of tough there but do you- do you feel like you know any sort of, that that should have been you? Yeah, I live- I live with guilt. Interviewer: Yeah. I really do. Interviewer: And that's a very, very direct case. �I live- I live with guilt and we know he went to Hawaii on his R&R to go meet his wife with his infant child that he didn't see. Interviewer: Yeah. And when he came back, he was so happy he showed his pictures and everything and it was either that day or the next day he was killed. I don't remember but it was July 21st, I knew it was July 21st because July 23rd we evacuated. Interviewer: Okay now in the campaign that you were part of, Ripcord campaign it's already going in April when you get there so there's a base on the hilltop and the companies take turns. Yeah. Interviewer: Doing base security and your company was doing security in the last couple of weeks of the battle. Yes. Interviewer: Now had you- had you been up there earlier? No. Interviewer: Have you been? Okay, so let's talk about that the time that you're spending and patrolling around on the different hills did you get a stand down? Did you go back to Camp Evans at some point before the… No. Interviewer: Later battle, not that you can remember? (44:07) Nothing because from Hill 805 after the three/ four nights the captain said, “I’m gonna hump over to Ripcord, it's a firebase, it'll give you guys a little bit of a rest.” �Interviewer: Right. “And we would be securing the perimeter of Ripcord.” And to us that was like almost going on vacation because it would be some place stationary that all we had to do was, you know take care of the guard duty at all times out, there was the concertina wire and- and we would at night you know any movement we would fling grenades, anything. And some of us were able to, they called it a starlight telescope where you saw images and you swear you saw images and you heard noise and you fling grenades and but the next morning nothing was there and in fact the day before or the two days before another sergeant was assigned to my squad, Dale Faulkner and he was in the hole, it was his first day and he was a shake and bake, and he goes, “well what do we do?” I said, “well they want us to get rid of as much of this as possible so we're just going to fling grenades just randomly out there.” And him and I were in the hole standing and right behind us was a bunker where you could fall in to sleep when it was your turn and I don't think anybody else was in there at the time but all of a sudden, he- he says, “Chiarelli, Chiarelli get out of the hole, get out of the hole.” So, you know instinctively I just put my hands like that, and I got out I went like this because I thought I was gonna hear an explosion and I did and then he goes, “Chiarelli, Chiarelli help me, help me.” He didn't jump out for some reason, this guy's over six feet and he tried to go in the hole, he had dropped a grenade, dropped a grenade right in the hole. So, it was so dark to probably try and do this was nothing, but he tried to go in and he got in up to his waist and the grenade went off and he had it all in here, all in here. And even back in ‘04 you know I put out the word if this guy comes in that I brought up to top I helped him and then he was looking for me and we finally met and the first thing he said to me was, “thank you for saving my life.” And I never thought I saved his life, all I ever thought was I helped him but we both said that at that particular time when he pulled me over and I had to help drag him out �because he was six feet and he had his arm over my shoulders and we’re going like this and we remember we both said I think at the same time, “we could both be killed,” and we both said, “yeah, I know.” So, I went all the way up top to headquarters or somebody was having, “yeah what the blank, blank are you doing?” I said, “he's hurt.” “Oh okay, okay go ahead, go, we got him.” I said, “okay,” and then on my way down to the hill and I don't know why I kicked myself that I didn't take my 16 with me as I’m on my way down I thought oh my god I’m dead- I’m dead and then they were, you know the perimeter foxhole but then up a little ways there were more foxholes more like a bunker that the lieutenant was in and would be a little space and their rifle would go in there and he saw this person out and I remember him yelling, “so do you get the blank- blank in that foxhole. What the blank- blank are you doing out of the hole? You're gonna get it tomorrow blah blah blah blah,” and that was Lieutenant Hand, but he didn't know no I don't think, I’m not sure who eventually found out that I helped Dale and you know what's going on with him today, he's- he's has, he's in hospice with brain cancer you know it's been eleven months now. They only give him four months, but you know and- and I met him every year anyway we, I always found him, and he found me and we just kind of hugged and talked a little bit. He was really a nice guy, but I would have never known it was him, he would have never known it was me but this reunion kind of brought us together. Interviewer: Right. (48:18) And that was nice, and he told me, he said that they really took care of him and that he wore a colostomy big for a little bit and he says back then they- they automatically gave him a thirty percent service connection disability. I didn't even know what that was to tell you the truth, but he was- he was okay, he was fine, and I guess maybe he was supposed to be saved or helped to �live his out because he married, I’m not sure if he has any children. But we all know him and most of the people know the story because they were all looking out for me, and they were all looking out for him to find one another. Interviewer: Right. (49:01) Yeah, and as it turned out one reunion, I was there I was sitting and there was a back of another chair and a guy sitting that way and I asked Bob Judd I said, “Bob any news on the guy that I helped?” He goes, “here, he's sitting right behind you.” Yeah, so that was something, I’m just soI’m just so and you know I never knew that I saved his life, I never looked at it that way but that's the first thing he said to me, the first thing, all I really did was help him. I- I just did my job, I believe anybody else would have done the same thing. Interviewer: Now a little bit of broader question, there's a lot of stereotypes and stuff about morality and this in Vietnam and that kind of thing. Now in your case within your- your platoon or your company that you served with is it your impression that most the guys just did their job? (49:54) Oh definitely, now I- I hate to bring up you know African Americans but back then and not all, but a good part of them they- they made complaints that they needed to be on profile, if you weren't profiled you can’t go out in the woods and they said that we were discriminating against them because they had put all the black people out in the boonies, and it wasn't so. I mean in- in our company with four platoons, each platoon, 30 each you know if there was one or two black guys it was a lot and the black guys that were out there, they were okay, they were good with us, we were good with them. It's the other ones because when we came in the rear for stand down, �they were in the chow line waiting, you know to eat a hot meal and what they did during the day was they- they did whatever, filled sandbags or did KP duty, they just, busy work they didn't want to deal with them anymore so they just- they just put them in the rear. And- and back then those black guys they used to, when they used to meet, they you know do this, this, the… (50:57) Interviewer: Yeah, the whole black power thing. Yeah. Interviewer: All the time. And you'd see them on the chow line doing that and you just shook your head, you shook your head. Interviewer: Yeah, and that seems to be stuff that came over from the States because by then they, at home they were convinced that you know they were sending all of the black guys out to do the fighting and stuff and so that's what they know when they take in with them. And- and so that was peculiar at the time but the guys who were in the field with you were… They were fine. Interviewer: They didn’t do anything else. They were fine, the one black guy, he was a sergeant, he was great, he was great, and I just always remember my friend Roberto, Roberto M. Flores, I just, I guess I’ll see ‘em up there. Interviewer: Yeah, alright so you had spent you know extended time, couple of months’ worth of time out in the field, out with your- with your company and now you get is early July when you go up to the hill? It was, I want to say July 4th. �(51:52) Interviewer: Okay. Yeah. Interviewer: Alright so you guys, your company's turn now to do security for the top of Ripcord? Right. Interviewer: Alright and describe a little bit just what the base looked like in terms of in how- how things were laid out for you. Well the- the outer perimeter is what we did company big, we did the outer perimeter and in front of the perimeter maybe 30 feet there was barbed wire, concertina wire which I didn't know the term concertina wire until I went there and it was like all around the whole thing and then closer into the top they'd be also dug out bunkers that sandbags on them and you were well- well protected you're just able to stick out your whatever. And usually that would be for the officers, the lieutenant, the, we called the CP, command post would be always be in the inside, just like we were out in the boonies and we dug a perimeter, CP would be right in the middle and that was the captain, the RTO, whatever and they also stood watch for guard duty too, they had to, they had to stay awake. It was so frightening that Hill 805 with those RPGs coming in and small arms fire and guys screaming and yelling and “help me,” and “help me, please help me.” I remember two or three guys I was in the hole with because when I ran from the LP, I just jumped in the first hole and they go, “you're fine, you’re fine, Chiarelli you're okay, it's okay. Are you hit?” I said, “no, no I’m not.” They said alright, “just stay down just…” And I remember just sitting inin the underground like this and looking and things going over my head and… (53:49) �Interviewer: Yeah. And I really thought I was going to die but they were “Chiarelli, it's fine just stay there we got it.” And I don't even remember those guys names or anything. So, then there was the second perimeter closer to the top and then it was the TOC which was called Headquarters. Interviewer: Yeah. And Headquarters would be all the Officers or the Military whatever, the artillery was there and I always thought that artillery had it easy but- but no this artillery did not have it easy because they would get shelled a lot because that's where a lot of the artillery was shooting out into the boonies to help the guys and they wanted to get that artillery you know knock it out of commission and believe me that last day, and I go to the last day or I go to the- the night before the Lieutenant came down to the perimeter in the foxholes and he says, “we are going to evacuate at first light.” And there are these Navy ships out there that could shoot these big guns and we're just hoping they're going to be close but not hit the perimeter. So, when he said we were evacuating as soon as he left, I remember turning around to the guys I says, “we're running.” And we were, we were running because that that morning when we did evacuate you know it was like my- my foxhole was the next to go, I don't know why but the two guys I was with got out before me and they were going- they were going, “Chiarelli, Chiarelli hurry up, hurry up they're coming through the wire. Hurry up.” And I just said to myself I don't even want to turn around; I don't want to turn around. But it was you know it was pretty steep so they weren't you know, they weren't that close, but we made it to the top and there was somebody up there that- that way, wait to the chopper and you know sometimes the chopper will come in but then it take off again, you know because it was getting hit too much and then it was, you know, “go, you guys go.” And I just remember running and I remember dropping my M16 and for a �split second I thought to stop and pick it up and I just, I said no- I said no, I’m gonna pick it, no. And I remembered in training they said something like you know if you lose it, I remember 175 dollars. Why that’s stuck in my head I don't know, but no they gave me another one. Interviewer: Yeah. (56:17) You know it was no big deal but we- we evacuated. The choppers came in, they went back to Camp Evans and then they- they totally B-52’d the whole thing, they just flattened it all out, there was nothing. They said that later on people went back and there were some bunkers, three foot bunkers that were closer to the hill where you were able to stand up in them and there were American’s that were burnt, they used flamethrowers. And they said that these are the guys that for some reason had a fear that didn't want to come out and you know, and I always said to myself, whoever was their superior probably should have been aware of that and dragged them out or something. I’m not blaming it on them, but I would think that if this other guy you know is with you, you need to help them come on. (57:15) Interviewer: Of course there's no reports of any missing in action out of the companies, everybody was accounted for in one fashion or another so it may be that that's a story that got passed at some point, for I mean if you were just hearing it from other guys and weren't sure where they heard it from, it could be, it was like the you mentioned that when you're leaving they're telling you there's people coming up the hill and as far as we can tell there wasn't anybody coming up the hill yet. No not really. �Interviewer: At least not by the aerial observation, but in the middle of all this because when you're in your fighting position you can't see very much. No. Interviewer: Of the perimeter or anything else. It's dark. Interviewer: Yeah, it's dark and you know you don't really know what's out there, but even during the day you only would have a limited field of view. Now in your fighting position where you were now the Ripcord is a hill, now are you part way up the slope or you're right at the base of it or? (58:05) Pretty much just about on the bottom, pretty much, yeah. Interviewer: Okay and did you, and then you had there were other hills around and would the enemy try to fire? Did you ever take direct fire at you or was it mortar fire and rockets that came in? No, no I- I don't recall any direct fire no, mortars, rockets, I guess the RPGs were rockets. Interviewer: Well yeah rocket grenade, but there are the bigger rockets. Yeah, they- they are, well the bigger ones yeah those were the 110s I think. Interviewer: Yeah. Yeah, the Scud missiles or something. Interviewer: Well not- not -not that big but yeah but the bigger miss- big, bigger rockets. Yeah, yeah. Interviewer: That get launched. Now when you first went on there, I think the officially the way they do the history of the battle, sort of the 1st of July is when you begin to get a �regular bombardment that slowly got worse, now on July 4th or so when you came in waswas there more… did you come in helicopters, or did you walk in? No we walked, we humped from 805 to Ripcord and we came up in it and we thought it was the greatest thing that ever happened to us, we really did and we were just assigned foxholes and we all thought oh this is so nice, this is great, but then we started hearing the rounds the round, that's why they wanted, that's why that that lieutenant yelled at me because I was out of the foxhole I was coming down. (59:24) Interviewer: Yeah. From Ripcord and- and my friend Roberto, Roberto he, they had us wear flak jackets, okay and the lieutenant would always tell him to make sure you, you button it and he never really wanted to button it and he had a round came in, a piece of shrapnel hit his heart that that was it. Which is, but I guess it- I guess it was meant to be, it really was. And then up top where headquarters was, they had hot meals, there was a- a cook up there. Interviewer: Yeah, there was a cook up there. Yeah, so they had hot, we never had them, well I take that back I think we did get them once in a while where somebody brought something down to us or one of us went out and brought food for the guys. I- I take that back we did have some of that, yeah, we did. But so it was a lot easier with our C-Rations we had you know more area, more whatever and we used to use C-4 and even though the cap they said, “you can't do that.” He let us use it, we used it to heat up our food. (1:00:30) Interviewer: Because this is the plastic explosive, and you can break off a little piece of it and light it. �Exactly, yeah, I think today is on TV, in Hollywood they use a C-4 a lot yeah. Interviewer: Well yeah, special effect explosions. Okay this tape is about out… So okay now we were talking about sort of the situation on the Ripcord firebase in- in July and particularly as we're getting close to the point where you were talking about evacuating and getting off, but the whole time you were there, the place was under bombardment now… Oh, every day. Interviewer: Now from your fighting positions did much land around you or did it normally land up on top? Well we had this saying when we were over there, if you could hear it, it's going over you and you don't hear it, it could be in the front or whatever and you might not be there, but I would say, no not necessarily on the tippy top. Well yes there was but it also was going throughout randomly and never, I remembered in front of my foxhole or to either side but behind us, but it was still scary to hear that, I mean I’m certain tones I- I’m jumpy and I jump. I mean I am diagnosed with PTSD and I just, it just doesn't go away. Interviewer: Yeah. (1:01:46) And the biggest thing is sleeping at night. I you know even though I sleep for seven/ eight/ nine hours, I wake up and I feel like I need to go to sleep, I never went to bed because my mind doesn't rest. I feel like I need to have a perimeter around my house with- with guards. It would make me sleep better it’s just it’s crazy. Interviewer: Well, you get conditioned to something. Yeah. �Interviewer: In that situation. And what I didn't say was after the evacuation and whatnot and- and I was healed, I don't know how many days it took to do that, then they sent me out to another firebase which I don't remember it might have been Katherine, and I thought to myself why are they doing this to me? I am just so scared. Why are they… “Chiarelli, Chiarelli we're going to put you in mortars. Remember back in the states we also trained you for mortars so this will be a little bit easier, it won't, you won't be hopping the be- boonies you'll be permanent you don't have to hop the boonies. And you could take a shower every now and then it might be an outdoor shower and you'll get an occasional hot meal.” So, I wasn't in the mortar pit, I was in a bunker that I could sleep, I could stand up, I was in, it was called FDC: fire direction center. Yeah, so they put me, I did have training and the guy on the- on the radio talking to the guy in the field that needed mortars, he would give me some sort of numbers and a thing that turned it around and I would give him the accordion then you do it, and he'd give it back out to the mortar pit, they would fire one. And then the guy out in the field called back, “no do twenty meters this way.” And then fire one, we did that three times and then after three times the guy on the field would say, “okay fire for effect.” And they dropped maybe half a dozen rounds, you know and of course they didn't necessarily end in same spot all the time, but and then of course if he needed more, we started it over again. But when those guys called in everything was dropped, you did it immediately they needed your help. Interviewer: Yep. (1:03:54) Yeah so I was in, it was 81 millimeters we had. It was really funny because the- the- the NVA had 82 millimeters, and from what people tell me our 81s could go in their 82s. �Interviewer: Right. And we had a 50-caliber machine gun, they had a 51 and they were able, where, how did all this happen, you know. Interviewer: That's very simple, it's an old trick the Soviets did. Russians. Interviewer: Even the Germans in World War II because that way they could use the German ammunition, the Germans couldn't use theirs because it was too big. Yeah. Interviewer: And that just stayed as- as a tradition. Okay so now when you were talking about getting off of Ripcord, you had told me off camera and you sort of referred to it in passing here, at some point on Ripcord you actually got- got wounded, you got burned on the face. Oh yeah. Interviewer: How did that happen? I- I did that was the day we evacuated, that morning for, two other guys with me or three I don't remember, but we had a supplies, mostly grenades. I don't know what else, could be a bunch of C-4 or whatever, but one of them poured the gasoline all over it and I had the trip flare. And they started going up and I started walking back out to toss it and that's when they were saying, “Chiarellli hurry up, hurry up, hurry up.” So, I do, there was this big explosion, this big puff, but I didn't think anything of it. I went up to the top we managed to, got on the chopper, went back to Evans, got off and that's when the guy said, “you, go into the medic now.” And I said, “why?” He says, “your face, left side is all burnt.” And I didn't know it but then I remember feeling a sting on my face when that poof went. I felt the sting and I guess that's when I got burnt, and of �course I don't know I said, “I don't care,” I don't even remember looking in the mirror, I don't even know what it looked like, but I told the doctor, “I don't care I just want to go home.” He said, “well we're not sure if it's going to heal.” I said, “okay.” And it healed and then they sent me to mortars which was like being on vacation almost, you know of course I had to still stay awake and pull guard duty in the- in the- in the bunker because I had to listen for the guys out in the field if they needed us. Interviewer: Right. (1:06:18) You know, so somebody had to stay awake, so we took our turns there. Interviewer: Now were you still in the mortar platoon for your original battalion? So, were you still with 2/506 or did they switch you to something else? No I believe it was the same. Interviewer: Yeah, because they had their integral mortar platoon and they were- they've been based on Ripcord most of the time, but now they're in Katherine or whatever base you were on at that point. Okay, so you're, that's probably part of E company which was the support company. Yeah, yeah, yeah right, yes. Interviewer: Okay alright so you're with them now, now once, now how- how long did you actually spend in the hospital before they let you out? Maybe three weeks. Interviewer: Okay. Yeah, maybe three weeks. Interviewer: And do you remember how you spent that time? �(1:07:03) You know I don't recall and I don't recall how my face looked and maybe I’m supposed to not remember but what I didn't bring into the picture was out in the field I would do haircuts for the guys, yeah and they would just be on a, maybe an ammo crate that we brought supplies in and in fact it's in- in the book I think on page 95. The author in the year 2000 it’s the first reunion I went to, he was signing books and that's when the book came out. Tell him what, and he goes, “you know Mike,” he says, “I’m really sorry I couldn't put your name in there but your captain he said ‘Biarelli, Chiarelli,’ he says but if- if it wasn't sure, I wasn't going to put it in there.” But he made reference to it, so I was happy for that, that was pretty neat you know a little bit of history. You know, he made- he made guys feel as though they were human again for the first time since they were back for some. And I remember just, and it was just fun because I remember packing up to go to Vietnam when I had my orders I left home and my mom telling me in Italian which I kind of remembered, I- I don't speak Italian, but I knew what she said when she called me by Miguel, you know, “why are you taking these tools? You are going to war.” And I just felt the closeness to it and- and here it panned out I guess it was supposed to happen. And here now at the reunions every year I cut hair and they make donations, and it goes to the association, but a lot of guys timed their haircut for here because they have to pay anyway so they make a donation, and they don't have to some guys they don't have to pay it’s fine. (1:08:42) Interviewer: Well, I’ve seen you cut General Harrison’s hair, there wasn't a whole lot to cut there. No, no, yeah General Harrison yeah. �Interviewer: Basically, you do, so basically so you- you have a barber, basically just a little, how big was the kit that you took? Just a little case or? Oh, it was a scissor and comb, basically. Interviewer: Okay. Or a scissor and two or three combs yeah, yeah that- that's it just rolled up in a towel. Interviewer: Alright and then you just do this when you had down time someplace? Yeah, you're doing down yeah, the guys, “yeah, cut my hair,” because when they had us go back to the rear to Camp Evans there was just, I don't know these people there were VC, I don't know what the, know, Vietnamese. Interviewer: Right. And they would cut hair and- and it didn't matter what you told them everybody got the same haircut; you know they just used the clippers and just took it all off basically. And think it was 35 cents we paid for it, and it was in MPC, it looked like monopoly money, military payment certificate it looked exactly like monopoly money. Yeah, but those were okay those, those were happy times because I did that on when I was in mortars also for the guys. (1:09:43) Interviewer: Alright now when you were with mortars did you spend the whole time on one firebase? Would they move you around? No, the whole time, the whole time. I felt like I was on vacation. Interviewer: And while you were there did the base get hit with mortars or probe by sappers or anything like that? Nothing never. Interviewer: Okay. �Never, it was like in support, that's what they did, we supported the guys out in the field, that's what they did. Interviewer: And about how long do you think you were there? Probably for six, seven months. Interviewer: Okay so really just the whole rest of your tour? Just about yeah, yeah eleven months and nine days, at the time Nixon was- was having us come home so I got a like a 21 day early out. Interviewer: Right. So, I did eleven months, nine days. Not twelve months, so that I think one day, anything, one hour, doesn't matter, get out of there. Interviewer: Right. Yeah. (1:10:38) Interviewer: Now did you get an R&R while you were… Oh yeah, I did, I did, and I went to Bangkok, Thailand I was there for I guess a week or five days and it was okay, if I had to do it over again, I should have went to Australia. But the guys come back, and they said you gotta go because of the women and so I should have never went. I should have went to Australia, but I wasn't married at the time so it was good, it was. Interviewer: But it was- it was a place where they were not shooting at you. No, they weren’t, and they were very nice to people, and I remember I went somewhere, got a picture of me with a snake around my neck. A lot of the guys had it, probably the same snake, you know. �Interviewer: No, it was kind of one of the tourist kind of things that they had going there. Yeah, alright now were you one of the people who kept a- a calendar for how long you were there or? Well we- we called it a short timers calendar and it was, it started from 100 days and you mark off each day and you know you were short when you got to two digits 99, but we realized you really weren't short until you were on the plane back home to the “World” as we refer to the U.S. as the “World” and I remember that incident on the tarmac everybody was lined up and they said, “okay nothing would be said, please if you have anything, any kind of contraband drugs, weapon, whatever, please empty out your pockets.” And I was just so taken back that some of the guys that had live grenades, C-4, blasting caps, trip flares, and most of these guys that had that stuff they weren't in infantry, they were taking it back as a souvenir. Interviewer: Yeah. And I thought to myself, this was gonna go on that plane, if something ever happened. Interviewer: Yeah. But also, people had bags of marijuana, but they just scooped it all up and nothing was said. So, I guess I'm here, so thank God nothing happened. (1:12:35) Interviewer: Yeah, now did you observe much by way of drug use while you were there? Very little you know my platoon, my squad, we knew that we had to be sane. We- we didn't do it- we didn't do it, no one did it. And I guess that was a good thing, new guys coming in, they did what we did, they didn't do it. Interviewer: Yeah. �You know we- we heard about it a lot when we were in the rear you know I saw it, it was there, it was out in the open, but I- I never messed with it I really never did. I mean my- my son one day we were watching something and- and there was this guy smoking this stuff with this big jar of something over here. Interviewer: Yeah. And I don't know what it was and my son “Dad, you don't know what that is?” I don't, no. He goes, “Dad that's a bong.” I didn't know what it was, I didn't know what it was. Interviewer: Well, you wouldn't, you couldn't have something like that in the field. No, no, no. Interviewer: What about on the firebase, I mean did you have people who smoked there that you ever noticed or? Not that I know. Interviewer: Now would you get a beer ration if you're on a base somewhere? (1:13:38) I don't, you know I don't recall beer; no, I do recall cans of soda though which was really good even though it was hot it was good. No, no, no beer rations, no I believe in the rear at Camp Evans I think they were, might have been able to get a beer. Interviewer: Yeah. Yeah. Interviewer: Sort of but you pretty much spent all, almost all of your time out in the bush someplace you know whether it's a small firebase or actually in the field. I did, I did. �Interviewer: All that, alright now when they, you got your orders to go home, I mean did you, had you put in for an early out, so you knew it was coming or did they just offer it to you? No, they offer it to me their 21 day early out, if I wanted to sign up for six more months they'll give me buck sergeant stripes, but like I said I don't believe I would have done it even for a million dollars. Interviewer: Yep. (1:14:30) I just, I just wanted back to the “World.” Interviewer: Alright so you were talking about not going back and you're- you're lining up and the guys are unloading at the tarmac, there they've unloaded the contraband; you get on the plane and then what was it like to take off and fly out of Vietnam? Well yeah it was, it was you know, and it was taxiing to fly and kind of like when it was off the ground and rising everybody screamed and yelled and I couldn't believe it and yay, and now we're short, this is short, you know not 99 days or nine days, this is being short, you'll be back in the “World” in, in hours, yeah. And we were at Washington state where I, finished where they processed me out. Interviewer: Right so Fort Lewis probably. I don't know what it was, but I remember one guy standing in line and we were in line for something and for the process and he fell to the ground, and he was kind of shaking and happen to be a medic. He was having an epileptic fit, but he was fine, they knew what to do, they put something under his, above his tongue and I guess, he was fine he came out of it, but he had an �epileptic fit, so I don't know if they, he was out in the boonies and they took him or was he in the rear that he did his job that he, I don't know. Interviewer: That was kind of strange. (1:15:57) Yeah, yeah it was. Interviewer: Alright, okay so you do now let's see and then today once you were there, once you're back in Washington there, when they're processing you out did they make another offer to get you to re-enlist or anything like that? No, no nothing we're going through some processing, and they gave us clean clothes and stuff and I think they said something, they gave me a card or something they said, “you've earned this and this, but we ran out we don't have them, but when you get back home, just mail this.” And I did and then whatever it came in the mail with whatever medals I had which I wasn't sure what really, they were for other than the one that was obvious, a purple heart, but the other ones I- I wasn't sure I really didn't know what they were, I really didn't. Interviewer: But you wound up with a couple of bronze stars for merits. For merits. Interviewer: Not sure how that happened, but somebody wrote you up somewhere. (1:16:58) Yes, they did. Interviewer: So- so, some officer was doing his job. Yeah. Interviewer: Alright so you get there, now but you're actually discharged there in Washington as part of the out processing now? �Yes, I was, I was done. I was- I was out. Interviewer: Alright and now did you fly back home then? Flew back home, yeah. Interviewer: And did you do that in uniform or in civilian clothes? No I did it, they for some reason they had us wear our dress greens, and I remember in the airport, either Washington or when I landed at Kennedy, and like I said I thought we were supposed to be proud and all of that and then I remember people just walking in front of me and spitting on the ground. What's going on, and then I hear in back of me, “baby killer.” And I thought, I just got the goosebumps, I thought I can't wait to take this off, I just and I didn't think, you know years later I thought I said, I could have went in the men's room, I had the luggage I could have taken off my uniform and put on civilian clothes. Why I didn't think to do that, I don't know but I remember when I got home, I couldn't wait to take it off and it went in the back of the closet, I did not see it or whatever. And even I had three brothers and one of them that was- was in the service career, Germany and I talked about, tried to talk about my experiences but it was like it was- it was nothing, I was like and I just I could, then I just shut up, I just clammed up 1971 and then I didn't do anything, you know 1971, then 1991, I- I started crying. My mother-inlaw had passed away and I was continually crying on and off for weeks and weeks and my wife said, “you're not crying for my mother are you?” I go, “no, I don't know why I’m crying.” So, my sister who worked for the IRS, my wife called her, she said I’ll see what I find out. She called back the next day she said tell him to go to V.A. hospital he probably has PTSD. And yes, I did, I was diagnosed with PTSD twenty years later comes out and you know I don't think you ever get cured of PTSD. Interviewer: No. �(1:19:12) I really don't think so but again certain noise, I try to explain to people that how I would jump or react to noise, you know a noise is generic you know it's just, the noise could be jingle bells, it could be a car screeching, those are noises, but they produce different things, produce different tones and it's the tone that causes me to jump, it's the tone of that noise. So, and I can't tell you exactly what it is and what combination, but it could be silverware clinging, it could be boxes falling, and it's just I guess it goes back and- and I- and I jump. It's really crazy up to all these years. Interviewer: Yup. And I still do that, but someone told me that in World War II, Korea it was either battle fatigue or shell shock. Interviewer: Yup. (1:20:00) But they didn't know then it- it was PTSD. Yeah, like they didn't know it was PTSD, yeah andand my one- my one sergeant, the black sergeant that I asked to get out of his platoon- patrol, a few nights later we're out in the bush and he's out there with his squad, not me, and then we hear this huge explosion, he was setting up claymore mines, as we weren't allowed to say booby trapping, their pre-warning devices. Interviewer: Right. But heck you know they did it to us we need, and he was setting it up with trip line or whatever and what from what the other guys told me they said he did it, he didn't want to listen he thought he was done, he walked, he tripped it himself, it blew his bottom of his legs off they said. And that same night it wasn't dark yet, they planked him out and took him out and wrapped him up �and I don't know what it was, poncho,I don't know what it was. And I could still see his body doing this as the chopper was leaving and taking him out and all those other guys that were out there, they came, a helicopter the next day and they took them out. Their- their hearing was just, they, ringing and so they just and I don't know what happened to them and maybe it was bad enough that they- they didn't send them back but I also tell myself that if I was still in his squad, maybe I would have seen something that I would have said to him but then again he might not have listened. Interviewer: Yep. (1:21:29) He might not have listened it’s sad, and the first time I went to the wall, the only one time I ever been I went to his name on the wall and I just knelt down and I was crying and I had this bracelet that we used to pass on to everybody and I just left the bracelet there under his name and my counselor at the V.A. hospital, I told him I was going, he says, “from past experience,” he says, “what are you gonna take with you?” I says, “I don't know maybe I’ll take my boots or my medal,” he says, “Mike from past experiences from other vets, don't, they're sorry they left all of that, so don't just take all of it,” and- and I didn't, I still have my boots, I still have my boots. Wow. Interviewer: Alright now you got back, and you said, okay you just went into, you just were a barber. (1:22:23) Yeah. Interviewer: And then- and then did you do that in New York for a long time or did you move or? �No, I was Long Island, I got a job right away and I- I started working and I did that all for the past 30 years I did barbering, and I don't know, I don't know what else that's all I did. Interviewer: Well, how did you wind up in Texas? Well my wife, she just wanted to come here for something, she always wanted to come here. Interviewer: Okay. And I said to her, I says “I’m scared to get on a horse,” you know that stereotype- stereotype it's just like they stereotype New York that everybody's walking around with an Uzi. Interviewer: Texas ?? And I really, I don't like to get on a horse you feel like you're really high. And she goes “no not that, oh I just want to go.” We came for a visit, we rented an apartment, went back to Long Island, packed up and moved. Yeah 1977 we moved, I can't- can't get over all those years, but I believe it was a good move for both of us, it really was good, yeah it really was. (1:23:24) Interviewer: Alright, now aside from the- the PTSD experience and so forth, how do you think your- your time in the service affected you or what did you take out of all of that? Well, you know I didn't know I was anti-social ‘til probably about three months ago, my son who's 29 he's the youngest, he just went, we went, and he just said it right out, “Dad, you're antisocial.” And I never knew I was, and I looked at my wife and I said she goes, “yeah you are Mike.” And I says, “well tell me why?” “Well, you know you don't like to be with people you're in company, you go off, sit in a corner by couch/ recliner all by yourself, you're looking at a magazine or you're flipping tv and you'd rather just be alone.” And I didn't realize, and I guess I was, and I am. I guess because I’m- I’m hurting. Interviewer: Yeah. �(1:24:19) I really am, I’m just hurting, I just. Interviewer: Connecting maybe costs too much. Yeah, yeah, I don't- I don't know I just. Interviewer: Well, I- I very much appreciate the fact that you're willing to come in and share the story today because you tell your story well, you did a good job, so. Well thank you. Interviewer: Thank you very much. I appreciate that, I was kind of nervous I didn't know what to expect. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ChiarelliM1685V Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Chiarelli, Mike Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2014-10 Title A name given to the resource Chiarelli, Mike (Interview transcript and video), 2014 Description An account of the resource Mike Chiarelli was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1949, to parents who immigrated from Sicily. In 1969, he got a draft notice while attending barber college, but he was allowed to finish school before being inducted into the Army in Fort Dix, New Jersey and sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for basic and advanced training for the infantry. After advanced training, he was sent to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland because he had not received orders to go to Vietnam yet. After three weeks at Aberdeen he was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, and, three months later, to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam to be shipped to Phu Bai Combat Base. Chiarelli was assigned to the 2nd Batallion, 506th Infantry B Company of the 101st Airborne Division and served in Vietnam for eleven months from 1970-1971. He went to Bangkok, Thailand for R&R. While fighting in Vietnam, his friend Roberto Flores got killed and Chiarelli still lives with the guilt. After spending most of his deployment out in the field for the Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord, his Company was assigned to do security for the perimeter of the base. At the end of the battle, he got burned on the face from an explosion the day they evacuated the base. He spent three weeks in the hospital to recover, after which he was flown back to Fort Lewis in Washington state, where he was discharged. He returned home in New York to work as a barber and later got a business associate’s degree. In 1977, he and his wife moved to Texas. Chiarelli still suffers from PTSD and often spends time alone to cope. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States—History, Military Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975—Personal narratives, American Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401. Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a8d2c2990a85dea4394eee330d491047.pdf 3b95e4298fa3eed1a4cb4d1bb623f3e1 PDF Text Text - ' f,jl,/1., OP \ CTHNJ(A ·' •· ,,, .,. .. ·•. 0 • ~ ~-- • ':'.· .. • Vya~ka • Vologda L:eningrad • 0 Yaroslavl• • ' Rz.hev • Klaipe<ia Karan • • iCMOSCOW Serpuk.hov• •Smo\ens" Munster • ,- •Diisseldorf ~fen • '. 1· .Gome! '2-1' .S. { ( .r·· ./·-"· 1,r··\,"'"·\,\ Cologne -· ✓- /·,._, \ .,,. . . ( • Saratov • ("':') •Kursk • •Chern19ov •".-. -~ '·~- '-'"-" ,.. ., BAY • / C ./ . .Voronezh I ' I . , .l \\ . ', I I ~ • \. ..... ...,. 0 Kharkov • • Kiev •lhitomir Rerdichev l/KR.,AJN/AN s. J. Dnepropet Uman• .. Penza • Kozlov • .Orel .1: ,-.-J •Tula Kaluqa f-t ' ·-. .M.ogile~ N"\.-". •Minsk I ~ ). a. Simbirsk • Kolomna • <" .... Vladimir • 0 .r~. ,· • "I J J • Niz.hn;; Novgoro • 'I.,. • .. ,·. • • •.Rybinsk ..· ' Stdltnqrad ...._ . , ..... . ,J ( .., • a. • t • Rostov C L • OIi Nikolaev ... ·-· • Knerson • ' Sebasropoi 8elqrad~ . .. •Tifl 1: Nis. • •• ' ' . i/~ ,. rr ., -, S1zertt:1. ·' FN..MOR,O (iC o HO.l>EJ'. A L E .. ( I yP • ,. ,· ·• As the war began Germany, shown in red, had invaded Poland, which, with its allies, is shown in blue. Allegiance of Italy and Spain to Germa~y seemed doubtful, as indicated by diagonal white lines: but the adherence of Ireland and Portugal to the British cause was regarded as a probability. A•~ Maginot Line •••• Siegfried Line • .,... Alexandria � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Grand Rapids Boat and Canoe Club collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Rapids Boat and Canoe Club Description An account of the resource Scrapbooks of newsclippings, photographs, postcards, and ephemera of the Grand Rapids Boat and Canoe Club. Photos were taken at regattas on Reeds Lake; the Grand River; Peoria, Illinois; and in Chicago of club members, and events. Historical articles, reports of regatta events, and articles featuring members Charles McQuewan and Jack Corbett are included. Programs include the First Grand Regatta on Great Salt Lake 1888, and Peoria Rowing Festival, and banquet and music programs and the GR Log, a publication of the Grand Rapids Boat and Canoe Club. Materials from the Central States Amater Rowing Association, and the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen are also included. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource circa 1980s to 1940s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/481">Grand Rapids Boat and Canoe Club scrapbooks, (RHC-54)</a> Subject The topic of the resource Grand Rapids (Mich.) Outdoor recreation Boats and boating Racing shells Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-54 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-54_Ephemera-GRRC_F105 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Chicago Tribune Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource no date Title A name given to the resource Map of Europe during WWII Description An account of the resource Map of Europe during WWII, year unclear, emhasizing the French Maginot Line and german Seigfried Line. Subject The topic of the resource Maps World War, 1939-1945 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/481">Grand Rapids Boat and Canoe Club scrapbooks (RHC-54)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NKC/1.0/">No Known Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5ec80597de3adf68688fb680fc95e07f.pdf c667839d4a74980f0b3e0e1f05e9b717 PDF Text Text ' ' Noted Oarsman ies at 83 I ,I John F. Corbet~ one of the country's noted oarsmen in his younger ays., as he appeared· at the height of his career in 1893 when he won i $1,000 prize at the Columbian expositio11, defeating Edward Clater n a single sculls race. ry Corbet, ote .· Scul e_ , Tomorrow Funeral serv~ices for J"ol111 F . Corbet, i11 l1is you11ger days one of the most fa111ous oarsmen of the countr~.,. \vl1e11 tl1at sport ranked high in popularity, ,vill be l1eld tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock in the chapel at 5501 North Ashland avenue. Burial will be in Elmwood cen1etery. t Corbet, who was 83 years old~ died Friday in .his home at 6329 North Francisco avenue. A month ago he attended the funeral of Edward Clator, Corbet's opponent.in his last professional race. In 1893, as a feature of the world's Columbian exposition, Corbet beat Clator in a single scull race and won the then unheard of purse of $1,000_. ' 4 ] j C I r • •• lVins Ue S. Amateur Title. In his pri111e, Corbet held the an1ateur . cl1ampio11ship of tl1e Uni t e d Mr. Corbet as he appeared in · States for si11gle sculls from 1887 tl1rougl1 1889. defeating sucl1 famous his later years. Fu11eral services rowers as Ed\vard Hamlon, George will be held tomoriOWa Hosmer, and John _Teemert a11d Den11y Donohue of Hamilto11, Ca11. fl1 e d'eff:~ of .D011ol1ue ,vas Corbet's biggest fhriU- ..., se the Chicagoa11 1 tl1at_ da)7 '\\1 as t11e U1• .. in th.e betting·. 111 1887 Corbet, reprcsenti11g Cl1i• cago, wo11 the se11ior singles championship of the Mississippi Valley Rowing associatio11, and the North• ,vestern uni\rersity race. On Lake :hatauqua, N. Y., he repeated th.is feat J a11d the folJ.o,vi11g day defeated the best amateurs of t he United. States " and Ca11ada. Record Sta11ds 15 - Years. The next year, at Duluth, Min11., < Corbet rowed the quarter mile in one minute and 1!) seconds. ~his mark remained on the records of the Amateur Athletic union for fifteen years. At tl1a t time Corbet was a member of the old Fa:-ragut Boat club, to which leadi11g Chicago sportsmen belonged. Soo11 after the old ,vorld.'s fair, Corbet b e c a m e coach of tl1e Grand Rapids Boa.t a11d Canoe club, a posi• tio11 l1e held for se,ren years. !11 all except one )'ear l'lis cre\v swept the v1aters of the central \vest in every rowing event. He the11 became coach of the Lincoln Park Boat a11d Canoe club, remaining there for twelve years, during the time of the late Walter Eckersall of University of Chicago football fame who became a . sports ,v r i t e r for THE CHICAGO- I TRIBUNE. Corbet had been employed by the Peoples Gas Light and Coke company since 1873. He 1·etired· on a pension in 1921. A s011, George H., survives. One Son Killed . in Action. A11otl1er so11, Jol1n F. Jr., was killed in act ion ,:vit h the marines duri11g tl1e \\ orld war. Tl1e son, who l1ad bee11 trained bJ' l1is father, at the tin1e of l1is death held tl1e Mississippi ,,alle:\' ro\ving cl1an1pionship of tl1e si11g·lc sculls, wl1ich his ·f athe r had l1eld years before. 1 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Grand Rapids Boat and Canoe Club collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Rapids Boat and Canoe Club Description An account of the resource Scrapbooks of newsclippings, photographs, postcards, and ephemera of the Grand Rapids Boat and Canoe Club. Photos were taken at regattas on Reeds Lake; the Grand River; Peoria, Illinois; and in Chicago of club members, and events. Historical articles, reports of regatta events, and articles featuring members Charles McQuewan and Jack Corbett are included. Programs include the First Grand Regatta on Great Salt Lake 1888, and Peoria Rowing Festival, and banquet and music programs and the GR Log, a publication of the Grand Rapids Boat and Canoe Club. Materials from the Central States Amater Rowing Association, and the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen are also included. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource circa 1980s to 1940s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/481">Grand Rapids Boat and Canoe Club scrapbooks, (RHC-54)</a> Subject The topic of the resource Grand Rapids (Mich.) Outdoor recreation Boats and boating Racing shells Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-54 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-54_Ephemera-GRRC_F203 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Chicago Tribune Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1939 Title A name given to the resource John F. Corbet Death Description An account of the resource Newspaper clipping of eulogy for John F. Corbet, who died at 83 and won a $1,000 prizeat the Columbian exposition, defeating Edward Clator in a single sculls race. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Grand Rapids Rowing Club Subject The topic of the resource Grand Rapids (Mich.) Outdoor recreation Boats and boating Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/481">Grand Rapids Boat and Canoe Club scrapbooks (RHC-54)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e4208f1c0ea04f5969e05c132d3e1719.pdf adcf68e5fda415456c4eb091a9b864e4 PDF Text Text ------· ~"' -. .... ~~ ·- I _,. -, �Chikaniing Township Berrien County, Michigan Master Land Use Plan 1992-2012 .\l{CIIITI lTL RI. l'l.\'\'\I'\(; l'\Cl'\ll Rl'\C l'\TLl{IOl{S Adopted: October 10, 1992 �TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............... CHAPTER 11 THE GEOGRAPHIC AND HISTORIC CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . The Geographic Setting . . . . . . . . Historical Background . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER Ill GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ............................. GOALS AND RECOMMENDED ACTIONS OF THE CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Township Character . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parks and Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Economic Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Housing ....................................... Public Facilities and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 16 16 17 18 18 19 19 20 CHAPTER IV COMMUN ITV CHARACTER . . Population . . . . . . . . . . Economic Profile . . . . . Housing Characteristics Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 22 29 33 37 CHAPTER V COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION ........... Recreation Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Schools ....................................... Public Safety Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Public Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . River Valley Senior Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 39 39 40 43 43 44 CHAPTER VI NATURAL FEATURES ................................. General Resource Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Impacts on Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Topography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Surface Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Poorly Drained Lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Floodplains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sand Dunes ........ ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodlands .................................... 46 46 47 47 48 49 51 52 53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BACKGROUND ............. ............. ............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 OF ...... 9 ...... 9 . . . . . . 1O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 �Groundwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Natural Features Protection Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 CHAPTER VII EXISTING LAND USE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 CHAPTER VIII FUTURE LAND USE POLICIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Policy Area No. 1: Lake Michigan Shoreland . . . . . . . . . . Policy Area No. 1a: Critical dune area· . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Policy Area No. 2: Red Arrow Commercial Corridor . . . . . Policy Area No. 3: Rural Fringe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Policy Area No. 4: Sawyer Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Policy Area No. 4a: Downtown Sawyer ............... Policy Area No. 4b: Sawyer Industrial Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . Policy Area No. 5: Galien River Area ............... Policy Area No. 5a: Galien Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Policy Area No. 6: Agricultural Heartland . . . . . . . . . . . . . Policy Area No. 7: Southern 1-94 Interchange Commercial/Industrial Area . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Community Facilities Map . . . Natural Features Map. . . . . . Existing Land Use Map . . . . Future Land Use Policy Areas .... .... .... .... Map . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... ... ... 61 61 62 62 63 64 65 65 66 66 67 67 69 70 71 72 73 GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 RESOLUTION OF ADOPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 ii �LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1 Table 2 Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Table 12 Table 13 Table 14 Table 15 Historic Population, 1960 - 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Population by Age Group, 1990, Chikaming Township and Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Age Characteristics, 1970 - 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Persons Per Household, 1970 - 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chikaming Township Population by Race, 1970 - 1990 . . . . . . . . . . Educational Levels, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Population Projection, 1990 - 201 O • • • . • • • . • . • . . • • . • • • • • . • • Principal Employers in Berrien County, 1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Employment by Industry in Berrien County, 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Per Capita Income Data, 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Median Value of Owner-Occupied Housing, 1990, Chikaming Township and Surrounding Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Value of Specified Owner-occupied Housing Units, 1990, Chikaming Township, Berrien County and Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Distribution of Housing Units by Type, 1980 and 1990, . . . . . . . . . . Selected Housing Characteristics, Chikaming Township, 19801990 .............................................. Residential Construction Activity in Chikaming Township, 1979 1991 .............................................. 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 34 35 36 36 37 iii �CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP MASTER LAND USE PLAN 1992-2012 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Communities inevitably change over time. If that change is not to get out of hand, a direction for future development is needed. Direction comes from a consensus among citizens embodied in a master plan. This Master Plan seeks to set forth how Chikaming Township's lands and resources might best be used in the future (in this case, to the Year 2012). It is a logical development from its predecessor, the Chikaming Township Sketch Development Plan of 1975. Every effort has been made to think constructively about how development should be guided to obtain the most benefit for the community as a whole. Input has been sought from all residents, and professional guidance and advice have been obtained from The WBDC Group of Grand Rapids, Michigan. In a nutshell, the consensus that has emerged from recent mail surveys and the August 24, 1991, Master Plan Open House concerning Chikaming's preferred direction is as follows: 1. Preserve the unique lifestyle and enhance the quality of life of the Township. 2. Welcome limited types of development to increase the economic base of the Township and to provide more jobs and amenities while keeping the tranquility, access to nature, and familiar country atmosphere. Geographic and Historic Background This chapter begins the process of developing the Master Plan by considering the geographic setting of Chikaming Township and sketching its history up to the present time. Paramount in Chikaming's geographic setting is its location on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan and just 75 miles around it's southern tip from Chicago. The Lake moderates Chikaming's climate, provides a source of fresh water, and invites recreation. The proximity of Chicago is both a boon and a problem. Chicago's economic and cultural attractions are within reach for Chikaming residents, but on the other hand, the impact of Chicagoans on Chikaming's land values and lifestyle are not always appreciated. Chicagoans have enjoyed Chikaming as a welcome summer retreat since the 1890s, but in the last ten years or so Chikaming's popularity as a place for second homes for Chicagoans and others has begun to pose a problem for the local economy and for representational government. * = See Glossary. 1 �Goals and Objectives Of The Master Plan The goals are general statements describing an aspect of the preferred direction in which residents want the Township to develop. Objectives are more concrete policies (recommended actions) leading to attainment of particular goals. At both levels they are worthy aspirations, but financial resources and other factors may inevitably limit their full attainment. These goals and objectives are intended to serve as a guide for future land use and infrastructure decisions. They also express the intent of the zoning ordinance and become the basis of determination when interpretations of the ordinance are required. They are not really new but express more explicitly the spirit of the 1975 Plan. In brief, the goals are: 1. Retain the quiet, scenic, and rural character of the Township. 2. Protect, either privately or publicly, specified open spaces·, woods, poorly drained lands, river lands, dunes, beaches and other valuable natural resources, including wildlife habitat. 3. Provide a variety of opportunities for relaxation, rest, activity, and education through a system of private and public parks and recreational facilities. 4. Develop a transportation system (roads, bike paths, and trails) which separates unlike traffic to promote safety and directs road traffic most efficiently to and from major activity centers. 5. Improve the Township's industrial and commercial base for the benefit of the entire population. 6. Maintain a variety of agricultural operations and preserve existing farms and farmland. 7. Provide adequate and affordable housing in a variety of configurations for families, singles, and seniors. 8. Provide adequate public utilities and services at minimum cost to taxpayers. Community Character Chikaming's population peaked about 1980 at 4,302 persons and fell back in 1990 to 3,717. These figures from the U.S. Census fail, however, to take account of the annual summer influx, which has increased and is now estimated to boost the total summer population to about 7,500. Barring unforeseen developments, the year-round population is expected to decline slowly over the next twenty years, whereas the summer-only population may increase at about the same rate. The median age of the population increased between 1970 and 1990 from 35 to 40 years, showing that Chikaming now has a considerably older population than either Berrien County or the State of Michigan as a whole. This attests to Chikaming's attractiveness as a retirement community, but it also reflects loss of a substantial portion of young adults to other areas and the * = See Glossary. 2 �declining number of school-age children. These trends pose problems to which local community facilities and services must adjust. Chikaming's economy suffers from an inadequate local base and is plagued by the seasonal swings of retail demand. Although 1990 Census economic data are not available at the time of writing, it is apparent that retail establishments barely cover their annual costs with the summer bonanza and that a large share of the permanent population of working age must seek employment in nearby urban areas. Clearly, commercial and light industrial development should be encouraged as a means of increasing the tax base and providing year-round jobs, but somehow such change should be balanced by the need to preserve the environment that attracts people to Chikaming in the first place. One of the problems for young adults just starting their working lives, as well as seniors on fixed annuities, is the scarcity of inexpensive housing in Chikaming Township. Pre-manufactured, modular, and multi-family housing· provide affordable alternatives to the more usual single-family, detached units built on site. Unfortunately, an adverse public attitude toward such housing works to limit its availability within Chikaming Township. Nevertheless, under present conditions such types of dwellings usually constitute the only housing within the reach of people with modest incomes. This situation, together with a severe restriction on jobs within the Township, is presumably at least part of the explanation for the failure of Chikaming to keep its young adults as continuing residents. The lack of housing, some of it subsidized, has also been identified as a pressing need for seniors. Community Facilities and Transportation Chikaming has several small parks on the lakeshore, benefits from Warren Woods State Park within its boundaries, and is planning a nature center on Township land in the interior. Most of Chikaming lies within the River Valley School District, though a part of Union Pier is served by the schools in New Buffalo. The public schools are principally financed through taxes on property, a system coming increasingly under fire because of the recent escalation of property values. Rising property valuations and hence, taxes, are a problem that, in the final analysis, can only be dealt with at the state level. In the meantime, however, there is talk of consolidation with neighboring school districts. The Township's police, fire, and ambulance services have recently been brought under the centralized supervision of a Public Safety Commission. Increasing calls to the Police Department, and mounting paper work, have made the provision of law and order impossible without assistance of the Michigan State Police and the Berrien Country Sheriff's Department. Costs of equipment and training and mandatory new licensing and safety procedures for all three public safety services have increased greatly in recent years. Housing all three of them in a central facility is being considered. If costs became prohibitive even after such centralization, consolidation of services with neighboring local authorities might become necessary, but response times would most likely suffer. Most of the more densely populated portion of the Township is served by municipal water, and the area served has recently been expanded by creation of special assessment districts. A plan to extend this service to certain rural areas in order to complete loops and make a more stable *=See Glossary. 3 �system is being debated. Sewer services through the multi-community Galien River Sanitary District cover a somewhat more circumscribed area than the municipal water system. The River Valley Senior Center provides an Important nutrition program and a variety of educational and social opportunities for seniors in the southwestern corner of Berrien County. It also has three vans which provide access to the Center and carry meals to shut-ins, but a van for the handicapped is a community-wide need. Berrien Bus is a dial-a-ride· operation centered in Berrien Springs which serves the entire county. Unfortunately, it Is not a very viable alternative to a private automobile, because passengers frequently have long waits for pick-ups and drops. Natural Features This section of the Master Plan identifies natural features within the Township, explains why they are important, and points out the constraints these features place upon development. It helps set the basis for the analysis of suitable future land uses. Topography: Topographic features important to Chikaming are the sand dunes along the Lake Michigan coast and the steep slopes of the ravines that either lead to the coast or to the Galien River Valley. The dunes are considered later in this chapter. Sites in or near ravines have an appeal for residential development because of extensive views through the trees, but development on steep slopes usually results in higher construction costs, since grading and erosion control measures are required. Surface Water: Land fronting on water is in great demand for building sites, but surface water has important environmental values as well. One of the greatest threats to surface water is non-point source pollution, such as excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides on fields and lawns, and soil erosion. Wise farming practices and land development can mitigate these dangers. Poorly Drained Lands: This is a collective term which includes marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar areas and is mostly used in this Master Plan in preference to ''wetlands," a term defined by changing laws that are the subject of controversy between conservationists and developers. While poorly drained lands were once regarded as wastelands to be avoided or better yet, eliminated, It is now realized that they play a critical role in nature, harboring more wildlife and plants than any other Michigan habitat type. They also reduce flooding; filter pollutants from surface runoff; help recharge groundwater· supplies; contribute to natural nutrient and water · cycles; produce vital atmospheric gases, including oxygen; and provide commercial and recreational value to the economy. •=See Glossary. 4 �--In Michigan, the Wetland Protection Act (Act 203 of 1979) governs preservation, management, and use of certain poorly drained lands, but the remaining areas of this valuable resource probably need protection under a local ordinance or the application of nonregulatory techniques. The most valuable existing guide to determining the locations of poorly drained lands within the Township is undoubtedly the 1989 Draft of the National Wetlands Inventory, a large-scale map produced by the Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Interior, which classifies and locates wetlands. Floodplalns: A floodplain Is a flat stream valley whose floor is periodically overrun by the stream. The major example in Chikaming is the Valley of the Galien River. Floodplains are protected by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and are important as water recharge areas and natural water storage basins. Also, of course, they form the habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal life. The Galien River Valley is used seasonally for fishing and probably has potential for limited recreational development, but the latter is restricted under national guidelines. Sand Dunes: Barrier dunes· parallel the northern half of the Lake Michigan shore in Chikaming Township. In addition to their scenic value, these dunes serve as a natural barrier to water and wind storm damage. The lakefront setting of the dunes has made them highly desirable sites for residential development, but they are fragile structures whose steep slopes are only held in place against wind and water erosion by the roots and foliage of covering vegetation. Once stripped of their plant cover for road or residential development, the dunes would tend to migrate away from the shore under the force of winds off the lake. State legislation passed in 1989 provides increased protection for Michigan's "critical dunes," but if and when this legislation lapses, local regulations may be required to preserve the dunes against unwise use which might be detrimental to the community at large. Woodlands: The day of large-scale lumbering is over for Chikaming , though local woodlots still provide an occasional harvest. However, woodlands have other values that cannot be measured in board feet. These benefits Include a varied and rich environment for many kinds of plants and animals, protection for watersheds and soils, buffering against the sights and sounds of civilization, and a moderating influence upon local climate. The possible results of poorly planned development of woodlands are increased erosion . and siltation, lessening of water quality, loss of landscape diversity, increased danger from flooding , and decreased land values. Because of their aesthetic and environmental value, a general • = See Glossary. 5 �policy to encourage the preservation of Individual trees and woodlands would be appropriate for Chikaming. Groundwater·: Much of Chikaming Township relies upon groundwater· as its source of drinking water. Despite this dependence, there is little public understanding of the nature and importance of groundwater·. In fact, adequate supplies and good quality of groundwater· are essential for the health and well-being of the community. Groundwater· quality Is almost wholly dependent upon wise agricultural and waste disposal practices, Including domestic. Lowcost contamination prevention measures could help protect against a spill or leak which could ultimately cost the community millions of dollars to remedy. Chapter VI closes with a section setting forth several legal procedures for protecting natural features and open spaces·. These are: land donation, conservation easements·, deed restrictions, and purchase of wetland property. In sum, it is imperative to preserve the Township's natural features but also allow responsible economic growth. Put another way, the Township must endeavor to maintain a careful balance between retaining rural character while encouraging economic viability. Existing Land Use The Existing Land Use Map in the Appendix gives an overall impression of the use of Chikaming's land in 1992. Agricultural land is found throughout the Township, but the largest contiguous areas lie south and east of 1-94. Since farming Is to be encouraged where it is viable, actively farmed lands are also identified on the Natural Features Map. The largest expanse of vacant land occurs on either side of 1-94 in a diagonal swath across the middle of the Township. This large open area creates a feeling of spaciousness that is treasured by many residents as an asset to the community. Birders of Berrien County have also designated parts of it as "hot spots," i.e. favored locales for sighting open-land bird species. The soils of this area are generally inferior, and poorly drained areas abound. However, some portions of this general area are undoubtedly suitable for future development, though access to the interiors of the sections may be complicated by existing development along roads. Most of the existing residential land lies between the Lake Michigan Shore and the Red Arrow Highway, but there are scattered parcels of residential land along roads throughout the Township. Since properties near the lakeshore and along ravines are popular dwelling sites, continuing pressure for development in these sensitive areas Is likely. Land at present in commercial use is concentrated primarily along the Red Arrow Highway and in the Village of Sawyer. Shops and restaurants along the Red Arrow Highway tend to cater to seasonal residents and passing tourists, whereas "Old Sawyer" serves mainly seasonal and yearround residents. * = See Glossary. 6 �The Township's industrially-used land is limited to about seven areas in the vicinity of Sawyer. Public and Semi-Public land, which includes public parks, municipal buildings, cemeteries, and schools, are scattered throughout the Township, but tend to concentrate along the Red Arrow Highway, since it is the main local-traffic artery. The Township is relatively favorably endowed with large parcels devoted to recreational uses. These are predominantly in the southern half of the Township in or near the Galien River, are for the most part characterized by poorly drained soils or floodplain, and are therefore suited to some recreational uses. Future Land Use Pollcles The Township has been divided into seven regions and four subregions which have fairly uniform existing characteristics and potential. Key among these characteristics are environmental qualities, past development patterns, and access to services. These regions and subregions are called "policy areas," because a different mix of policies is to be applied within each, fitting their differing character. Thus, the township-wide planning goals and objectives, enumerated earlier, are made more specific for each of these policy areas. Under this approach, policies are established which will direct future development decisions while still affording the Township flexibility related to specific areas. What follows provides only the highlights with regard to these policy areas. Policy Area No. 1: Lake Michigan Shoreland This policy area (see map in Appendix) is zoned for residential use and probably contains twothirds of the Township's population. Further development should be harmonious with the existing character of neighborhoods, while promoting safe movement and some open space'. State legislation on "critical dune areas"" should be reviewed for its applicability to Chikaming Township. Policy Area No. 2: Red Arrow Commerclal Corridor In order to promote an environment more conducive to business success, an attractive appearance for Chikaming Township, and traffic safety, commercial establishments within the Red Arrow Commercial Corridor should be encouraged to consolidate around the village centers of Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, and Sawyer Highlands. Modification of the Zoning Ordinance to allow small industrial establishments as special land uses within districts zoned for commercial use could be considered. Policy Area No. 3: Rural Fringe The Rural Fringe, lying mainly between the Red Arrow Highway and 1-94, should retain its semirural character. Portions of this policy area have: (1) swampy or slope conditions, (2) good woods near population centers which might be suitable as parks, or (3) good farmland still in use. · The preservation of some, at least, of these green spaces· should be encouraged. *=See Glossary. 7 �Policy Area No. 4: Sawyer Area There are three components of the Sawyer Area: Downtown Sawyer, the Sawyer Industrial Zone, and the residential areas to the north and west. Downtown Sawyer needs to be revitalized, perhaps by provision of (1) off-street parking, (2) improved traffic circulation, including better access from the west, and (3) establishment nearby of multi-family housing' which would increase year-round trade. The Industrial Zone should be promoted for light, non-polluting industry and for its access to transport, but it should be buffered from neighboring residential areas. Policy Area No. 5: Gallen River Area The Galien River Area is centered on the valley Itself, which is swampy and forested, protected by federal law, and is an environmental asset seldom fully appreciated. On the nearby uplands, commercial or industrial use should be prohibited, residential use should be carefully controlled, and specified woodlands and open space· should be preserved. Policy Area No. 6: Agrlcultural Heartland This policy area occupies most of the eastern part of the Township and consists of two areas of generally good soils separated by the valley of the Galien River. Every effort should be made to keep these lands in agriculture and discourage the encroachment of other land uses, including non-farm dwellings. Polley Area No. 7: Southern 1-94 Commerclal/lndustrlal Area The immediate vicinity of the 1-94 Interchange on Union Pier Road should be considered for commercial zoning where industry might also be accepted as a special land use. The ready access of this area to 1-94 and thus to distant sources of supply and markets gives it a special advantage for such use. Note: Although Chapter I attempts to summarize the Master Plan, it is not a legal substitute for the Master Plan. Where this text differs from the text in the following chapters, the latter are authoritative. • = See Glossary. - 8 �CHAPTER II THE GEOGRAPHIC AND HISTORIC BACKGROUND OF CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP Complied In 1991 by Albert S. Chapman In order to understand Chikaming Township as it is today--and attempt to project how it will be some years hence--it is necessary to consider its geographic setting and the course of its development over time. The Geographic Setting The basic geographic fact about Chikaming Township Is Its location near the southern end of the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. This means, first of all, that with the normal movement of air at this latitude from west to east, the climate of Chikaming is tempered by the nearby lake, producing somewhat cooler and sunnier springs and summers and somewhat warmer and cloudier falls and winters than areas further inland. This moderate climate has attracted fruit farmers and also tourists to this part of Michigan. Furthermore, Lake Michigan, one of the largest bodies of fresh water in the world, is a great natural resource. Most of Chikaming's water is drawn from the lake, and therefore it is vital that this landlocked sea be protected from pollution. The shoreline of Lake Michigan in Chikaming Township runs generally from northeast to southwest. The southern part of it abuts a region of clayey soil while the northern half is paralleled by sand dunes of varying height which date from the immediate post-glacial age when lake levels were higher than at present. They are mostly covered by a mixed hardwood forest. The sandy beach and the wooded bluffs and dunes, together with the moderate climate, account for the attractiveness of the area for summer residents. In years of high lake levels (the early 1950's, the late 1960's/early 1970's, and the mid-1980's) the bluffs along the Lake Michigan shoreline were severely eroded by wave action during fall and winter storms. In recorded history the recession of these bluffs has undercut and destroyed numerous structures in Chikaming. State law now requires sufficient setback from the shoreline to preserve permanent structures for an estimated minimum of thirty years. The inland areas of Chikaming Township are a result of glacial and fluvial deposition during the great ice age. Away from the lakeshore, Chikaming consists of flat to gently rolling terrain, much of it poorly drained, and generally not prime agricultural land. Following its clearing by early settlers, some areas of poorer soils have reverted to scrub second growth timber. One area of great interest, Warren Woods, is a primeval forest which was never cleared and contains a magnificent stand of beeches, oaks, and maples, a unique resource that has fortunately been saved for the community as a state park. The Galien River traverses the southeastern portion . of the township on its way to its mouth on Lake Michigan at New Buffalo. It has a flat floodplain cut below the surrounding terrain and is forested. Chikaming, just 75 miles by land around the southern end of the lake from Chicago, has long been one of the playgrounds of that urban center. Along with much of southwestern Michigan, • = See Glossary. 9 �Chikaming is unquestionably within the sphere of influence of Chicago rather than Detroit. Newspaper and television coverage demonstrates this. On the other hand, the laws that govern Chikaming are made in Michigan's capital at Lansing. Therefore, some of the vital questions for the Township arise from its geography: (1) Can it control the economic and social forces that emanate from Chicago? (2) Can it preserve the natural features and quality of life that attract people to it? Incidentally, the name, Chikaming, most likely comes from an Algonquin word meaning "at the edge of the great expanse" (Lake Michigan). How appropriate that the name of the township captures in the language of its early Inhabitants the very essence of its situation. Hlstorlcal Background We know very little about the prehistory of the area. According to the State Archaeologist, eighteen archaeological sites have been reported in Chikaming Township. These are situated mainly in the southeastern part of the township and are presumably associated with the Galien River. None have been studied by professional archaeologists, and there is insufficient information to assess their possible significance. Based on studies elsewhere in southwestern Michigan, less than ten per cent of these sites are likely to retain much cultural or research value. The earliest European explorers in the area were Father Jacques Marquette (1675) and Robert Cavalier, Sieur de la Salle (1679). Father Marquette found Indians of the Miami tribe living in semi-permanent villages and carrying on hunting and fishing and a simple agriculture. A few years later the Miamis had been displaced by the Potowatamis. Their principal settlements were also along the rivers. Most of the land was clothed in a hardwood forest of beech, maple, and oak. Some of the Potowatami tribe is said to have spent summer weeks making sugar In the vicinity of present day Warren Woods. Chikaming itself seems to have been little touched by the early explorers. A triangle formed by transport routes enclosed but scarcely touched it. On the west, of course, was the "great expanse" which was undoubtedly used by Indians moving up and down the coast. On the east was the St. Joseph River flowing northwest from South Bend to its mouth at the present city of St. Joseph. This river was an important route for the early French voyagers, because near South Bend was an easy portage to the Kankakee, a tributary of the Mississippi system. The third side of the triangle was to the south where the "old Saulk trail," later the "Chicago road," carried traffic east-west. Consequently, prior to Yankee settlement, Chikaming was largely by-passed and remained a wilderness. By the 1820's the Potowatamis were badly demoralized by defeat in battle and by the white man's diseases and liquor, and in 1828 they ceded to the U.S. Government the territory that Includes present-day Chikaming Township. The territorial legislature of Michigan created Berrien County on October 29, 1829. It was also in 1829 that the U.S. Government extended into southwest Michigan its township and range system of land survey. When it was completed the following year, the one-mile-square . sections left a permanent imprint on the land, for land claims of settlers (usually 160 acres or 1/4 of a square mile) were defined in terms of the rectangular survey system. Roads connecting the farmsteads followed the section lines, and these roads today constitute the north-south, east-west framework of the secondary road system. *=See Glossary. 10 �Immigration started in earnest when the last "reservation" of the Potowatamis near Niles was ceded to the U.S. Government in 1833. The western half of the township was heavily timbered, and for several years these lands were owned principally by non-residents and lumber mill owners in other townships. About 1837 a lumber firm built a water mill near present-day Sawyer and had a horse-drawn railroad to haul lumber to the lake shore. A bachelor, Luman Northrop, bought land at the southwest corner of Section 23 (near where Three Oaks Road crosses the Galien River) in 1840. Here he built a cabin and a sawmill with a flutter-wheel. A major impetus to settlement was the passage by Congress of the Preemption Act of 1841 . This made it possible for a settler to buy 160 acres at only $1.25 an acre, providing he had lived on it for six months. In 1842, Richard Peckham took up a quarter section near present day Lakeside. It is said to have been he who named the locality Chikaming. Alfred Ames, a native of Vermont, settled in 1844 on the lake bluff near what Is now the Lakeside Center for the Arts. His wife was a schoolteacher, and in 1847 their home became the first school. During 1853-1854, Silas Sawyer bought land near the village that bears his name and built a steam sawmill. About the same time, the Wilkinson brothers took up land in Sections 19 and 20, erected a sawmill, and built the Wilkinson, Pike, and Greenbush piers to export lumber by schooner to Chicago. These were located at present-day Lakeside, Cherry Beach, and Harbert, respectively. The community of Union Pier derives it's name from another pier built about this time which has long since disappeared. By 1856, the area was sufficiently settled that Chikaming and Three Oaks were set off from New Buffalo as separate townships. A perusal of the names that appear in the early records of Chikaming indicates that the first settlers were almost all of British stock. Most had moved to Chikaming from New York and New England. However, the name, Jacob Haas, appears on early plat maps, and an Evangelical Lutheran Church was established to serve the German families in the southeast corner of Chikaming Township and adjoining areas. The Wilkinson brothers came to Chikaming from Virginia. Between 1860 and 1870 the population of Chikaming Township trebled (from 310 to 993) and the eastern area, until then largely untouched, became increasingly settled. As many as sixteen stage coaches a day operated between St. Joseph and New Buffalo. Interests in St. Joseph had for years wanted their rail link with the outside world and in 1870 this dream was realized by completion of the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad from St. Joseph to New Buffalo. This, of course, was a tremendous boost for Chikaming, for it made export of produce much more economical. The state required the railroad to have stations at least every five miles along the track for the benefit of farmers. Thus, stations and post offices were established at several points: Troy (later Sawyer), Greenbush (which became Harbert), Wilkinson (now Lakeside), and Townline (now Union Pier). These villages remain the principal concentrations of population within Chikaming. A series of unusually severe winters in the 1850's demonstrated that the climate in southwestern Michigan was unusually well favored for peach production, because peach crops inland were ruined. Peach production in Berrien County reached a peak in 1872, and grapes and apples have been cultivated increasingly since then. Lumber production peaked by 1890. Fortunately, a new industry, totJrism, began to take its place. The first summer resorts appeared along the lake shore as early as 1891. These were initially rather rustic communities in which the guests were housed in simple cottages or even in tents, * = See Glossary. 11 �but they enjoyed great popularity among Chicagoans, who would come out by boat or train to escape into the wooded solitude and the joys of a sandy beach. By the early 1900's there were seven such resorts in south Lakeside near the Lakeside Inn, and others were also clustered in Harbert, Sawyer, and Union Pier. Among the latter were establishments patronized by Czechs, Blacks, and Jews, adding ethnic touches to the community. Settlements of a religious nature (Bethany Beach) and those with a concern for the environment (Prairie Club) were also established. About the same time, a group of affluent families from Chicago established summer homes in the northern part of Lakeside. The Chikaming Country Club was founded in 1911 and a few years later acquired enough land to build an eighteen hole golf course. These communities, largely seasonal, were served by the road paralleling the Lake Michigan shore, designated M-11, a remnant of which Is Lakeshore Road, passing through Lakeside and Union Pier. By the early 1930's, heavy use warranted construction of a four-lane highway (U.S. 12). In 1972, this, in its turn, was superseded, at least for long distance traffic, by Interstate 94, connecting Chicago to Detroit. The old U.S. 12 reverted to Its function as a local arterial road· and was renamed the Red Arrow Highway as a tribute to a U.S. Army Division. While highway traffic was increasing, use of the railroad for passenger traffic fell off, and all railroad stations within Chikaming were abandoned in the 1930's. Now, the closest stop for passengers wishing to use the railway is New Buffalo. Development in Chikaming since World War II has been at a moderate pace until the last ten years or so. Seasonal residents increasingly buy or build second homes in Chikaming rather than renting. Land values have sky-rocketed. A camp ground and a mobile home· park have been established along Warren Woods Road, and a small steel-working plant now adjoins the Sawyer exit of 1-94. Thus far, changes of an undesirable nature have been thwarted. Innovative means to control future use of Chikaming's land are being sought. Bibliography Burgh, Robert. The Region of Three Oaks. Three Oaks, Michigan: Edward K. Warren Foundation, 1939. Carnay, James T., Editor. Berrien Bicentennial. Berrien County, Michigan: Berrien County Bicentennial Commission, Centennial History of Lakeside. Village of Lakeside Association, Inc., 1974. Coolidge, Judge Orville W. A Twentieth Century History of Berrien County, Michigan. Chicago and New York: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1906. Facts and Fancies of Lakeside. Lakeside, Michigan, August 1, 1945. History of Berrien and Van Buren Counties, Michigan. Philadelphia: D.W. Ensign and Company, 1880. Magnuson, Ronald L. "Historical Sketch.• Chikaming Township Sketch Development Plan. May, 1975. Myers, Robert C. Historical Sketches of Berrien County. Berrien Springs: The 1839 Courthouse Museum, 1988. Romig, Walter, L.H.D. Michigan Place Names. Grosse Point, Michigan: n.d. * = See Glossary. 12 �CHAPTER Ill GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Introduction Communities inevitably change over time. If that change is not to get out of hand, a direction for future development is needed. Community planning is the organized effort to look ahead intelligently, to identify a sense of direction based upon common preference, and to suggest means of steering change toward agreed goals. The broad object of planning is to further the welfare of people in the community by helping to create a better, more healthful, convenient, efficient and attractive community environment. A master plan is the document developed and adopted to embody these concepts. Michigan law requires townships to engage in planning. The Township Rural Zoning Act, P.A. 184 of 1943, as amended, stipulates, among other things: a township "zoning ordinance shall be based upon a plan designed to promote the public health, safety , and general welfare; to encourage the use of lands in accordance with their character and adaptability, and to limit the improper use of land." The Township Planning Act, P.A. 168 of 1959, as amended, requires that the planning commission "shall make and adopt a basic plan as a guide for the development of unincorporated portions of the township." Some of the basic reasons why planning for the future of a community should take place include the following: a. b. c. d. Planning permits communities to make choices for the future, based on articulated community goals, rather than simply accepting what happens by chance or circumstance. Planning helps prevent wasteful expenditure of public and private funds, by providing the ability to better coordinate capital investments with anticipated growth and change in the community. Planning provides a mechanism for the community at large to have a say In how the community develops, through measures designed to encourage and foster community participation in the planning process. Planning helps to protect property values by directing various types of land use activities to locations where land use conflicts are minimized. This Chikaming Township Master Land Use Plan specifically addresses how the community's land and resources might best be used in the future (i.e. to the year 2012). In this regard, It is not the intent of this Plan to in all cases provide for the "highest and best use" of land, as that term is used in the fields of real estate appraisal and development (i.e., that use which produces the greatest economic return or highest economic value). Rather, the purpose of community planning is to provide for an orderly arrangement of land uses which meets the specific goals of the community stated in this Plan, thereby promoting the public health, safety and general welfare. · This plan acknowledges the basic right of property owners to the peaceful enjoyment of their property. With that right comes the responsibility to exercise reasonable and prudent care in the • = See Glossary. 13 �development and use of property. This is based upon the assumption that, from the standpoint of the environment, the land belongs to us all, and the individual property owner Is in some respects only its custodian of the moment. It will help to clarify the scope of the plan If the reader understands what the Master Plan does not do. For example: a. b. This Master Plan has no authority to mandate any particular use of any particular land parcel. The intent of this Plan is to guide zoning in the future, but its suggestions may or may not be carried forward by inclusion in the Zoning Ordinance, which governs the use of land in the Township. Nothing in this Plan is intended to affect the valuation of any particular land parcel. Broadly speaking, though, this Plan should protect land value. Therefore, this Plan does not address the question of property taxes, which, of course, are based on land valuation. Goals and Objectives From recent mail surveys, and as a result of the August 24, 1991, Master Plan Open House, consensus about Chikaming's direction for the future has emerged: 1. Preserve the unique lifestyle and enhance the quality of life In the Township. 2. Welcome limited types of development to Increase the economic base of the Township and to provide more Jobs and amenities while preserving the tranquility, access to nature and a familiar country atmosphere. To move in this overall direction, the following goals and corresponding objectives (recommended actions) have been formulated. (Npte that these goals and objectives are a shared vision for the future and that a Master Plan embodying them does not have the power to require any action. The Master Plan must be carried into effect by a zoning ordinance revised to implement its vision by regulating future use of the Township's lands and natural resources. Of course, realization of the Master Plan also depends upon Township budgetary policy.) In the Master Plan, a goal Is understood to be a general statement describing an aspect of the preferred direction in which residents want the Township to develop. These goals should be · legitimate and worthy aspirations but they may not, in fact, be entirely attainable. Township financial resources and other factors may inevitably limit their full attainment. Objectives are more concrete policies (recommended actions) leading to attainment of particular goals. Bringing them into reality is also, of course, subject to financial and other community constraints, but this does not invalidate them as something to work toward. In many instances, objectives under one goal will also contribute to achievement of another goal. * = See Glossary. 14 �These goals and objectives are to serve as a guide for future land use and infrastructure decisions in Chikaming Township. In so doing, they will also express the intent of the zoning ordinance and serve as the basis of determination when interpretations of ordinance regulations are required. These goals and objectives are not really new to the Township. Most represent only an elaboration of the direction set by the 1975 Chikaming Township Sketch Development Plan, expressing more explicitly the spirit of that Plan. * = See Glossary. 15 �GOALS AND RECOMMENDED ACTIONS OF THE CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN Township Character Goal No. 1: Retain, enhance, and restore, where feaslble, the quiet, scenic, and rural character of the Township and create stablllty In the community by encouraging full-time residency. Recommended Actions: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. Bolster enforcement of existing ordinances and regulations to preserve the established character of the Township. Protect from urban encroachment existing rural areas not served by water and sewer through preservation of open space· and agricultural activity. Assure that new construction in more densely settled areas is consistent with and complementary to the established character of the neighborhood. Improve the appearance of the Township through thoughtful design and development which promotes its vitality and efficiency without clutter or hazards to safety. Preserve structures and areas of historical significance through individual and community action. Work closely with neighboring communities and the county to develop incentives to attract year-round residents. Land owners should be encouraged to enhance the attractiveness of the landscape by either planting alleys of trees along the roadsides or putting up fencing or hedgerows. Preserve scenic vistas· by appropriate public and/or private initiatives. Environment Goal No. 2: Selected open spaces·, woods, poorly drained lands, river lands, dunes, beaches, and other valuable natural resources, Including wlldllfe habitat, shall be maintained and protected, either privately or publlcly, for future generations. Recommended Actions: a. b. * Within the capabilities of the Township, carry forward the intent of Michigan law which established and protects "critical dune areas'." Encourage site design which takes natural features such as soils, topography, hydrology, and natural vegetation into account and which uses the land most · effectively and efficiently by maximizing open space·, preserving scenic vistas', and conserving energy. = See Glossary. 16 �c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. Discourage development (except for passive recreation) in the Galien River Floodplain and other environmentally sensitive· areas. Poorly drained areas such as marshes, boggy ground, and land with a water table very close to the surface should be discouraged for residential or other developed use and preserved as wildlife habitat. Protect groundwater· resources from contamination and depletion by unwise industrial, agricultural, or residential practices. . Evaluate carefully possible traffic, groundwater· effects, and other environmental impacts of proposed solid or toxic waste disposal programs in or within the vicinity of Chikaming Township. Encourage waste reduction by promoting the recycling of industrial, commercial, household and yard wastes through an economically viable community or regionally-based program. In order to promote preservation of special environments of significant community value, encourage acquisition of these areas by public agencies or non-profit conservancy organizations. Encourage the formation of groups interested in preserving the natural assets of the Township through legal instruments such as conservation easements· and land trusts'. Develop a system of publicly and/or privately owned "greenways·" through the less densely settled areas of the Township to provide cover for migrating wildlife and scope for recreation trails. Develop an overlay zoning district* in the Zoning Ordinance which identifies areas in the Township determined to be environmentally sensitive' and sets forth regulations governing construction in such areas. Parks and Recreation Goal No. 3: The Township should seek to enhance the well being of Its residents by providing a variety of opportunities for relaxation, rest, activity, and education through a well balanced system of private and public park and recreational facilities for all age groups. Recommended Actions: a. b. c. d. Acquire land for public parks as it becomes available in neighborhoods which lack parks and recreation facilities. Require developers to reserve areas for neighborhood parks, the exact location of such sites and the long-term maintenance responsibilities of which shall be determined prior to approval by the Township. Take advantage of natural features and open spaces· in Planned unit developments' to provide an attractive mix of housing and recreational opportunities. Cooperate with the school system in providing recreational facilities and programs for public use. *=See Glossary. 17 �e. f. Promote close cooperation between the Township Board, the Planning Commission, the Public Safety Commission, and the Park Board in solving the vexatious problem of Chikaming's road-end beaches. Press ahead with development of a nature center on township land south of Harbert Road. Transportation Goal No. 4: Ensure development of a transportation system {roads, bike paths and tralls) which separates unllke traffic to promote safety and directs road traffic most efflclently to and from major activity and traffic generators. Recommended Actions: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. Work with the Berrien County Road Commission to improve roads and enforce the County's road setbacks, particularly at intersections. If new roads are deemed necessary, assure that they will promote change in a way that is consistent with other Master Plan goals and objectives. Limit the number of driveways along arterial roads" and employ frontage roads' where necessary and feasible to maintain highway efficiency and safety. Protect important road intersections from the negative impact of unwise land use, including excessive signage. Encourage a variety of transportation means, including walking, biking, and public transportation, to meet the needs of a diverse population. Promote safe and pleasant pedestrian and bike travel through a coordinated network of bike paths, trails, and sidewalks, thereby also relieving congestion on highways. Preserve and encourage "green belts'" along major arteries such as 1-94, the Red Arrow Highway,_and Three Oaks Road. Require that new and altered commercial or industrial enterprises undergo a site plan review to assure safe ingress/egress and adequate parking for workers and patrons at such sites. Economic Development Goal No. 5: The Township should Improve Its Industrial and commercial base for the benefit of the entire population. Recommended Actions: a. b. * Welcome (on a selective basis) new commercial and industrial development for the additional tax revenue and employment opportunities it provides and as a counter balance to the existing highly seasonal economy of the Township. Encourage the retention, growth, and expansion of existing industrial firms. = See Glossary. 18 �c. d. e. f. g. h. i. Locate new commercial and industrial facilities where they will have best access to supplies and markets, but also where they will have minimal negative impact on residential areas, arterial roads·, unique natural resources, or historical and archaeological sites. Allow non-polluting, light industry to locate at sites which are accessible to adequate water, sewage, and storm drain systems and to arterial roads· (or rail transport), but which are well screened from neighboring residential areas. Encourage collection centers or types of industry which deal with recyclable materials but assure that they are sufficiently buffered from population centers, do not pollute, and will not litter Township roads. Encourage clustering· of commercial activities at centers with attractive design, good road and pedestrian access, and adequate off-street parking. Discourage unsafe and unsightly commercial strip development along arterial roads· through design and landscaping requirements, including but not limited to berms, planting, shared access·, and off-street parking. Encourage commercial developments which complement adjoining residential areas, prohibit expansion of nonconforming commercial uses, and terminate such uses whenever possible. Provide incentives to encourage the upgrading of existing commercial areas, and promote better cooperation between the public and private sector. Agriculture Goal No. 6: The Township should endeavor to maintain a variety of agricultural operations and promote the preservation of existing farms and farmland through coordinated planning and development regulations, publlc Incentives, and educational strategies. Recommended Actions: a. b. c. d. Institute measures to preserve prime and unique agricultural lands from encroachment of other land uses. Encourage farmers on lands well suited to agriculture to enroll their property in the Michigan Farmland Preservation Act (Act 116 PA of 1974, as amended). Encourage the expansion of specialty farms and related activities which enhance the tourism and recreation potential of the area (e.g. "you pick," farmers markets, farm tours, etc.) Discourage spot development of non-agricultural activities in agricultural areas. Housing Goal No. 7: Adequate and affordable housing In a variety of configurations for families, · slngles and seniors shall be available within the Township. • = See Glossary. 19 �Recommended Actions: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. Promote residential (or recreational) use of vacant land within existing residential neighborhoods. Encourage new housing developments to locate adjacent to existing residential neighborhoods to avoid urban sprawl, waste of resources, and land speculation. In Planned unit developments·, encourage developers to use the flexibility of regulations to bring about judicious and attractive clustering· of housing, thus creating space for park and recreation areas. Provide land through zoning for garden apartments, duplexes, and higher density single family residences within easy walking distance of existing and planned public services, facilities, and shopping areas. Promote housing for senior citizens, preferably in proximity to the existing senior center. Coordinate and cooperate with other governmental units in the planning and execution of housing for all income levels. Encourage new rural residences to locate adjacent to existing ones to minimize sprawl, spot development, and demands for expensive public utility services. Where public sanitary sewer is not available. require relatively large individual residential lots in order to accommodate septic tank and field systems and to assure adequate separation of such systems from groundwater· supplies. Develop criteria which must be met before new residences are allowed in sensitive environments' such as steeply sloping land or poorly drained land. Promote a quiet, physically pleasing living environment. Publlc Facllltles and Services Goal No. 8: The Township should plan for development In such a manner as to ensure adequate public utilities and services, now and In the foreseeable future, and at minimum cost to taxpayers. · Recommended Actions: a. b. c. d. e. f. * = See Land use and publicly-owned utility services should be coordinated to ensure that greater intensity of growth occurs where adequate services are provided or planned. Support efforts to establish community day care centers at appropriate locations to provide quality and affordable care of children for working parents. Develop the Township's emergency services to best meet the needs of the community consistent with available financial means. Cooperate with neighboring municipalities and school districts for the provision of utilities, sharing of services, and addressing common issues and problems. Promote close cooperation between the Township Board, the Planning · Commission, the Public Safety Commission, and the Utility Board in planning, executing, and maintaining Township services. Establish a mechanism or body open to all resident and non-resident property owners which will serve as a forum for the discussion of problems of community Glossary. 20 �g. coordination and concern and which can identify and sharpen issues through its non-binding recommendations to other Township bodies. Create a Township focal point, event, or program (or any combination thereof) which will build a greater sense of community and provide cultural enrichment for all residents. *=See Glossary. 21 �CHAPTER IV COMMUNITY CHARACTER Population Historic Trends The population of Chikaming Township decreased by over thirteen percent (13.60%) between 1980 and 1990. Although Chikaming Township experienced the largest decline In the Immediate area, many communities in Berrien County experienced greater losses. Examples of severe decline include Hager Township (-16.79%), New Buffalo City (-17.87%), Grand Beach Village (-35.68%), and Michiana Village (-50.75%). Table 1 shows the historic population of both Chikaming and the surrounding townships. Table 1 - Historic Population, 1960 - 1990 Chikaming and Surrounding Townships I TOWNSHIP IC:JI 1970 I 1980 % CHANGE I I % CHANGE 1990 I I % CHANGE +14.2 4302 +5.8 3717 -13.60 2146 +6.1 2212 +3.0 2487 +12.43 7418 10271 +27.8 9961 -3.0 9613 -3.49 WEESAW 2229 2338 +4.7 2164 -7.4 2114 -2.31 THREE OAKS 2856 2894 +1 .3 3046 +5.0 2952 -3.05 BERRIEN COUNTY 149865 163940 +8.6 171276 +4.3 161378 -5.78 MICHIGAN 7823194 8881826 +11 .9 9262078 +4.5 9295297 +0.36 CHIKAMING 3476 4051 LAKE 2016 ST. JOSEPH I Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census (1960-1990) Seasonal Population Variation The current population figure for Chikaming Township (3717) reflects those residents who were either residing in the township on April 1st, 1990 (census day), or those seasonal people who list Chikaming Township as their primary place of residence. Many of these seasonal residents are either "snowbirds", residents who spend the winter months in a warmer climate and summers in Michigan, or residents of neighboring states who currently spend a limited amount of time In the Township but may plan to retire here. In addition to the Michigan winters, seasonal residents also may find substantial tax reasons, especially in Florida and Illinois, for declaring primary residency · elsewhere. *=See Glossary. 22 �While the percentage of seasonal residents may not be a significant issue in most communities, the seasonal variation in Chikaming's population is large enough to be considered for the implications related to long range development planning. Almost 48% of the housing in Chikaming Township is listed in the census as seasonal. (This figure is supported by township tax assessment records which reveal that nearly one-half of the parcels in the township ar~ owned by persons who claim a permanent address in zip code areas outside of the township.) By using the average persons per household figure, the population in the Township could conceivably increase by 3,785, for a summer season total near 7,500. This aspect of the population, and it's effect on the township economy, will be discussed later in this report. Population by Age In order to fully analyze population and anticipate future growth, it is necessary to examine many components. One important aspect of population is a study of age groups. In general, the population of the Township is older than for the State of Michigan overall. Table 2 illustrates the 1990 age distribution of the Township population, compared to the State of Michigan. Of note is the fact that, for all age groups under 44 years of age, the Township has a smaller proportion of its population in these age groups than does the State. This difference is particularly accentuated in the 18-24 and 25-34 age groups, age groups of family formation and career growth. Only 20% of Township residents fall in this age category, compared to nearly 28% for the State of Michigan. It is safe, therefore, to assume that Chikaming Township is losing a substantial proportion of it's young adults to other areas. The opposite is true of the older age groups. Over 21% of the Township population was 65 years or older in 1990, compared to 11.9% for the State overall. It is not uncommon to find that the 2544 age group and the 5-17 age group are very similar in number. In 1990 in Chikaming Township, the number of 5 to 17-year olds was not as high as might be expected. In fact, the number of residents below the age of 18 and the number over 65 are very similar. This was not true in 1970 and 1980, when the number of young people far exceeded the number of seniors. *=See Glossary. 23 �Table 2 - Populatlon by Age Group, 1990 Chikaming Township and Michigan 20 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15--10 - - - 0% 0-5 years 5-17 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85 & over AGE GROUP -Michigan '·.:,,:•, . I_ ·················1 ::::r:Jfff Chikaming Township Source: Census of Population, 1990 * = See Glossary. 24 �Table 3, which follows, shows that the proportion of young people (% under 18) has steadily declined in recent years while the relative number of seniors (% over 65) has increased in the same years. This is also reflected in the higher average (median) age of the population. This is a trend that is seen throughout most of the United States, but is more pronounced in Chikaming. It is cause for concern because of the resulting effect this has on the economic health of the township and its ability to attract and retain workers and provide community services to both the seasonal and year-round residents. Table 3 - General Age Characteristics, 1970 • 1990 BERRIEN COUNTY 1990 MICHIGAN 1990 40 33.6 32.6 26.8% 22.2% 27.0% 26.5% 19.3% 21.5% 13.7 11.9 CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP 1970 CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP 1980 Median Age 34.9 35 % under 18 31.4% % over 65 18.3% CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP 1990 Source: US Census, 1970-1990 There are many issues which can be identified from analyzing the age breakdown of population. In Chikaming Township, the following conclusions have resulted from this analysis: • The number of children under five years of age has declined from nearly 300 in 1980 to slightly over 200 in 1990. These children will be the elementary school students of the next ten years. A continued decline in this age group may have a profound effect on the area school districts. • The low proportion of the population between the ages of eighteen and 25 may indicate a local economy which is not diverse enough to accommodate new entrants into either the skilled or unskilled labor force. • The population in the 25 to 34 age group, along with a portion of the age groups on either side, are the parents of the elementary school age children. If this age group continues to be under-represented in the Township population, the number of school age children In the community could decline further in the future. • Chikaming Township appears to be a desirable site for retirement, based on the number of 60-74 year olds residing here. This has implications for the need for affordable housing, transportation services and other public services used by elderly residents. • = See Glossary. 25 �• If the existing population trend continues over the next twenty years, the number of elementary school age children would show a sharp decline and the number of late middle age residents and retirees will increase. This will occur as the current middle age residents move closer to retirement age and economic conditions curtail the influx of other young families to balance the population. Persons Per Household Persons per household figures tell us much about the types of families residing in the Township. If the persons per household number is high (ie., over 2.8), it may be assumed that there are many families with children still living with parents. If the number is low (ie., less than 2.4), it may be concluded that many small households are present. Small households are often associated with retired persons or families where children no longer reside at home. In Chikaming Township, the low persons per household number corroborates the higher-than-average median age to suggest a more mature community. Table 4 - Persons Per Household, 1970 - 1990 CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP 1970 I PERSONS PER HOUSEHOLD I 2.7 CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP 1980 12.6 CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP 1990 BERRIEN COUNTY 1990 MICHIGAN 1990 I2.4 Source: US Bureau of Census, 1970-1990 Race Chikaming Township is now, and has been historically, a predominantly white community. In 1990, 97% of the population was white, compared with 83% for both Berrien County and the State of Michigan. * = See Glossary. 26 �Table 5 shows a detail of population by race for the Township from 1970 to 1990. Table 5 - Chikaming Township Populatlon by Race, 1970 - 1990 RACE 1970 I I 1980 I 1990 I I WHITE 4025 4127 3601 BLACK 20 128 103 AMERICAN INDIAN, ESKIMO, ALEUT - 12 3 ASIAN OR PACIFIC ISLANDER - 16 8 OTHER 6 19 2 Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census (1970-1990); Southwest Michigan Regional Commission Education Levels (Because 1990 Census figures for education are not as yet available, we have used 1980 figures. At such time as the 1990 figures are available, this information should be updated.) Education levels for Chikaming Township residents are comparable to the county and State figures, with the Township showing a generally higher percentage of persons over 35 currently in school. This is consistent with the median age characteristics for the township. With this Table, as with some others, the figures presented for Chikaming Township do not necessarily reflect the seasonal population. It might be found, if that information were applied, that the education levels for Chikaming residents would increase slightly. *=See Glossary. 27 �Table 6 - Educational Levels, 1980 MEDIAN NUMBER PERCENTAGE OF SCHOOL OF HIGH SCHOOL YEARS COMPLETED PERCENTAGE OF COLLEGE GRADUATES GRADUATES PERCENTAGE OF RESIDENTS OVER AGE 35 NOW ENROLLED IN SCHOOL CHIKAMING TQWNSHIP 12.6 65.8% 12.3% 1.6% BERRIEN 12.4 65.1% 16.8% 1.1% 12.5 68.1% 14.3% 0.9% COUNTY MICHIGAN Source: Bureau of Census, 1980 NOTE: Information in this Table reflects only those persons who responded to the 1980 Census. It should be remembered that almost 50% of Chikaming's population is seasonal and may be included in the tabulation for other communities. Population Projection Projecting population is difficult because of the number and type of variables involved. In addition to the measurable elements, like past population trends and average resident age, many other less tangible issues related to the State's economy also have an impact. In communities which attract seasonal residents, such as Chikaming, the economy of neighboring states can also have a profound effect. A projection of future population for Chikaming Township has been prepared, based on the population by age group figures, past trends and regional economic outlook. The economic aspects of the projection may be the most critical because of the need to attract young families to the area. Secure employment opportunities are a critical element in attracting and retaining new residents to any area. Given the trends in age group population in Chikaming Township, the population will need to attract new residents in order to grow and maintain a healthy diversity. According to the following projection, the year-round population is expected to decline slowly over the next twenty years. This estimate assumes a slow improvement in the regional economy and a persistent decline in the retention of persons in the 20-30 year old age group. The total summer population will probably remain near the current level (7,500) as the number of summer-only residents may increase to offset the decline in year-round residents. The summer-only residents could, in time, substantially outnumber the year-round residents. Such a situation would have unhealthy repercussions on the local economy and on representational government. The desirability of Chikaming Township as a site for summer homes has already . caused an escalation of property values which, in turn, has put economic pressure on the yearround residents. * = See Glossary. 28 �Table 7 - Populatlon Projection, 1990 - 201 0 1 I CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP 13717 1990 1 13534 2000 1 2010 13327 Sources: The WBDC Group, The W.E. Upjohn Foundation, U.S. Office of Management and Budget NOTE: Information in this Table is based on raw Information from several sources, most of which reflects only those persons who live in the Township year-round. Economic Proflle Labor Market The labor market in Berrien County has traditionally been tied to the agricultural and manufacturing trades. Nearly 28% of the total 81,322 employed persons in the county work in manufacturing, with large percentages also Involved in retail trade (17%) and services (24%). The number of Berrien County residents employed by the service industry, which includes tourism and other seasonal activities, increased by nearly 20% between 1983 and 1988. This overall employment profile depicts a base which has been severely hurt by recent turns in the State's economy. Manufacturing-based local economies throughout Michigan are dealing with cutbacks and layoffs. This directly affects the retail trade industry, as residents have less expendable income. The service industry, while showing some increase in employment, often offers lowpaying, seasonal jobs which do not attract the young adults of Chikaming. The local market for unskilled, full-time labor has declined in recent years, making it difficult for young people to remain in the area. According to the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, the service industries in Berrien County may also decline further over the next year. This was determined by tracking the help wanted advertisements in regional newspapers. A large (20.7%) plunge in service-related job advertising supported this predicted decline. The market for unskilled part-time laborers remains fairly high, according to the area Chamber of Commerce. At a recent job fair held in the county, the number of part time jobs (eg., fast food restaurants, filling stations), was large. Tables 8 and 9 present a detail of Principal Employers and Employment by Industry for Berrien County. Although these numbers provide a profile of Berrien County as a whole, they may not translate well to Chikaming Township. The population of Chikaming is older than the remainder of Berrien County. As mentioned previously, almost 22% of the Township's residents are over the age of . 65. In Berrien County, this figure is only 13%. In addition to an unfavorable age distribution, it must also be emphasized that Chikaming Township has more seasonal residents than the rest of the County. This older, seasonal population undoubtedly is not involved with the same local labor markets as the permanent residents. *=See Glossary. 29 �Table 8 - Prlnclpal Employers In Berrien County, 1991 Employer Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor Zenith Data Systems, St. Joseph Bendix Automotive Systems-N.A., SJ BCO Corporation, SJ United Technologies Automotive, Niles Gast Manufact., Benton Harbor & Bridgman Simplicity Pattern, Niles Tyler refrigeration, Niles Modern Plastics, Benton Harbor Weldun International, Bridgman Comstock Michigan Fruit Canners, BH National Standard, Niles Wollin Products, Stevensville Sheperd Products, SJ/TO Ausco, SJ Ag-Tech Crop Sprayer, Niles Hughes Plastics, Inc., SJ Industrial Rubber Goods, SJ Premier Tool & Die Cast Corp., Berr Spg New Products Corporation, Benton Harbor Ad-Co Die Cast Corporation, Bridgman Fapco, Inc., Buchanan # Employees Products 1885 1830 1200 1200 650 641 509 484 463 425 355 350 250 230 218 300 270 242 230 210 200 200 Washers and Dryers Computers, Electronic Equip. Auto Parts Analytical Instruments Miscellaneous Plastic Products Compressors, Air and Gas Dress Patterns Refrigeration & Heating Molders, Inject. Thermoset Flex. Assembly & Test System Canned Fruits Reinforcing & Specialty Wire Miscellaneous Plastic Products Hardware, Stampings Malleable Castings Horticulture Sprayers Custom Molded Thermoplastics Molded & Extruded Rubber Zinc & Aluminum Die Cast Die Cast Component Parts Foundries, Aluminum Die Cast Industrial Packaging Source: Berrien County Economic Development Group, 1991 *=See Glossary. 30 �Table 9 - Employment by Industry In Berrien County, 1988 EMPLOYMENT (Numbers of Employees) 1983 Total Em12lo~ment Components by Type: Wage and Salary Proprietors Farm Nonfarm 1988 69,027 81,322 58,035 10,992 2,094 8,898 68,718 12,604 1,827 10,777 3,663 3,205 65,364 57,340 510 229 2,610 18,973 78,117 69,262 674 245 2,747 22,447 2,558 2,235 11,342 3,135 15,748 8,024 472 371 7,181 2,838 2,776 13,720 4,081 19,734 8,855 475 425 7,955 Industry Farm Nonfarm Private Agric./For./Fish. Mining Construction Manufacturing Non-Durable Goods Durable Goods Transp. & Utilities Wholesale Trade Retail Trade ' Fin./lns./Real Estate Services Government Federal Military, Civilian State and Local No figure given Indicates confldentlal Information or fewer than 10 employees. Chikaming Township employers are likely ,o be Included In this small employer category. Source: Berrien County Economic Development Group, 1991 * = See Glossary. 31 �Chikaming's economy suffers from an inadequate local base and is plagued by the seasonal swings of retail demand. Although 1990 Census economic data are not available at the time of writing, it is apparent that retail establishments barely cover their annual costs with the summer bonanza and that a large share of the permanent population of working age must seek employment in nearby urban areas. Clearly, commercial and light industrial development should be encouraged as a means of increasing the tax base and providing year-round jobs, but somehow such change should be balanced by the need to preserve the environment that attracts people to Chikaming in the first place. Per Csplta Income Local level per capita income and unemployment figures are not yet available from the 1990 Census. Looking at the county level, however, Berrien County has slightly lower per capita income than the State average. (Refer to Table 10) Because the actual dollar value has changed since 1980, it is advisable to interpret these numbers in relation to the communities only in the year given. For example, it would be misleading to assume that the per capita income in Berrien County more than doubled between 1980 and 1990. Comparing Berrien County to the State figures shows that the County per capita income has remained less than the rest of the State, but has held at a steady rate. It is also important, when looking at the Chikaming Township numbers, that this Census is again based on the year round population. If we were able to factor in the per capita incomes for the seasonal residents, the figure would likely be increased. Table 10 - Per Capita Income Data, 1988 CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BERRIEN COUNTY MICHIGAN 1980 $6,932 $6,723 $7,688 1990 n/a $14,173 $15,428 Source: US Bureau of Census, 1980-1990 * = See Glossary. 32 �Poverty Statistics (Poverty statistics are calculated by the Census Bureau and are based on the average national income and cost of living figures. Generally, the poverty level is assumed to include all of those households, individuals or families with incomes less than ten percent below the median income. That is, if the median income is reported to be $10,000, all households with incomes less than $9,000 would be identified as living under the poverty level. For statistical purposes, the poverty thresholds are computed at the national level only. No attempts are made by the Census Bureau to adjust these figures for state, county or local variations. For this reason, the numbers presented In this report should be used only for comparison of state, county and township data.) Poverty figures for 1990 will not be avallable until late summer of 1992. For purposes of this report, figures from 1980 were reviewed. Generally, In 1980, Chikaming Township residents were less likely to be living below the poverty level than residents in the rest of Berrien County (9.1 % of families below poverty level in Chikaming Township, versus 11.1% in Berrien County), but slightly more likely than in the state as a whole (8.2% in 1980). NOTE: The above information reflects only those persons who responded to the 1980 Census. It should be remembered that almost 50% of Chikaming's population is seasonal and may be included in the tabulation for other communities. Housing Characteristics Value The housing supply in Chikaming Township is generally of very high quality, with a mix of historic summer cottages and winterized homes in lake-oriented communities, farmsteads and new construction scattered throughout the Township. Table 11 compares the median value of specified owner-occupied single-family homes in the Township in 1990 with several other nearby communities. The median value in Chikaming Township was substantially higher than the median value in either Berrien County or the State of Michigan overall. This is due in part to the large number of lakefront homes in the Township, and the high value of waterfront property. It may also be partly attributable to the growing desirability of the area as a seasonal home location for Chicago area residents, and a year-round living location for persons employed in the Chicago area. Comparison of the median value data for Townships bordering Lake Michigan (Chikaming and New Buffalo) with non-shoreline Townships (Three Oaks and Weesaw) tends to support the view that the value of land and housing is strongly influenced by proximity to the Lake Michigan shoreline. * = See Glossary. 33 �Table 11 - Median Value of Owner-Occupied Housing, 1990, Chikaming Township and Surrounding Communities COMMUNITY I I MEDIAN VALUE Chikaming Township $67,700 New Buffalo Township $75,500 Three Oaks Township $43,800 Weesaw Township $46,900 Berrien County $52,800 State of Michigan $60,600 I Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census NOTES: The previous Table reflects only those persons who responded to the 1980 Census. It should be remembered that almost 50% of Chlkaming's population is seasonal and may be included in the tabulation for other communities. In addition, these data exclude mobile homes, houses with a business or medical office, housing units in multi-unit buildings and houses on 10 or more acres. Table 12 summarizes 1990 Census data concerning the value of specified owner-occupied homes in the Township, with percentage comparisons between Chikaming Township, Berrien County and the State overall. These data' indicate that homes valued at $100,000 or more make up a much higher proportion of the Township's owner-occupied housing stock than they do in Berrien County overall. In Chikaming Township, homes valued at $100,000 or more make up 22.5% of all specified owner-occupied units, and only 12.3% of the units in Berrien County overall. Average sale price of homes is slightly different than the median value as reported to the Census Bureau and shown in Table 11. According to the Michigan Association of Realtors, the average selling price for homes in Berrien County in 1991 was $80,337. This is an increase of 8.5% over the 1990 average of $74,027. *=See Glossary. 34 �Table 12 - Value of Specified Owner-occupied Housing Units, 1990, Chikaming Township, Berrien County and Michigan HOUSING VALUE CHIKAMING TWP. BERRIEN COUNTY STATE OF MICHIGAN Less than $50,000 29.3% 46.8% 38.5% $50 ,000-99, 999 48.2% 40.9% 42.6% $100,000-149,999 12.2% 7.9% 11.5% $150,000-199,000 4.5% 2.4% 4.2% $200,000-299,999 3.2% 1.4% 2.3% More than $300,000 2.6% .6% 1.0% Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census; Southwest Michigan Regional Commission; Business Outlook for West Michigan (W.E. Upjohn Institute) NOTES: The previous Table reflects only those persons who responded to the 1980 Census. It should be remembered that almost 50% of Chikaming's population is seasonal and may be included in the tabulation for other communities. In addition, these data exclude mobile homes, houses with a business or medical office, housing units in multi-unit buildings and houses on 1O or more acres. Affordablllty A common perception among Township residents is that housing prices in the area have been Inflated by the demand for seasonal, or second, homes, thereby making housing less affordable for year-round residents. When calculating the availability of affordable housing, it is generally accepted that the average selling price of housing should not exceed 2.5 times the median income. Using this calculation, the median household income for Berrien County would be in the $32,135 range (ie., the average $80,337 selling price of homes in Berrien County divided by 2.5). It would seem that few young adults command an income approaching that figure, even in twoincome households. If the Township desires to attract more young families or retain seniors on fixed incomes, it will need to offer more affordable housing opportunities. Premanufactured housing· and multiple family units· are examples of alternative low-cost, or affordable housing. As shown in Table 13, the number of multiple family units· in the township has decreased in the last ten years while the number of premanufactured homes has increased · significantly. Community attitudes often make it difficult for affordable housing projects to develop. In the recent Township Attitude survey, 65% of the residents responding indicated that they would not like to * = See Glossary. 35 �see more township land set aside for manufactured housing' developments. In a related question, 58% of the respondents stated that they also would not approve of new multiple-family residential development. Unfortunately, under present conditions, premanufactured and modular units and multi-family residences usually constitute the only housing within the reach of people with modest income. Table 13 - Distribution of Housing Units by Type, 1980 and 1990, 1990 1980 I I I I PERCENT CHANGE SINGLE FAMILY 2761 3019 +9% MULTIPLE FAMILY 299 151 -50% Mobile home', TRAILER 32 116 +363% I Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1980, 1990 Seasonal Housing As mentioned previously in this report, Chikaming Township has a substantially higher rate of seasonal housing (48%) than either Berrien County (6%) or the State of Michigan (6%). Furthermore, the proportion of the Township's housing stock which is for seasonal use has increased significantly in the last 1O years - from about 27% in 1980 to 48% in 1990. In addition to the existing associations which have long been located in the Township, two new developments, Tibberon and Highland Shores, have been established on the coast. One of the historic associations, Bethany Beach, also is experiencing some expansion. Table 14 shows the change in seasonal housing numbers in the Township between 1980 and 1990. Table 14 - Selected Housing Characteristics, Chikaming Township, 1980-1990 I 1990 I % CHANGE 2253 1709 -24.1% SEASONAL UNITS 839 1577 +87.9% TOTAL HOUSING UNITS 3092 3286 +6.2% I YEAR ROUND UNITS 1980 I I Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1980, 1990 *=See Glossary. 36 �Senior Housing The primary need for seniors in the community, according to Judy Ponegalek, Director of the River Valley Senior Center, is housing. There are only three establishments of subsidized housing' for seniors anywhere nearby and they are always full. These are in Three Oaks, New Buffalo, and Bridgman. There is none in Chikaming Township. Some seniors in those homes receive up to $150 per month as subsidy. A retirement home or community in the Immediate area would be a great asset, particularly one that catered to three stages of care, that is, (1) active life, (2) limited care, and (3) total care. Now the nearest such centers are Hamllton Grove In Indiana and the Whitcomb Towers In St. Joseph. Mrs. Ponegalek emphasized, though, that it should cater to the needs of low Income people as well as the affluent. Building Permit Data Building permit data for the Township indicates that construction and major renovation activity has remained fairly steady throughout the past several years, even showing a slight increase over the past five (5) years. Most renovation work has occurred in the areas in and around Union Pier and Bethany Beach. New construction, although scattered throughout the township, is more often noted in the Sawyer area and near Holloway Drive. More new construction than renovation is seen in the area east of Red Arrow Highway. The following table (15) provides a brief detail of construction since 1979. Table 15 - Residential Construction Activity In Chikaming Township, 1979 - 1991 TIME PERIOD ' NEW CONSTRUCTION MAJOR RENOVATION 1979-1986 -(8 years) 99 52 1987-Present (4 years) 119 70 Source: Chikaming Township Transportation Chikaming Township has a well developed roadway system of Interstate and State Highways, primary and local roads and some private streets through lakeshore neighborhoods. According to the County Road Commission, the highways in the community do not as yet have volumes equal to their capacity. The roadway network in the Township is shown on the Community . Facilities Map. * = See Glossary. 37 �In addition to the roadway system, the following facilities are available to Township residents and businesses: Bus Lines: Truck Lines: Rail Lines: Ports: Nearest Airport: Greyhound (in St. Joseph); Indian Trails 42 available Amtrak; Conrail; C&O (no passenger stop closer than New Buffalo) St. Joseph River Harbor; New Buffalo Harbor (small craft only) Michiana Regional, serving United Express, American Eagle, Northwest, US Air (South Bend, 35 miles away) Summary Demographic data for Chikaming Township indicate that the population of the community has matured in the last 20 years. Decline in the proportion of the population from birth to middle age and conversion of dwelling units from year-round to seasonal use has resulted In an overall loss of permanent population in the last two decades. At the same time, the impact of seasonal residents and summer resort activity on the community has increased in recent years. Summer tourism growth and seasonal residence has many impacts on the Township, such as traffic impacts, demand for resort-oriented businesses, and demand for certain types of public facilities and services. The decline in population In Chikaming Township may be closely related to the economic picture. The lack of employment opportunities in the vicinity may be discouraging young adults and families from remaining in or locating in the community. However, while employment opportunities within the Township are limited, there are several larger employment centers within commuting distance of the Township. Recent surveys and conversations with residents, both permanent and seasonal, indicate that most choose to live in Chikaming Township because of the relaxed, rural atmosphere, lack of crowding and congestion and the opportunities for outdoor renewal and recreation. Many of those who are employed are willing to drive 20-30 miles to their places of employment - some even to Chicago - in order to maintain this "home base" quality of life. As increasing numbers of residents of large urban areas seek to escape the congestion, crime, air pollution and other problems of large cities, they may be drawn to the unique attributes of Chikaming Township. This poses the challenge of protecting and maintaining the characteristics of the Township that make it an attractive place to live. New growth must be channeled to locations and with design features that are compatible with and maintain the natural features which define the Township's character. On the other hand, it seems only fair that many young people, raised in Chikaming Township, should have a chance to find employment here (or nearby) if they choose. Therefore, a policy to attract or create jobs in the area should also be instituted. These two quite different policies are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but careful planning for future land use is essential to accommodate them. *=See Glossary. 38 �CHAPTERV COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION The local facilities and roadway system available to the residents of Chikaming Township are described below and shown on the Community Facilities and Transportation Map, located In the Appendix. Recreation Facll ltles Chikaming Township has a number of recreation facilities, both public and privately owned. The following list is taken from the Chikaming Township Park Plan, 1992-1996. Public Harbert Community Park (picnic facilities, softball diamond) Cherry Beach Townline Beach McKinley Beach Miller Beach Lakeview Beach Pier Street Beach Harbert Beach Red Arrow/Youngren Park Red Arrow/Lakeside Park Warren Woods Park (picnic facilities) Robinson Preserve Private Chikaming Country Club Camp Hazelhurst/Prairie Club Bob-A-Ron Campground Schools The River Valley School District system has two schools located in the township, one offering classes for kindergarten through fifth grades, and the second with seventh through twelfth grades. Sixth graders are bussed to the school in New Troy, which is in Weesaw Township, to the east. The high school facility also houses the school district administrative offices. During the school year, an extensive system of busing serves these three schools. There is also one private school in the township. The Trinity Lutheran School, located on Sawyer Road, is associated with the Trinity Lutheran Church, also on Sawyer Road. *=See Glossary. 39 �The public schools are principally financed through property ta,ces, a system increasingly under fire because of recent escalation of those ta,ces. Rising property valuations are a problem that, in the final analysis, can only be dealt with at the state level. Publlc Safety Services Chikaming Township offers three public safety services, police, fire and ambulance. Up until June 8, 1989 when the Public Safety Commission was formed, the three departments were under separate direction. The ambulance and the fire departments had their own individual governing boards and the police were directed by the chief. The Public Safety Commission was formed to bring about better understanding, better communications, and better co-operation between the respective safety service functions and, at the same time, provide these services at a reduced cost. The commission consists of seven members made up of the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Ambulance Coordinator, two Township Board members and two members from the public at large who are appointed by the Board on an annual basis. As an advisory commission they oversee the police, fire and ambulance policies, monitor recommended expenditures, assist in the preparation of annual budgets, recommend capital expenditures, recommend new and/or review existing safety policies, and prepare and maintain an emergency preparedness plan. They also establish and maintain qualification standards of departmental personnel for each safety unit. A committee of three commission members, two members at large and one board member, are responsible for a year end performance appraisal of the respective department heads. They then recommend to the township board, no later than February 28th of each year, specific merit increases, reappointments, changes, etc. The commission began meeting monthly in July of 1989. At their meetings each department head gives their reports and they discuss expenditures and courses of action to be recommended to the township board. The commission then gives a condensed version of this information to the township board at their monthly meeting. Police Department The Chikaming Township Police Force, consisting of one full-time officer and one part-time officer, was formed in June of 1961. Available statistics for the department start in 1974. At that time the department had one full-time and four part-time officers. It handled 739 complaints which included traffic. As the township grew, the work load took a tremendous jump during the late 80's and early 90's. By 1991 the work load had more then doubled with the department handling 1,503 complaints, including those for traffic accidents or violations. The department still consists of one full-time officer, but the part-time ranks have increased to 11 officers. Although the number of part-time officers has greatly increased, each officer is not · available to work as many hours as was the case in past years. Currently, the department is on duty day shifts during the week, and days and nights during the weekend. Also, during the summer months, the week day shifts have a night shift on some nights, depending upon budgets •=See Glossary. 40 �and manpower. The township is not covered 24 hours a day. If an arrest is made within the township causing the officer to go to St. Joseph to the county jail, the township Is left unpatrolled. During the summer, the department spends a great deal of effort in maintaining order on the many township beaches. In an effort to deal with this problem, the Chikaming Township Park Board, in the summer of 1992, contracted with an Independent security service to monitor and enforce regulations for the road-end beaches with back-up from Chikaming Township police. As a result, a great improvement in trash removal as well as personal behavior at the beaches has been noted. Elsewhere, however, demand for police Intervention has by no means abated. Without the assistance of the Michigan State Police and the Berrien County Sheriffs Department, it would be Impossible for the township police to properly serve the residents of the township. At the current level of staffing, the department is overrun with the work load, not to mention the mountainous paper work that accompanies the department's activities. To provide the township with complete police service, it is estimated that they will need four fulltime officers and a limited staff of part-time officers. This would still be relying on the Michigan State Police and the Berrien County Sheriffs Departments for assistance in many cases. Without their assistance and the assistance from other area departments, the township could not give complete service to the township residents. Four full-time officers are estimated to cost $150,000 at 1992 prices. Fire Department The Chikaming Township Fire Department currently consists of three stations. Station #1 in Lakeside was established in 1928, followed by Station #2 in Sawyer in 1929. Station #3 in Riverside was formed in 1961. The Fire Department in 1992 consists of 30 individuals, one Fire Chief, Three Battalion Chiefs and three Captains, one for each station, and 23 volunteer fire fighters. Their equipment consists of three engines, two tankers and two brush fire vehicles. Their budget for the year is $150,000. To meet the future fire service needs, the department foresees the combining of all the fire stations at a central location. The department would also like to see the ambulance service housed at this same, as yet undetermined, location. The department would need a full-time Fire Chief, an administrator and on-call fire fighters like the ambulance has paid on-call personnel. This future station would have two engines, one tanker and a minipumper to be used to put out brush fires and as a rescue vehicle that would be equipped with a Jaws of Life and water rescue gear. The future budget is estimated at $200,000 at 1992 prices. Another very important part of the current and future department is training. With so much manpower needed to provide this service properly, on the job survival knowledge is needed so that fire fighters can do their jobs safely and professionally. * = See Glossary. 41 �Ambulance Service The Chikaming Township Emergency Vehicle Association was formed in 1968 by members of the community who were dissatisfied with the response times of the ambulances that serviced this area from Benton Harbor. In 1969 they funded the purchasing of their first ambulance, affectionately called the "Red Cadillac", by selling $10 subscriptions. Originally, the service was manned by all volunteers that lived in the township and were trained in Advanced First Aid, who were dispatched by telephone by the Michigan State Police Post in New Buffalo. There was no requirement for any licensing of personnel by the state. In 1975 they held a fundraiser to get $19,000 for a new ambulance and equipment. At that time, the ambulance crew consisted of 28 volunteers, who provided the community with 24 hour service. In 1979, the State of Michigan made it mandatory that every ambulance must have on board a state-licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in the patient compartment during transport. This rule put a heavy financial burden on the totally volunteer service, membership dropped, and they were forced to ask the township for assistance in order to survive. In August of 1979, the voters approved a one mill property tax levy to provide the funds to operate the ambulance and keep its members properly trained and licensed. With the millage, residents are provided with the service at no charge to them or to their insurance. In 1992, the service has one ambulance that is staffed with two members on call at all times. The service is licensed as a BLS (Basic Life Support) unit. All personnel are licensed by the Michigan Department of Public Health. The ambulance has two full-time employees and 18 (10 EMT's and 8 Medical First Responders) part-time paid employees. Annually they transport approximately 250 injured or ill patients to several local hospitals under the direction and guidelines of Berrien County Medical Control based at Mercy-Memorial Medical Center in St. Joseph. Aiso, Advanced Life Support is provided through mutual aid when needed. Approximately 10 to 15% of the patients transported require ALS. This paramedic charge is paid out of the ambulance fund and residents are not charged for this extra service In the near future, the ambulance needs to be looking toward providing one person on station at all times In order to respond immediately to emergency calls. The second member of the crew can respond from home directly to the scene. In order to do this, they would need an ambulance station that is centrally located within the Township. The cost of this building would depend on how many township departments would be included. As for the cost of a manned station, labor laws in 1992 require a minimum wage, so approximately $40,000 per year would be required. Eventually a full-time paramedic service will be needed, which at 1992 prices would cost between $250,000 and $300,000 per year. The necessity of this added service depends on the growth of the township and the amount of EMS activity generated. Future Needs and Options There are two main factors that govern the future needs of the safety services in the township, growth in population of the township and State mandates for equipment, training, procedures, and licensing. One very expensive element that came to the forefront in 1992 and affects all three *=See Glossary. 42 �services is the rising cost of prevention of contact with persons with an array of diseases and the government regulations with regards to these preventive measures. Looking forward to the year 2012, it is difficult to foresee the technological and medical advances that will be made in providing these services. However, it is safe to assume that these advancements will be expensive and that they may become mandatory equipment and practices In the future. With this understanding, there seem to be two options for the township. The first would be to house all three services in one centrally located building. These services could be overseen by a Public Safety Officer or Administrator, who would coordinate services with the Fire Chief, Ambulance Director, and Police Chief. Financially, the township board has made a move in this direction in 1992 by asking the voters to approve a 1.5 mill property tax levy to fund all three services, instead of renewing the one mill levy that funded the ambulance service only. If costs become too prohibitive, the township could consider an intergovernmental organization that would provide these services to the people in participating area municipalities, i.e., something similar to the Galien River Sanitary District for sewer services. Agreed, the response time would not be as quick, but this would be better than relying on county services possibly located in the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor area. Since this option has not become a necessity, it has not yet been investigated. Publlc Utllltles Public utilities, including water and sewer facilities, are generally available in the residential areas west of Red Arrow Highway and in the more developed neighborhoods between Red Arrow and 1-94. One section along Three Oaks Road is served by water only at this time. The Community Facilities and Transportation Map shows the approximate service areas for the public utility system. It may generally be assumed that these areas have been designed to extend beyond the current limits, providing that adequate water pressure is available. In 1988, the township developed a water system report which addressed the community's current and future utility needs. That report offered three (3) areas of future expansion: 1) Within the current service area; 2) Outside of the current service area; and 3) In the areas of Union Pier and New Buffalo Township. Recently, the system has seen the greatest expansion east of Red Arrow Highway. The most likely future expansion will also occur in this area. The plan to extend municipal water to some nearby rural areas in order to complete loops and thus make the entire water system more stable is under discussion. Funding for that plan, whether public or private, remains a limiting factor. For the purposes of this Plan, areas currently served will be considered as more suited for development than those not served. River Valley Senior Center River Valley is one of six senior centers in Berrien County and provides services to the southwesternmost portion of the county, that is, Bridgman, Sawyer, New Troy, Harbert, Lakeside, * = See Glossary. 43 �Union Pier, New Buffalo, Three Oaks, and Galien, an area several times the size of Chikaming Township. Seniors for their purposes are persons 60 years and older. The Center is located on the southeast side of the Red Arrow Highway about midway between Harbert and Sawyer. The facility Includes a reception area, a couple of offices, a library, a large dining area, and a kitchen. In the basement is one large room where they have pot luck dinners and various other activities such as exercise classes. There is a new garage building that houses their three vans. The Center provides several services for seniors. One of the most important of these is undoubtedly nutrition. In April 1992, the Center served 683 noon meals (30 - 35 a day). In addition, 383 hot meals and 85 cold meals were delivered to other seniors in their homes (within a ten-mile radius). The meals provided to home-bound seniors are delivered in the Center's own vans. All these meals are prepared at Mercy-Memorial Hospital in $t. Joseph and delivered hot to the Center. Funding for the meals program comes from Senior Nutrition Services, a state organization. Among the other services offered by the Center are blood pressure monitoring, massage, and foot clinics, as well as exercise classes. There are also classes for arts and crafts, creative writing, and literature appreciation. Occasionally, trips to Chicago for museums and shopping are organized. Probably the most vital function of the Center is social, to combat loneliness. At the present time, 90 percent of the financial support for the Center's operation comes from the millage. A portion of the remainder comes from charities, and there are also some grants for transportation and staffing. Transportation Countywlde Berrien County is easily accessible by road, air travel and railroad. Interstate 94 provides a convenient route to both Detroit (180 miles) and Chicago (90 miles). Interstate 196 puts most of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area within 80 miles. South Bend is half that distance to the southeast via U.S. 12. Interstates 80 and 90 are located to the south of the county, providing avenues to distant regions of the U.S., both east and west. The county is served by the CSX system, Conrail and Amtrak, with depots in Niles, Benton Harbor-St. Joe, and New Buffalo. Regularly scheduled flights carry freight and passengers to Chicago daily from St. Joe-Benton Harbor. The airport in South Bend, which is about a forty minute drive from Chikaming, provides a greater selection of destinations. A commercial port in St. Joe receives Great Lakes vessels from all over. * = See Glossary. 44 �Local A well developed system of local roads transports people and goods within the township. If one excludes 1-94, which is primarily for long-range transport, the main traffic artery across Chikaming Township is the Red Arrow Highway which parallels the Lake Michigan shoreline at a varying distance inland. Sawyer Road and Warren Woods Road provide primary access east and west In the township and Three Oaks and Lakeside Roads provide north/south access. In addition to the primary corridors, an extensive system of local roads connects the lakeshore neighborhoods with local commercial stops. In addition to the roadway system, the following facilities are available to Township residents and businesses: Bus Lines: Truck Lines: Greyhound; Indian Trails 42 available There is increasing need for transportation for seniors. There is a service, Berrien Bus out of Berrien Springs, which is a "Dial-A-Ride·" operation, but it is county-wide and involves interminable waiting. In effect, there is no local public transportation. The River Valley Senior Center has three vans (up to seven passengers) which operate throughout the day beginning at 8:00 a.m. delivering clients to and from the Center. During the afternoon hours, one bus is designated to carry seniors on errands such as to doctor appointments. There is no dearth of volunteer drivers for the buses. One van is replaced each year but now and then repairs must be made, and then the overall operation is thrown into disarray. The community is in great need of a special van for the handicapped, though it need not necessarily be dedicated to the Senior Center. * = See Glossary. 45 �CHAPTER VI NATURAL FEATURES Natural features provide an essential element which both enhance and protect the quality of life in Chikaming Township. One of the primary Goals which the community has identified in this plan relates to the protection and preservation of the township's natural features. That Goal states (in part): "Open spaces·, woods, poorly drained lands, river lands, dunes, beaches, and other valuable natural resources, Including wildlife habitat, shall be maintained and protected, either privately or publicly, for future generations." Planners are constantly faced with decisions which require balancing the protection of natural features with the need for economic viability. The best approach to these situations may be compromise. By altering the site plan slightly, or by suggesting which trees most need to be spared, the planners can help both the applicant and the residents without making impossible decisions for or against the environment. This section of the Plan is intended to identify those areas of the township which may contain natural features which may be sensitive to development. It will also explain why certain natural features are important and what constraints they may place on proposed projects. The Planning Commission may consider adopting policies related to decision making in environmentally sensitive· areas. In some areas where the conditions are sensitive to a degree that any development may be detrimental, the township may want to consider conservation easements· or other land protection strategies. At the end of this section, a brief overview of protection and conservation options available to local communities is included. The Natural Features Map, found in the Appendix, identifies the locations of many of the environmentally sensitive· areas in the township. General Resource Value Some of the general benefits of protecting and conserving natural features include: • • • • • • • • * Pure supplies of municipal water. Water supplies for homes not served by municipal systems. Wildlife habitat. Groundwater· recharge and purification, flood control, pollution protection and the support of unique plant and animal life. Recreation opportunities that include hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, skiing, skating, swimming, sledding, hiking, nature study, photography and related pursuits. Aesthetics (views, serenity, rural nature, etc.). Educational opportunities (natural history, biology, geology, ecology, etc.). Economic opportunities in farming, forestry and tourism. = See Glossary. 46 �Impacts on Development Environmentally sensitive' natural features can either enhance or restrict development projects, depending on the type and severity of the feature. For example, a wooded hillside may provide a view which, initially, makes development seem very appealing. There may, however, be additional costs, both financial and environmental. Necessary erosion mitigation measures and hillside stabilization during and after construction can increase development costs dramatically. A community cost could be the destruction or disruption of a hillside view. The following description of natural features will help establish the character of the natural environment and set the basis for the analysis of suitable future land uses. This analysis will help evaluate the vacant land within the township, determine the potential constraints to development which the environment presents, and help determine ways in which these features can be Integrated into future conservation and development proposals. Topography Topographic variation within Chikaming Township ranges from 600 feet to almost 700 feet above sea level. The steepest slopes are generally located along the banks of the Galien River Valley and along the northern part of the Lake Michigan shore where major coastal sand dunes occur. The flattest areas lie in the center of the Township along U.S. 94. Resource Value Steep slopes and rolling hillsides, unlike groundwater, are not a renewable resource, nor do they have clearly defined public benefits like wetlands or woodlands. Topography is a geological feature which exists in a balance with vegetation, precipitation and wind. The maintenance of this balance helps prevent non-point source pollution of water resources while preserving a distinctive feature of the local landscape. The bluffs and dunes along Lake Michigan are good examples, as well as ravines elsewhere in the Township. Impacts on Development Elevational changes can often be restrictive to development unless severe site modifications are made to accommodate drainage, traffic circulation, erosion control and grading. Level or gently sloping sites are usually preferred for cropland, subdivisions, industrial sites and commercial buildings. Hilly sites are often preferred for less dense residential development and recreational land uses. Development in areas of steep slopes may result in higher construction costs since these slopes usually require grading or erosion control measures.The barrier dunes' along the Lake Michigan shore, in particular, require protection of their vegetative cover on the side facing the Lake, which is exposed to storm winds. Loss of that cover can strip sand off the dune front and deposit it on · the back, causing the dune to migrate inland and producing a blowout. This need for dune conservation and stability frequently stands in direct opposition to the perceived scenic desirability of such sites for residential development. *=See Glossary. 47 �Rolling topography may also enhance development by increasing property values and serving as a buffer from nearby uses. For example, a project with a number of different, conflicting uses could be developed using topography as buffers between uses. By limiting hillside construction to the sides of slopes and to folds in the landscape, development will be less intrusive on the views and character of the area. Consideration should be given to the preservation of views, by restricting building height and controlling placement of structures. The need to protect the dunes along the northern half of Chikaming's Lake Michigan shore is well recognized, and as a result they are subject to regulation by the State's Critical Dune Act. However, the bluffs and clay banks further to the south appear to have suffered greater regression during the high water period of 1986. Both areas need adequate setbacks to preserve scenic views and a viable life span for any man-made structure. Surface Water Resource Value The township's surface waters contribute to a viable recreational economy, Including fishing, boating, and swimming. Land fronting on water is in great demand for building sites. In addition to these aesthetic values, clean, protected surface waters are critical to human health and safety. Additional benefits provided by lakes and streams include: • • • • • Potential municipal water supply source Irrigation supply Drainage and flood control Water purifying and groundwater· recharge Plant and wildlife habitat Impacts on Development One of the greatest threats to surface water is non-point source pollution. Rather than occurring from one major source, like a sewage treatment plant or industrial use, non-point source pollution results from rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As this runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and man-made pollutants, finally depositing them in lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and groundwater·. In Michigan, the greatest causes of non-point source contamination are agricultural practices, lawn chemicals and soil erosion. Non-point source pollution can be mitigated through the modification of a variety of activities, especially those related to farming and land development. Since eroded land requires extra fertilizer and energy to be productive, this adds significantly to the non-point source problem which, over time, can degrade surface water. Soil erosion control measures and conscientious agricultural practices can do much to eliminate non-point source contamination. Other effective protection measures include the use of stormwater retention, where possible, to promote filtration, and the reduction of hard surface areas to reduce rate and volume of run-off. * = See Glossary. 48 �Some of the major sources of surface water contamination, especially non-point source, are presented in the following paragraphs along with brief descriptions of proper control measures: Urban Development • Litter, pet wastes, leaves, and debris accumulate in street gutters and storm drains--these normally drain directly to lakes, streams, and rivers. • Lawn and garden chemicals need to be applied sparingly and according to directions. • Used oil, antifreeze, paints, and other household chemicals should be dlspo_ sed of properly, not in storm sewers or sanitary sewers. • Spilled brake fluid, oil, grease, and antifreeze should not be hosed into the street where they can eventually reach local streams and lakes. • Soils prone to erosion may be controlled by planting ground cover and /or using other methods to stabilize the soils. Agriculture • Drinking water should be protected by using smaller quantities of pesticides and soil nutrients. • Soil erosion can be reduced by using conservation tillage. • Livestock grazing areas should not be located over groundwater recharge areas, or in close proximity to rivers and streams. • · Unused pesticides, containers, and disinfected tank rinse water should be disposed of in an approved manner. Poorly Drained Lands "Poorly drained lands" is the collective term which categorizes marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar areas that are often found between open water and upland land. Although cumbersome, this term is preferable in this Master Plan to "wetland", which has entered into the law and is a subject of controversy between conservationists and developers. Wet areas are found in Chikaming Township in sections 15, 21, 22 and 29, and in scattered areas along the Galien River and in bog areas behind the dunes. Poorly drained lands within Chikaming Township were identified by using USGS Topographic Maps, the Berrien County Soil Survey, and the Michigan Resource Information System (MIRIS}, Division of Land Resource Programs, Department of Natural Resources (data compiled from 1978 aerial photography). Their distribution was further refined by the National Wetlands Inventory (draft 1989) produced by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior. •=See Glossary. 49 �In the past, poorly drained lands were often regarded as wastelands--sources of mosquitoes, flies, and unpleasant odors. Most people felt that they were places to be avoided, or better yet, eliminated. This negative view, combined with the demand for more developable land, has resulted in the destruction of some of the township's poorly drained lands. These areas have been drained and converted to farmland, or filled for housing developments or industrial facilities. Similar practices continue throughout the state. Of the estimated 11 million acres of wetlands that stood in Michigan 150 years ago, 3 million acres remain. Only one-fourth of the original 400,000 acres of coastal wetlands now remain along Michigan shores. Since there Is little historical data on wetland identification, it is not possible to estimate the total loss of wetlands within Chikaming Township. Resource Value Because they occur where the dry land meets the water, poorly drained lands play a critical role in the management of the township's water-based resources. Acre for acre, wetlands produce more wildlife and plants than any other Michigan habitat type. Michigan boasts about 2,300 native plant species; 50 percent of these are wetland species and over 25 percent of the wetland species are threatened or endangered. Other benefits of poorly drained lands include the following: • Reduce flooding by absorbing runoff from rain and melting snow and slowly releasing excess water into rivers and lakes. (A one-acre swamp, when flooded to a depth of one foot, contains 325,851 gallons of water.) • Filter pollutants from surface runoff, trapping fertilizers, pesticides, sediments, and other potential contaminants and helps to break them down into less harmful substances, improving water clarity and quality. • Help recharge groundwater· supplies when connected to underground aquifers. • Contribute to natural nutrient and water cycles, and produce vital atmospheric gases, including oxygen. • Provide commercial and recreational value to the economy, by producing plants, game birds (ducks, geese) and fur-bearing mammals. Survival of many varieties of fish are directly connected to poorly drained lands, requiring shallow water areas for breeding, feeding and escape from predators. • When poorly drained lands occur adjacent to the Great Lakes, inland lakes or streams, they serve as nutrient traps for the larger body of water. Impacts on Development In Michigan, the Goemaere-Anderson Wetland Protection Act (Act 203 of the Public Acts of 1979) provides for the statewide preservation, management, protection, and use of poorly drained lands of an area at least five acres in size or contiguous with the Great Lakes. The Act requires a permit from the Department of Natural Resources (DNA) for activities such as filling, dredging, * = See Glossary. 50 �and draining; provides a plan for the preservation, management, protection, and use of poorly drained lands; and provides for rernedies and penalties. Local efforts may also be undertaken to protect the remaining areas of this valuable resource due to the benefits poorly drained lands provide and in light of the requirements of P.A. 203 of 1979. Chikaming Township may choose to draft an ordinance which will protect local poorly drained lands which are not protected by the state. This Ordinance could: 1) require site plan review and notification of appropriate state, local and federal agencies, 2) determine areas to be protected, and 3) provide reference information available from the Berrien County Soil Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Division maps and the MDNR MIRIS Inventory. The state wetland laws and local wetland zoning are the basis of a protection program for poorly drained lands. Development of poorly drained or boggy areas should be allowed if minimum lot size is increased beyond the standard for single family residential areas so as to preserve the character of the area between buildings. To be more effective, however, these regulations should be coordinated with non-regulatory techniques. Four such techniques are discussed later in this section. Floodplains Floodplains are relatively flat stream valley floors which are periodically overrun by the stream at high water after heavy rainfall within the stream's watershed area. In Chikaming Township, floodplain areas are bordered by short, steep erosion slopes. Floodplains within Chikaming Township have been determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and· are located along the Galien River and in a Lake Michigan tributary near the Birchwood neighborhood. A 100-year floodplain is an area within which there is a one percent chance of a flood occurring within any year. FEMA identifies floodplains to determine eligibility for the National - flood Insurance Program. Resource Value Floodplain areas are protected because they serve as water recharge areas and natural water storage basins during periods of heavy rains or snow thaws. If this water were not collected in this way, the likelihood of water damage to homes and businesses would increase greatly. The Galien River Floodplain also provides habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal life. At certain times during the year, the river is open to fishing. Impacts on Development Development in the 100-year floodplain is regulated by the State, and, in communities which participate in the Federal Flood Insurance Program, by local regulations. Development In the floodplain must be designed so as not to impede flood waters and increase the risk of flood · damage upstream. Habitable structures must have the lowest floor level located above flood height. *=See Glossary. 51 �Sand Dunes Legislative efforts have been made to assure an adequate balance between preservation and development of these environmentally sensitive· areas. In 1976, the Michigan Legislature passed the Sand Dune Protection and Management Act, PA 222, which focused primarily on mining of sand dunes. On July 5, 1989, two amendments to PA 222, were passed into law, PA 146 and PA 147. These amendments were adopted to minimize the negative impacts of development on Michigan's "critical dune areas·." They provide a strict regulatory procedure and zoning standards for new structures within identified critical dune areas·. The amendatory acts will be automatically repealed on June 15, 1995, under sunset clause provisions, unless extended by the Legislature prior to that time. Resource Value The dunes along Lake Michigan from northern Indiana to the northern part of Michigan's lower peninsula form the longest stretch of fresh water dunes in the world. They were formed following retreat of the great continental glaciers when the Great Lakes were at higher levels than today. In some cases, these barrier dunes· rise more than 100 feet above the current lake level and are usually forested. In front of the barrier dunes· lie the foredunes-, which are usually grass covered, lower and more ephemeral, building up only after periods of high water level. In addition to their scenic values, dunes serve as a natural barrier to water and wind storm damage. However, the lakefront setting of the dunes has made dune areas highly desirable sites for residential development. Impacts on Development Both the barrier and foredunes· are fragile structures which should be protected from unwise development so as to preserve their configuration and appearance, unique environment and aesthetic qualities. Public Act 222 of 1976, as amended, gives municipalities the option to adopt a dune protection ordinance in accordance with the standards set forth in the law. Communities must pay special attention to setback requirements, including a provision that setbacks be established at least 100 feet from the crest of the dune. The MDNR will approve projects located closer than 100 feet from the dune if proof can be shown that the dune will not be destabilized as a result. In addition, structures cannot be constructed in areas with between 18-25% slope unless in accordance with plans prepared by a registered architect or professional engineer and the plans provide for the disposal of storm waters without sedimentation to any stream or other body of water. Construction on slopes exceeding 25% is prohibited without a variance. Other uses prohibited in the critical dune area· include: • A use Involving a contour change which Is likely to Increase erosion, decrease stability, or is more extensive than necessary for that use. • A use that is not in the public interest. The legislation notes that local units of government shall consider the availability of a feasible and prudent alternative location or method, and the impact that is expected to occur to the critical dune area·. *=See Glossary. 52 �The MDNR has developed a guidebook titled, "Local Zoning to Protect Michigan's Critical Sand Dune Areas," which serves to clarify the law for homeowners and provides examples of sensitive dune development. Local authorities can enact more restrictive requirements by ordinance if they so desire, subject to DNA review and approval of the local ordinance as meeting minimum State standards. Chikaming Township could opt to implement this new legislation itself by reviewing development proposals in critical dune areas· and by drafting its own sand dune ordinance. Until now this has not been done, because the Township doubts It has the resources, particularly expertise, to administer such an ordinance. At the very least, however, the provisions of the Chikaming Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance Number 44, as amended}, ought to be reviewed to see how it might be changed to regulate the Critical Dune Area in order to prevent unwise practices which might be detrimental to the community at large. Woodlands While regulations have been developed to protect certain critical environmental areas, woodlands have been relatively ignored, even though their benefits to the public as buffers and moderators of flooding, erosion, and noise and air pollution are important to the township's quality of life. Specific benefits of woodlands include: • A varied and rich environment for many kinds of plants and animals. The different forest layers, which include tree tops, branches, trunks, shrubs, and plants on the forest floor provide breeding, feeding, and refuge areas for many species of Insects, birds, and mammals. The environmental diversity of woodland is an Important resource for wildlife conservation and environmental health and affords a critical diversity for outdoor recreation activities. • Woodlands are important protective features for watersheds and soils. Forest vegetation moderates the effects of winds and storms, stabilizes and enriches the soil, and slows runoff from precipitation, thereby allowing it to be filtered by the forest floor as it *=See Glossary. 53 �permeates into groundwater· reserves. By decreasing runoff velocity and increasing groundwater· infiltration, woodlands also help to regulate flooding. • Woodlands are buffers to the sights and sounds of civilization. Woodlands mute the noise from freeways and factories, as well as absorb air pollutants. • Woodlands are moderators of climate. The mlcroclimate of a forest, created in part by the shade of the trees and the transpiration of water from the leaves, keeps surrounding air at an even temperature. Forest temperatures are generally cooler in the day and warmer at night than the more widely fluctuating temperatures of unforested areas. Woodlands that are adjacent or interspersed among suburban and urban areas act as natural air conditioners. Impacts on Development The possible results of poorly planned development of woodlands are increased erosion and siltation, lessening of water quality, loss of landscape diversity, increased dangers from flooding, and decreased land values. Cutting the forest also changes the surrounding ecology of wildlife and associated herbs and shrubs. Furthermore, loss of individual trees and of woodlands constitutes a deterioration of the aesthetic quality that has attracted many Chikaming residents to the township in the first place. Trees within the public domain, such as those growing on city streets or in parks, forest preserves or on State and Federal lands, are generally managed. Of more concern are the woodlands which exist on private land. Some of these lands are large enough to support commercial forestry, while others are small stands threatened by encroaching commercial, agricultural, or residential development. Rather than developing detailed ordinances relating to the preservation of trees and woodlands, which would be burdensome, if not impossible, to administer, it is suggested that Chikaming adopt a policy to encourage maintaining as many trees and woodlands as possible and making the impact upon trees and forest cover a specific consideration for every site plan and development. Groundwater· Although groundwater· (water beneath the land surface) is not of a nature that lends itself to mapping, it is a natural resource that should be considered in land use decisions. Michigan has long been known as the Great Lake State. The abundance of surface water is widely appreciated and national efforts have been undertaken to protect this resource. With all of the available surface water, 97% of the world's freshwater is still available only as groundwater*. Lakes, rivers and streams- provide only 1-1/2% of fresh water resources. The remaining one and one-half percent is found as water vapor in the atmosphere and as soil moisture. Resource Value Almost one-half of the state's population, and much of Chikaming Township relies upon groundwater· as the source of drinking water. Despite this dependence, there is little public understanding of the nature and importance of groundwater·. One widely held misconception is that groundwater· flows in huge underground lakes and rivers. Another is that groundwater· travels * = See Glossary. 54 �very rapidly or that it's direction follows the earth's contours. Of all of the common misconceptions, perhaps the most dangerous ones are that groundwater· is adequately protected by the earth's surface and that land use activities have little impact on this resource . In reality, groundwater· quality is almost wholly dependent on man's activities. Impacts on Development Like most other natural resources, groundwater· is more vulnerable in some areas than others. In the case of groundwater· supplies, this vulnerability is determined by three main factors: soils, depth to the aquifer and general aquifer condition and type. Sandy soils offer considerably less protection than heavier clay soils. Confined aquifers are safer than unconfined ones. Through a better understanding of the nature of groundwater°, more effective protection measures are possible. In areas that offer little natural protection, or where the protection level is unknown, special consideration should be given to the types and densities of land uses which are permitted. Businesses such as drycleaners, photographers and hair salons are examples of potentially hazardous land uses due to the types of chemicals which are routinely used. If these businesses operate on individual well and septic service, the chance of groundwater• contamination, through an accidental spill or mishandling, is especially high. Chikaming Township currently has no sites on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Environmental Priority "307" List. Four sites are located in townships adjacent to Chikaming. A list of the sites, all of which are known to affect groundwater·, follows. New Buffalo Three Oaks New Buffalo New Buffalo Plastic Masters Forest Lawn Landfill Hildy's Amoco Professional Driver's Institute Surface Discharge Landfill Underground Tank Underground Tank Some businesses which are generally thought to be environmentally sound, like golf courses (including miniature golf) and country clubs, are actually quite threatening because of the large amount of lawn chemicals which are routinely used. The direct application of these chemicals to the ground presents an uninterrupted opportunity for groundwater· contamination. In addition to carefully considering the types of land uses which are to be allowed, the following list offers other local protection measures: • Add a standard to the site plan review section of the Zoning Ordinance which requires new businesses storing hazardous materials, waste, fuels, salt or chemicals to be designed to prevent spills and discharges of polluting materials to the surface of the ground, groundwater*, lakes, streams or poorly drained lands. • Obtain information about hazardous substances to be used, stored and generated at the time of site plan review. Business owners should satisfactorily respond to questions · concerning floor drain outlets, content and storage of 50 gallon drums, and disposal procedures for any chemicals used. * = See Glossary. 55 �• Regulations requiring spill prevention and secondary containment of hazardous substances should be required at new business sites which may be of such a size that exempts them from state regulation. • New businesses should be required to obtain a Pollution Incident Prevention Plan (PIPP) from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. PIPP Plan submittal should be a precondition for site plan approval. • Municipal facilities should meet environmental standards. Key requirements might include: emergency procedures and secondary containment for the storage of hazardous substances. • Township officials and staff should assist in identifying potential groundwater· contamination incidents, especially at business sites. Any potential problems should be reported to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. If discovered at an early point, widespread and severe contamination can be avoided. Groundwater· protection is a true example of "an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure." Low-cost contamination prevention measures can help protect against a spill or leak which could ultimately cost a community millions of dollars to remedy or, in some cases, totally destroy the primary water supply. Natural Features Protection Options Local communities have several options available for protecting natural features and open spaces·. A brief description of some of these options are presented below. Land Donation - The most direct and efficient method of protection for sensitive land is through a land donation to a private foundation or government agency. A donor's gift of land is tax deductible if it is made to a statewide or local land trust*, governmental entity, or any other nonprofit, charitable organization under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Each donation has different tax advantages for individuals. Real property taxes, gift taxes, or income taxes, are affected differently in each situation. Landowners considering a donation of land may wish to consult with a tax attorney or accountant to analyze the benefits of their particular situation. Conservation Easements· - Conservation easements· can be used to transfer certain rights and privileges concerning the use of land or a body of water to a non-profit organization, governmental body, or other legal entity without transferring title to the land. In Michigan, Public Act No. 197 of 1980, the Conservation and Historic Preservation Easement Act, (M.C.L.A. 339.251 et. seq.) authorizes the creation of voluntary conservation easements·. A conservation easement* under Act 197 can provide limitations on the use of, or prohibit certain acts on, a parcel of land or body of water. The interest can be in the form of a restriction, easement, covenant, or a condition contained in either a deed, will or other instrument. The easement should require that the land or body of water be retained or maintained in its natural, *=See Glossary. 56 �scenic, or open condition, or in a specific, non-intensive use such as agriculture, open space', or forest land. The easement is enforceable against the property owner even if the party seeking enforcement was not a party to the original conveyance or contract. The easement is considered a conveyance of real property and must be recorded with the register of deeds In the township to be effective against a subsequent purchaser of the property who had no notice of the easement. As with land donations, the granting of a conservation easement' may have tax Implications. Again, persons considering granting a conservation easement' should contact an attorney or accountant for an analysis of possible tax benefits, as well as their local government for information about zoning, etc. One type of easement authorized under the Farmland and Open Space' Preservation Act, P.A. 116 of 1974, offers tax reductions for landowners who agree not to develop open space' land. This Act enables a landowner to enter into a development rights easement (for open space') with the state. These agreements or easements are designed to ensure that the land remains in a particular open space' related use or uses for an agreed upon period. In return for maintaining the land in a particular use, the land owner Is entitled to certain income or property tax benefits. Open space' land has been divided into two categories under the Act. The first category deals with historic, riverfront and shoreland areas. This type of land requires that the property be undeveloped and either historic in nature and recognized as such by appropriate federal or state laws, front on a river designated under Act 231, the Natural Rivers Act of 1970, or be designated as an environmental area under Act 245, the Shorelands Protection and Management Act of 1970. The second category of open space' land Is more general in definition and includes lands which conserve natural or scenic resources, enhance recreational opportunities, promote the conservation of soils, poorly drained lands and beaches, or preserve historic sites and idle potential farmland of not less than 40 acres. The designation of this particular type of open space' is primarily the responsibility of the local governing body and the interpretation of qualified lands may vary from location to location, depending on local circumstances. Interested landowners must file an application with the township. Deed Restrictions - Clauses placed in deeds restricting the future use of land can prohibit uses or activities by the new owners that would destroy, damage, or modify natural features. The Conservation and Historic Preservation Easement Act (P.A. 197 of 1980) allows for deed restrictions along with easements. When land is donated, the donor may include a reversion clause that provides that if the land is not managed according to the restriction, the property must be returned to the original owner, his heirs or assigns, or to a third party, such as a non-profit land trust' or government body. Purchase of Property - Acquisition of property is a straightforward, permanent protection method. The purchaser should consider all the options, i.e., purchase of fee simple title, easements, and development rights, bargain sales, and other purchasing methods. A fee simple purchase provides the purchaser with more permanent control and protection. However, a less than fee • = See Glossary. 57 �simple purchase (such as purchase of an easement or development rights) also has advantages in being less costly, and, the original owner retains title and continues to pay taxes so the local community does not lose its tax base (although the overall market value on which the property is assessed may be reduced). The following is a list of several possible sources of funds for purchase of environmentallysensitive lands: • Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund - This fund is a possible source of money to purchase choice recreational, scenic, and environmentally important land in Michigan. Application must be made to the fund for approval by April 1 of each year, and can be obtained from the MDNR Recreation Services Division. • Michigan Duck Stamp Program - Funds from sale of stamps and proceeds from the contest go to the purchase of poorly drained lands by the state. • Private Sources - Donations from private Individuals or corporations in the form of specific property or money. This would include fund raising efforts from local citizens, lake associations, and other community groups. • The Michigan Nature Conservancy, Michigan Nature Association, Ducks Unlimited, local land trusts", and sometimes local governments can all be potential funding sources. The Michigan Nature Conservancy maintains a list of local land trusts· and how they can be contacted. • Federal funding sources: Land and Water Conservation Fund - Funds are given to the state to buy open space· lands which may contain poorly drained lands or other unique, natural features. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants under the Pittman-Robertson Act -Funds are given to the state for acquisition of wildlife areas and wildlife restoration. Funds are from a tax on ammunition and weapons. Dingell-Johnson monies to states to cover 75% of the cost of fish restoration and management projects. Coastal Zone Management Act - This Act provides funds for limited acquisition of estuarine sanctuaries and may be appropriate on the Great Lakes. •=See Glossary. 58 �CHAPTER VII EXISTING LAND USE Agricultural lands and other open space· dominate the use of land within Chikaming Township. Located within commuting distance from both Chicago and Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, the township draws a broad range of residents, from seasonal home owners to year-round residents. Among the aspects of the township that potential residents find attractive are the rural character, the variety of natural features and the proximity of the township to urbanized areas. The Existing Land Use Map (Appendix) shows the use of land in 1992, as determined through the use of field survey and resident input. Although this map does not present a precise depiction of all land uses within the township, it is valuable to indicate general development patterns. Agricultural Land identified on the Existing Land Use Map as agricultural has been determined to be actively farmed at the time of this Plan. This, along with Vacant land, is the most abundant land use in the township. Uses in this category are distributed throughout the township, although the largest contiguous areas are south and east of 1-94. Since farming remains a vital land use in some areas of the Township, active farmlands are also identified on the Natural Features Map, included in the Appendix. Vacant Vacant lands are also scattered throughout the Township, but the largest expanses occur in a diagonal pattern generally following 1-94. The amount of land which is vacant has played a significant role in the development of the character of the township. The large, open areas create a feeling of openness and provide a tranquil surrounding. As noted earlier, this rural character Is one of the major reasons that many of the current residents moved to the township, and continues to be a factor in attracting new residents. Birders of Berrien County have also designated parts of this open space· as "hot spots", i.e., favored locales for sighting open land bird species. The use of the frontage of large lots for single family homes in agricultural/vacant areas has created a number of vacant properties for which access is limited. These vacant parcels may be available for future development, but access may be complicated by the development along the road frontage. Residential This land use category includes all single family homes, duplexes, apartments and mobile homes·. Most of the existing residential land uses are found along the Lake Michigan shore, west of Red Arrow Highway. New construction has also occurred elsewhere in the township, mostly on large · lots along primary roadways. · Given that the shore areas possess some of the most sought-after properties for residential development, the township will likely continue to feel pressure for development in these sensitive *=See Glossary. 59 �areas. The township must work with property owners and developers to preserve these valuable resources. Commercial This category includes all retail establishments, restaurants, and private recreational facilities. Commercial land uses in Chikaming Township exist primarily along the Red Arrow Highway. Other small commercial uses are located in various parts of the township, including locations adjacent to 1-94 and at the intersection of Three Oaks and Warren Woods Roads. Commercial uses In Sawyer are generally directed toward both seasonal and year-round residents but, along Red Arrow Highway, shops and restaurants cater to seasonal residents and passing motorists. Industrial The township's Industrial land is limited to approximately seven (7) areas in the vicinity of Sawyer. The township zoning ordinance currently allows a number of uses in the industrial zone, including those businesses involving manufacturing, assembling, storage or processing. Special use provisions are generally applied to those uses which may be incompatible with neighboring uses. Publlc/Seml-Publ/c This land use includes public parks, municipal buildings, cemeteries and schools. These uses are scattered throughout the township but found primarily along the Red Arrow Highway. A detailed explanation of these facilities is provided in the Community Facilities portion of this Plan. Recreational This category describes those large parcels of township land which are either currently used for public recreation or, through zoning ordinance and local plans, dedicated to future recreational uses. The largest parcels are located in the southern portion of the township in or near the Galien River and are notable for poorly drained soils and floodplain. Those environmental constraints make these lands undesirable for many types of development, but well adapted to a variety of recreational uses. •=See Glossary. 60 �CHAPTER VIII FUTURE LAND USE POLICIES In order to facilitate the application of Master Plan Policies to specific areas, the Township has been divided into seven regions and four subregions. These areas are believed to have fairly uniform existing characteristics and future potential. Key among these characteristics are environmental qualities, past development patterns, and access to services. They are called "policy areas" because a different mix of policies Is applied within each of them In keeping with their differing character. In other words, the township-wide planning goals and objectives, enumerated earlier in this Master Plan, are made more specific for each of these policy areas, thus zeroing In on recommended future use of the land for each distinct area within the Township. What is suggested here is no great departure from the 1975 Chikaming Township Sketch Development Plan, its predecessor. This Master Plan takes account of what has happened in the meantime, attempts to anticipate needs twenty years into the future, and seeks to channel change in specific ways and areas so as to maintain and enhance the quality of life of Township residents. While reading what follows, please consult the Future Land Use Policy Areas Map, located in the Appendix . Polley Area No. 1: Lake Michigan Shoreland Character: This policy area extends along the entire frontage of Chikaming Township on Lake Michigan and reaches inland to the Red Arrow Corridor. The sandy beach is backed by sand dunes in the northern half of the area, while the southern half is backed by clay bluffs. At several places along the coast, small streams enter the lake. The ravines formed by these streams extend in many cases far inland and are usually wooded, contributing to the topographic diversity and charm of the Township. Most of the Lake Michigan Shoreland, including the dunes, has tree cover of varying density, and much of it is already developed with single family residences. Probably two-thirds of Chikaming's permanent population is concentrated in the Lake Michigan Shoreland, and this policy area also accommodates most of Chikaming's seasonal residents. Further infilling' with new permanent and seasonal housing continues. This policy area is all zoned for single family residential use. Pollcles: 1. Infilling' of new residences and renovation of old ones should be harmonious with the established character of the neighborhoods. 2. Preservation of structures and areas of historical significance should be supported and encouraged through individual and group action. 3. Scenic vistas· in dune areas and along Lakeshore Road should be preserved, enhanced, and extended if possible. *=See Glossary. 61 �4. Neighborhood parks should be provided and maintained in so far as the resources of the Township permit. 5. Provision for a variety of transportation, including walking and biking, should be promoted to keep down automotive traffic and enhance the ambiance of residential neighborhoods. 6. Commercial activity should continue to be prohibited within the policy area (with the possible exception of bed and breakfast establishments). 7. Design criteria should be developed to govern construction of new residences in sensitive environments' such as dune areas, ravine sites, and poorly drained or boggy land. 8. In any new residential developments, special attention should be given to adequate road access and off-street parking -- for both residents and guests. Policy Area No. 1a: Critical dune area· Character: The barrier dunes' are the "Alps" of Chikaming Township, providing great height and steep slopes as compared to the flat or gently undulating terrain of most of the Township. Almost without exception, the barrier dunes· are clothed with trees, some of considerable age. The last few vacant areas within Chikaming's barrier dunes' are much sought after as sites for new residences. At the foot of the barrier dunes· on the lake side, an accumulation of wind-blown sand is beginning to create foredunes' again following the devastating wave erosion of the recordbreaking high lake level of 1986. Policies: 1. The Chikaming Zoning Ordinance contains provisions regulating development along the shoreline (the so called High Risk Erosion Overlay) that pre-date the state's sand dune legislation. These provisions should be reviewed for applicability to the township. 2. No structures, other than steps and walkways, should be allowed in the foredune' area. The only exception would be structures, such as seawalls, groins, etc. to protect properties from wave erosion at times of high lake levels and only providing required approval is first obtained from state and federal authorities. Policy Area No. 2: Character: * Red Arrow Commercial Corridor This is a long, narrow corridor, in two sections, focused on the Red Arrow Highway. It roughly parallels the lake shore from northeast to southwest across the Township. A central sector of the Red Arrow Highway within Chikaming Township contains no commercial development whatever and therefore, as a = See Glossary. 62 �residential area, is included within the Lake Michigan Shoreland land use category. Even within the Red Arrow Commercial Corridor, commercial development is discontinuous, being scattered and interspersed with residences and vacant land. In the northern section, there are also some small industrial enterprises, churches and multiple-family dwellings. Many of the shops in the corridor cater to summer residents and tourists, offering antiques, collectibles, art, fresh produce and plants. Most of these establishments close down In the off season or are open weekends only. In many cases, parking is only available immediately adjacent to the highway pavement. This results In turning and parking maneuvers which produce congestion and a driving hazard on the highway during the summer months. Policies: 1. Commercial establishments should be encouraged to consolidate around the village centers of Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, and Sawyer Highlands. This is an important measure for passenger and pedestrian safety, and will improve the general appearance of the township. It also will create a business environment more conducive to business success, by placing retail uses in closer proximity to one another, thereby encouraging crosstraffic between stores and casual browsing by customers. 2. The rearrangement of commercial enterprises into compact neighborhood shopping centers should Incorporate attractive and efficient design, adequate off-street parking, shared access· to the Red Arrow Highway, and safe pedestrian access from nearby residential neighborhoods. 3. Light industrial land uses may be considered by special land use application. 4. Development of land in close proximity to the existing Senior Center should be encouraged for multi-family housing· for seniors. 5. Cooperation with New Buffalo Township should be sought to improve the Union Pier commercial center shared by the two townships. 6. The intersections of the Red Arrow Highway with Sawyer Road, Tower Hill Road, Holloway Drive and Three Oaks Road form a hazardous traffic complex that should be studied with a view to improving visibility and safety. 7. The narrow strip between the Red Arrow Highway and the railroad, extending from Youngren Road to Union Pier Road, should be maintained as a greenbelt* and zoned RE (Recreation). Polley Area No. 3: Character: Rural Fringe The area lying mainly between the Red Arrow Corridor and 1-94 is an attractive, broad, transition zone between the fairly densely populated land along the shore of Lake Michigan and the rural interior of the Township. Much of it is presently * = See Glossary. 63 �zoned Residential Rural Estate, requiring a substantial land area for each dwelling. This policy area, however, is not uniformly amenable to development for residential use. Within it are considerable tracts of poorly-drained or ravine land which are clearly unsuitable for such use. Adjacent areas may have prime agricultural land which is still farmed, and there are substantial tracts of forested land. With a few exceptions access to and within the area is by means of east-west secondary roads along section lines. Pollcles: 1. The attractive, semi-rural character of this area should be maintained by encouraging preservation of some, at least, of its wooded and open space· tracts, many of which are swampy. 2. Siting of dwellings should be reviewed in this policy area with the intent of allowing cluster developments· on a selective basis in areas suited for residential construction while leaving common open space· where residential construction Is not recommended; e.g. swampy and ravine areas. However, the density of any single or individual development as a whole should not exceed the density set forth in the current zoning ordinance, e.g. 1.5 acres per detached single family residence. 3. Consideration should be given to encouraging enlargement of the Robinson Nature Preserve into adjoining wooded land. Alternatively, conservation easements· or land trusts· might be considered for these neighboring wooded tracts. 4. The introduction of commercial or industrial land uses into this policy area should be prohibited. Polley Area No. 4: Sawyer Area Character: The focal point of this policy area is the unincorporated village of Sawyer, an early center of settlement in Chikaming. Sawyer is a transportation center where the railroad, 1-94, and Sawyer Road cross one another. This has attracted commercial and industrial activities to the Sawyer neighborhood, but the potential for increased employment in and around Sawyer is by no means fully realized. Exclusive of Downtown Sawyer and the Sawyer Industrial Zone, this policy area consists of a pleasant, semi-rural district of woods and scattered residences. Policies: 1. The expansion of commercial or industrial activities beyond the areas presently zoned for them should be prohibited except by a process of logical and contiguous accretion to the existing areas so used. 2. Infilling· in the mainly residential neighborhood to the north and west of · Downtown Sawyer should be allowed but kept harmonious with its present semi-rural character. •=See Glossary. 64 �Polley Area No. 4a: Downtown Sawyer Character: Downtown Sawyer Is an old commercial area whose heyday occurred early in this century. Its commercial establishments really thrive only during the summer rush . The Sawyer business community has tried to attract clientele by means of signs at the 1-94 exits to Sawyer Road and along the Red Arrow Highway, but the success of these efforts is probably modest at best. The busiest part of Downtown Sawyer clusters around the two exits of 1-94, and, in fact, the car and truck traffic in this vicinity constitute a hazard that separates the older, eastern end of town from much of Its natural clientele in the Lake Michigan Shoreland. Policies: 1. The Sawyer business community should be encouraged to take appropriate measures to revltallze Downtown Sawyer, probably including the provision of space for off-street parking and better traffic circulation. 2. The citizens of Sawyer might do well to look favorably upon the establishment of a multi-family housing' area somewhere within walking distance of downtown services and shops. The Village would benefit from the increased, year-round trade that would result. 3. Some means of making Downtown Sawyer more readily and pleasantly accessible from the Lake Michigan Shoreland should be considered. Polley Area No. 4b: Sawyer Industrial Zone Character: This policy area straddles the railroad south of Downtown Sawyer and is zoned at present for industrial uses. Arlington Metals Co. occupies the site best suited for both rail and 1-94 access. Present access by road to the southern, vacant areas zoned for industrial use is circuitous from the 1-94 Sawyer interchange. Private land and platted roads should be developed to provide better access. Policies: 1. Organization of some sort of authority to promote and regulate an industrial park for the Sawyer Industrial Zone should be investigated. 2. The Township, In coordination with Berrien County organizations and the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce, should seek to attract light, nonpolluting industry to the zone and see that adequate buffering is provided to separate it from adjoining residential areas. 3. Provision of a more direct and efficient roadway connection between the Sawyer 1-94 interchange and the undeveloped land in the Sawyer industrial zone located southeast of the railway should be promoted by appropriate _ means. 4. Alternative uses for the vacant lands in this policy area should be explored, including the possibility of a housing development for seniors and/or a second baseball field for the Township. *=See Glossary. 65 �Polley Area No. 5: Gallen River Area Character: This policy area covers a wide swath of territory from northeast to southwest centered on the valley of the Galien River. It includes a considerable area of flat to gently rolling land bounded on the northwest by 1-94, plus some limited areas of relatively flat land southeast of the Galien River Valley. These bordering areas have a mingling of woods and open space· and are generally thinly populated. Although these upland areas on both sides of the Galien Valley are zoned for agriculture, there is little agricultural activity, because the soils are not notably productive. The Pike Timber Co. manages a large area of woodland north of East Road. The Bob-a-Ron Campground and a mobile home· park are located south of Warren Woods Road. Parks and recreational use are already represented In the Policy area by Warren Woods State Park, the proposed Township nature park south of Harbert Road and east of 1-94, and a 150-acre tract lying between Warren Woods Road and the Galien River in Sections 28 and 29. Pollcles: 1. Appropriate measures should be taken to preserve woodlands and open space·. Use of land for commercial and industrial purposes should be prohibited, and use for residences, carefully controlled. On the other hand, land currently zoned for recreational use should be retained as such and, if appropriate, enlarged. Preservation of woodlands and open space· through conservation easements' and land trusts' should be encouraged. 2. The Township should press ahead with development of a nature center on township land zoned for recreation use south of Harbert Road and east of 1-94. 3. Possibilities should be explored for the development of "greenways'" to provide cover for migrating wildlife and scope for recreation trails. Public and/or private interests should be encouraged to acquire and protect land for this purpose. Polley Area No. Sa: Gallen Valley Character: The Galien Valley is bounded by short, steep erosion slopes with fingers reaching into the surrounding higher land. The slopes and the floodplain carry a dense forest cover. The floodplain has been left largely in its natural state by law (PA 231 of 1970). The Galien River meanders across this valley floor on its way to Lake Michigan at New Buffalo. Standing water is characteristic of much of the valley floor during most seasons. Canoeing on the river is difficult because of the many fallen trees that block progress. The river's major direct use by residents is for fishing. The Galien Valley is one of the Township's major assets, for it functions as a storehouse for water, an air scrubber, a habitat for wildlife, and a recreation area. * = See Glossary. 66 �Pollcles: 1. Discussions with New Buffalo and Weesaw Townships, and possibly others, should be Initiated to coordinate the use and management of the Galien River watershed. 2. Emphasis should be placed on preserving the natural functions of the Galien River and the rights of riparian property owners while considering development of its recreational possibilities. 3. Development of wooded connections to "greenways·" in neighboring areas of the Township should be promoted as a means of fostering wildlife and perhaps also, recreational trails. Policy Area No. 6: Agricultural Heartland Character: The northeastern and southeastern corners of Chikaming Township are separated by the Galien River Area but really constitute one homogeneous policy area characterized by active farming . The landscape is gently rolling with good, welldrained soils. There are a few scattered woodlots. With the exception of Sawyer Road -- which has water and sewer services -- rural, non-farm dwellings are relatively rare along the roads that follow the section lines in this area. Policies: 1. The existing pattern of agricultural land use should be preserved by all appropriate means, including regulations, public incentives, and educational strategies. 2. Measures should be considered which would discourage the encroachment of other land uses, including rural, non-farm dwellings. This is particularly true of Three Oaks Road, for it is a major north-south traffic artery between Three Oaks and employment centers in the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor area. Increased settlement along it will constitute a hazard to auto traffic and possibly an Impediment to widening of this road sometime In the future. 3. Means to preserve historic farmsteads and archaeological sites should be explored. Policy Area No. 7: Character: Southern 1-94 Interchange Commerclal/lndustrlal Area Chikaming Township shares with New Buffalo Township the 1-94 interchange at Union Pier Road. Much of the adjacent land west of 1-94 in Chikaming is at present zoned for multiple family residential use. Most of the area so zoned is vacant, though a portion is occupied by a defunct gas station and a winery outlet. · Across Union Pier Road in New Buffalo Township, a recently-erected antique mall attracts travelers using 1-94 and suggests there may be more appropriate zoning for the Chikaming side of the road. * = See Glossary. 67 �Pollcles: * 1. The northern frontage on Union Pier Road in the immediate vicinity of the 1-94 interchange should be zoned for commercial use, because ready access to the interstate makes this a potential stopping point for travelers. 2. The area north and east of the immediate vicinity of the 1-94 interchange on Union Pier Road, now zoned for multi-family residential use, should remain in that category unless and until a change is justified. 3. Chikaming should coordinate closely with New Buffalo Township in developing the two sides of Union Pier Road in this area. = See Glossary. 68 �APPENDIX 69 �_, / ) ,'CHIKAMING TWP. CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN 1 Community Facilities & Transportation 12 ,-1· \.IEE-CHIK RD. I I I I "'1' 0 \ I \ \ J 0 a: I I I ~ HARBERT RD. \ N Legend 0 Police '! Fire Station i• ...... \ \ A Church THE School GROUP '- WBDC !ill! Township Hall I ••••• County Road, Primary System Interstate Highway ,.,,.,.,.,-'!" ~ Post Office A Park I I I J I / A Cemetery + Ambulance • Ellii.lliJ I,'...,-' I ,_ \' \ I I I \ c:i a: a: 24 w z w I- I River Valley Sr. Center ' +-t-t Railroad ~ I I I I ' \ \ CL a: <I u Approximate Service Area for Public Water and Wastewater ~ Approximate Service Area for ~ Public Water Only / < / D 27 .., - - .,,. - I I/ , _, I I I I I ,/ I / I 26 I I I I / ,------- -- -;r' 25 I I \ \ ,- __ , I I I / / . \I (/) Jw ,w 1::3: < 1- --, \ \ l - - I " \ l ELM VALLEY RO. \ / / / ~ C) 0 \ 16100 THREE OAKS TWP. \ ~ a: >a: w > ' I I I I CHIKAMING TWP. C, C, I~ J::3: <I 0 / // 15300 a: 0 / / ...g' �CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN a \ ~ ' ,, 'SAWYER RO. 12700 Natural Features HARBERT HARBERT RD. N Legend 11. 'M >Ji.,;,.._ ,;,. w (USGS, MDNR) Water Body (MDNR) = = :::::::::::::= [jJ,& A Poorly Drained Soils/ Swam p '\ w a: ~ a: Q. ,..1,..:-,. 1l!.1 ====--THE WBDC ... ~ , GROUP ., Flood Prone Areas (FEMA) Critical D1,1.ne (MDNR) ·i, Important Farmland . (U.S. Dep't. of Agriculture & Ch'k . 1 ammg Twp.) Steep Slope Area (USGS) Swampy,(National Wetlands In t [Draft 1989) Fish and w·1dl ·f S ve~ 1 1 e erv1ceory U.S. Department of Interior \ ' (Primary So,u-ce Shown in Parenthesis) 15300 ci er w 9 \ Cl) w I I ; I 0,:: / 30 ~ ,1;.. '-•~ I < ..., I \ '\ >' \ \ \~~~~~~~F=~~;,-:~~~~ill:~~~~~~-16100 f\ 00 "' 0 0 / ' / \ / "' "' 0 0 "' ;;; 0 ....' ~ 0 �- A V CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN .I y AV' I A Existing Land Use N A Legend [J[J Residential [QJ Commercial [I] Industrial THE WBDC GROUP 14500 CD Public & Semi-Public IREcl Recreational ~ Agricultural IT] I \ I ! I I \ \ ,/ ,R u A ,/ ~ A ,....... -- _____ z z ~ -, <I: U) w w ~ I u. I I I 25 I '\ ,_ 'R I I 21 '\ \ I ELM VALLEY RO. I I I,. '\ .... g ' 16100 THREE OAKS TWP. \ 15300 I- ci [[ I \ \ ~ 0 " ~ \ a.: ,:>/~ I V , ~ R1 ,_ I \ \ ' I I Vacant ' ' \ A,I •:g 0 �,-' ) 12100 / , 'CHIKAMING TWP. CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN 1 ,, SAWYER RO. Future Land Use -Policy Areas / 12700 / 12 WEE-CHIK \ J HARBERT N EE A ~ 500' '200<1 lOOO' 0 1000' Lake Michigan Shoreland l'T,H Critical Dunes R Red Arrow Commercial Corridor ~ Rural Fringe 61:9 ( \ I Sawyer Area ~ Downtown Sawyer f::iiti:) Industrial Zone ;~,S'~\, Galien River Area I LAKESIDE I I I I ,_ I I ' \ I I I _, / I /'._-1 [rnIJJ Galien Valley [TI Agricultural Heartland 14500 "" - - .... \ \ /'I I, ', \ ,, ' I c:i a: a: w 24 I- I I z w a.. ' \ a: I [: ::?,'.:: ) Southern I-94 Commercial/Industrial Area - <I u ,, / - I I ,~------ - - - / / I / / / / ~-ff;::r ~ /</ / I I 26 25 I I I I / I -, '\ / I ' ~ - _I,, \ I \ ' CHIKAMING TWP. ' ELM VALLEY RD. 1.ll.L't. ~~1J..l~~Lilill~.IB~ip-~~~.::___~~~--~~ ...,::--_.:::1_:'.'.~~~~~:___~--~~~~~~~~~=--+---+--,~ ·--·: , THREE OAKS TWP. \ l.. ~ 0 0 _, g w \ / ' / / I I / '\ "' "' 0 0 "'.., " 0 A "' 0 0 16100 �GLOSSARY The definitions given below are the meanings, for the purposes of this Master Plan, of certain words which may be unfamiliar or which may mean different things to different people. They make no claim to legal authority, only to help clarify the general intent of this Master Plan. Arterial Road: A road which serves as a main connector within the Township and carries relatively heavy year-round or seasonal traffic. Examples: the Red Arrow Highway, Three Oaks Road, and Sawyer Road. Barrier Dune: The first landward sand dune formation (excepting a foredune} paralleling the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Cluster Development: The grouping of lots and buildings on a portion of a tract which allows the remaining land to be used for agriculture, recreation, wildlife habitat, etc. This allows greater flexibility of design to take into account natural features, including the avoidance of areas where building is difficult or ill-advised. The overall density of the tract remains as stipulated by the zoning ordinance for that area. In well-designed rural clustering, the dwelling units are grouped in areas that are screened from roadway views, out of sensitive environments, avoiding prime farmland, and in locations where they can be effectively provided with services. Clustering: See cluster development. Conservation Easement: A legal agreement in which the landowner retains ownership of private property but conveys certain specifically identified rights to a land conservation organization or a ·public body. They are perpetual (run with the land from owner to owner}, tailored to specific protection requirements, keep property in private hands and on the tax rolls (in some cases at a lower assessment), and carry a lower price tag than outright acquisition. Critical Dune Area: A geographic area designated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNA) in its "Atlas of Critical Dune Areas" dated February 1987 and which is protected under PA 222 of 1976 as amended by PA 146 and PA 147 of 1989. (The approximate extent of such areas within Chikaming Township is shown on the Natural Features Map also included in this Appendix.} Dial-A-Ride: A public or private bus service over no set route which picks up its · passengers in answer to telephoned requests. Environmentally Sensitive: See sensitive environment. 74 �Foredune: A sand dune of relatively low outline which lies next to the beach, is usually covered by beach grass but few, if any, trees, and may be carried away entirely by wave erosion in times of high lake levels. Because of its impermanent nature, laws generally prevent the construction of any "permanent" buildings on foredunes. Frontage Road: A road built parallel to an arterial road which is intended to provide access to roadside establishments and keep local traffic from interrupting fast-moving traffic on the arterial road (see also shared access). Green Belt: A linear stretch of woods or vegetation maintained to serve as a buffer between a road, railroad, or industrial area and a neighboring residential area. Green Space: An area composed of woods, swamp, meadow, or other vegetative cover which serves as an outlier of nature in or near a developed neighborhood. Could also include a grassy playground or park. Greenway: A linear stretch of woods or vegetation maintained in its natural state to facilitate movement and seasonal migration of wildlife between established habitats. It could also, perhaps, be partially developed for walking, biking, or skiing trails . Groundwater: Water in the earth which is drawn on for wells and is the major source of water for lakes and streams. The upper limit of the water-saturated zone in the earth is the groundwater table, and where it reaches the surface, the ground is usually swampy or boggy. Infilling: Process of occupying vacant land by new construction in established neighborhoods, i.e., building new structures in the vacant lots between older dwellings or buildings. Lakeshore Association: A residential development along the Lake Michigan Shore which may have originated as a resort, may now contain year-round dwellings, but still retains cohesiveness under some sort of local organization. Land Trust: Nonprofit organization usually established to own and protect areas of significant natural diversity, important recreational opportunities, or both. Such an organization holds land and other property rights for the benefit of the public and often undertakes educational, recreational, and scientific activities (also known as a conservancy). · 75 •I I �Manufactured Housing: Dwellings which are factory-built, moved by truck to the intended site, and placed on a previously-built foundation or concrete slab where plumbing and electrical connections are made and finishing details are completed. Mobile Home: A vehicle, van, or trailer intended for living, which can easily be moved along highways from one location to another but which may, with time, become rooted in one spot. Modular Housing: A variant of manufactured housing in which modules built in a factory are assembled on site (usually, the structure as a whole would be too large to be moved along a public highway). Multi-Family Housing: A structure which houses more than one family, i.e. apartment house, duplex, etc. Usually, the surrounding grounds are cared for by the owning organization. (also referred to as multiple family units) Multiple Family Units: See multi-family housing. Open Space: A relatively large area of vacant land that is not actively farmed and which lends a feeling of spaciousness to a landscape or developed neighborhood. Overlay Zoning District: A zoning area or areas established to regulate sensitive environments found in several parts of the Township regardless of primary zoning. Such a zoning district does not affect the density or use regulations present under existing zoning. Rather, it is superimposed, where needed, over portions of various zones to create an additional set of requirements. Chikaming already has one such overlay zoning district, the High Risk 9verlay District. Planned Unit Development: Combines project elements such as housing, streets, open space, recreation areas, and possibly also commercial/office uses into a functional unit that is integrated with the natural features of the site. Lot configurations (size, setback, coverage) and use restrictions of the more familiar subdivision are lifted to allow more design flexibility. Existing density restrictions apply, but are calculated on a project basis with the entire tract (rather than single lots) as the unit of regulation. Thus, units may be clustered in one part of the overall tract if open space elsewhere in the tract provides sufficient area to yield the required overall density. In return for greater design flexibility, the developer must advance certain public objectives, such as preserving unique natural features, excellence · of design, energy conservation, recreational opportunities, and/or maximizing open space. Premanufactured Housing: See manufactured housing. 76 �Scenic Vista: A view which typifies the region and is visible from the public roadway. Views incorporating bodies of water are universally appealing, but field patterns accentuated by fences and hedgerows and roads lined by alleys of mature trees also may qualify as scenic vistas which may merit protection. Sensitive Environment: An area where special care must be taken In developing a site, because natural conditions could easily be disrupted leading to erosion, sedimentation, and other forms of destruction of valuable resources--as well as damage to property values. Examples: sand dunes, ravine slopes, swamps and bogs. Shared Access: A safety measure to reduce the number of entrances and exits off an arterial road, thus reducing the interruption to fast-moving traffic on the arterial road (see also frontage road). Subsidized Housing: Some, but not necessarily all, units within a housing complex, the tenants of which receive financial assistance in various amounts (depending upon need) to meet the cost of living there. 77 I I I ~ ~ �CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS PREPARATION OF THE CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN The Chikaming Township Master Land Use Plan is the product of intensive thought and work over several years. Following is a chronology of the major events leading to the formal adoption of the Master Plan by the Chikaming Township Planning Commission: December, 1987: Decision to begin the process of revising the Sketch Development Pian of 1975. June, 1988: Mail survey conducted regarding community views on a range of plan topics and objectives. June, 1989: Master Plan Committee formed, with the concurrence of the Planning Commission and Township Board. November, 1990: Township Board decided to seek professional guidance in preparing an updated Master Plan. May, 1991: Following solicitation and review of proposals, WBDC Group of Grand Rapids, Michigan was selected to assist the Township in preparation of the updated Pian. September, 1991: Master Plan Committee held a community Open House to seek public input regarding Master Plan goals and objectives. July, 1992: First draft of Master Plan completed. August, 1992: Master Pian Committee held a second Open House to introduce the Master Plan to Chikaming Township residents and property owners. October, 1992: Planning Commission held public hearing on the draft Master Pian. Following the public hearing, the Pian was adopted by Resolution of the Planning Commission. 78 �ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Jim Bohac, Chairman Albert Chapman Jeanne Dudeck, Township Clerk Wesley Lind Mary Margol Louis Price Frank Sims CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE Albert Chapman, Chairman Marisue Hojnacki, Community Representative Maureen Lester, Community Representative Mary Margol The Planning Commission wishes to express its special appreciation to the two Community Representatives who, without any compensation whatever and over a period of at least three years, devoted much time, thought and work to making this Plan the best possible statement of how the lands and resources of Chikaming Township might best be used for the greatest good of the community. 79 �"""""'- CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION ADOPTION RESOLUTION CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP MASTER LAND USE PLAN WHEREAS, the Township Rural Zoning Act, P.A. 184 of 1943, as amended, stipulates that the provisions of a township zoning ordinance shall be based upon a plan designed to promote the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare, to encourage the use of lands in accordance with their character and adaptability, and to limit the improper use of land, among other things; and WHEREAS, the Township Planning Commission Act, P.A. 168 of 1959, as amended, requires the planning commission to make and adopt a basic plan as a guide for the development of unincorporated portions of the township, and that such plan shall include the planning commission's recommendations for the physical development of the unincorporated area of the township; and WHEREAS, the Chikaming Township Planning Commission has, during the period December 1987 to October 1992 prepared such a plan for the purpose of encouraging and guiding orderly and efficient future change of the Township; and WHEREAS, in accordance with Act 168 of 1959, as amended, notices of a public hearing were published on September 10 and October 1, 1992, and a public hearing was held on October 10, 1992, at River Valley High School for the purpose of making public explanation of the proposed Master Land Use Plan and receiving public comments and recommendations regarding the Plan; and WHEREAS, the Chikaming Township Planning Commission has given due consideration to public comments presented at that hearing, a public record of which is on file with the Township Clerk; BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, the Chikaming Township Planning Commission hereby approves and adopts the Chikaming Township Master Land Use Plan, dated October 10, 1992, as the plan required by the aforementioned state legislative acts to encourage and guide future change in the township in an orderly manner. , �rl 2 RESOLVED ON THIS TENTH DAY OF OCTOBER 1992 AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING VOTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS: Yes Jim Bohac Albert Chapman Jeanne Dudeck Wesley Lind Mary Margel Louis Price Frank Sims No Absent X X X X X X ~ X hac, Chairman, Planning mission • • � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wyckoff Planning and Zoning Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Planning & Zoning Center (Lansing, Mich.) (Organization) Wyckoff, Mark A. Description An account of the resource Municipal master plans and zoning ordinances from across the state of Michigan, spanning from the 1960s to the early 2020s. The bulk of the collection was compiled by urban planner Mark Wyckoff over the course of his career as the founder and principal planner of the Planning and Zoning Center in Lansing, Michigan. Some additions have been made to the collection by municipalities since it was transferred to Grand Valley State University. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1960/2023 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Comprehensive plan publications Master plan reports Zoning--Michigan Zoning--Maps Maps Land use--planning Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-240 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Chikaming-Twp_Master-Land-Use-Plan_1992 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Chikaming Township Planning Commission Chikaming Township Master Plan Committee Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1992-10-10 Title A name given to the resource Chikaming Township Master Land Use Plan 1992-2012 Description An account of the resource The Chikaming Township Master Land Use Plan 1992-2012 was prepared by the Chikaming Township Planning Commission and the Chikaming Township Master Plan Committee with assistance from The WBDC Group and was adopted on October 10, 1992. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource The WBDC Group (consultant) Subject The topic of the resource Master plan reports Chikaming Township (Mich.) Berrien County (Mich.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/56fdb1c016379b6620bccc75bf08ba5a.mp4 85e74e83b313354a149a4989608bc0b4 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7f1a9660bb482801914ff5376a6c78bd.pdf 1ef49ac73847a4279c6755ebfe52fe69 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans' History Project James H. Childress World War II Tape Length: 19 minutes 3 seconds Interview Length: 18 minutes 12 seconds (00:00:07) Enlisting in the Navy -Enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school -Worked for three months after graduating from high school and before enlisting -Worked seven days a week and made $130 a week -Made more than his father at the time -Tried to get as much living in as possible before he enlisted -Enlisted in the Navy in October 1943 (00:01:21) Training -Went to Detroit and boarded a train -Taken to Spokane, Washington -Got processed and went through orientation there -Sent to Great Lakes Naval Station, Illinois for Quartermaster School -Issued seventy two hour leave passes -Would go up to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to a Navy club there -Given sandwiches, beer, and tickets to movies -Would come back to base Sunday night tired and hungover -Sent to Little Creek, Virginia for Amphibious Training -Remembers that it was very hot -Most likely summer 1944 by now -Went swimming in jellyfish infested waters -About three quarters of the men that went swimming got stung -Got a Navy tattoo in Milwaukee -Didn't realize that he had gotten it until the next day (00:05:22) Deployment -Sent down to Houston, Texas to board a Landing Ship, Medium (LSM) -Had a crew of about seventy men -Worked in a shipyard for two weeks and enjoyed that -Took the LSM down to Galveston, Texas for the shakedown cruise and gunnery training -Making sure that it is ready for service -Sailed through the Panama Canal and up the West Coast to San Diego, California -Trained more in San Diego -Sailed from California to Hawaii -Spent about five weeks there -Practicing invasions with Marines (00:06:43) Invasion of Iwo Jima-February 1945 -Sailed for Iwo Jima -Stopped at Ulithi and Saipan -Saipan had just been liberated in the summer of 1944 �-Had tanks armed with flamethrowers -Most likely the M4A3R3 "Zippo" -Arrived at Iwo Jima at night and could see the Navy bombarding the island -Didn't think that anything could survive that -Loaded Marines, tanks, and jeeps onto landing craft and took them to the beach -After dropping off personnel and vehicles they would go back and get more -On one wave they forgot to pull up anchor and got stuck on the beach -Had to get pulled off the beach while they were being shot at -On another wave their landing craft got hit by a shell and they lost one of their engines -Managed to get off the beach, but then the second engine overheated -They had to be anchored offshore for three days -Eventually got towed to Saipan -At Saipan they were loaded onto a Landing Ship, Dock -It was landing ship that acted like a dry dock -Took three (or four) days to get repaired (00:10:53) Invasion of Okinawa-March 1945 -After getting repaired and rejoining the LSM they sailed up to Okinawa -Saw a lot of kamikazes hitting ships -Received some antiaircraft training in an attempt to defend themselves from the kamikazes -A ship that had been heavily damaged was turned into a dummy target for the Japanese -Loaded with burning oil barrels to simulate smoke stacks -Armed with remote controlled machine guns to simulate antiaircraft crews -Looked like a real ship and drew the kamikazes away from the real ships -The LSM that he was aboard got hit by a kamikaze as he was preparing to take a shower -Ship sank in only ten minutes -He immediately got dressed and gathered whatever he could -The captain gave the order to abandon ship -Remembers that the rafts were overloaded with survivors -Decided that it would be better to just start swimming towards shore -Got picked up by another American ship -Wound up being given a bed beneath where the 5in. guns were -Eventually got transferred to another ship (00:16:49) Coming Home and End of the War -He was placed on another ship and sent back to the United States -Remembers pulling into San Francisco and being processed -Given a new uniform and new clothing -Sent home for thirty days -While he was home the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan -He was also home when Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945 -People were stopping their cars in the middle of the street to hear the news -Remembers strangers hugging each other, overjoyed with the war's end �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27_ChildressJ1752V Title A name given to the resource Childress, James Harold (Interview outline and video), 2015 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2015-04-25 Description An account of the resource James H. Childress enlisted in the Navy in October 1943. He trained in Spokane, Washington Great Lakes Naval Station, Illinois (for Quartermaster School) and Little Creek, Virginia for amphibious training. He joined a Landing Ship, Medium crew in Houston, Texas and trained with them before sailing out into the South Pacific. He took part in the invasion of Iwo Jima and after that the invasion of Okinawa where he survived the sinking of his ship. He was sent home later that summer and was home during the dropping of the atomic bombs and Japan's subsequent surrender on August 15, 1945. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Childress, James Harold Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Childress, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Veterans Video recordings World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American United States. Navy Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Moving Image Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/b24f9329946a800bfb20ce59d7f2be8f.pdf c287b693d489e86a108a0bcd3f824d05 PDF Text Text Native American Oral Histories Gi-gikinomaage-min Project Interview: Jeff Chivis Interviewer: Belinda Bardwell Date: October 10, 2016 [Lin] Okay so I am recording an interview with Jeff Chivis. My name is Lin Bardwell. The date is 10/10/16. Jeff can you tell us a little bit about yourself? [Jeff] Yeah, I am a professor at Grand Valley State University. I finished my dissertation at Michigan State University and I studied the Middle Woodland communities of West Michigan, Northwest Indiana, and Norton Mounds is one of the sites that was part of my dissertation research. [Lin] So the purpose of this interview too, is to help with us writing an article connecting or disconnecting the community, currently here historically, um, in the Grand Rapids area to those of the Norton Mounds. Is there - what is the full argument for the disconnect between them and us and is there a scientific proof that does connect us to those of the Norton Mounds? [Jeff] Well first off I wouldn't say that there's a disconnect. Perhaps. I think the better way to look at is that there's no way to clearly state that those people were the ancestors of people, Native people, living in Michigan now. And more specifically tribes of today. So Potawatami, Ojibwa, Odawa peoples. Those, the people who lived in Norton Mounds could have been related not only to us but other tribes in the Midwest and, you know, elsewhere. So the issue is trying to draw a cultural link from artifacts that were created, you know, two thousand years ago and applying those links to modern day people and that's where the issue is. We can't determine archaeologically whether or not those people with the ancestors of a specific tribe in this area. [Lin] Okay. Why do you say two thousand years? [Jeff] That's the day of the Norton Mounds. It dates to about 10 B.C. so we're looking about two thousand years ago. [Lin] Okay, how does the Mounds get the name Norton? [Jeff] I believe it was one of the land owners who own the property when it was first excavated. [Lin] So I know they're also connected to the Hopewellian people. Where does that name come from? �[Jeff] [Lin] Uh, the Hopewell site in Ohio. Essentially that um, it's a time period where there's a vast trade network in all of Eastern North America including the construction of burial mounds. Some of the more elaborate types of artifacts that we see that are included in those mounds. So, yeah, it comes from the Hopewell site. The type site for the Hopewell time period. So the Hopewell time period. Where did - I read somewhere that came from that original land owner, his last name. [Jeff] Hopewell. [Lin] Hopewell. Okay. Is there another term that could be associated with this, Hopewellian name? [Jeff] There a lot of local expressions throughout the Eastern United States that they're also known by. We have the Norton tradition, the Converse tradition here in Michigan. We have, you know, other traditions around you know Eastern United States, but they're all essentially hope Hopewell people having Hopewell characteristics of burial mounds and sort of long-distance trade networks. [Lin] Are there other mounds that may not exist anymore, or still exist that are connected also with the Norton Mounds and the Hopewellian Mounds of Ohio? Is that what you said, Ohio? [Jeff] Yep, Ohio and Illinois. Culturally the people in West Michigan here in Norton Mounds were more closely related, based on cultural similarities and artifacts, they are most closely related to those people in Illinois and Indiana [Lin] Okay. [Jeff] It's only later on that we see the strong influence from Ohio. [Lin] Okay. Um, so. You are a native person, correct? [Jeff] Yes. Yes. [Lin] Do you have a tribal affiliation? [Jeff] Yes, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi. [Lin] And you are a native archaeologist. In your studies, do you feel that there's a difference between native and non-native archaeologist when looking at and studying the Norton Mounds or the mounds? �[Jeff] [Lin] That's a tough question. I think native archaeologists have a stronger connection to to the mounds, of course, because of our history. But I think sometimes nonnative archaeologists could not really consider strongly enough the opinions of native people and native archaeologists. What is important to you about the mounds? [Jeff] Well I think it really is proof of a long history of our people in this region, and I think it can be a really important teaching site. The place, it's still place that's used by modern Native American people for prayer. So I think it's, and considering that it's one of the few remaining mounds sites in West Michigan still that date to that time period, it's really important. [Lin] Why do you think history wants to separate them, as people, connected to us, as current citizens? [Jeff] I think part of the problem has to do with the dichotomy of, you know, the very words history versus pre-history. History, basically according to that structure begins with the arrival of Christopher Columbus and everything thereafter. Whereas the word pre-history sort of, almost relegated to something less than the history itself. So, I think that's really a problem, that you see it in the literature, and even in academia where archaeologists are talking pre-history versus history. But I think that's one of the main issues that's should get rectified eventually. [Lin] What impact do you think it has on native people today, when our, when the native people's communities before Christopher Columbus, is considered prehistory? [Jeff] Well I think, I think it's insulting for one. And I think more contemporary scholarship basically has attempted to do away with that term. And instead, we use the term pre-Columbian, and we don't even use pre-history any more. [Lin] Okay. Anything else you'd like to add about the Norton Mounds that I didn't ask you? [Jeff] No, not really. [Lin] So you said the mounds are created, or have been dated, back to two thousand those of the Norton Mounds in Grand Rapids, correct? [Jeff] Two thousand years ago. Yes, 10 B.C. [Lin] And how are those mounds created? �[Jeff] Well basically using different types of dirt, and successively building different layers to create the mound. In the middle there's sort of a central crypt area, and here I'll show ya. [papers rustling] So this the plan view, or the profile of, a mound. Essentially most of the mounds in Michigan were buried this way just like in Illinois and Indiana. In Ohio and they're different. So, anyway you have different types of gravel and different types of dirt and so they're used to build up. You have a ramp here. The barrows would have been in the central crypt area as well as most of the other artifacts. Sometimes barrows were included in the ramp area as well. [Lin] So how did we, how did we figure this out? How do you know that this is the cut through, slice through, of the mound? [Jeff] Because the University of Michigan conducted those excavations and they essentially dug trenches in the middle of those mounds. So, you can see the stratigraphy, or different layers, successive layers that accumulated. So that's where those drawings are coming from, from those excavations. [Lin] How does that make you feel as an archaeologist? [Jeff] Well, it's certainly something that wouldn't be practice today. Especially in Michigan here. I think archaeologists are well aware that, you know, digging into burial mounds is no longer fashionable or acceptable. But back then, it certainly was. And that's, unfortunately that happened, but we are able to gain some information that we otherwise would not have had. [Lin] Right, it's a delicate balance between wanting to know, and wanting to be respectful. [Jeff] That's right. [Lin] How does that make you feel, as Anishinaabe? [Jeff] I, I really don't. Like I said, the political, I mean politically it was entirely different back then, in the sixties and fifties. So I don't really hold anything against those individuals really. [Lin] How many - [Jeff] Like I said it's nothing that would be done today. [Lin] Right. How many mounds do you think we've lost? Is there a way to tell? �[Jeff] Well almost all of them. Like I said, Norton Mounds is one of the few, if not the only, mounds that are still standing today. There are some in Muskegon River Valley near Newaygo. There's a couple other smaller sites. All the most important burial mounds, they've been bulldozed, either for building cities or looters came and essentially destroyed them. [Lin] Right. Is it the Norton Mounds that were first excavated or started to be dug into in the eighteen hundreds? [Jeff] Yep, by looters. Yeah. [Lin] Okay. [Jeff] And, but that that was common everywhere for all the mounds in the area. [Lin] Does Grand Valley State University have any other holdings in their collections? [Jeff] No. [Lin] No. they've all been - [Jeff] Everything's been repatriated or dispositioned - [Lin] dispositioned? [Jeff] back to the tribes. [Lin] What about other universities, such as Michigan State, U. of M.? [Jeff] Related to Norton Mounds? [Lin] No, funeral, you know, funerary. [Jeff] I believe most of the universities in Michigan have returned those back to the to the tribes. There are universities in Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio especially, where they needs to be a lot more work done. They have many artifacts and even our ancestors still. [Lin] Okay. Alright. Anything else? Alright. Thanks Jeff � https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c46a8097dbf1e7695d08f91bc8097d58.mp3 5745b8be373ccb81f1c8a9f9ccaded08 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Gi-gikinomaage-min Interviews Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. Native American Advisory Council Grand Valley State University. Kustche Office of Local History Description An account of the resource Interviews with members of Grand Rapids' urban Native American population collected as part of the Gi-gikinomaage-min Project: Defend Our History, Unlock Your Spirit. Translated from Anishinaabemowin, the original language of this area, Gi-gikinomaage-min means "We are all teachers." This is the name our project team choose to convey to the Native American community that through our stories and experiences, we are all teachers to someone. As we share those stories, we are allowing for our next generations to experience the past. Grand Rapids’ Native American community grew dramatically in the last half of the 20th century as a result of a little-known federal program that still impacts American Indian lives today. Called the Urban Relocation Program, it created one of the largest mass movements of Indians in American history. The full scope of this massive social experiment and its impact on multiple generations of Native Americans remains largely undocumented and unexplored. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2015/2016 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Gi-gikinomaage-min Project Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Subject The topic of the resource Indians of North America Indians of North America--Michigan Indians of North America--Education Potawatomi Indians Bode'wadmi Ojibwa Indians Anishinaabe Navajo Indians Dine'e Cherokee Indians Tsagali Aniyunwiya Archaeology Mound-builders Hopewellian culture Indian arts--North America Personal narrativse Grand Rapids (Mich.) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-10 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 video/mp4 application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Moving Image Text Language A language of the resource eng Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-10_Chivas_Jeffrey Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Chivis, Jeffrey Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2016-10-10 Title A name given to the resource Jeffrey Chivis interview (audio and transcript) Description An account of the resource Jeffrey Chivis is a member of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, and is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Chivis graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Grand Valley State University (GVSU), and obtained his master’s degree and Ph.D. in Anthropology from Michigan State University (MSU). He is a professional archaeologist with a focus on historic preservation and the pre-Columbian archaeology of the Eastern United States. Previously, Chivis worked as a professor at MSU, GVSU, and Grand Rapids Community College, teaching courses on the diversity of Native American societies in North America and contemporary issues affecting Native American people. Dr. Chivis also previously worked for NHBP, creating its Cultural and Historic Preservation Office, Tribal Historic Preservation Office, and repatriation program. In this interview, Chivis discusses Native archeological sites in the Midwest and in Michigan. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Bardwell, Belinda (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Potawatomi Indians Bode'wadmi Personal narratives Grand Rapids (Mich.) Archaeology Mound-builders Hopewellian culture Indians of North America Indians of North America--Michigan Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Gi-gikinomaage-min Project Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio/mp3 application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a54ef80a1876c305cd42a690b15d373f.pdf e6557d41a5ce693fac7c4d394e36a02a PDF Text Text �August 24, 2005 Dennis Stachewicz, Director of Planning and Community Development Charter Township of Chocolay 5010 US 41 south Marquette, Ml 49855 Dear Dennis: Enclosed please find five copies of the Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan-2005. Also enclosed is a CD with ~ MSWord and PDF files. It has been a great pleasure working with you and the Chocolay Township community in the preparation of the Plan. We hope it makes a difference in how Chocolay Township develops in the future. Sincerely, Enclosure John: t/winwo~chocolay/final plan letter.doc PLANNING & ZONING CENTER, INC. 715 N. Cedar St.• Lansing, Ml 48906-5206 • ph (517) 886-05 fax (517) 886-0564 • Web Site: www.pzcente r.co~ , �The Charter Township of Chocolay COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Prepared Under the Direction of the Chocolay Township Planning Commission By the Planning & Zoning Center, Inc. 715 N. Cedar Street, Suite 2 Lansing, Ml 48906-5275 517/886-0555 Ph. 517/886-0564 Fax www.pzcenter.com with assistance from Dennis Stachewicz Staff Support to the Planning Commission Director of Planning and Community Development 2005 �CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP BOARD OFFICIALS (elected) Greg Seppanen, Supervisor Arlene E. Hill, Clerk John S. Greenberg, Treasurer CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES Ken Tabor John L. Trudeau Dan Maki Don Britton, Jr. CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Bill Sanders, Chairman Mike LaPointe, Vice-Chair Estelle DeVooght, Secretary Steve Kinnunen, Vice-Secretary Scott Emerson Ken Tabor Tom Shaw PLANNING & ZONING CENTER, INC. ASSOCIATES Mark A. Wyckoff, FAICP, President John Warbach, Ph.D., Principal Carolyn A. Freebury, Vice President Andrea Hoag, Research Associate Evan Cunningham, Research Associate �TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Demographics ... .. ... .... .. ...... ................. ...... ...... ......... .......... ......................... 1-1 lntroduction ........................ ... ............... ...... ............................ .. .... .... ...... ... ... .... ...... ........ .. . 1-1 Demographics ..... ... ... ...... .... .. .... ...... ...... ........................................................................... 1-1 Total Population .. .. ..... ... ..... .... ....... ............................. ................................................. . 1-1 Population Projection .. ... .. .. .. .. ....... ... ... .. ..... .......... .. .............. ... .. ... ... ...... ..... ... ........ .. ..... 1-2 Chapter 2: Economy ...... ..... ... .. ... ... .. ............ ................. .......... ..... .... ..... ...... ............ ........ 2-1 Introduction ............ .... ..... .. ... .. ...................... ..... .. .. ....... ......... ... ..... .. ......... ..... .. .. ........... ... .. 2-1 Area Economy ......... ........... ... ........ .... ...... ........ .... ............... ..... .. .. ....... .... .... .. .................... 2-1 County Employment ... ....... .. ... ................ ............................... .. ... ........ ........................ . 2-1 Chocolay Township Employment ......... .... ................................................................... 2-2 Unemployment ......................................... ........................... ..... .. .. ..... .......................... 2-3 Poverty ......... .................. ... .... ........ .. ..... ................................... .................................... 2-4 SEV of Different Land Use Categories .... ... ....... .... ...................................................... 2-6 Issues and Problems ....... ...... .... .... .......... ...................................... ... .. ... ... ....... .. .. .... ... ... ... 2-7 Chapter 3: Housing .. ..... ..... .. ......... .. .. ... .... .......... ............ .................... ............................ 3-1 Introduction ................ ..... .. .... ......... .... ... .... .... .... ...... ... ...... ............ ............. ........................ 3-1 Housing Types ........... ...... ........ .................. .... ... ........................... ... .. .. ........ .. ... ... .............. 3-1 Age of Housing ... .. .... ... ... .. ... ... .. ................. ..... ........................................ .......................... 3-4 Housing Values .. .. .. ...... ........ .... ....... ....... ...... .... ..... ..... ...................................................... 3-5 Size of Families Occupying Chocolay Township Housing ............... .. ...... .. ........................ 3-6 Housing in the Future ....... .... ... .. ......................................................... ........................ ...... 3-7 Chapter 4: Natural Features ............ ... .. .... ..... ... ...... ................. ........ .. ....... .... .... .... .. ....... 4-1 Introduction .... .... ..... .. .. ... ...... .... .. ... .. .. ............. ........................................... ..................... ... 4-1 Natural Features .......................... ... .. ........... ... .. ...... ...................... .......... ..... .. ... ... .. ........... 4-2 Bedrock Geology ........ ......... .. .... .. .. .. ... .. ... ..... ... ... .. ..................... .... ..... ....... .. ............... 4-2 Surface Geology ... ... ................................. .............................. ... .. .... ......... .. ... ............. 4-2 Glacial Lake Plain .............. .... .. ... ....... ........... .... .. .. ... ................... ................................ 4-5 End or Recessional Moraine ... ... .. ..... .. ..... .. ................................................................. 4-5 Glacial Till - Bedrock ..................... ........... .. ......... .................... .. ..... .. ... ............ .. ......... 4-5 Soils ............... ........ ............ ........................ .................. ...... ..... ......... ...... ... ......... ..... ... . 4-5 Mineral Deposits .. ..... ..... ...... ...... ... .... ... .. ......... ................. .... .. ..................................... 4-8 Topography ... .... ... ... ..... .... ... ... ................... .. .................... .. .... ......... .. ..... .. .... .. ... ... .. ...... 4-9 Water Features and Watersheds ..... ... ... ... .................................. .. ....................... ........ 4-11 Wetlands .................. .......... ...... .... .... ......... .. ... ...... ................. .......... .................... ........ 4-12 Floodplains ...... ...... ............ .... ...................... ....................... ... .. ... .... .... .... ...... .. .. .......... 4-12 Shoreland Features .............. .................. ....... .... ............... ........................................... 4-13 Observations .... ....... ........... ...... ..... .............................................................................. 4-18 Chapter 5: Existing Land Use ... ............. ..... ..... ............................................................. 5-1 Introduction .. ................. .. .... ............................ ... ....................... ......... ..... ...... .... .......... .. .. .. 5-1 Land Use/Land Cover in Chocolay Township ... .. .. .. .. .................... .................................... 5-3 Urban and Built Up ... .. ... .. .. ... ... ......... ............ ..... .... ...................................................... 5-3 Agricultural Land ... .. ...... .. ........................................................ ... ................. .... ..... ... .... 5-3 Open Land or Rangeland ....... .... .... ... ... .. ..... .. ...... ..... ................................................... 5-3 Forest Land ............................ .... ........ .... ...... ... .. .. ................ ................ ........................ 5-4 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 �TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Water .......................................................................................................................... 5-4 Wetlands ..................................................................................................................... 5-5 Barren ......................................................................................................................... 5-5 Land Use by Tax Class ..................................................................................................... 5-5 Relationship of Land Use/Cover Inventory to Land Use by Tax Class Inventory and Other Information ................................................................................... 5-8 Chapter 6: Public Facilities and Services .................................................................... 6-1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 6-1 Township Administration ................................................................................................... 6-1 Community Center ...................................................................................................... 6-4 Public Works .................................................................................................................... 6-4 Wastewater Facilities .................................................................................................. 6-4 Water Facilities ........................................................................................................... 6-6 Solid Waste/Recycling ...................................................................................................... 6-6 Utilities .............................................................................................................................. 6-7 Emergency Services ......................................................................................................... 6-7 Police .......................................................................................................................... 6-7 Fire ............................................................................................................................. 6-8 Ambulance .................................................................................................................. 6-8 Health Care ...................................................................................................................... 6-9 Education ......................................................................................................................... 6-9 Recreation Facilities ......................................................................................................... 6-1 O Township Owned Recreation Properties ..................................................................... 6-11 Other Public and Private Recreation Sites .................................................................. 6-16 County Lands and Facilities .............................................................................................. 6-18 State Lands and Facilities ................................................................................................. 6-18 Escanaba River State Forest ...................................................................................... 6-18 Marquette Branch Correctional Facility, Mangum Farm ............................................... 6-18 Michigan Department of Transportation (MOOT) ......................................................... 6-19 Department of Natural Resources Marquette State Fish Hatchery .............................. 6-19 Federal Facilities .............................................................................................................. 6-20 Chapter 7: Transportation ............................................................................................. 7-1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 7-1 Transportation Modes ....................................................................................................... 7-1 Classification Roads ......................................................................................................... 7-2 Transportation Decision Making ....................................................................................... 7-7 Access Management ........................................................................................................ 7-8 Traffic Volumes ............................................................................................................ 7-1 O Traffic Crashes ............................................................................................................. 7-10 Driveway Closures/Consolidations ............................................................................... 7-11 Interconnected Streets ...................................................................................................... 7-11 Public Road Conditions and Improvements ...................................................................... 7-12 Existing Road Improvements ....................................................................................... 7-13 Boulevard on US-41/M-28 ............................................................................................ 7-14 New Roads .................................................................................................................. 7-16 Private Road Conditions and Improvements ..................................................................... 7-19 Mass Transit ..................................................................................................................... 7-20 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 ii �TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Future Trails ..................................................................................................................... 7-21 Capital Improvements Program ........................................................................................ 7-21 Potential Plants for Use Along Streets and Highways ...................... ................................. 7-22 Chapter 8: Vision, Goals, Policies, and Objectives ..................................................... 8-1 Introduction ........................................................ ............................................................... 8-1 Vision Statement .............................................................................................................. 8-1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 8-1 Proactive Planning and Sustainability .......................................................................... 8-2 Quality of Life: Impressions, Standards and Visual Character ...................................... 8-3 Quality of Life: Close to the City but Retaining Rural Qualities ..................................... 8-4 Quality of Life: Neighborhoods ..................................................................................... 8-5 Quality of Life: Access to Opportunities ...... .................................................................. 8-5 Quality of Life: Recreation ............................................................................................ 8-6 Quality of Life: Urban Infrastructure ............................................. .... ............................. 8-6 Quality of Life: Enrichment ........................................................................................... 8-7 Goals, Policies and Objectives ......................................................................................... 8-7 Balanced Growth ......................................................................................................... 8-7 Housing/Residential ..................................................................................................... 8-8 Commercial .... .... ... .... ...... ............................................................................................. 8-15 Industrial ...................................................................................................................... 8-17 Transportation .............................................................................................................. 8-18 Economy ...................................................................................................................... 8-20 Natural Features ................. .. ..... .................................................................................. 8-21 Recreation ................................................................................................................... 8-22 Community Facilities .................................................................................................... 8-24 Community Character .................................................................................................. 8-26 Chapter 9: Areas of Particular Concern ....................................................................... 9-1 Introduction ......... .. ............................................................................................................ 9-1 Proposed Areas of Particular Concern in Chocolay Township .......................................... 9-2 Natural Areas of Particular Concern ............................................................................ 9-2 Cultural Areas of Particular Concern ........................................................................... 9-6 Management Techniques for Chocolay Township's Proposed Areas of Particular Concern ...................................................................................................................... 9-7 Natural Areas of Particular Concern ............................................................................ 9-8 Environmental Areas ............................................................................................. 9-8 Wilderness and Natural/Scientific Areas ................................................................ 9-8 Geologic Formations ............................................................................................. 9-9 Flood Areas ........................................................................................................... 9-10 Erosion Areas ........................................................................................................ 9-10 Shorelands ............................................................................................................ 9-1 O Lakes ..................................................................................................................... 9-11 Rivers and Streams ............................................................................................... 9-11 Prime Agricultural Lands ........................................................................................ 9-12 Prime Forested Lands ........................................................................................... 9-12 Mineral Resources ................................................................................................. 9-13 Cultural Areas of Particular Concern ........................................................................... 9-13 Aesthetic Areas ..................................................................................................... 9-13 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 iii �TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Recreation Areas ................................................................................................... 9-14 Historic Areas ........................................................................................................ 9-14 Urbanizing Areas ................................................................................................... 9-15 Chapter 10: Future Land Use & Infrastructure Management ...................................... 10-1 lntroduction ....................................................................................................................... 10-1 Purpose of the Chapter. .................................................................................................... 10-1 Future Land Uses ............................................................................................................. 10-3 Agriculture-Forestry ..................................................................................................... 10-3 Agriculture ............................................................................................................. 10-4 Forest Management .............................................................................................. 10-5 Residential .................................................................................................................. 10-5 Rural Residential ................................................................................................... 10-6 Lakeshore Residential ........................................................................................... 10-6 Single Family Residential ...................................................................................... 10-7 Multiple Family Residential .................................................................................... 10-8 Nonresidential ............................................................................................................. 10-8 Commercial ........................................................................................................... 10-8 Industrial ................................................................................................................ 10-9 Local Public Lands ................................................................................................ 10-9 Areas of Particular Concern ........................................................................................ 10-9 Natural Areas of Particular Concern ...................................................................... 10-9 Cultural Areas of Particular Concern ...................................................................... 10-10 Special Corridors ........................................................................................................ 10-10 Land Use in Area Along M-28 East of the Intersection of US-41/M-28 ................... 10-10 Land Use in Area Along Us-41 South of the Intersection of US-41/M-28 ............... 10-11 US-41/M-28 West of the Intersection ..................................................................... 10-11 Infrastructure Management ............................................................................................... 10-12 Road Improvement Strategies ..................................................................................... 10-12 Sewer and Water Strategies ....................................................................................... 10-13 Recreation .................................................................................................................. 10-15 Entryway Strategies .................................................................................................... 10-15 Budgeting Strategies ................................................................................................... 10-16 Relationship to Future Land Use Plans and Zoning in Adjoining Jurisdictions .................. 10-16 Onota Township Plan .................................................................................................. 10-17 Rock River Township .................................................................................................. 10-17 Skandia Township Zoning ........................................................................................... 10-18 West Branch Township Zoning .................................................................................... 10-18 Sands Township Zoning .............................................................................................. 10-18 City of Marquette Plan and Zoning .............................................................................. 10-18 Marquette County Comprehensive Plan ..................................................................... . Chapter 11: Zoning Plan ............................................................................................... 11-1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 11-1 What is a Zoning Plan? ..................................................................................................... 11-1 Relationship to Comprehensive Plan Update .................................................................... 11-1 Districts and Dimensional Standards ................................................................................ 11-1 Zoning Districts ................................................................................................................. 11-1 Residential Districts ..................................................................................................... 11-1 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 iv �TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Commercial and Industrial Districts ............................................................................. 11-2 Resource Production District.. ..................................................................................... 11-3 Open Space District .................................................................................................... 11-3 Public Lands Zoning District.. ...................................................................................... 11-3 Planned Unit Development District .............................................................................. 11-3 Recommendations ............................................................................................................ 11-4 Chapter 12: Plan Implementation ................................................................................. 12-1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 12-1 Focusing on Priorities ....................................................................................................... 12-1 Annual Tasks .................................................................................................................... 12-1 Top Priorities .................................................................................................................... 12-1 APPENDICES Appendix A: 2000 Census Demographic Profile, Chocolay Township .............................. A-1 Appendix B: Summary of Major Soil Series in Chocolay Township .................................. B-1 Appendix C: Chocolay Township Transportation Planning ............................................... C-1 LIST OF MAPS 4-1 4-2 4-3 4-4 4-5 5-1 5-2 6-1 6-2 7-1 Surface Geology in Chocolay Township ................................................................... 4-4 Chocolay Township Topography .............................................................................. 4-10 Watersheds and Water Features .............................................................................. 4-14 Floodplains in Chocolay Township ........................................................................... 4-15 High Risk Erosion Areas in Chocolay Township ....................................................... 4-17 Existing Land Use/Cover, 2004 ................................................................................ 5-2 Chocolay Township Land Use by Tax Class ............................................................. 5-6 Chocolay Township Public Facilities ......................................................................... 6-3 Chocolay Township Existing and Planned Sewer Service Area ................................ 6-5 Roads in Chocolay Township According to the National Functional Classification System ............................................................................................... 7-5 7-2 2003 Average Daily Traffic Volumes on Major Arterials ............................................ 7-10 7-3 Proposed General Location of New Public Roads .................................................... 7-18 9-1 Chocolay Township Areas of Concern Map .............................................................. 9-5 9-2 Road Crossings of Streams in the Chocolay River Watershed ................................. 9-12 10-1 Future Land Use ....................................................................................................... 10-2 10-2 Public Sewer and Water Service Area Map Beyond 2025 ........................................ 10-14 LIST OF TABLES 1-1 Population of Chocolay Township and Surrounding Communities, 1980-2000 ......... 1-1 1-2 Population Projection for Chocolay Township and Adjoining Jurisdictions Based on 1980-2000 Census ................................................................................... 1-3 2-1 Marquette County Employment by Category, 1940-2002 .......................................... 2-1 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 V �TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 2-2 Type of Employment in Chocolay Township , Persons 16 and Over, 2000 ........ ..... ... 2-3 2-3 Chocolay Township and Neighboring Communities Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment, 2004 .. ........ ....... ... ... .. .......... ............... ...................................... 2-4 2-4 Poverty Status of Persons in Chocolay Township .... ....................................... ... ....... 2-5 2-5 Chocolay Township SEV, 1995 and 2003 .... .................. ... ................................. ... ... . 2-7 3-1 Housing Characteristics, 2000 ..... ........ ... ........ ... ................ ....................................... 3-1 3-2 Types of Housing in Chocolay Township, 2000 ..... ... .. ... ... ... .. .... ............................... 3-3 3-3 Longevity of Occupancy of Housing in Chocolay Township, 2000 ... ... ... .... ............... 3-4 3-4 Age of Housing Units in Chocolay Township, 2000 ............... ........ ... ... ........ ...... ........ 3-5 3-5 Average Rent in Chocolay Township, 2000 .......... ....................... ........ ..................... 3-6 3-6 Owner-Occupied Housing Value in Chocolay Township, 2000 ........ ....... ....... .... ....... 3-6 3-7 Occupied Housing Family Size in Chocolay Township, 2000 .... ..... .. ....... ...... .... ........ 3-7 4-1 Soil Suitability for Urban Uses in Chocolay Township ....... ................... .... ...... ... .. .. .. .. 4-7 4-2 Soil Suitability for Resource Production Uses in Chocolay Township ......... ....... ...... .. 4-7 4-3 Prime Farmland Soils in Chocolay Township .... ....... ... ....... ... ....... ... .......................... 4-7 4-4 Hydric Soils in Chocolay Township .... ........... .... .... ............... ............ ......................... 4-8 5-1 Summary of Land Use/Cover Types for Chocolay Township .... ....... ...... ..... ..... ......... 5-3 5-2 Land Use by Tax Class in Chocolay Township, 2003 ...................... .............. ........... 5-7 6-1 Chocolay Township Employees .............. ............ ......................................... .. .... .. ..... 6-2 6-2 Chocolay Township Recreation Facilities .... ...... .. .. ... ... .. ...... .. .. ........................ ...... ... 6-11 10-1 Relationship Between Future Land Use and Zoning District Categories ................... 10-3 11-1 Chocolay Township Zoning District Regulations, 2005 ...... .. .. ....... .. ... ....................... 11-4 LIST OF FIGURES 7-1 Design Characteristics of Types of Roads ...... ... ...... .......... .. ... ...... ..... ....................... 7-3 7-2 Functional Classification of Roads ... ..... .... ... ..... ........ ... ........ .... ..... ...... .... .. ............ .... 7-4 7-3 Interconnected Streets ..... .... ..................................................................... .............. .. 7-12 7-4 Proposed Boulevard Cross Section for US-41/M-28 as It Goes Through Harvey ...... 7-16 7-5 Marquette/Sawyer/Gwinn Route of Marq-Tran ..... .... ... .. .................... ........ ... ............. 7-20 10-1 Cluster Subdivision Compared to Other Land Division Options on the Same Land .. . 10-7 10-2 Adjoining Jurisdictions ...... ....... ......... ... ................................................................... .. 10-17 LIST OF PHOTOS 1-1 Chocolay Township is Likely to Experience a Significant Portion of Marquette County Growth .... ............ ............... .......... ... .... .............. .... ...... ....... .. .... .................... 1-2 1-2 Trail Users in Chocolay Townsh ip ............ ..... .. .. .. ............ ... ........ ...... ...... .. .. .. ... ......... 1-4 2-1 Recent Developments in the Greater Harvey Area have Increased Local Employment .. ... .. ......... .......... ...... ... ........... ................... ................................... 2-2 2-2 The Primary Source of Tax Base in Chocolay Township is Residential Land Use .... 2-6 2-3 Residents Desire an Expanded Job Center in the Northwestern Part of the Township ............... ... ...... .. .. .. ... ........... ... .. ......... ................... ........................... 2-8 3-1 Housing in Harvey ........................ .... ................. .. ....... ....... .. .......... ...... .... .. ..... ... .. ... .. 3-2 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 vi �TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 3-2 3-3 3-4 4-1 4-2 4-3 4-4 4-5 4-6 4-7 5-1 5-2 5-3 5-4 6-1 6-2 6-3 Manufactured Home, Beaver Grove ......................................................................... 3-3 Condominium Housing at Chocolay Downs .............................................................. 3-7 Chocolay Township Farmstead ................................................................................ 3-8 Chocolay River ......................................................................................................... 4-1 Rocky Section of Lake Superior Shore ..................................................................... 4-3 Hills in the Green Garden Hill Area ........................................................................... 4-9 Flowage Between Lake Levasseur and Lake Kawbawgam ...................................... 4-11 Wetland Area Along Lake Kawbawgam .................................................................... 4-12 Lake Superior Shoreline ........................................................................................... 4-13 Marquette State Fish Hatchery Outlet at Cherry Creek ............................................. 4-18 Homestead Golf Course is One Example of Many Different Land Uses .................... 5-1 Agricultural Land in Chocolay Township ................................................................... 5-4 Forest Land Comprises the Largest Percentage of Land in Chocolay Township ....... 5-4 Natural Features Should be Protected in Order to Promote the Local Economy ....... 5-8 Chocolay Township Hall ........................................................................................... 6-1 Chocolay Township Vehicle ...................................................................................... 6-2 It May be Possible to Provide Public Water to the US-41/M-28 Corridor in the Future ............................................................................................................. 6-6 6-4 Chocolay Police Department Vehicle ........................................................................ 6-7 6-5 Dry Hydrant Along Lake Kawbawgam for Use in Fighting Fires ................................ 6-8 6-6 Cherry Creek Elementary School ............................................................................. 6-9 6-7 Beaver Grove Recreation Area ................................................................................. 6-10 6-8 Chocolay Township Marina and Boat Launch ........................................................... 6-12 6-9 Beaver Grove Recreation Area ................................................................................. 6-13 6-10 Skating Rink at Lions Club Park ............................................................................... 6-14 6-11 Kawbawgam Cross Country Ski Trail. ....................................................................... 6-15 6-12 Kawbawgam Pocket Park ......................................................................................... 6-16 6-13 DNR Dam that Forms Lake Levasseur Waterfowl Area ............................................ 6-17 6-14 Chocolay Downs Golf Course ................................................................................... 6-18 6-15 Mangum Prison Farm ............................................................................................... 6-19 6-16 Marquette State Fish Hatchery on Cherry Creek ...................................................... 6-19 6-17 U.S. Army Reserve Center in Harvey ....................................................................... 6-20 7-1 The Primary Transportation Mode in Chocolay Township is Vehicles on Public Roads ....................................................................................................... 7-1 7-2 M-28 is a Statewide Arterial ...................................................................................... 7-6 7-3 Kawbawgam Road, a Gravel Road in Chocolay Township ....................................... 7-7 7-4 Very Few Businesses Need Two Driveways ............................................................. 7-11 7-5 One Proposal Calls for Converting Part of US-41 /M-28 to a Boulevard .................... 7-14 7-6 All-Season Trails Need Improvements to Address Safety and Noise Issues ............. 7-21 8-1 Chocolay Residents Help Create the Vision for a Sustainable Community in 2025 ..................................................................................................................... 8-2 8-2 Chocolay Residents Envision "Lots of Green" as a Measure of a High Quality of Life ....................................................................................................................... 8-3 8-3 Visual and Recreational Access to the Lake Superior Shoreline Remains a Major Quality of Life Feature .................................................................................... 8-5 8-4 Recreational Opportunity Abounds in Chocolay Township ........................................ 8-6 8-5 New Development Should Occur Near Existing Development .................................. 8-8 8-6 Encourage Variety in the Housing Stock ................................................................... 8-9 8-7 Residential Developments Should Not Exceed Road Capacity ................................. 8-11 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 vii �TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 8-8 Vegetative Buffering Can Protect Scenic Quality ... ... ... .... ..... ... ... ... .. ...... ................... 8-13 8-9 Promote the Development of Small Commercial Centers Adjacent to Existing Commercial Development Such as Beaver Grove .. .. .. .. .. ...... .. .. .................. 8-15 8-10 Encourage Centrally Placed Parking Lots that Serve Several Businesses ...... .. ........ 8-16 8-11 Foster Visual Enhancement, Safety and Pedestrian and Bicycle Access at the Varvil Center ................ .... ...... ..... .. ... .. .... ........... ... .. ... .......... ................... ... ............... 8-17 8-12 Improve Pedestrian Safety and Access Along US-41/M-28 ...................................... 8-19 8-13 Encourage the Expansion of Retail, Wholesale and Service Businesses .. .. .. .. ...... ... . 8-20 8-14 Encourage the Preservation of Agricultural and Forest Production Areas .. .. .... ......... 8-21 8-15 Continue to Protect Sand Dune, High Risk Erosion Areas and Floodplains .............. 8-22 8-16 Promote a System of Non-Motorized Trails with Other Jurisdictions, Such as on this Abandoned Railroad Right-of-Way .. ...... .. .... .............. .. .. .. .... .... .. .... ...... .. ........ 8-23 8-17 Study the Feasibility of Keeping the Chocolay River Mouth Open ............................ 8-25 8-18 Encourage Preservation and Restoration of Historically Significant Structures ... ...... 8-26 8-19 Prepare and Implement a Scenic Character Preservation Plan for Chocolay Township .... .... ...... ... .. ....... .. ..... .. ..... ... ... ..... ... ...... ............. ....... .. ................ 8-27 9-1 Areas of Particular Concern Include Areas that are Irreplaceable, Fragile, Limited and have Unique Value ............. .... ..... .. ... ..... ....... ...... ... .... .. .. ....... ..... ... ... ... ............... 9-1 9-2 Chocolay Township has Significant Natural Areas of Particular Concern Such as Lake Le Vasseur ......................................................................................... . 9-2 9-3 Stream Crossing Stabilization on Chocolay River ............................ .. .......... ... ... ....... 9-4 9-4 Green Garden Area is an Aesthetic Area of Particular Concern ................................ 9-6 9-5 The Casino Area is an Urbanizing Area of Particular Concern .. ........ ... ... .. ...... .. .. .. .... 9-7 9-6 Management Concerns Over Wilderness and Natural/Scientific Areas, such as the Lake Le Vasseur Wetland Project Involves Working with State Agencies .......... .. 9-9 9-7 Protruding Bedrock Areas Are Notable in Good and Bad Weather ........................... 9-9 9-8 Protect Water Quality, Aesthetic Quality and Resource Integrity of Coastal Lakes and Rivers .. ....... ...... ...... ... ... ...... ...... ... ..... ....................... ....... .. ... ... ................. 9-11 9-9 Many Roads in Chocolay Township are Scenic, such as CR 480 .... .. .... .. ................. 9-14 9-10 Each Unique Historic Area Requires Individual Management .......... .... .. .. .. .... ....... .. .. 9-15 9-11 The Commercial Corridor of US-41/M-28 is an Area of Particular Concern ............... 9-16 9-12 The Casino Site has Little Frontage on M-28 .... .. .. .... .... ........... .. ......... .. .. .... .............. 9-17 10-1 Agriculture and Forestry ........................................ ...... .... ...... ................................... 10-4 10-2 Single Family is Expected to Continue as the Largest Housing Type ................ .. ...... 10-5 10-3 Small Expansions are Proposed to Existing Commercial Areas .. .. ............................ 10-8 10-4 All Public Lands, such as the Beaver Creek Recreation Area Should be Depicted on the Zoning Map ......................................................... ... ................. ........ 10-9 10-5 Land Use Along US-41 South of the US-41 /M-28 Intersection .................................. 10-11 10-6 Township Staff Works to Maintain and Improve Park and Recreation Services ........ 10-15 12-1 A Key Priority is to Study the Feasibility and Timing of Provision of a Public Water System to Serve the Northwest Portion of the Township, such as this Home in Harvey ......... .... ... .. ...... ......... .. ... .... ..... ... ... ....... .... .. .. .. ..... ..... ..... ............ 12-2 G:\WINWORD\PROJECTS\Chocolay Township\Draft Chapters 4-1-05 Final\TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 1 05 - F.doc (caf) The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 viii ��Chapter 1 DEMOGRAPHICS INTRODUCTION A basic component of the Comprehensive Plan is an analysis of demographics. It provides a profile of the people who live, work, and play in Chocolay Township. A thorough understanding of the people of Chocolay Township is a necessary basis for determining the future needs and opportunities of the community. The residents weave the cultural fabric of Chocolay Township; they demand its services, develop its lands, pay the taxes and ultimately determine the success of the Township. This chapter will examine the trends, composition and characteristics of Chocolay Township's population, and will conclude with a discussion ,of relative issues and problems. DEMOGRAPHICS Total Population A study of population trends is necessary for understanding the historic pattern of growth within communities. Past population fluctuations may provide insight to possible patterns of change in the future. The growth trends of Chocolay Township are compared with those adjoining units of government in Table 2-1. Table 1-1 Population of Chocolay Township and Surrounding Communities, 1980-2000 Community Chocolay Township Sands Township West Branch Township Skandia Township City of Marquette Marquette Township Marquette County State of Michigan 1980 1990 2000 Total Change 19802000 Change 19802000 Total Change 19902000 Change 19902000 5,685 6,025 6,095 +410 7% +70 1% 2,437 2,696 2,127 -310 -13% -569 -21% 2,166 2,241 1,648 -518 -24% -593 -26% 999 933 907 -92 -9% -26 -3% 23,288 21,977 20,714 -2,574 -11 % -1,263 -6% 2,669 2,757 3,286 +617 23% +529 19% 74,101 70,887 64,634 -9,467 -13% -6,253 -9% 9,262,078 9,295,297 9,938,444 676,366 7% 643,147 7% % % Source: U.S. Census Bureau , 2004 Note: Chocolay Township and Marquette City figures based on census figures as revised regarding Marquette Branch Prison population . The population of Chocolay Township increased by 41 0 persons between 1980 and 2000 to 6,095, according to the U.S. Census. See Table 1-1. This represents a 7% change during that time period. Within the same period, many of the communities that The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 1-1 �neighbor Chocolay Township experienced declines in population. The exception was Marquette Township , which gained 617 persons - a 23% increase. Between 1990 and 2000, Chocolay Township's population grew by 1%, adding 70 persons. As a whole, Marquette County experienced a population decline of 9,467 persons, or 13% between 1980 and 2000. This loss of population is primarily a result of the closure of the K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base. Chocolay Township's population gain of only 1% between 1990 and 2000 may seem low when compared with the number of new houses constructed, but the number of persons per household declined 14.5% from 2. 75 to 2.35 persons per household during that period. It should also be noted that there is a discrepancy in the 2000 Census data between Marquette City and Harvey CDP (Census Designated Place). Unlike past censuses, prisoners at the Marquette Branch Prison were included in the Harvey and Chocolay Township statistics, not Marquette City. In May 2001, a resolution was adopted by the Census Bureau to correct the discrepancy. The resolution caused Chocolay Township to subtract 1,053 persons from their census figures and Marquette City to add 1,053 persons to their figures. This amount appears to be the total population of the Marquette Branch Prison (according to the fiscal year 2000 Annual Report of the Prison), inclusive of the Garden Farm prisoner population. Population Projection By knowing the number of future residents in the Township, officials can invest in the proper community facilities needed to serve this future population. Many methods of projecting future population have been developed and tried over the years, but they all have the same shortcoming . They all use past information to predict what is going to happen in the future. Although some methods are more elaborate than others , they all make projections of future actions based on past trends. Photo 1-1 Chocolay Township is Likely to Experience a Significant Portion of Marquette County Growth The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 1-2 �If current growth trends continue, the population of Chocolay Township could increase by 455 persons, or 7.5% between 2000 and 2020, based on the 1980, 1990 and 2000 census figures. See Table 1-2. Marquette Township is likely to see an increase of 544 persons during the same period. Countywide, Marquette County should continue to experience a population decline. Based on current trends, the County stands to lose 8,961 persons, or 13.9% over the next 20 years. Even though the County population will likely decline, Chocolay Township and a few other townships surrounding the City of Marquette are likely to grow. If the growth rate of the last ten years continues to increase, it will be important to adjust this Plan at intervals of not less than 3-4 years. Growth within Chocolay Township depends on a variety of factors. These factors include lifestyle, commuting habits, economic influences, housing availability and more. Many of these factors are outside of the Township's control, and others may only be marginally influenced by actions of the community. However, it is likely that for at least the next decade, a portion of the population growth in Marquette County will occur in Chocolay Township. It appears that Marquette Township and Chocolay Township are the recipients of much of the growth around the City of Marquette, which is likely to include people migrating out of the City, in order to live in a more rural area. Should the economy of the area significantly improve, this projection is likely to be low. Similarly, if it were to decline, then these projections may be high. Table 1-2 Population Projection for Chocolay Township and Adjoining Jurisdictions: Based on 1980-2000 Census Total Change % Change Community 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2000-2020 2000-2020 Chocolay Township 5,685 6,025 6,095 6,345 6,550 455 7.5% Sands Township 2,437 2,696 2,127 2,110 1,955 -172 -8 .1% West Branch Township 2,166 2,241 1,648 1,500 1,241 -407 -24.7% Skandia Township 999 933 907 854 808 -99 -10.9% City of Marquette 23,288 21 ,977 20,714 19,419 18,132 -2,582 -12 .5% Marquette Township 2,669 2,757 3,286 3,521 3,830 544 16.5% Marquette County 74,101 70,887 64,634 60,407 55,674 -8,961 -13.9% Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Projections by Planning & Zoning Center, Inc. based on Linear Growth Method. Note: Chocolay Township and Marquette City figures based on census figures revised regarding Marquette Branch Prison population. Other Population Characteristics The population correction for Chocolay Township made by the U.S. Census Bureau, in which the prison population was moved from Chocolay Township to Marquette City The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 1-3 �makes further analysis of the Chocolay Township population difficult. The correction only detailed total population number and housing units, and so a detailed breakdown and analysis of the Chocolay Township population is not possible for Age, Education, Gender, Race and Ethnicity. See Appendix A for a copy of the census correction letter and all of the basic 2000 Census data for the Township. Photo 1-2 Trail Users in Chocolay Township John f:\winword\chocolay\final\Chapter 1 final.doc The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 1-4 �Chapter 2 ECONOMY INTRODUCTION The economy of Chocolay Township is a complicated maze of ties with the surrounding area. The employers within the Township only form a small segment of the economic picture for the Township. Neighboring employers are a major income and employment source for Township residents. Within the Township itself, no single business dominates and employment is a mix of government, industry, and retail business. AREA ECONOMY County Employment This section will begin with a historical perspective of employment over the last several decades in Marquette County. Table 2-1 and Table 2-2 show employment figures by broad industrial categories. Table 2-1 Marquette County Employment by Category, 1940-2002 Category Total Labor Force Unemployment Govt. Employment Mining Wholesale/Retail Trade Finance, Ins. & Real Estate Services 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1988 2002 17,946 16,934 18,952 21,200 30,575 28,125 32,950 2,239 731 1,129 1,455 1,502 2,087 1,380 4,154 3,925 8,100 2,975 8,350 1,900 6,900* 3,074 2,225 3,408 2,714 2,830 2,625 3,210 4,127 No Data 4,950 2,700 4,775 1,675 4,415 152 294 300 597 825 900 1,114 2,312 1,974 2,490 3,855 No Data 5,050 9,965 Source: Chocolay Township 1989 Comprehensive Plan and Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Development * Figure from FedStats, year 2000 The figures on total labor force show that there has been a fluctuation in the size of the workforce. From 1970 to 1980 the labor force grew substantially from 21,200 to 30,575, which was an increase of 44% in a ten-year period. Between the period 1980 to 1988, a drop of 8. 7% was recorded in the total labor force, which is a numerical drop from 30,575 in 1980 to 28,125 in 1988. In 2002, the labor force rose to 32,950, an increase of 3,725 or 13% from 1988. The unemployment figure, which was at 7.9% in 1960, dropped to 6.5% in 1979, but then rose to 12.8% in 1980. In 1988, it was 10.6%, in 2002 it was 5.7% and in 2004 it was again 5.7% (year-to-date January-August). During a thirty year period, government employment grew from 19.6% in 1970 to 29.6% in 1988 and down to 20.9% in 2000. The slow-down in the mining industry is represented by the fact that in 1970, mining accounted for 15.1% of the employment in Marquette County, where as in 1988, it only accounted for 9.6%. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 2-1 �Without doing a complete survey of the labor force not only in Marquette County, but in the central U.P. as well as Michigan and the United States, including a survey of employment of major employers in Marquette County and Chocolay Township, it is difficult to make determinations as to the trends in the economy. Suffice it to say that in Chocolay Township, much of the employment is derived outside of the Chocolay Township boundaries. For example, being located five miles outside of the city of Marquette provides a variety of employment opportunities in retail business and the government and service sectors, including personnel in the Marquette School system and Northern Michigan University. Many ancillary jobs are also created as a result of these facilities. In addition, Marquette General Hospital and the Michigan State Branch Prison employ many Township residents. Chocolay Township Employment The Township is mostly residential in character and relies heavily on outside employment. Recent developments in and around the greater Harvey area have added to the Chocolay Township tax base and will increase local employment within the Township. In addition, these new businesses will add services desired by local residents. Photo 2-1 Recent Developments in the Greater Harvey Area have Increased Local Employment In reviewing employment within the Township, three segments stand out. They are: 1. Government A. Marquette Area Public Schools (Cherry Creek Elementary) B. Michigan Department of Natural Resources (fish hatchery) C. Chocolay Township 2. Retail A. Grocery stores B. Restaurants C. Other retail stores including gas stations The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 2-2 �3. Light Industry and Manufacturing A. Car sales B. Service contractors and trucking C. Manufacturing (block plant) The U.S. Census reported that in 2000, over half (1,713 out of a total 3,016) of the Chocolay Township workforce 16 years and over were employed as private, for-profit wage and salary workers. See Table 2-2. Over one thousand of the Chocolay Township workforce, or 22.4% were employed by the local, state or federal government. Nearly 14%, or 417 worked for private, non-profits, and 6.3% were self-employed workers. Only ten persons, or 0.3% were employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting in 2000 in Chocolay Township . Table 2-2 Type of Employment in Chocolay Township, Persons 16 and Over, 2000 Number Percent 1,713 56 .8 Employees of own corporation 211 7 Private not-for-profit waQe and salary workers 417 13.8 Local government workers 173 5.7 State government workers 429 14.2 Federal government workers Self-employed workers 74 189 2.5 6.3 In aQriculture, forestry, fishinQ and huntinQ Unpaid family workers 10 21 0.3 0.7 3,016 100 Class of Worker Private for-profit waQe and salary workers Total employed civilian population 16 and over Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Unemployment Chocolay Township compares favorably with other communities in Marquette County and the Upper Peninsula in its level of unemployment. Unemployment was only 150 persons, or 4.4% of the workforce in Chocolay Township in 2004. See Table 2-3. Both Marquette City and Township were nearly the same with an unemployment rate of 4.3% and adjacent Sands Township had an unemployment rate of 4.4% in 2004. Marquette County unemployment was at 5. 7% in 2004 and the unemployment rate for the Upper Peninsula was 7% in 2004. Nearby Skandia Township unemployment was at 10.3% in 2004 and West Branch Township unemployment was at 8.1 % in the same period . The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 2-3 �Table 2-3 Chocolay Township and Neighboring Communities Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment, 2004 Employment Unemployment Unemployment Rate 3,175 11,650 3,050 11,075 150 50 4.4 4.3 1,425 1,350 50 4.3 925 875 50 4.4 Skandia Township 400 375 50 10.3 West Branch Township 675 625 50 8.1 32,950 31,075 1,900 5.7 155,100 144,200 10,800 7 Community Chocolay Township Marquette Citv Marquette Township Sands Township Marquette County Upper Peninsula Labor Force Source: Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth Due to rounding (by MDLEG) to the nearest 25 for communities and 100 for Upper Peninsula, figures in some columns do not always appear to calculate properly. Poverty Chocolay Township has very few families below the poverty level. According to the U.S .. Census, only 52, or 3% of all families fell below the poverty level in Chocolay Township in 2000. See Table 2-4. This included 40 families with related children under 18 years of age, of which 11 had children under 5 years of age. While the U.S. Census reported there are only 176 families with a female head of household in Chocolay Township, 35 of those, or 19.9% are below the poverty level. Of these 35 families, 28 had children under 18 years. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 2-4 �Table 2-4 Poverty Status of Persons in Chocolay Township Number All Income Levels 1,737 Below Poverty Level 52 Percent Below Poverty Level 3 With related children under 18 years 861 40 4.6 With related children under 5 years 263 11 4.2 1,459 982 36 11 2.5 1.1 Householder 65 years and over Family received: Supplemental Social Security 221 0 0 79 11 13.9 Social Security Income in 1999 331 0 0 Poverty Status Families Householder worked in 1999 Full-time, year-round Married-couple families 1,446 12 0.8 With related children under 18 years 645 7 1.1 With related children under 5 years 207 0 0 1,213 844 12 5 1 0.6 201 0 0 35 0 0 Social Security Income in 1999 297 0 0 Families with female householder, no husband present 176 35 19.9 With related children under 18 years With related children under 5 years 134 24 28 6 20.9 25 Householder worked in 1999 Full-time, year-round 142 74 24 6 16.9 8.1 Householder 65 years and over Family received: Supplemental Social Security Social Security Income in 1999 10 0 0 28 21 11 0 39.3 0 Householder worked in 1999 Full-time, year-round Householder 65 years and over Family received: Supplemental Social Security Source: U.S. Census, 2000 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 2-5 �SEV of Different Land Use Categories It is apparent from the State Equalized Value (SEV) of real property in Chocolay Township that the primary value is in residential property. Residential property accounted for nearly 92% of all real property value in the Township in 2003. See Table 2-5. While the value of residential property increased from $74,093,216 in 1995 to $135,365,100 in 2003, the residential category remained in about the same relative percentage of total value, with residential at 90.4% in 1995. Agricultural SEV was $1,348,600 in 2003, or 0.9% or total real property value, and commercial SEV was $10,989,500, or 7.4% of total real property in 2003. There was no property classified as industrial in either 1995 or 2003. The large percentage of residential property indicates that nearly all of the tax burden for public services falls on home owners. Residential property can be highly demanding of public services, compared to other uses such as agriculture, commercial, and industrial. Photo 2-2 The Primary Source of Tax Base in Chocolay Township is Residential Land Use Total real property increased from $81,991,114 in 1995 to $147,703,200 in 2003, from which the Township received approximately $505,395 in tax payments. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 2-6 �Table 2-5 Chocolay Township SEV, 1995 and 2003 A riculture 1995 Chocolay Townshi $450,000 %of Total Residential %of Total 0.5% $74,093,216 90.4% 0.9% $135,365,100 91.6% %of Total Industrial 9.1% $0 0.0% $81,991,114 7.4% $0 0.0% $147,703,200 2003 Chocolay Townshi $1,348,600 Commercial 1995 Chocolay Townshi $7,447,898 % of Total Total Real Pro ert 2003 Chocolay Townshi $10,989,500 According to the 2004 Township property tax records there are 2,384 residentially assessed buildings in the Township, as well as 71 agriculture buildings and 69 commercial or industrial buildings. This illustrates the overall dominance of residential uses, and the dearth of other land uses. ISSUES AND PROBLEMS Area employment is based primarily on the following four industries: government, wholesale-retail trade, services, and mining. Township employment is primarily based on jobs located outside of the Township. Past development surveys indicated citizens would welcome more retail and service businesses in the Township. Expanded job centers in the northwestern part of the Township, primarily along the US-41/M-28 corridor were desired by participants of the Visioning Town Meeting held on August 5, 2004 and this desire is reflected in the vision statement in Chapter 10. However, the quiet, rural, low-intensity lifestyle was also important and residents did not want that lifestyle destroyed at the expense of jobsmany of which are available outside, but close to the Township. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 2-7 �Photo 2-3 Residents Desire an Expanded Job Center in the Northwestern Part of the Township A balance of residential, commercial and industrial uses can provide the tax revenue to fund adequate public services , as long as the pattern of those uses does not drive the cost of the services too high to afford. Citizen sentiment appears to favor a balance of land uses that tips more toward residential. This will continue to place more of the burden for paying for public services on the individual residential owner, with the effect of limiting the extent and variety of those public services unless citizens are willing to pay for them . This Plan addresses all land uses and seeks to provide opportunities for a more diversified tax base. However, nonresidential development is proposed to be limited to a small area of the Township and adjacent to existing nonresidential development in most cases. John f:\winword\chocolay\fi nal\CHAPTER TWO final.doc The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 2-8 �Chapter 3 HOUSING INTRODUCTION This chapter describes the type, age, value and other characteristics associated with housing in Chocolay Township as of the 2000 Census. This information is helpful for the Township Planning Commission and Township Board in understanding the condition of existing housing and the need for future housing and services for residents. Housing Types According to the 2000 Census, there were 2,643 total housing units in Chocolay Township in 2000. See Table 3-1. Of the total, 2,448, or 92.6% were year-around homes, while 195, or 7.4% were seasonal. This is an increase of year-around homes and a decrease of the percentage of seasonal homes from previous years. According to the 1989 Chocolay Township Comprehensive Plan, 240 or 11 % of housing units were seasonal in 1980 and 23.5% were seasonal in 1970. Table 3-1 Housing Characteristics, 2000 Unit Type Total housinQ units Number 2,643 Percentage 100.0% Year-around Seasonal 2,448 195 92.6% 7.4% Owner-occupied Renter-occupied Vacant 1,974 350 319 84.9% 15.1% 12.1% 319 45 7 100.0% 14.1% 2.2% 14 58 195 4.4% 16.6% 55.7% Vacant Vacant for rent Vacant for sale Vacant, rented or sold Other vacant Seasonal Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Note: While the number of total housing units reflects the correction memo of the U.S. Census in 2003, it is unclear if this detailed information also reflects the correction involving the prison population. Housing in Chocolay Township was about 85% owner-occupied in 2000, with about 15% renter-occupied. Another 12% were vacant. Of the vacant houses, over half (55.7%) were seasonal, 14% for rent and only about 2% for sale. Over 4% were vacant but committed for occupancy through rental or sale. Nearly 17% were categorized as "Other vacant." The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 3-1 �Photo 3-1 Housing in Harvey The mix of housing types in Chocolay Township suggests that the Township has become more of a bedroom community for Marquette City and less of a vacation destination. It has a high percentage of owner-occupied homes and relatively few rental units. Nearly 85% of all housing was single-family, detached, with 1,975 units in 2000. See Table 3-2. Mobile homes were a distant second in numbers, with 163, or 7% of housing in 2000. Of the mobile homes, a majority, 126, were occupied by their owners, while 37 were occupied by renters. There were 61 duplex housing units in 2000, or 2.6%, and only 8 attached, single-family units. There were 124 multi-family units of varying numbers of units per building, or 5.4% of all housing units. While owners occupied some multiple-family housing units, only renters occupied units where there were 5 or more to a building. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 3-2 �Table 3-2 Types of Housing in Chocolay Township, 2000 Classification Single-family detached Single-family, attached Duplex 3 or 4 units 5 to 9 units 10 to 19 units 20 to 49 units Mobile Home Total Owneroccupied Renteroccupied Total Percent of Total 1,823 152 1,975 84.7% 8 6 7 0 0 0 126 1,970 0 55 48 7 23 39 37 361 8 61 55 7 23 39 163 2,331 0.3% 2.6% 2.4% 0.3% 1.0% 1.7% 7.0% 100.0% Source: U.S. Census Chocolay Township is a fairly stable community, with nearly 70% of owner-occupants moving into their homes between 6 and 30 years prior to the 2000 Census. See Table 33. Those owners gaining occupancy within the five years prior to the 2000 Census accounted for 27%. Renters were far more mobile, with nearly 40% gaining occupancy in the one year prior to the 2000 Census and a total of about 71 % having moved in within five years of the 2000 Census. It is typical that renters exhibit greater mobility. A surprising percentage of renters, nearly 29%, lived in their rented units for more than 6 years. Photo 3-2 Manufactured Home, Beaver Grove The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 3-3 �Table 3-3 Longevity of Occupancy of Housing in Chocolay Township, 2000 Owner-occupied Renter-occupied Gained occupancy during last year 11 .0% 39.3% Gained occupancy during 1-5 years 16.0% 32 .1% Gained occupancy 6-30 years ago 69.8% 28.6% Gained occupancy more than 30 years ago 8.8% 0.0% Source: U.S. Census Bureau Age of Housing Home building in Chocolay Township in recent years has focused on single-family homes, owned by their occupants. The 2000 Census revealed that 345 housing units, or 17.5% of all owner-occupied housing in the Township were built in the previous ten years. See Table 3-4. The housing stock is fairly recent, suggesting it is in good condition, with 67.2% of owner-occupied homes only 30 years old or less in 2000. The median year of owner-occupied homes was 1975. Renter-occupied homes were slightly older than owner-occupied units, with a median age of 1973. See Table 3-4. Nearly one-third of rental occupied homes were between 20 and 30 years old as of the 2000 Census. While only about 6% of owner-occupied homes date from before 1940, almost 11 % of renter-occupied homes were of that vintage. There were only 35 occupied rental units less than ten years old in 2000. Of vacant homes in Chocolay Township in 2000, a large percentage were older homes. Nearly one quarter of vacant homes were built between 1940 and 1949, and another 16.7% of vacant homes were built before 1940. See Table 3-4. This may be a sign that many older homes need to be repaired or brought to present code in order to be occupied. A portion of these may also be seasonal units, which may be older cottages or cabins, which also may need to be upgraded if used for year-around residency. The 1989 Comprehensive Plan reported progress in upgrading homes, with 98% of homes having indoor plumbing by 1980. According to the 2000 Census, 100% of homes in Chocolay Township had indoor plumbing. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 3-4 �Table 3-4 Age of Housing Units in Chocolay Township, 2000 Year Structure Built Owner-occupied 1990-March 2000 1980-1989 1970-1979 1969-1969 1950-1959 1940-1949 1939 or earlier Number Percent 345 250 729 273 164 100 109 17.5% 12.7% 37 .0% 13.9% 8.3% 5.1% 5.5% 35 57 118 59 28 26 38 9.7% 15.8% 32.7% 16.3% 7.8% 7.2% 10.5% 34 17 65 28 28 72 49 11.6% 5.8% 22.2% 9.6% 9.6% 24.6% 16.7% Median year built= 1975 Renter-occupied 1990-March 2000 1980-1989 1970-1979 1969-1969 1950-1959 1940-1949 1939 or earlier Median year built = 1973 Vacant Housing Units 1990-March 2000 1980-1989 1970-1979 1969-1969 1950-1959 1940-1949 1939 or earlier No median year built reported in 2000 for vacant homes Source: U.S. Census Bureau Housing Values Housing in Chocolay Township is fairly affordable. Over 70% of renters paid less than $500 per month, with half paying between $250 and $499 per month, in 2000. See Table 3-5. Only about 12% paid between $500 and $749 per month and about 10% paid $750 or more per month . Median rent was $357 in 2000. Just over half of the owner-occupied homes in Chocolay Township were valued at less than $100,000 in 2000. See Table 3-6. About one quarter of owner-occupied homes were valued between $100,000 and $149,999 in 2000. Another 20% of owner-occupied homes were valued at between $150,000 and $749,999 in 2000. According to the 2000 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 3-5 �Census, there were no homes valued at $750,000 or more. The median value in 2000 was $97,000. Table 3-5 Average Rent in Chocolay Township, 2000 Rent per month Under $250 $250-$499 $500-$749 $750-$999 $1 ,000 or more No cash rent Number 98 180 44 10 25 Percentage 20.4% 50.4% 12.3% 2.8% 7.0% Median rent = $357 Source: U.S. Census Bureau Table 3-6 Owner-occupied Housing Value in Chocolay Township, 2000 Under $50,000 $50,000-$99,999 $100,000-$149,999 $150,000-$199,999 $200 ,000-$249,999 $250, 000-$299 ,999 $300, 000-$499 ,999 $500,000-$7 49,999 $750,000 and over Number 98 768 387 191 66 18 33 6 0 Percentage 6.4% 48.9% 24.7% 12.2% 4.2% 1.1% 2.1% 0.4% 0.0% Median value= $97,000 Source: U.S. Census Bureau Size of Families Occupying Chocolay Township Housing It appears that two person and larger sized families were the primary occupants of owner-occupied housing, while singles were the primary occupants of rental housing in 2000. Couples occupied 37.6% of owner occupied housing and families of 3 or more persons occupied 46.2% of owner-occupied housing in 2000. See Table 3-7. Nearly half of renters were singles, while about one quarter were couples and one quarter were families of 3 or more persons in 2000. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 3-6 �Table 3-7 Occupied Housing Family Size in Chocolay Township, 2000 Number Percent Owner-occupied 1-person household 2-person household 319 742 16.2% 37.6% 3 or more person household 913 46.2% 168 86 48.0% 24.6% 96 27.4% Renter-occupied 1-person household 2-person household 3 or more person household Source: U.S. Census Bureau Housing in the Future Chocolay Township will need more housing in the future, and a mix of housing types, but a portion of that housing may need to serve smaller families. Population projections for Chocolay Township suggest that 455 more people will reside in the Township in 2020 than did in 2000. This is a similar rise in population compared to the 20 years between 1980 and 2000, when the population rose by 410 persons. In the same period of 1980 to 2000, the number of housing units increased by 387. Ninety-two of the homes built in that 20-year period were renter-occupied, of which many may have been multi-family. Fifty-one of the housing units built between 1980 and 2000 were vacant in 2000. A portion of those may have been seasonal homes. Photo 3-3 Condominium Housing at Chocolay Downs The Township will need to look at the level of demand for different types of housing in the future. Following national trends, there may be a greater need for homes for more The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 3-7 �singles, young couples without children , empty nester couples and families with a single parent than in the past. This suggests smaller homes, attached town homes, and rental apartments will be important in the housing mix. The Township can provide for more multi-family housing close to its sewer system. However, the rural setting and Lake Superior shoreline will also attract people interested in buying or building larger homes for their families or as show pieces. There has also been an apparent pattern of movement of families from Marquette City into more rural, but close areas, such as Chocolay Township and Marquette Township . Generally, these are families with small children that move from city to country, and occupy detached, single family homes in mobile home parks, subdivisions, or on large lots in the country. Thus, the Township should provide for a wide range of housing types and densities to meet the needs of its population . Photo 3-4 Chocolay Township Farmstead 18 1 2005 John f:\winword\chocolay\fina l\CHAPTER 3 fi nal.doc The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 3-8 �Chapter 4 NATURAL FEATURES INTRODUCTION The physical elements that make up Chocolay Township include its natural features and natural resources. These include its surface and bedrock geology, soil characteristics, mineral resources, topography, wetlands, groundwater, forests, and its other unique land and water formations . Analysis of this is basic to planning because each of these features yield both opportunities and constraints for development. Soil and bedrock conditions influence water supply and wastewater drainage. Steep topography can pose developmental problems, but also serve as scenic features. The presence of valuable mineral resources can positively affect the local economy, but extraction of those minerals can disrupt communities. While wetlands provide constraints to development, they provide the unique ecological setting for wildlife, help manage stormwater and serve as scenery. Many natural features are interdependent, and damage to the natural features of one part of the Township can negatively affect natural features in another area. Photo 4-1 Chocolay River All these factors are important and in planning for a community, natural features and resources cannot be ignored. This chapter provides an analysis and inventory of Chocolay Township's natural resources. It identifies natural features, such as geology, topography, water, etc., and focuses on those characteristics which offer themselves as determinants for development. These factors, coupled with the man-made features to be identified in the following chapter, will provide a framework wherein public policies can be formulated to produce a better environment. (See Chapters 8 and 9.) The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-1 �NATURAL FEATURES Bedrock Geology This is the solid rock layer usually found below the soils and surface geology. Its formation occurred during the earliest periods of the earth's history. Bedrock can be found hundreds of feet below the surface or protruding out of the soil as rock bluffs. In either case, the bedrock can help or hinder development. The occurrence of bedrock at the surface can be a problem in constructing a septic tank drain field or public sewer line. This factor has been considered in the soils section of this chapter. The major importance of bedrock as a resource in this investigation is its capacity to supply drinking water. The quantity and quality of a well water varies with the type of bedrock the water is retrieved from, and the layers of material through which the water has passed before reaching the bedrock. For each type of bedrock in Chocolay Township, its location and water capacity is discussed. This data was obtained from the Central Upper Peninsula Regional Water and Wastewater Plan approved September, 1971. Jacobsvil/e Sandstone This sandstone occurs throughout Chocolay Township. The only area not having this bedrock is the extreme southwest corner. It is the only important source of water to wells in this area. Although this sandstone is over 1,000 feet thick, most wells tap water at less than 100 feet. As with all bedrock, permeability decreases with depth due to the tremendous pressure that squeezes together the joints and fractures. Water from Jacobsville Sandstone generally is moderately hard to hard and locally it contains objectionable amounts of iron. Cambrian Sandstones This is the only other bedrock formation in the Township. It occurs in a triangular shaped area in the southwest corner of the Township. If a line was drawn from County Road 480 where it leaves the Township at the west boundary and where County Road 545 leaves the Township on the south, the line would define the corner where Cambrian Sandstone is located. Most wells drilled into this bedrock will yield enough water for domestic purposes. Large diameter wells drilled over 50 feet into bedrock may yield more than 100 gallons per minute. Some wells in bedrock will fail because of impermeable shale or crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks encountered at a shallow depth. Water quality is good except for moderate hardness. Surface Geology This material usually occurs between the soil at the earth's surface and the bedrock formations below surface. It is not as fine textured as the soil, but is a granular material far different from the bedrock. The different deposits of surface geology are categorized by names that relate to the particular process of formation and also variances in material content. For example, glacial deposits occurred in three main ways: material deposited directly from the ice with little or no transportation by moving water are called tills; materials deposited in and by moving streams of water are called outwash; and those deposited in glacial lakes are called lake deposits. More specifically, surface geology categorizes the deposits by the individual or combined actions of wind, water, and The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-2 �glaciers that are responsible for their formation. Each category of surface geology that occurs in Chocolay Township will be described as to location and water capacities. Map 4-1, shows the areas of Chocolay Township containing the different surface geology types. Bedrock These are areas which have thin or nonexistent layers of glacial deposits over the bedrock formations. Therefore, the bedrock formation is at or near the surface. In Chocolay Township, this area of surface geology occurs along the east border as shown on Map 4-1. Photo 4-2 Rocky Section of Lake Superior Shore The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-3 �Map 4-1 Surface Geology in Chocolay Township Chocolay Township: Surface Geology Map lal State Highway County Highway Named Roads - Un-Named Roats End moraines of coarse-.textured till lakes Streams Glacial outwash sand and gravel and postglacial alluvium Township line Lacustrine day and silt Section line Lacustrine sand and gravel State Lands Thin to disoontinuous glacial till over bedrock Source Michigan Center for Geogrephic Information , Dept of lnformat10n Tecmology N Map Prepared by lhe Land lnformalton Access Association , August 2004 05 3 W~ .... E IO I..,,,---. - - -i - - ~-~·. <> 12 ~ County_ Road Bu ··. ~~"'Q, .. ~ . .'<1"1\- ~ - " ' ~ ,/ 14 15 ·v . 16 15 1) 20 ~T 31 / "r---7' I 33\ 34 I 3~ ,! ~ , 14 13 23 ,,. ·28 2' 35 'f Mangum Rd 19 \. ) I I 36 I' ~1 \ " .I 29 •. "' 22 I 27 .1~ 34 - • ~o ,, ~ · 3::, . ~ The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-4 ~ t , . ,-- / $- • ! �Glacial Lake Plain This material is usually composed of sand , but sometimes contains silt or clay. Deposits are generally well sorted and well to moderately permeable. Moderate quantities of water are generally obtainable. The amount of silt or clay in the lake plain deposit determines permeability and water yield. Concentrations of more than 25 percent silt or clay impede drainage and the effect in most cases is a swamp or marsh. These deposits are the most predominant of the surface geology features and occur throughout the Township. The locations of these deposits are also shown on Map 4-1. End or Recessional Moraine These deposits show where the glaciers stopped their forward progress and began receding. On the surface, these deposits appear as large hills. End or recessional moraines are composed predominantly of sands and gravel till, with small areas of sand and gravel outwash. Locally, till is clayey or silty. Permeability varies greatly, being low in clayey till and high in outwash areas. Moraines are a source of domestic water supply, and in some areas may yield moderate supplies of water. Morainal deposits can reach a depth of over 300 feet. On the surface they appear as ridges which are steep and rugged and were not exposed to wave action; elsewhere they are somewhat subdued. As shown on the surface geology map, the deposits are found in the southwest corner of the Township. Glacial Till - Bedrock These areas are made up of bedrock with occurrences of glacial till in scattered locations. The bedrock in this area is of Precambrian origin and, like the glacial till , is a poor source of groundwater. The till is thin and bedrock appears at the surface wherever the glacial till is nonexistent. This deposit just touches the northwest corner in the Harvey area of Chocolay Township. Soils Soil occurs at the earth's surface and has a finer texture than the bedrock or surface geology previously described. Soil is comprised of material derived from bedrock by the action of glaciers, waves, flowing water, freeze-thaw cycles and wind. It also contains organic material derived from plants and animals, plus micro-organisms, chemical precipitates, air and water. Glaciers were the primary soil-forming force in the Great Lakes region. As these huge sheets of ice slowly forced their way over the solid rock, a grinding action took place between the ice and rock. Material was shaved off the rock and trapped under the ice as it moved forward. While the glaciers moved , these trapped materials were ground finer and finer, thus forming the soil that is found here today. The glaciers traveled over various types of rock and added each new type to the trapped material carried with it. . This caused a mixing of rock types . As the rock material changed, so did the type of soil formed by the glacier. This is why there are so many different soil types. The composition and texture of the soil was dependent on the glacier's grinding action and the underlying rock material present and to the subsequent accumulation of organic mater. However, how and where the resulting soil was deposited also contributed to its final character. The primary factor is the presence of water. The amount of surface water present, depth to water table, amount of rainfall, and size of watershed all can have a great affect on the characteristics of soils. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-5 �By identifying soil characteristics, the types of development that each can support may be cataloged . Ignoring the character of the material to be built upon can prove a mistake. For example, a soil with seasonal high water table can seem suitable for building during part of the year, but be extremely troublesome during spring or periods of continued rain. Costly engineering and building methods can be used to overcome some soil limitations, but providing public roads and utilities in such areas can cause all taxpayers to share the financial burden. Some of the factors to consider about soil types are the moisture content needed for agriculture, weight supporting capacity for structures, permeability levels affecting drainage, cohesiveness for erosion resistance, and others. With the cooperation of the Soil Conservation Service (now Natural Resource Conservation Service), soil types in Chocolay Township were identified and categorized as to their suitability for different potential uses. Appendix B includes a brief description of each major soil series found in Chocolay Township . Soils can be grouped according to their suitability for different uses within the Township. Two major uses are identified for study. These are urban uses and resource production. Resource production refers to farming activities and forest activities. The urban uses were rated as to their suitability for residential development without public sewer, residential development with public sewer, and those areas not suitable for any urban development. Tables 4-1 and 4-2 indicate the suitability of each soil series for the uses explained above. Tables 4-3 and 4-4 indicate prime farmland and hydric soils, respectively. Detailed soils maps are available from Chocolay Township and eventually from the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Marquette Service Center, 1030 Wright St., Marquette, Ml 49855-1834, (906) 226-9460, (906) 228-4484 fax, (www.nrcs.usda.gov .. Whenever a specific parcel is in question, detailed data for that piece of land should be obtained from the Natural Resource Conservation Service. The information is useful to the Township as an indicator of the best future development area for the Township . Such development decisions will include considerations of private development and related public improvements. Based on these soil ratings, the Township can encourage future growth in the appropriate locations through placing their public improvements accordingly and through the zoning ordinance. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-6 �Table 4-1 Soil Suitability for Urban Uses in Chocolay Township Suitable Uses Suitable for all urban uses Suitable for urban uses if public sewer available Severe limitations for all urban uses Soil Series Abbreviations CrA,DkB, KaB,KeB,RoB,RuB,SeB AuA, BhB, BrA, DmB, DoA, DsB, KbA, KmA,MuB,OcB,SkA,WaA,YaB,YsA Ad, Bu, BwA, Ck, Cm, Da, Dt, Du, Ga, Gw, lnA, Kp, Kr, OnB, Op, Ts Source: Natural Resource ConseNat,on SeN1ce Table 4-2 Soil Suitability for Resource Production Uses in Chocolay Township Suitable Uses Suitable for farming and forests Suitable for forests Severe limitations for all resource production uses Soil Series Abbreviations AuA, BhB, BrA, CrA, DmB, KaB, KbA, KeB, KmA, MuB, OcB, OnB, RoB, Seb, SkA,WaA, YaB, YsA DkB,DoA,Ga,RuB Ad, Bu, BwA, Ck, Cm, Da, DsB, Dt, Da, Gw, lmA, Kp, Kr, Op, Ts Source: Natural Resource ConseNat,on SeN1ce Table 4-3 Prime Farmland Soils in Chocolay Township Prime Farmland Soil Key Numbers (to be used with soils map) 117b 126b 34b 72b 86b 90b Soil Series Fence Very Fine Sandy Loam, 1 To 6 Percent Slopes SundoQ Silt Loam, 1 To 6 Percent Slopes Onaway Fine Sandy Loam, 1 To 6 Percent Slopes Emmet Fine Sandy Loam, 1 To 6 Percent Slopes Mashek Fine Sandy Loam, 0 To 4 Percent Slopes Emmet-Escanaba Complex, 1 To 6 Percent Slopes These are Prime Farmland if Drained Minocqua-Channing Complex, 0 To 3 Percent Slopes 136a Reade Silt Loam, 0 To 4 Percent Slopes 187b 198b Shoepac-Reade Silt Loams, 1 To 4 Percent Slopes Charlevoix-Ensley Complex, 0 To 3 Percent Slopes 200a 32a Charlevoix Silt Loam, 0 To 3 Percent Slopes Minocqua Muck 42 Solana Fine Sandy Loam, 0 To 3 Percent Slopes 85a Emmet-Solana Fine Sandy Loams, 0 To 6 Percent Slopes 89b Source: Natural Resource ConseNat,on SeNJce The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-7 �Table 4-4 H1yd. ·1 . Ch ocoay I T owns h"1p nc S OISln Hydric Soil Key Number (for use with soils map) 18 19 27 42 46 48 57 58 71b 93 136a 166 167 176b Soil Series Kinross Muck Deford Muck Gay Muck, Stony Minocqua Muck Jacobsville Muck, Very Stony Burt Muck Carbondale And Tawas Soils Greenwood And Dawson Soils Evart-Pelkie-Sturgeon Complex, 0 To 4 Percent Slopes Tawas-Deford Mucks Minocqua-Channing Complex, 0 To 3 Percent Slopes Skandia Mucky Peat Skandia-Jacobsville Complex, Stony Greenwood-Croswell Complex, 0 To 6 Percent Slopes Source: Natural Resource Conservation Service Mineral Deposits Over the years man has learned more and more about the formation of earth and the properties of the material around him. With this knowledge, new technologies to utilize the material found on earth have evolved. So, over time, the demand for various minerals has increased as the uses are expanded. Because of this demand for certain minerals and their limited supply, it is important to identify occurrences of minerals. Considering the potential for extracting these valuable minerals, development by man that would be in conflict with the extraction process should be discouraged if at all possible. It is for this reason that such deposits are investigated in Chocolay Township. Valuable mineral deposits can be divided into two categories: 1) ferrous metals and 2) non-ferrous metals. The ferrous metals, particularly iron ore, are prominent in Marquette County. However, current mapping of the Marquette Iron Ore Range by Cleveland Cliffs Iron Ore Company shows the iron formation stopping some distance west of Chocolay Township, So far as ferrous metals are concerned, there are none in Chocolay Township of commercial value. Non-ferrous metals include gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, etc. There are also occurrences of these in Marquette County and gold has even been mined west of the City of Marquette. In relation to Chocolay Township, there have been some traces of copper, lead, and zinc found within the Township. These traces have appeared in test borings. The amounts found have been small and as yet are not considered large enough quantities to warrant any mining operations. However, other low value mineral resources such as sand and gravel do exist throughout the Township. Extraction of these resources are dependent on local needs and location economies. Because the hauling costs can easily exceed the resource's market price, deposits must be located in close proximity to the user area. For this reason, these mineral resources should be preserved as Areas of Particular Concern. See Chapter 9. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-8 �Topography When the earth was formed, it is obvious that the resulting surface did not end up flat. There are hills, ravines, mountains, flat plains, and a thousand other shapes to the earth. This changing surface can be said to have a changing topography. The vertical distance measured above mean sea level is elevation. These elevation changes in the landscape determine the size and slope of a watershed. Map 4-2 shows the relative elevation of land in the Township. Photo 4-3 Hills in the Green Garden Hill Area The importance of looking at topography in Chocolay Township centers on identifying the best suited areas of the Township for various uses. The steep topography (10% or greater slopes) is generally thought of as not desirable for most types of development. Construction costs are usually higher, chances of erosion occurring when this soil is disturbed is very high, and if public services are provided, the steep areas can cost more in providing service. For reasons such as these, steep areas are discouraged as prime development areas, especially when the flatter locations are available. Other significant topographic characteristics are unique geologic formations. In Chocolay Township this would include the sand bluffs along Lake Superior and the protruding bedrock formations. These areas, in addition to the steep-sloped areas, are Areas of Particular Concern. See Chapter 9. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-9 �Map 4-2 Chocolay Township Topography Chocolay Township: Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Map State Highway Lakes County Highway Streams Named Roads - - - Township Line Un-Named Roads C==:J C==:J c:J 593-639ft 640 - 701 ft 702 - 774 ft Secuon Line ~ 775 - 906 State Lands - ft 907 - 1,104 fl ' -~. · Source Michigan Center ror Geographic Information, De!X d lnformaton Technology Map Prepared by the land lnformatoo Access AssociatlOl'l, August 2004 1 2 3 e!!!!!!!!!!,s;;;iO ;;aS;;;;;;i!!!!!!!!!!!!!0 0- ' - ' - ' - ' - ' - ' - 'e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!5-a-a;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;a;;;a" Mies !:;'Jill\' ~==== ~ 12 15 ~ , - .. 13 ~ ,- ' 1/>.:. -~ ,' .( 14 ·v \ . . f· ~ ,1 i ,·, ;, ,. I 0 20 -"I <0 ~ r... .... "'-. ,,.,...."'" ~" .r . i "i"\\ \X i . 1 I ,__24_ __; 19 ~ 23 . ~ ~~" ~--r.e~'1~ \ --- CountyRoadBu ' r:. •·- - ,. 20 u~l-- I : ~ _ ,...; 1 .: - --;;;- . •. 16 ,. ;__ ~ 15 ~ ""-1" r~·-'";.., _- -~ • i·, 14 ~ I t•~"--t ?. ~➔ . . : . 12 .f, _ { r ._: ' .-. '·r· -1· · .,a- j MaumRd . t· . ~ rI. : ~_._ii • •. 22 23 · "r ;,;; rl·t .24 j i Cll "" .s, ,s 'J ·JO 21l t8 I ,5 f ' ~b ~· M I :;t1 , ) I 36 ~, 3" ~ , · ll, ,, ·#" The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-10 ,. l: ~ l ), C ' 3S , "" ~ ~-@ a: D �Water Features and Watersheds Streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands all play a valuable role in Chocolay Township's natural features. Chocolay Township residents enjoy the water for domestic use, waste treatment, recreation by bathers, fishermen, boaters, and nature lovers. Water is the habitat for a wide variety of water-bound creatures. These diverse and sometimes conflicting uses can strain water quality. It is important that all persons in the Township realize that the runoff from their properties and wastes from their septic systems can contain excessive waste and fertilizer nutrients, chemical contaminates, oil, pesticides and sediment. This also applies to persons and businesses in Forsyth, Sands, Skandia and West Branch Townships, as the Chocolay River watershed includes portions of each of those communities, in addition to Chocolay Township. If each individual, municipality, business, or land user will do their share to protect Chocolay Township water features from effluent, then no one will suffer the loss or degradation of these valuable natural features. The major water features have been marked on Map 4-3. They include the Chocolay River, Sand River, Cedar Creek, Cherry Creek, Big Creek, Kawbawgam Lake, and Lake Levasseur. Lake Superior is also a water feature associated with Chocolay Township. Lake Superior's water quality is influenced by the quality of the drainage from all of the above named water bodies. Photo 4-4 Flowage between Lake Levasseur and Lake Kawbawgam These water areas and the other lesser streams and ponds are all very important to the life cycle of both humans and animals, and deseNe to be Areas of Particular Concern (see Chapter 9). This brings us to the watersheds within Chocolay Township. Based on the topography of Chocolay Township, the surface and subsurface waters flow together in watersheds or basins. Each stream has a watershed or area of land that drains toward a central point of discharge or collection. Depending on the size of the watershed and amount of water collected within it, a body of water, usually a stream or river, will form to carry this The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-11 �water off. So all impurities or effluent released into one watershed eventually becomes consolidated in a stream or river serving the watershed. This is how each individual action affects all others downstream in the same watershed. The major watersheds are delineated on Map 4-3, Watersheds and Water Features. Wetlands Typical wetland areas include marshes, swamps, fens and bogs. Typical characteristics include the presence of water or wetland vegetation. Wetland areas differ in one major way from glacial lake plain deposits. Because of poor drainage and high water tables, an accumulation of muck and peat overlies the glacial lake plain. Water yields are similar to lake plain yields. These deposits occur in several areas in the east half of Chocolay Township. More specific locations are shown on the surface geology map. All wetland areas possess unique environmental qualities and should be preserved as Areas of Particular Concern (see Chapter 9). Wetland regulation in Michigan is provided for by the Wetlands Protection Act, Part 303 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, PA 451 of 1994, which is administered by the Department of Environmental Quality. Photo 4-5 Wetland Area along Lake Kawbawgam Floodplains Typical floodplain areas occur along the shore of Lake Superior, in wetland areas, and along river and stream watershed courses. Currently, floodplains are regulated in part by Part 31 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, PA 451 of 1994, the Floodplain Regulation Act, but also by local building and zoning codes which require special treatment for structures built in a floodplain. In addition, the Township participates in a Federal Flood Insurance Program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which provides for insurance of structures within a floodplain area or near a floodplain against losses occurring as a result of flooding. A finalized Floodplain Map was compiled in May of 1987 for the Township. See Map 4-4. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-12 �This map identifies floodplain areas based on a 100 year flood possibility. Identification of these areas is important in establishing land use development patterns. Because the floodplain provides an area of water retention in times of flooding to prevent flooding into other areas, these floodplain areas should be preserved as Areas of Particular Concern (see Chapter 9). Indiscriminate filling of these floodplains can affect other areas by causing damage and loss of property due to flooding, and therefore efforts to manage these floodplains and flood prone properties are essential to all concerned. The Township should ensure that local zoning approval for development in a floodplain does not occur until (and if) DEQ approval has been obtained. Shoreland Features Chocolay Township has approximately twelve miles of Lake Superior shoreline. This area of shoreland is looked at specifically because of legislation pertaining to the management of these areas. State consideration and finally legislation of the Great Lakes shoreline was prompted because of the high damage losses to shoreline development over the years. There is a great attraction to living along the shore. However, development constructed during low water periods that encroaches on the shore is endangered during high water years. A large amount of federal, state, and private money is invested each year in shoreland protection structures and reconstruction of damaged developments. Photo 4-6 Lake Superior Shoreline The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-13 �Map 4-3 Watersheds and Water Features ...------~--~--..~------------ Chocolay Township: Watershed Map State Highway Lakes - Big Creek County Highway Streams Named Roads Township Line Un-Named Roads Section Line Chocolay River ~ Lake Drainage - Lake Superior Sand River Slate Lands " w◊• Source: CUPPAO - Central U pper Peninsula Planning And Development Commission Michigan Center'°' Geographic Information, Dept of Information Technology M ap Prepared by the Land lnformabOn Access Association, August 2004 0.5 0 1 2 3 """"""""'"----""""""""'"--------------""""""""""""""""""""""""""""'"-------------a MIies ' \\ q. ~t,Lo ~ ~i•~.,.~ Ch fiil ~ v..,0 1551 e,.._<:\ v~ 0 T v. . ~ I~ ~ ocofayb. Kawbawgain Lake Z 16 ~ 5 Cherry i ~ , _, e .lil: • G> i "' l2 Mangum Rd n ,f C !l ,. ,~ ,. ~ 2l) ;#" ii a, 2~ "' tf ! ✓ Green Garden Rd 21 27 25 ,. fiil -1 .' 2'1 32 28 ,,~ ~t, ~ ✓~ • • . >,. I .__ 3J._ _. I ~ CJ d> ~ ! Lake Le Vasseur ! u .ll' 14 j James Jeske Flo(#tlng (currently bel'8) drawn down) ~ County Road Bu a, i" CounlyRoedBaa "Tllfer ve;b~ 1480 1 "O a: ·33 _14 I ':15 36 31 I )2 s1 I~ ( The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-14 \ J'.; ·· 1,; •J~ �Map 4-4 Floodplains in Chocolay Townshi_e Chocolay Township: Flood Insurance Rate Map State Highway - - Lakes County Highway Named Roads Un-Named Roads FLOOD AREA Streams - 100-Year Flood Township Line ~ 100-Year Floodway Area Section Line Other Flood Areas - State Lands Outside 500-Year Floodplain Source : Federal Emergency Management Agency, May 1967 w◊• Michigan Center for Geographic Information, Dept of Information Technology Map Prepared by the Land Information Access Association, August 2004 .......,. 1...,........,iiiiliilliiii..., 0.5 0 _ _ _ _ _ _ _..., 1 ................................,. 2 _ _ _ _ _ __..3 Miles I f. I 13 ----.,,__,p i' / .Jr ~ ! 17 I I J Mangum Rd j 20 24 22 • ,. _- ·--t- • I 25 27 27 -i,-- 31 34 34 ~ The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-15 t �The intent of the 1970 Shorelands Protection and Management Act (now Part 323 of PA 451 of 1994) is to prevent future damage to permanent residential, commercial, and industrial buildings that may be built in the future in high risk erosion areas of the Great Lakes shoreline. The aim is to prevent damage to buildings, including septic systems and tile fields, for a 30-year period after their construction by requiring a setback distance from the bluff. It is not the State's intention to regulate all of the Great Lakes shoreline, only to encourage deeper setbacks at locations determined to be high risk erosion areas. The Act only permits the State to regulate areas designated as high risk erosion areas and only approximately ten percent of Michigan's Great Lakes shoreline fits this designation. It is also important to mention that the Act does not give authority to ban persons from using their property, it just allows a setback requirement. The Act pertains to undeveloped, and developed property in areas designated as having significant erosion. The Department of Environmental Quality by statute, has instituted a permit procedure for approving building setbacks in all high risk erosion areas. Chocolay Township has approximately 6.75 miles of shoreline that are designated as high risk erosion under the DEQ guidelines, although the entire shoreline is subject to the natural forces that cause erosion. These high risk erosion areas are shown on Map 4-5. Parts of this shoreline are developed and parts are not. Therefore, the Township should consider classifying these areas as Areas of Particular Concern and ensure that local zoning approval for development in high risk erosion areas does not occur until (and if) DEQ approval has been obtained. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-16 �Map 4-5 Hiah Risk Erosion Areas in Chocola Chocolay Township: High Risk Erosion Area Map - Named Roads Projected Recession Di stances•• Lakes State Highway Streams - - - County Highway - - - Township Line Un-Named Roads Section Line L7 c=J r--::J 85-50 95--55 11 5-65 125-70 State Lands - 130-70 •• The 60-year projected recession distance is listed first , followed by lhe 30-year distance Source Mchlgan Department of Envi ronmental Quabty, Geological .-1d Land Management Division _A__ Michigan Ceoter for Geographic Information, Dept of Information Technology w-y-1. Map Prep•ed by the land lnformalJ011 Access Association, August 2004 1 05 0 1 2 3 • ...,=----=-------...,======---------Miles _,. 0-:•'\'-"'"'"" ! 10 12 ...,.t 11 J ' 2b--- - ~, . ~ .I! ·v 1 ,.._ ;.,,. ,.._·"'1 _ t..4 "'.v, 1i, 19 r· ~1 24 ~ " j_ ~ . ~ \ 28 I \r ·- t - - • I ·- . L. - .,.,.,.. i ·~ r ' 1 25 27 ·" m ·7 ---30 I 36 34 33\ i .. [~51 "•--· l 29 - . ~ . I •. ----~-i• ---•--- · ;,,-"4'. 28- -• ;_ j1 ~ ' . ).·. 1 i. ,. • I <i-/,R~ &' 33 32 j I i l . ,.,, ---,,- ,Ii The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-17 r I ~ 14 .\1 g r -,."'l . ~ ' j 1\•• I i ! I I ;f I 23 'i I I I 24 't i - '-' -- 4~------ --··-i Ir ·-·-• .. ~ -~r • ~, --,.:o..--:- ,! e,(' I ", 7 ' 2H }". "f ' " 31 / < I ~ !1o . --:---r , ·7 l " r - f~:,t-' ;_1........,...-t-~. <I) j r ---' . L'-•· - L....t.. · 51 15 Mangvm Rd ( ----------"{ -~1 I , - t l 16 -• l j \ 29 ' 14 12. :__-~l County_ Road Bu 15 -., I ~.~-c1· --•-,.._+ ,.,__.. ,.,...T ; r"•f . : 34 25 .. 35 , ,. 1 l _.___ 36- 1 �Observations As the previous discussion investigated key natural features within the Township, particular issues and problems have been identified. These will be listed to allow the Township to concentrate their effort in these significant areas of concern. • The majority of soils in the Township are not suitable for urban types of development. • A large percentage of the Township has soil suitable for forest production. • Soil characteristics in the Township make conventional septic tank operation only workable in very limited areas of Chocolay. • Mineral deposits in the Township have only appeared in trace amounts and are not of commercial value . • There is an area of steep slopes (10% or greater) in the southwest corner of Chocolay Township, and development should be discouraged in this area. • There are a large amount of wetlands and floodplains in the Township which provide valuable benefits to the community, but greatly limit development potential in those parts of the Township . • Chocolay Township has 6.75 miles of designated high risk erosion areas. • Areas of Particular Concern have been identified, and the Township is encouraged to take steps in preserving them (see Chapter 9). Photo 4-7 Marquette State Fish Hatchery Outlet at Cherry Creek John f:\winword\chocolay\final\CHAPTER 4 final.doc The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 4-18 �Chapter 5 EXISTING LAND USE I INTRODUCTION The previous chapter, entitled "Natural Features" was an investigation of the land forms and water features occurring in Chocolay Township. This included all aspects of the township that were naturally occurring and could be altered by human impact. This chapter looks at current development in the Township. This is done by an inventory of the various land uses within the Township. It shows the areas of the Township that are developing and the types of uses present. Two forms of inventory are examined in this chapter. One is a land use/land cover inventory. It is based on the interpretation of aerial photographs and mapping in a Geographic Information System (GIS). It classifies land into different land uses {how land is used, such as for residential, commercial, industrial or agricultural purposes), or land cover (the type of vegetation on it or the lack of vegetation). The second is a land use by tax class inventory. This looks at how land is classified by assessors, such as for residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural use. This classification system is parcel based does not include such land cover types as wetlands, upland conifers or dunes. It is important to study land use and land cover, and to the extent possible, change in land use/cover over time, in order to understand how and where land is being developed in the community, where there may be important land resources that should be considered in the planning process, and to better understand the implications of current trends if they continue into the future. The most current land use inventory was completed in 2004. See Map 5-1 and Table 51. It was based on the Michigan Resource Inventory System data that used 1978 aerial photography, and then was updated through a ground-level visual survey. Photo 5-1 Homestead Golf Course is one Example of Many Different Land Uses The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 5-1 �Map 5-1 Existina Land Use/Cover, 2004 Chocolay Township: 2004 Land Use/Land Cover Map - Sta te Highway - - - County HighYlay - - - Named Roads - Streams Agricultural La nd Township Line - Barre n Wetlands State Lands Forest La nd Secuon Line Ur.Named Roads - Water Ra ngeland Urban and Built Up Source 1978 MIRIS Land Use updated by Chocolay Twp statfin 2004 Michigan Center for Geographic Information, Dept of lnfoonatiOn Technology ' w◊ • Map Prepared by the Land Information Access Association, December 2004 1 05 0 1 = 2 3 1!!!!!"!!!!!!5i. . .iii1!"!!!!!!"!!!!!5ii..................iil!!!!"!!!!!!"!!!!!!"!!!!!!"!!!!!!"!!!!!!"!!!!!!!!5.................. 15 14 M,les 13 ,g 17 16 20 ii 29 2ll n ' 26 27 36 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 5-2 :!4 ~ "~ 25 36 �Table 5-1 Summary of Land Use/Cover Types for Chocolay Township 1978 Acres 1978 % Total Area 2004 Acres 2004% Total Area Urban and Built Up 2,423 6.2% 2,917 7.6% Agricultural Land 2,684 6.9% 2,564 6.7% Land Use/Cover Description Open Land Forest Land Water Wetlands Barren Total Acres in Chocolay Township 1,896 4.9% 1,620 4.2% 28,146 72.5% 27,894 72.5% 348 0.9% 348 0.9% 3,186 8.2% 2,987 7.8% 148 0.4% 145 0.4% 38,831 100.0% 38,476 100.0% Sources: 1978 Michigan Resource Information System and 2004 visual survey by Chocolay Township Note: The difference in total acres between 1978 and 2004 is due to differences in the location of boundaries in the base maps from the two periods. LAND USE/LAND COVER IN CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP Urban and Built Up There were 2,917 acres of urban and built-up land in Chocolay Township in 2004. While single-family residential comprises nearly 90% of all urban and built-up land, Chocolay Township also has multi-family residential, mobile home park, commercial, services, institutional, primary/central business, secondary/neighborhood business, institutional, industrial, transport, communication, utilities, open pit, sand and gravel, and outdoor recreation uses. Most of the urban and built-up lands are in the western part of the Township, along the Lake Superior shoreline or along the US-41 and M-28 corridors. The most visible change in land use/cover in Chocolay Township occurred with an increase of about 500 acres of urban and built-up land between 1978 and 2004. At the same time there were decreases in the areas of agricultural land, forest land and wetlands. In part these decreases are due to conversion of those land uses to urban uses, and in part they may be due to conversions of agricultural land, forest land, open land and wetlands into other non-urban land cover categories, and in part they may be due to differences in interpretation between the two inventory dates. Agricultural Land Agricultural land, totaling over 2,500 acres in Chocolay Township is mostly crop land. Open Land or Rangeland This category comprises land that is not developed, forested or used for agriculture. It may at one time have been farmed or cleared of timber, but at the time of the land use inventory, was not actively used for either farming or forestry. This land use/land cover typically has meadows or fields of annual, biennial or perennial herbaceous plants and grasses. It may also have shrub growth and seedling trees. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 5-3 �Photo 5-2 Agricultural Land in Chocolay Township Forest Land This category comprises the largest percentage of land in Chocolay Township , with nearly 28,000 acres, or almost 73% of the entire Township area. Forest land in Chocolay Township is primarily northern hardwood, which generally contains Maple, Beech and associated other species. Pine and other upland conifers are the next most common species group, followed by Aspen/Birch, lowland hardwoods, lowland conifers and a small area of Christmas tree plantation . Photo 5-3 Forest Land Comprises the Largest Percentage of Land in Chocolay Township Water Excluding Lake Superior, open water areas comprise nearly 350 acres of Chocolay Township. There are many rivers , streams and creeks, but most of the water area is in inland lakes, such as Lake Le Vasseur and Lake Kawbawgam. The James Jeske flooding is being drained , and is changing from open water to wetland . The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 5-4 �Wetlands Wetlands are a land cover type characterized by certain soils and vegetation types and at least the seasonal presence of water. A precise determination of whether a parcel of land contains wetlands requires expert inspection, but the interpretation of aerial photographs can be fairly accurate. In 2004 there were nearly 3,000 acres of wetlands in Chocolay Township, a decline since 1978 of almost 200 acres. Wetland types in Chocolay Township include woodland wetlands, shrub/scrub wetlands, aquatic bed wetlands, and emergent wetlands. Wetlands provide many important values , including stormwater storage, groundwater recharge, water filtering and purification, a nursery for the food chain , habitat for desired wildlife species and scenery. Barren This land cover category includes types that have very sparse vegetation. There were 145 acres of barren lands in Chocolay Township in 2004, including beaches & riverbanks, sand dunes, and a small area of bare, exposed rocks. While not a very extensive land cover type in Chocolay Township, it is an important one, due to the potential for erosion of beaches, riverbanks and sand dunes. These areas can also contain unique ecosystems and rare and fragile species. LAND USE BY TAX CLASS According to assessment records for 2003, over 21,000 acres of Chocolay Township were classed as residential , about 55% of the land. See Table 5-2 and Map 5-2. This was in striking contrast to the area of the Township that was in urban and built-up use, which was less than 3,000 acres or 7.6% (which also included commercial and industrial land uses). Compare Tables 5-1 with 5-2. One measures existing area of land devoted to a particular use or land cover, whereas the other measures land use by tax class on a parcel basis, so if a part of a parcel is used for residential purposes, the whole parcel is classified that way. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 5-5 �Map 5-2 Chocolay Township Land Use by Tax Class Chocolay Township: Property Tax Class Map - 101 (Ag) State Highway - - - County Highway - - - Named Roads Un-Named Roads Streams - - - - Township Line [ Section Line 20 1 (Commercial) ] L "=:J State Lands 401 (ResidenUal) Exempt CFR Exempt Source Chocolay Twp EqualizaUon Dept Michigan Center to, Geographic Information, Dept of lnk>rmation Technolog y Map Prepared by the Land Information Access Association, November 2004 1 ' -~ · 1 2 3 aa5 iil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ioiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.,iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-i Miles !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1iiiii o .. ,. 15 24 23 J7 ~"'' ,;>-◊ :, r/',~ , . '? 3J The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 5-6 p :34 ~I-: 35 . 25 l �Table 5-2 Land Use by Tax Class in Chocolay Township, 2003 Property Class Agricu lture Commercial Res idential AQriculture Exempt Commercial Forest Reserve Exempt (public or non profit owned) ROW and lake Total Acres 690 891 21,125 5,179 953 8,662 1,006 38,506 % of Total Acres 1.8% 2.3% 54.9% 13.5% 2.5% 22 .5% 2.6% 100.0% Source: Marquette County Assessor and Chocolay Township. Note: The difference in the total land area between Tables 5-1 and 5-2 are due to differences in mapping. Parcels with the tax classification "exempt," were second in area, with "agriculture exempt" third in 2003. These areas included state and other public lands. Most of the "exempt" and "agriculture exempt" lands were state-owned, and in the eastern half of the Township. State-owned lands included portions of the Escanaba River State Forest, the Marquette Branch Correctional Facility Mangum Farm and other Department of Corrections properties, MOOT Lake Superior shoreline and highway scenic turnouts and several smaller parcels owned by the DNR, including the Cherry Creek Fish Hatchery. A total of about 36% of the land in Chocolay Township was tax exempt. Commercial Forest Act (CFR) lands accounted for 953 acres of Chocolay Township in 2003. These are private lands, and under the CFR agreement, the owners pay a reduced tax of $1.1 O per acre on forest lands greater then 40 acres if a management plan is developed. The Department of Natural Resources, Forest, Mineral and Fire Management Division, offers the property tax incentives to owners of forested lands if they agree to properly manage their commercial forest lands for recreation or wildlife. Forest species benefit from this program, such as deer, turkey, grouse, nongame forest birds, amphibians, reptiles, etc. Cutting of trees is approved by permit only. Properties classed as "commercial" accounted for 891 acres in 2003. Commercial parcels in the Township included two golf courses, and both large and small parcels along the US-41/M-28 corridor in the northwestern part of the Township. There were only 690 acres with a tax classification of "agriculture" in 2003, while 2,564 acres were identified as agriculture in the land use/cover inventory in 2004. None of the 2,564 acres of agricultural land in the land use/cover inventory were tax exempt. This means that approximately 1,800 acres of agricultural lands were not classified as such. A comparison of Maps 5-1 and 5-2 shows that much of the agricultural land not classified as agricultural for tax purposes was classified as residential. Table 5-2 displays a tax classification, "ROW and Lake," and that it comprises about 1,000 acres in Chocolay Township. This classification includes portions of the land not within the boundaries of identified parcels. It includes the rights-of-way of roads, lakes and other land or water areas not part of a parcel. This is land that is not likely to change in area over time. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 5-7 �RELATIONSHIP OF LAND USE/COVER INVENTORY TO LAND USE BY TAX CLASS INVENTORY AND OTHER INFORMATION A comparison of the land use inventories, one of actual use, or type of development (as well as land cover) and the other by tax classification illustrates that far more land is assessed at a higher development level than that for which the land is used. Already developed parcels and most of those classified as residential (and thus presumed to be developable) are in close proximity to sensitive natural features or have severe development limitations. These natural features include the Lake Superior shoreline, the Chocolay River and the many high quality streams and creeks that feed the River, inland lakes and Lake Superior. There are also large areas of floodplains, wetlands and soils with development limitations. The natural features of Chocolay Township provide for the rural quality of life that residents prefer, and help the local economy. It will be important to ensure as land is developed, that these natural features are protected. Photo 5-4 Natural Features Should be Protected in Order to Promote the Local Economy t d 18 1 2005 John f:\winword\chocolay\final\CHAPTER 5 final.doc The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 5-8 �Chapter 6 PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES INTRODUCTION This chapter describes the public facilities and services provided to residents in Chocolay Township. These include fire and police protection, governmental administration, solid waste collection and disposal, water, sewage, recreation, education, health, library, cemeteries and others. These facilities are owned and operated by the Township and state government, and in the case of a few recreational facilities, by private owners/operators. TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATION The operation of Township business takes place at the Municipal Complex, on a nearly 2.8 acre parcel at 5010 US-41 South, located on the corner of Silver Creek Road and U.S. 41 South, in Harvey. See Map 6-1. A staff of 12.5 full-time,¾ time or on-call staff members use the office complex 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. See Table 6-1 Photo 6-1 Chocolay Township Hall The municipal complex was built in 1978 by remodeling an old schoolhouse and adding a large addition. It contains offices for all Township departments, including the Supervisor's office, the Clerk's office, the Department of Public Works office, the Community Development Department office, and a front office area utilized by the Treasurer's Department and the secretarial/receptionist support staff. In the old schoolhouse portion of the building, there is a meeting room that is used for board and commission meetings, community groups, and the general public. The Police Department has an office adjacent to the meeting room. Two storage areas are located off of the meeting room. There is an outside storage building for use by the Public Works Department. Funds are set aside annually in the Capital Improvements Fund for major building maintenance. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-1 �Table 6-1 Chocolay Township Employees Department Office staff (1 Director of Planning and Community Development, 1 Zoning Administrator (3/4 time), 1 Director of Assessing, 1 Secretary/Records Clerk, 1 Deputy Clerk & 3/4 time Deputy Treasurer, 1 Director of Recreation and Grants, and 1 on-call Temporary Secretary) Department of Public Works (1 DPW Supervisor, 1 Lead Maintenance Worker, 1 General Maintenance Worker I and 1 General Maintenance Worker II) Police Department (4 full-time police officers, two part-time officers, 1 administrative assistant and 1 secretary) Total Employees Number of Employees 8 .5 full-time, ¾ time and oncall 4.0 8.0 full-time and part-time 20.5 Photo 6-2 Chocolay Township Vehicle The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-2 �Map 6-1 Chocolay Township Public Facilities Chocolay Township Community Facilities Sliver Creek Sites - State Highway Lakes - -- County Highway Streams - - - Named Roads LEGEND • Township Site • Township Land • State Facility State Lands Private Recreation State lands - - - Township Line Un-Named Roads Section Line SO!Jroe Michigan Center kw Geographle lnfonn,tlOl"I Dept of lnfonnatlOl'I T.chnok)gy " ~~· Map Prepared by the land lnformat10n Access Assooation August 2004 Kawbawgam Park and Cross Country Ski Trall MOOT Scenic Turnout MDNR Publlc Access to Chocolay River Lakewood Lane/M-28 Access Strip I.. - - - - '-r~ -=----- \ MOOT Scenic Turnouts / J /---==re:::~ J-=:. .--------4 ~~~l ' - owmobile Tra - in . •J: :t yvn) ay Downs Golf,fourse • \J \.1 Lake Le Vasseur Waterfowl Area " Escanaba River State Forest Boundary The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-3 . ~ "' I �Community Center Several efforts have been initiated to establish a permanent community center in Chocolay Township. The Township purchased the Silver Creek Elementary School in 2001 and has used it occasionally as a community center. There is a playground and tot lot outside and basketball courts inside, plus meeting rooms. Millage elections to fund operation of the community center have failed, and the building has been sold. PUBLIC WORKS The Chocolay Township Public Works Department oversees maintenance of the Township Municipal Complex, Township-owned recreation lands and facilities and the wastewater collection facilities. The Public Works Department has 4 employees. Wastewater Facilities There is a Township installed a sanitary sewer collection system servicing the greater village of Harvey area, built in 1975. The system was extended in 1976 to serve the Ewing Plaza commercial area and in 1977 to the Ewing Park residential subdivision. The latter extension included a pump station. The system consists of gravity lines as well as five large pump stations and three small grinder stations. A large force main was installed to connect the collection system to the Marquette City Treatment Plant where the wastewater receives final treatment. Capacity of the wastewater plant in Marquette City is 12.6 million gallons per day (mgd). The Township's share of plant capacity is 2.5 mgd. The Township's flow capacity is greater than 1.5 mgd. Pump station #1 has a capacity of 1.1 mgd, but can be upgraded through the addition of another pump. The area of existing sewer service and areas of planned expansion are shown on Map 6-2. Extensions will be made at the request of and expense of landowners who request the extension. In rural areas of the Township and in outlying areas of Harvey, private septic systems are utilized. The County Health Department inspects all new systems to verify that soil conditions will allow the system to operate properly and not contaminate streams or wells in the vicinity. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-4 �Map 6-2 Chocolay Township Existing and Planned Sewer Service Area LEGEND - State Highway - - - County HlghNay - - Narn«t Roads State Lands Lakes - Streams - - - Town1h1p Lile ~Named Roads Section line w◊ • Soun:e Mldlipnc.ntfffor~ll'lfofmatioro DeploflntOfrnal:IOf'ITechnology Map Prepa,ed by the uncl ll'lfom,at10n Access Assoaat10n August 2004 Existing Sewer System Planned Sewer Expansions before 2025 Public Sewer and Water Service beyond 2025 -M .. ...,""'""'""'""'""'1;_............ .,,,""',..Jai;;;...,""'l-;............... ,. . .._, ~ l 2~ ~I - '- ~ I ,r-r ,~ ....... 1 ~ " ~ ~ I ,. "" •··!1t " 1 " . ~~ I I r ,. ' ' I . ( r a)'~ • l' / ' ,, The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-5 I / ,, ~ ,. I t I I :1 ... Jf"l ~ t 27 l .... -----tI " l ,j .., --· ,, 2S ~ t 1 ~ �Water Facilities At present, all Township residents and businesses are served by private wells, each varying in quality and capacity. The Township provides no public system for distribution of water. In 1975, when the sewer was constructed, in anticipation of future needs, crossing pipes were placed under the U.S. 41 highway in Harvey so that the highway would not have to be disturbed when and if water lines are utilized in the future . Concern over petroleum contamination of several wells in the Harvey area has led to discussion of a municipal water system. Contaminated wells in this area were replaced by drilling to a deeper aquifer, through State of Michigan funding. Mitigation of the contamination plume was also initiated. Chocolay Township has had studies prepared several times in the past 25 years to investigate the potential and costs for the development of a municipal water system to serve the more populated areas of the Township. The latest study was prepared in 2001 by the consulting firm of STS Consultants, Ltd. The study found that for the vast majority of Township residents and businesses, individual wells provide an adequate quality and quantity of water. The cost to provide municipal water remains prohibitive for the current population size. However, in the future, it may become feasible to provide a water distribution system to the more populated areas, and the US-41 /M-28 commercial corridor. Until that time, those areas with groundwater contamination should continue to be monitored. If contamination spreads, a public water supply may need to be constructed. Photo 6-3 It may be Possible to Provide Public Water to the US-41/M-28 Corridor in the Future SOLID WASTE/RECYCLING Township residents generate about 25 pounds of solid waste per resident per month. Total residential solid waste is between 65-75 tons per month, depending on the time of year. The Township contracts with private haulers to provide curb-side garbage collection at a rate of $7.50 for 5 garbage bags. Businesses hire private waste haulers The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-6 �for their solid waste. Solid waste is deposited in the Marquette County Landfill , which is located about 9 miles west of the Township. Residents may haul their own waste to the landfill after purchasing a permit from the Township. Weekly curbside recycling is available and takes place along with garbage collection. Residents are encouraged to recycle clear glass, newspapers, magazines, tin cans and number two plastics. There are no figures on the amount recycled, but sanitation workers report that there are recyclables put out at every nearly home on garbage collection day. In addition, brush can be dropped off in the spring, fall and in January for Christmas trees. Brush is chipped and provided to residents for landscaping. UTILITIES The Marquette Board of Light and Power and the Alger-Delta Cooperative Electric Association provide electricity to Chocolay Township. SEMCO Energy provides natural gas to homes in the most densely populated areas of the Township. There are no major gas lines through the Township. EMERGENCY SERVICES Police The Chocolay Township Police Department consists of a staff of four full-time officers, two part-time officers, and administrative assistant and a secretary. The Township currently utilizes two patrol cars, one four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle used exclusively in the winter, and two snowmobiles, equipped for a rescue sled if needed, which is used for patrolling the DNR Trail. The Township is purchasing an additional snowmobile. The nearest State Police post is about twelve miles west of Chocolay Township in Negaunee Township. Photo 6-4 Chocolay Police Department Vehicle The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-7 �Fire The Township Fire Department has 26 volunteers, including officers. There are two pumpers, one tanker and one unit equipped for extrication and rescue. Because the Township does not have a municipal water system, all water used in fighting a fire must be transported by tanker and mutual aid trucks, or extracted from dry hydrants located along creeks and rivers. There are no plans for expansion of equipment or personnel. The firehall is located in the municipal complex. It is a 36' by 50' building with a 20' by 50' addition. The Township has mutual aid agreements with surrounding communities. These agreements allow equipment and manpower to assist in fire calls reciprocally with these units of government. There are no Township regulations regarding open burning. Yard waste, but not building materials, can be burned in a container without a permit and in the open with a permit obtained by calling a toll-free number. Photo 6-5 Dry Hydrant along Lake Kawbawgam for Use in Fighting Fires Homeowner and business insurance is tied to ratings of the fire suppression capability of the community. The Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating for all of Chocolay Township is 9. This is a high number, and is likely reflected in relatively high insurance premiums. The Fire Department continually works to reduce the ISO rating, which would indicate safer conditions for residents and lowered insurance premiums. Reduction in the ISO rating could come from the installation of an elevated water storage tank or other options for rapid filling of fire fighting equipment, or the installation of a municipal water system in the Harvey area. A reduction of the ISO rating from 9 to 8 may come with the purchase of the next tanker truck, but there would be no reduction in insurance premiums for commercial properties as a result. Ambulance Marquette General Hospital provides Ambulance service. Marquette General is the nearest hospital to Chocolay Township and is located in the City of Marquette, about five miles west of the Township. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-8 �HEALTH CARE Marquette General Hospital contains over 300 beds. It offers a wide array of emergency, surgical, treatment and wellness services. Family medicine and obstetrics/gynecology services are offered at Lakewood Medical Associates in Harvey. EDUCATION Children in Chocolay Township attending public schools do so in the Marquette Area Public School system. The entire Township is within the Marquette Area Public School District. Total enrollment in the fall of 2004 was 3,655. This was down from the 2003 enrollment of 3,757. Enrollment totaled 992 in the four elementary schools (Cherry Creek, Sandy Knoll, Superior Hills and Vandenboom) offering grades K-3, 476 in grades 4 and 5 at Graveraet School, 849 in grades 6-8 at Bothwell School and 1,338 at the High School. Cherry Creek Elementary School is located on Ortman Road in Chocolay Township. It had an enrollment of 343 in 2004. It is the only public school in the Township. Photo 6-6 Cherry Creek Elementary School The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-9 �RECREATION FACILITIES In 2004, the Township updated its Recreation Plan. The Plan is reviewed by the Planning Commission annually in order to review, prioritize, and budget for recreation activities, and updated every five years in order to obtain certification from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Recreation Plan provides an inventory of existing recreation-related facilities and lays out plans for improvements and expansions. In the past, the Township has relied heavily upon grants to fund recreational facilities, such as the Lawcon grant for the Silver Creek Recreation Area and the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant for the Beaver Grove Recreation Area. For a complete description of recreation facilities in the Township, please refer to the Recreation Plan, which is kept on file in the office of the Department of Land Use Management. Table 6-2 and the following text provide a brief oveNiew of recreation facilities and their features. Photo 6-7 Beaver Grove Recreation Area The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-10 �Table 6-2 Chocolay Township Recreation Facilities Chocolay Township Recreation Facilities Matrix ... Cl) ~<C: Cl) Cl) ·-0 ... 'la (.) ... ~ Cl)(.) ~ Cl) iii Soccer Field 0:: X X X Playground/Tot Lot Picnic Facilities .Sl iii (II (II C: "C (!) :a (!) Cl) > (II Cl) a:i :::ii: ci. 3: I- ... (II C: Cl) ~ (!) ... ~ (II 0.. Ill C: 0 :J X X X X F '5 0 ...::::s C: ::::s 0 Cl) (.) (.) ...CD <... C. Cl) E (II I- (.) Cl) ci ci ~ :::ii: Ill Ill > ii: 0:: ~ z C Ill C: 3: 0 C >, (II 0(.) 0 .i;: (.) 0 (!) "C (II .Sl Ill Cl) E 0 :c ..: u "' ~ ~ 'i: ::::s E E 0 (.) (II J:. (.) Cl) ~ (.) i!:' ... Cl) .i;: (.) Restrooms X Cl) C: '6 0 0 Li: Cl) C. ~ Cl) Cl) ... (.) ~ Cl) (.) Cl) "") 0 Ill > Horse Shoe Court Hiking/Nature Trail X X X-Country Skiing X X F Swimming F X F Fishing X X Cl) ... ~ (II 'i: >< 0.. ::::s Cl) :::ii: C. ai ci.E 3: 0 I- (.) X X ~ (.) 0 0.. X X ::::s (,) Ill Ill Cl) 0:: ~ (II > (II ...I Cl) 3: Cl) ...0 a:i ~ (II ...I X X X X X F X X X X X F Boat Launch Access Basketball Court 'i3 X X X X X F X X X X X X X X ... ... < .; CD X Open Space Baseball Diamond Ill Cl) Ice Skating Rink Tennis Court C: C: Cl) > 0 ... ... "C X X X X X X X X X X F Warming House Primitive Camping Camping Utilities F Showers Golf Course X X X X X X Covered Pavilion X Hunting X X X Source: Chocolay Township 2004 Recreation Plan Note: "X" existing and "F" future. = = Township Owned Recreation Properties (from 2004 Recreation Plan) This section summarizes Township-owned properties used for active and passive recreation. See Map 6-1 for their locations. Chocolay River - Green Garden Site This property is located on Green Garden Road approximately 1.5 miles from US-41 in the south central part of the Township . It is approximately 1.08 acres in size and currently undeveloped but is used as a local swimming and fishing spot. The site also offers a primitive carry-down boat launch to the river. Both of the parcels that comprise the site are zoned Rural Residential-2 (RR-2). The RR-2 district allows for parks as a conditional use on parcels consisting of a minimum of 20 acres. The deed giving title to Chocolay Township requires that the property be used exclusively for providing a park and other recreational facilities for the children and the members of the public in and The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-11 �about the Township of Chocolay. Silver Creek Recreation Area (SCRA) The SCRA encompasses 23.7 acres in the northwest corner of the Township. The size and location of this recreation site make it especially suited as a "community play field." Due to its central location the SCRA, is the most widely used recreation facility the Township owns and is in a Public Lands district. Existing facilities at SCRA consist of the following: four tennis courts, soccer field, baseball diamond, basketball hoop, totlot/playground, picnic area, restrooms, and paved drives. The developed portion of the site utilizes the southern 1/2 of the property while a primitive trail system is interspersed throughout the western and forested northern 1/2. The SCRA is extensively used for organized baseball, softball, little league and soccer throughout the spring, summer and fall. The trail system is utilized year-round. The tennis courts, tot-lot/playground, and picnic area are used extensively from late spring to late fall. Chocolay Township Marina The Township's only marina is located along Main Street in the northwestern corner in the village of Harvey. The marina is situated on the Chocolay River approximately 1500 feet from Lake Superior. The site contains an improved skid pier boat launch, pit toilet and picnic area. It provides boat access to the Chocolay River and to Lake Superior. Unfortunately, the river mouth is often too shallow to permit easy access to Lake Superior, resulting in limited public use. It is located in an R-1 zoning district that allows parks as a conditional use subject to Township Planning Commission approval. In 1999, the Township purchased a small island adjacent to the marina shoreline. This island is recommended as a possible campsite of the NTN Water Trail and open for passive recreation use. Photo 6-8 Chocolay Township Marina and Boat Launch The Voce Creek Open Space Area This undeveloped 12.33 acres, located east of US-41, is approximately 1 mile south and east of the Beaver Grove location. Its soils, topography, and location severely limit its The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-12 �use for active recreational opportunities. It contains a considerable sand blowout and low land areas that would be very costly to develop into a conventional recreation facility. The area has been identified as a passive recreation tract. The parcel is in a RR-2 zoning district that does not conform to local zoning in terms of lot size. Its distance and lack of a bike path from the developing areas of Harvey and Beaver Grove pose traffic and accessibility problems for children in the Township. The Marquette County Soil Conservation District, in cooperation with the Township, currently is using a portion of the property as an experimental American Beachgrass planting and sand dune stabilization project. The Chocolay Township Municipal Complex The Chocolay Township Municipal Complex is located on a 2.79 acre parcel with frontage on the west of US-41 in the village of Harvey. Besides housing the Township's governmental facilities, the property supports a 30' by 50' pavilion on its northeast corner. Supplied with a number of picnic tables, a permanent grill, and nestled among towering pines, this location provides an ideal passive recreation site for tourists and residents alike. During the winter months the pavilion is flooded and used as an ice skating rink. It conforms to existing permitted uses since it is located in the Public Lands district. At the time of this Plan update it was listed for sale. Beaver Grove Recreation Area (BGRA) This is a combination of two adjoining parcels making up a 29.1 acre recreation site. The property is located west of US-41 and north of County Road 480 and is accessible from either road. The site has considerable frontage on Big Creek that flows along its eastern border. Direct access to the river from a recently developed hiking trail provides fishing opportunities, as well as unique passive recreational outlets. Facilities at this site consist of a baseball field, soccer field, basketball court, pavilion, tot-lot/playground, horseshoe courts, picnic facilities, multi-use open space, hiking trail, improved parking and restrooms. Photo 6-9 Beaver Grove Recreation Area The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-13 �These facilities are all concentrated on the original 15.11 acres. The adjoining 14 acre parcel was purchased in 1990 and is currently undeveloped. It is currently leased for agricultural purposes. This site is in the R-1 zoning district. In January of 2001, Chocolay Township received a matching grant from the Clean Michigan Initiative (CMI) Recreation Bond Project of the Department of Natural Resources. This grant provided 65% of the total cost required for the purchase/construction of the following upgrades: basketball court, pavilion, fencing, irrigation, spectator seating, entrance signs, scoreboard, display cases, additional parking and covered dugouts. At present, a strategic plan for the undeveloped acreage has yet to be established. Residential development in the south central region of the Township makes this section of the BGRA an ideal location for future recreational development. Brower's Property The Brower property is located on 50 acres, approximately 8 miles southeast of Harvey, Michigan. It is predominately lowland with a mix of trees dominated by spruce, cedar, hemlock, birch and maple. There is a small stream that bisects the property. This parcel was donated in 1999 to the Township with the stipulation that it will be used exclusively for educational and recreational activities. In 2002, the Township received a DNR grant to develop the Brower property as a demonstration area that promotes forest stewardship, while providing passive recreational opportunities. It is in a Resource Production zoning district that allows trails and management activities subject to Planning Commission approval. Lions Club Park This 10.7- acre recreation area is located on M-28, approximately 2.5 miles east of the US-41/M-28 intersection. It is situated in the Varvil Center area and is currently zoned R-1. In 2000, this property was purchased from the Marquette Area Public Schools. The Lions Club Park has a baseball field, ice-skating rink, 1/2 basketball court, pit toilet and large parking lot. Approximately 5 acres remain undeveloped. Photo 6-10 Skating Rink at Lions Club Park The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-14 �Community Center The Marquette Area Public Schools sold Silver Creek Elementary School to Chocolay Township in 2001. This one-story masonry building, containing 28,227 square feet, is located on 10 acres on the north side of Silver Creek Road. Millage elections to fund operation of the community center were defeated. The building has been sold. Kawbawgam Cross Country Ski Trail The Kawbawgam Cross Country Ski Trail is located on state land and is approximately 2 miles south of M-28. The parking area is located on the Lake Le Vasseur public access road. This trail has 2 loops. The beginning loop is 1.5 miles long and rated easy. The Levasseur loop is 3.9 miles long and rated difficult. The Kawbawgam Cross County Ski Trail is groomed and offers spectacular views of forested hills overlooking Lake Le Vasseur. Photo 6-11 Kawbawgam Cross Country Ski Trail Kawbawgam Pocket Park The Pocket Park is located on Kawbawgam Road just south of M-28. This small neighborhood park contains a basketball court, swings, picnic table, pit toilet and parking lot. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-15 �Photo 6-12 Kawbawgam Pocket Park 3 8 ·2004 Green Bay Street Park This property on the corner of Green Bay Street and Lakewood Lane runs along the Chocolay River and was donated to the Township in 2001. It has functioned as a fishing site for residents for many years . The Township requested, and received, a conditional use permit for a "park" designation in 2002. A grant was obtained through the Marquette County Conservation District and the Lake Superior Watershed Partnership to address critical erosion problems. Funds were used to stabilize the stream bank, install stairways and fencing, and establish plants to help control erosion . These improvements have curtailed further erosion and enhanced access for residents, especially seniors. Other Public and Private Recreation Sites (See Map 6-1) Michigan Department of Transportation Scenic Turnouts MOOT owns 3 roadside scenic turnouts by the M-28 corridor along the Lake Superior shoreline. The Township maintains these facilities under contract with MOOT. Site #1 is approximately 6 miles east of the US-41/M-28 intersection near Kawbawgam Road. It consists of½ mile of frontage on Lake Superior. It has restrooms, map display case, picnic area, well water, and a stairway accessing the beach. Sites #2 and #3 are located approximately 7 and 11 miles east of the US-41 /M-28 intersection. These turnouts are a 1.5 mile strip overlooking Lake Superior. Together. they have 2 small picnic areas. These turnouts are very popular with residents since they provide the only public access to Lake Superior in the Township. They also offer convenient, yet scenic, rest stops for tourists. Chocolay River Public Access Fishing Site The Michigan Department of Natural Resources developed this 5. 7 acre site on M-28 approximately one mile east of the US-41 /M-28 intersection. It is situated in a R-1 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-16 �zoning district. This handicap accessible site has restroom facilities, expanded parking, a public fishing pier, and carry-down boat launch. It is currently only 1 of 2 handicap accessible fishing sites located in Marquette County. Lake Le Vasseur Waterfowl Area The Michigan DNR constructed this public access site to Lake Le Vasseur off Kawbawgam Road. It is approximately 8 miles from the US-41/M-28 intersection and situated in a Resource Production zoning district. The DNR also rebuilt the dam on the west-end of the lake to provide improved hunting and fishing opportunities for the public. Photo 6-13 DNR Dam that forms Lake Le Vasseur Waterfowl Area James Jeske Flooding at Sand River The Michigan DNR built this wildlife flooding area on the Sand River approximately 11 miles from the US-41/M-28 intersection. Located just south of the mouth of the Sand River and Lake Superior it covers more than 700 acres of land. It has become a popular fishing and hunting location as well as a passive scenic site. The dam was opened in 2004, and while the flooded area will be reduced dramatically, it will remain a natural area. Cherry Creek School Playground The Cherry Creek Elementary School is located near the intersection of Cherry Creek Road and Ortman Road, 1 mile west from the US-41/M-28 intersection. This playground has a variety of recreation equipment for school children. It also has a soccer field and large open space area for general recreation activities, a portion of which has been developed as an interpretative nature trail supported by classroom projects. Gitchee Gurnee Campground This privately owned campground is located 7 miles east of the US-41/M-28 intersection. Constructed in 1980, it consists of a restroom/shower/laundry complex, an office, and 100 campsites . Nearly 1/2 of the sites support water, sewer, electrical service, while the remaining sites are considered primitive. It is the only campground in the Township and is a popular tourist stop. Chocolay Downs Golf Course This planned 36 hole golf course is located on M-28 about 3 miles east of the US-41 /M- The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-17 �28 intersection. Several holes are completed and the remaining holes are under construction . Privately owned and operated, it is expected to fill a large void in offering residents and visitors a modern golfing facility. Photo 6-14 Chocolay Downs Golf Course Homestead Golf Course This privately owned 18 hole golf course is currently under construction with 9 holes completed and operational. It is located on County Road 480 approximately 1 mile west of the US-41 and County Road 480 intersection. It is situated very close to Beaver Grove Recreation Area and complements all of the recreation opportunities offered in this section of the Township. COUNTY LANDS AND FACILITIES There are no county facilities in the Township. STATE LANDS AND FACILITIES Escanaba River State Forest The largest state holding in Chocolay Township is the Escanaba River State Forest. The area within the State Forest boundary in Chocolay Township is about 16,000 acres, but only about 11,000 acres are in State ownership. The remainder is in private in-holdings. The State Forest is used primarily for recreational activities such as hunting, hiking and skiing. Marquette Branch Correctional Facility, Mangum Farm The Michigan Department of Corrections runs a prison farm in Chocolay Township . The main farm property is about 400 acres along US-41 . The Michigan Department of Corrections also owns another 480 acres in two sites in Chocolay Township. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-18 �Photo 6-15 Mangum Prison Farm Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) MOOT owns nearly 2 miles of Lake Superior shoreline in two parcels in Chocolay Township. These are along M-28 in the eastern part of the Township. Within the two parcels are 3 scenic turnouts. The Township maintains picnic facilities at the three sites and these are the primary source of public access to Lake Superior in the Township. Department of Natural Resources Marquette State Fish Hatchery The fish hatchery is located at the far western edge of Chocolay Township on Cherry Creek Road. It is the primary broodstock and rearing facility for brook and lake trout that are used in both inland and Great Lakes waters. The facility also rears brown trout and splake (a brook trout - lake trout hybrid) for both Great Lakes and inland waters. This hatchery has both indoor and outdoor rearing facilities. The hatchery uses both well water and water from Cherry Creek for use in the rearing tanks. The hatchery is open to the public and has interpretive facilities. Photo 6-16 Marquette State Fish Hatchery on Cherry Creek The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-19 �FEDERAL FACILITIES There is only one federal facility in Chocolay Township, the U.S. Army Reserve Center. The nearest Post Office is in the City of Marquette. Many Township residents would like a Post Office in the Township . Photo 6-17 U.S. Army Reserve Center in Harvey John f:\winword\chocolay\final\CHAPTER 6 final.doc The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 6-20 �Chapter 7 TRANSPORTATION INTRODUCTION In Chocolay Township, as in all communities today, the economy is heavily dependent on the transportation system. US-41 and M-28 serve not only local residents, but long distance travelers. Chapter 2 noted that the large majority of Township residents work outside the Township and drive to work. Therefore, the growth of the area becomes largely dependent upon a safe, convenient, and economical transportation system to facilitate the easy movement of people, goods, and services both within and outside the Township. This makes the local transportation system, including highways, railroads, airports, and harbors, even when outside the Township, key elements in the future of Chocolay Township. This chapter examines existing transportation modes, presents several road classification systems, reviews key access management issues and identifies major needed road improvements. TRANSPORTATION MODES Within the Township there is only one principal transportation mode, and four minor alternate modes. The principal mode is vehicular movement on public roads. The alternate modes include Marq-Tran transit service, and seasonally, snowmobile, bicycle and walking which are largely recreational modes. However, other modes nearby provide important transportation services to Township residents. These include air and water transportation. Photo 7-1 The Primary Transportation Mode in Chocolay Township is Vehicles on Public Roads Air transportation services are available at the Sawyer International Airport. The facility has a 12,300 foot main runway with an instrument landing system. The site also contains a new passenger terminal building and new air crash protection facility currently under construction. Service is provided by regional carrier aircraft with most airplanes carrying The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-1 �less than fifty seats. Three major services are provided by American Eagle, Midwest Connect, and Northwest Air Link, which provide a three service hub from Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee. The area is also served by water transportation from nearby harbor facilities in Marquette. Both recreational and commercial use is made of these local harbors. There are two deep-draft harbors within Marquette. The lower harbor contains a public marina with access to a municipal park and various other cultural features. The south end of the lower harbor is also a coal unloading facility that supplies fuel for the local electric utility. Portions of Chocolay Township receive power from this utility. The lower harbor also receives large quantities of limestone used in the pellatizing of iron ore. The second deep-draft harbor, the upper harbor, is used to ship iron ore from Marquette to the steel mills and for unloading coal for the Wisconsin Electric power plant. The merchandise dock is available for receiving bulky items, the mooring of larger boats and off loading of equipment. Recreational use by local boaters is made of both the upper and lower harbors. Sport fishing and general pleasure boating are primary activities of the recreational boaters. There is also a marina on the Chocolay River in the Township. Bus transportation is another mode without a facility based in the Township, but serves the community through the transfer of people and a limited amount of goods. The Greyhound line has one run daily to Calumet and two daily to Chicago. Southbound pickup includes a stop in Harvey on the way to Escanaba/Chicago. In addition, westbound pickup is also made at the Escanaba connection. There is also a local mass transit system (Marq-Tran) that will be discussed in detail in a later section. The transportation mode that everyone is familiar with is the road system. It is the primary transporter of goods, services, and people. Each of the roads within the Township has a specific traffic capacity, design standard, and design use. The road classification system will first be discussed and then the Township roads will be inventoried as to how they fit into the system. CLASSIFICATION OF ROADS Roads have a two-fold purpose: The movement of traffic and the provision of access to adjoining property. All roads in the Township serve these two purposes to some degree. Through the process of defining road functions and correlating these with land use policies, several benefits should be realized by the local or even state government responsible for their operation. By defining the function of roads and their service to the community, the appropriate land uses can be encouraged adjacent to these roads and with proper access management, the public investment in these roads can be preserved. The design of a road depends principally on its functional classification and the traffic volume it is expected to carry at some future time. Such design factors as the number of lanes, width and surfacing of shoulders, width of structures, type of surface, and design speed all depend on traffic volume and functional classification. See Figure 7-1 which depicts the typical range of road types within a metropolitan area. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-2 �Figure 7-1 Design Characteristics of Types of Roads FREEWAYS ,ERVF LONGER DISTANCE --TRIPS, AND HAVE LIMITED CONTROLLED COLLECTOR STREETS CONNECT LOCAL STREETS TO ARTERIALS, SERVE INTERNEIGHBORHOOO TRAVEL ( - - EXPRESSWAY --- ARTERIAL ---- COLLECTOR --- LOCAL COLLECTORS ARE ONLY CONTINUOUS BETWEEN ARTERIALS Source: Arterial Street Access Control Study, Tri County Regional Planning Commission, 1981, p.3. Since land use patterns are largely determined by transportation facilities, functional classification is important because it permits coordination of land use policies with the transportation system. Once a functional classification is adopted, zoning regulations can be structured to ensure that specific land uses are guided to locations on the road network which are consistent with the existing or planned capacity of the network to accommodate the traffic generated. Access controls can be employed along arterial and collector routes whose principal function is to carry traffic. This will ensure that traffic carrying capacities are not usurped by turning movements to and from uses located along these routes. Similarly, subdivision regulations can provide for the dedication of sufficient right-of-ways, and in some cases, the installation of improvements based on the design standards outlined above. A typical road classification system includes the following road types: 1. Limited Access Highway -- Major highways providing no direct property access that are designed primarily for through traffic. These are also called freeways. 2. Major Arterial -- Arterials are roadways of regional importance intended to serve moderate to high volumes of traffic traveling relatively long distances. A major arterial is intended primarily to serve through traffic where access is carefully controlled. Some major arterials are referred to as "regional arterials". 3. Minor Arterial -- A roadway that is similar in function to major arterials, but operates under lower traffic volumes, over shorter distances, and provides a higher degree of property access than major arterials. 4. Major Collector -- A roadway that provides for traffic movement between arterials and local streets and carries moderate traffic volumes over moderate distances. Collectors may also provide direct access to abutting properties. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-3 �5. Minor Collector -- A roadway similar in function to a major collector but which carries lower traffic volumes over shorter distances and provides a higher degree of property access than a major collector. 6. Local Street -- A street or road intended to provide access to abutting properties, which tends to accommodate lower traffic volumes and serves to provide mobility within that neighborhood . Figure 7-2 shows the relationship of the movement function of roads relative to the access function. Freeways absolutely preserve the movement function while local streets primarily serve as access to abutting property. Arterials and collectors provide some of both, with arterials primarily there for the movement function. It is very important to preserve the movement function of arterials and collectors or congestion will greatly reduce the utility of such roads for safe travel over a distance. When communities poorly plan and regulate land uses next to arterials and collectors, then considerable tax dollars must be spent that would not have had to be spent to try and remedy the resulting congestion and unsafe conditions. Figure 7-2 Functional Classification of Roads I I I I I I I I I I I I z 0 G z ACCESS FUNCTION I I I I ::::::> I I LL i "' !s ::!8 ALL ACCESS i ! I I1 I I ~< C I MpVEMENt FJJNCTIONl I I ~==~-,'~=~~~....,,.,,,.,..,.....,..-..._-1--.,.,,.,..,...,,..,,.,,,.,,..,,-i--_::::::~~=---EXPRESSWAY PRIMARY ARTERIAL SECONDARY ARTERIAL COLLECTOR LOCAL CUL DE SAC FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION Source: Arterial Street Access Control Study, Tri County Regional Planning Commission, 1981, p.3. The major roads in Michigan are included in the National Functional Classification System in order to be eligible for federal road funds. Under this system, roads are classified into the following categories: • Rural or Urban Interstate (analogous to "limited access highway" above) • Rural or Urban Other Freeway (analogous to "limited access highway" above) • Rural or Urban Other Principal Arterial (analogous to "major arterial" above) • Rural or Urban Minor Arterial (analogous to "minor arterial" above) • Rural Major Collector or Urban Collector (analogous to "major collector" above) • Rural Minor Collector (analogous to "minor collector" above). The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-4 �Map 7-1 Roads in Chocolay Township According to the National Functional Classification System = Rural Principal Arterial Collector = Rural Major Collector Yellow= Rural Minor Source: Michigan Department of Transportation [Note: the pink in the upper left corner is the urban boundary line for urban aid highways, it is not a road.] Within Chocolay Township, only three of these classifications apply (as follows and as illustrated on Map 7-1 : 1. Rural Principal Arterial - These arterials provide the next to the highest level of traffic mobility available on the total highway system. US-41 and M-28 are statewide arterials as well as major arterials. 2. Rural Major Collector - These interconnect and augment the statewide and regional arterial system. County Road 480 and 551 from US-41 to 480 are major collectors. The primary function is to interconnect people in the economic activity centers not seNed by statewide arterial highways. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-5 �3. Rural Minor Collectors - These function primarily as collector- distributor roads. County Road 545 fYvest Branch Road) from U.S. 41 South is a minor collector. These roads provide service between minor population and economic centers within the County. Traffic mobility and trip continuity are not as essential as on arterials. Serving through traffic may not be a major consideration . Photo 7-2 M-28 is a Statewide Arterial The remaining roads in the Township are grouped as Local Access Streets/Roads. These provide access to adjacent properties and these streets and roads carry practically no through traffic since traffic desires are mostly local in nature. The best route continuity is not important. The major functions of these streets and roads are to: • Provide access and service to the residential developments adjacent to them. • Provide access to homes, farms, and other uses, or to provide access to commercial and/or industrial establishments (these streets should be constructed to carry heavy vehicles if the conditions warrant). For road funding purposes, three systems of road classification are used . The National Functional Classification system was listed above. Only classified roads are eligible for federal highway aid. It is used to determine whether federal aid can be obtained for these roads . Funds originate with the federal portion of the gasoline tax paid by motorists on each gallon of gas. The State classification system is tied to Act 51. It includes five categories: state trunklines, county primary roads, county local roads, city and village major streets, and city and village local streets. Funds originate from the state portion of the gasoline tax. A statutory formula determines how much goes to MOOT, how much to County Road Commissions, and how much to cities and villages. Townships are not eligible for federal or state highway funds. The county road system includes only two categories: primary and local roads. County road commissions also receive Act 51 funds and sometimes federal aid highway funds for special projects on certain roads. Within the Township, County roads 480, 545, and The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-6 �551 are the only county primary roads and they are also on the federal National Functional Classification system. All other public roads in the Township are county local roads. Gravel roads serve large parts of the Township. Such local roads do a good job of meeting access needs when traffic volumes are low. However, once traffic exceeds 500600 vehicles/day on an average quality gravel road, then maintenance demands go up sharply. Paving is often not an option because of the high construction cost (often $300,000 plus per mile), even though the maintenance cost is much less. In addition, a paved road often has a capacity of 12-15,000 vehicles/day, which is far more than needed in many rural areas and may induce more development into the area (sprawl). Thus, it is very important that Township zoning regulations keep density lower than 1 dwelling unit per 10 acres in areas served by gravel roads. This density reflects the highest traffic volume a gravel road can accommodate without constantly needing grading, and even then it assumes the gravel road is of the highest quality possible with a proper sub-base and a good gravel surface. Photo 7-3 Kawbawgam Road, a Gravel Road in Chocolay Township TRANSPORTATION DECISION MAKING All of the decisions on roads in the Township are made either by the Michigan Department of Transportation (on US-41 and M-28) or the Marquette County Road Commission (which is responsible for all other public roads in the Township). MOOT has a five year plan that lists priority road and bridge improvements throughout the state. Local governments provide input on priority road and bridge needs directly to MOOT through the local TSC office in Ishpeming . The federal government through the Federal Highway Administration and the state government through the Michigan Department of Transportation have input on county level road decisions primarily through the funds they provide and the strings they attach in the form of regulations and guidelines. The Township has input on the Road Commission's decisions in any of the following three ways. First, each year the Township Board decides its priorities for the roads in the Township: what roads need work, where, and when. This procedure is outlined in Appendix C. The Township Board, in an advisory role, then meets with the Road Commission to present The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-7 �their priorities and to exchange other pertinent information. The Road Commission, to a large extent, follows the Township's desires fairly closely. Since the Township participates fifty percent (50%) in the funding of construction projects on roads in the Township, the Township has a significant role in determining which roads are fixed, providing the County is willing to provide their fifty percent (50%) match. It should be noted that the Township's road needs are always greater than either its or the Road Commission's financial and physical abilities to meet those needs. Thus, the degree to which the Township's priorities are acted on will depend in part on how much money the Township has to help provide funding for those priorities, and the funds available to the County Road Commission. The second way the Township can affect Road Commission decisions is through the County Board of Commissioners who appoint the County Road Commissioners. The third way is for Township officials or citizens to call the Road Commission directly to provide information or make a complaint. When used, this approach provides valuable information directly and immediately. Further, the number of calls can give a rough indication of the magnitude of a problem. In addition, the Township often receives road complaints from citizens, and it can provide valuable information to the Road Commission in managing these complaints . ACCESS MANAGEMENT What • • • • • • • • • • • • • are the Consequences of Poor Site Access and Circulation Design? Inadequate access capacity On-site congestion Congestion on the public street system High crash experience on the public street High crash experience on-site Pedestrian-auto crashes Limited flexibility to adjust the design or operation to changed conditions Loss of customers Frustrated motorists Unstable land use - declining commercial corridor stability Decrease in property value Decreased tax revenues Diverts motorists onto neighborhood streets. In 2004, the Michigan Department of Transportation with input from representatives of each of eight jurisdictions along the US-41/M-28 corridor (from Chocolay Township west through Ely Township), prepared an access management plan for the corridor. Entitled US-41/M-28 Comprehensive Corridor & Access Management Plan, the Plan sets · forth a series of proposed road and intersection improvements, as well as driveway redesigns and closures proposed to be implemented as the opportunity presents itself. Those elements of the US-41/M-28 Comprehensive Corridor and Access Management Plan that apply within Chocolay Township are hereby adopted by reference as the guide for future corridor and access management improvements. In order to implement the US-41/M-28 Corridor and Access Management Plan and the Memorandum of Understanding all the participating jurisdictions signed to be a part The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-8 �of the project leading to the creation of the US-41/M-28 Corridor and Access Management Plan, the Chocolay Township Zoning Ordinance should be amended to reflect the uniform approach to access management advocated by the Plan and being adopted in each of the eight jurisdictions that helped to create the Plan. Those zoning amendments are based on the model access management ordinance sanctioned and promoted by the Michigan Department of Transportation in the Access Management Guidebook published by MOOT in 2001 . In addition, implementation of the recommendations in the US-41/M-28 Corridor and Access Management Plan will be further facilitated by active participation by Chocolay Township in future joint site plan review meetings as they relate to a particular site plan pending in Chocolay Township or an adjoining jurisdiction. These meetings will involve review of access management issues and corridor improvement issues related to a particular site plan. Such joint meetings will include representatives of Chocolay Township, MOOT, Marquette County, and other corridor communities, as pertinent. 15 ACCESS MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES 1. "Reasonable access" to property abutting a state highway or county road is protected by state law. (Act 200 of 1969). Direct access is not mandated if other access options are available. 2. Proper application of access management techniques assures businesses and drivers of safe and convenient access and taxpayers of more cost-effective use of their money spent on roads. 3. The more important the roadway (the higher its functional classification) the higher the degree of access management that should be applied so that the road continues to perform according to the function it was designed to serve. 4. Interconnections between adjacent sites and between new subdivisions and the existing street system is important in maintaining safe and efficient traffic flow. 5. Limit the number of driveways and other conflict points. 6. Separate driveways and other conflict points. 7. Improve driveway operation by fitting the best design to the need. 8. Remove turning vehicles from through traffic lanes. 9. Reduce conflicting traffic volumes. 10. Improve roadway operations on arterials by achieving the proper balance between traffic flow and access to abutting property. 11. Lay the foundation for correcting existing access management problems and preventing future ones in the local comprehensive plan and/or an access or corridor management plan. 12. To optimize the benefits of access management, coordination with all appropriate transportation agencies is essential when preparing access management plans, design techniques and the elements of local access management regulations. 13. To optimize the benefits of access management, multi-jurisdictional coordination with all appropriate transportation agencies is essential when applying access management standards on lot split, subdivision, site plan and other zoning reviews. 14. Educate the public about the benefits of access management and involve them in development of access management plans and implementation activities. 15. Many access management techniques are best implemented through zoning and others through local lot split, subdivision, condominium and private road regulations. Source: MOOT Access Management Guidebook, 2001 , pg.2-2. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-9 �Traffic Volumes Average daily traffic (ADT) volumes on M-28 range from 3,900 vehicles on the east end of the Township to 9,700 vehicles at US-41. This is up sharply from 1994 when it was 5,900 vehicles/day. About 450 vehicles/day are commercial trucks. Average daily traffic volumes on US-41 are about 4,900 vehicles/day from the south end of the Township to M-28. This is down from about 5,600 vehicles/day in 1994. About 330 commercial trucks travel this stretch daily. From the intersection of US-41 /M-28/Cherry Creek Road north to the Township line by the Visitor's Center, traffic builds to about 18,600 vehicles/day. This is slightly less than in 1994 when it was 19,000 vehicles/day. Map 7-2 depicts 2003 ADT's on these roads. 2003 Avera Map 7-2 Traffic Volumes on Ma·or Arterials MARQUETTE E ~ HUMBOLDT ~ 1-EGAUNEE . ~ 0 --•, tSHPEM \IG 2600 ALGER HANNII<{, 2500 DICKINSON 1300 1300 Source: MOOT, Michigan 2003 Annual Average 24-hour Traffic Volumes Traffic Crashes The US-41/M-28 Corridor and Access Management Plan includes an analysis of high crash intersections of which there are two in the Township. The first is at Silver Creek . Road and US-41 /M-28, and the second is at the junction of US-41, M-28 and Cherry Creek Road. Neither intersection has marked pedestrian markings or crosswalks, although the Silver Creek intersection has an overhead pedestrian bridge on the north leg of the intersection. On Silver Creek Road there were 21 crashes in the three years from 2000-2002. Eight were southbound rear ends, 5 were angle and 4 were head-on left-turn crashes. Visibility of the signal may be affected by the pedestrian bridge. Improved clearance intervals may reduce left-turn crashes. There should also be pedestrian crossing markings on Silver Creek Road and on Corning Street, but not across US-41 because of the pedestrian bridge. Corning Street should be realigned so it The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-10 �squares with the intersection. On Cherry Creek Road there were 23 crashes from 20002002. Nine were southbound to eastbound left-turn collisions. An intersection operations study was recommended to provide safer left-turn opportunities. Since there are pedestrian pathways on both sides of US-41 at M-28, there should be pedestrian crossing markings on all four legs of the roadway surface and pedestrian crossing lights should be considered . Driveway Closures/Consolidations The US-41/M-28 Corridor and Access Management Plan also identifies several driveway closures or consolidations that should occur as the opportunity presents itself. This is one of the most fundamental access management principles (see sidebar in gray). Driveway closures or consolidations reduce the number of conflict points at which crashes could occur. Crashes go up with the number of driveways if the separation distance between driveways is substandard. As a result, where there are two or more driveways on the same parcel, and they are not properly separated for the speed of the roadway, driveways should be closed or combined to meet the MOOT safety requirements. Exceptions may apply for driveways serving semi-trucks but even then, not more than two driveways on US-41 or M-28 should be permitted. Driveway closures or consolidations are most easily accomplished when a landowner comes in for development approval on a new development, expansion of an existing development or a redevelopment of property. Opportunities to combine driveways and gain access via a frontage or rear service road should also be capitalized upon. Photo 7-4 Very Few Businesses Need Two Driveways Restricting Access on US-41 and M-28 Will Improve Safety and Traffic Flow INTERCONNECTED STREETS The emerging system of streets and roads in the Township is characteristic of one that will present major problems in the future. That is because many of the new, especially residential, developments are built in subdivisions or site condo projects with an independent street design that is not connected to abutting property, nor leaves stub street openings for future connections. This is not only more difficult for residents or users of those developments, it is also not nearly as safe. If a bad storm blocks the The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-11 �entrance, then fire trucks, ambulances, electric or telephone utility trucks or police cannot get down the street, and that is when residents are more likely to overdo themselves and have a heart attack or get injured. The Township should require in its subdivision and zoning regulations that all developments have an interconnected street system, or include stub roads for a future connection as abutting property is developed. Figure 7-3 Interconnected Streets STREETS ARE NOT INTERCONNECTED _J JL l_ _ _ STREETS ARE INTERCONNECTED _J l_______j L Store Store A School 7r 11 7 • Increases congestion along perimeter roads • Kids traveling from home A to B have to be driven • Creates more conflicts and crash potential. • • • • • • • r ,I Residents have choices to access arterials Kids can walk from home A to B Kids can walk or bike to school more safely Easy access to neighborhood stores More efficient for snow plowing Easier access for emergency vehicles Larger sense of neighborhood. Source: MOOT Access Management Guidebook, 2001, pg. 2-7. PUBLIC ROAD CONDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS The county road network consists of 283.85 miles of county primary roads and about 988.39 miles of county local roads. The County plows about 67.7% or about 861.6 miles of roads. There are 5.58 miles of county primary road and 73.59 miles of county local roads in Chocolay Township . The Road Commission plows 83.2% of it, or all but 13.31 miles. Improvements to the county primary roads, both maintenance and construction, are scheduled by the Road Commission as their funds allow. As mentioned above, the County Road Commission bears the responsibility of construction and maintenance on both the primary and local road systems. The Township, however, must contribute 50% of the cost of construction on the local road system. The Road Commission must finance fill maintenance costs on both the primary and local road system. In addition, the Road Commission is responsible for preliminary signing on the roads under their jurisdiction. On local roads, the Township is often the determining factor of when the roads get worked on, mainly because Township funds are usually scarce. The Township's share of construction projects may be anywhere from $10,000 to $80,000 for one project. Because of the tight budget that the Township operates under, a payment schedule is usually worked out over several years . This payment system is 5% on the unpaid balance and is not a practice the Road Commission is required to do by statute. In the past, this arrangement has been very successful in improving county roads within the Township . While the Township is not required to participate in this type of arrangement, the general budget constraints necessitate this type of cooperative venture to handle priority projects as desired by the Township. Design standards should be adhered to. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-12 �Improvements to the Township road system fall into two categories: 1) upgrading existing roads, and 2) future roads. As far as the existing roads are concerned, their general routes and locations are established. But as the roads carry increased traffic volume, their level of construction should correspondingly increase. Some of the first streets in the area were much narrower than current design standards would allow and their base is not as sturdy as present design would provide. A gradual improvement of the existing roads should take place so that they also meet contemporary design specifications Existing Road Improvements The state highways and the county primary roads in the Township are in fair to good shape. According to the Five Year Highway and Bridge Program, published by MOOT, there is scheduled repair work on state road M-28 to be constructed in 2005. Beginning at US-41 heading easterly to the Alger county line, M-28 is to be resurfaced. Also M-28 is to be widened between Kawbawgam Road to Scenic Turn Out road. There is one bridge repair scheduled on M-28 located at the crossing over the Chocolay River. Relative to county primary roads, County Road 545 contains an extreme ninety degree corner and is a curvy road. County Road 480 contains residential strip development. This strip development and the large number of driveways accessing onto this road decreases the safety of this road system. Relative to local roads, there are some problem areas (not ranked). These include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Wright Place is breaking up at the intersection with US 41 and has linear cracking on the section west of US-41. The east side has pot holes at the intersection with US 41 and heaving from Corning Street to Green Bay Street. Terrace Street west of US-41 has linear cracking from Ripley Street to US-41 and is breaking up at the intersection with US-41. Terrace Street east of US-41 has heaving in areas and is breaking up at the approach to US-41. Corning Street is chunking in the vicinity of the Day Care and the corners are deteriorating at the intersection with Wright Place. East Main Street has heaving from the house at 145 E. Main to the end of the street. Lakewood Lane has minor linear cracking from Green Bay Street to Superior Street. Shot Point Drive has been breaking up in the low swampy areas and continues to do so. Riverland Drive is starting to lose the inside shoulders on the corners. Riverside Road is deteriorating on all of the inside corner radii and there are pot holes at the intersection with US-41 and where the street meets the old railroad grade. Carmen Drive is breaking up at the US-41 intersection. Juliet Street is starting to pothole at the intersection with US-41. Ortman Road from Cherry Creek to US-41 has linear cracking and is starting to break up (alligator pattern). Ortman Road from Cherry Creek north has minor linear cracking and heaving. Woodvale Drive is starting to heave at the corner of the "s" curve. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-13 �15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21 . Ford Road is starting to develop cracks on its entire surface. Cherry Creek Road south of Co. Rd. 480 and past Old Kiln Road is starting to break apart at the corner radii. Co. Rd . 545 is in very poor condition throughout. Foster Creek Road is starting to break up in places. Orchard Lane has minor linear cracking. South Big Creek Road 's shoulders are breaking down. Green Garden and Greenfield Roads are in very poor condition from the Green Garden hill to Mangum Road and Mangum Road's first¼ mile from US-41. Boulevard on US-41/M-28 One idea put forth by the Township Planning Commission as the US-41/M-28 Corridor and Access Management Plan was being prepared called for converting the current 5lane section between the northwest corner of the Township at the rock outcrop/MOOT Visitor's Center to the US-41 /M-28/Cherry Creek Intersection into a boulevard. MOOT seriously considered this suggestion since boulevards are generally a safer roadway design, but rejected it for numerous reasons, including: • The low incidence of crashes along this stretch, • The lack of right-of-way for a boulevard built to MOOT design standards, • The high cost to purchase ROW and rebuild the road, relative to other roadway needs in the area, • The adequacy of the existing capacity of the roadway. Photo 7-5 One Proposal Calls for Converting Part of US-41/M-28 to a Boulevard -----Upon further examination of existing MOOT right-of-way (which is largely 100 feet) and physical inspection of the US-41 /M-28 roadway and the location of adjoining buildings, the Planning Commission still desires the installation of a boulevard along this stretch of road . It will greatly help improve the physical character of this stretch of road and provide an aesthetic focal point to the one place in the Township passed over by most Township residents every day. To that end, the Township will prepare and analyze a drawing with the following information: • Right-of way (ROW) • Existing pavement location • Existing building footprints The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-14 �• • • • • • Existing zoning setback lines Topography Future ROW line at 150' width Zoning setback from new ROW Tree line and spacing for a tree lined boulevard Other related information as needed. The Township will identify the number of structures affected by such a change and make an initial determination if it is practical to proceed with a boulevard design. If it is, the Township will convene a meeting at which of all landowners along US-41/M-28 will be invited, as well as the general public, to review the information with them and receive feedback. If interest remains and a boulevard appears desirable and feasible, the Township will begin a series of other actions. • First it will contact MOOT about its intentions. The Township fully understands that this might be a project with a time line 10 or more years in the future. • Second, to help facilitate the construction of such a boulevard, the Township will work with MOOT on establishing a cross section for the boulevard and a new tree line for each side. At 150' for ROW, the cross section would be characterized by MOOT as a "narrow width" boulevard, with very few median crossovers. It is not intended to accommodate the LI-turning movements of large semi-trucks, so alternate routing for such vehicles will need to be found. Jug handle (turn right to circle around instead of making a left turn, like one leaf of a cloverleaf intersection on a freeway) and other indirect U-turn designs should be explored for their feasibility where semi-truck turning movements are needed. Figure 7-4 illustrates one possible cross section. It is similar to that on M-43 as it goes through East Lansing. If Figure 7-4 were used as the cross section design, then the new tree line is the 12 foot area on both sides of the right-of-way. If another cross section design is selected, then the tree line will need to be established and should be added as an element to the Zoning Map so everyone remains aware of it. • The Township will attempt to acquire as much of the right-of-way as feasible through voluntary donations by landowners, either associated with new development or redevelopment, or simply as tax deductible donations. • Once the tree line has been established, the Township will initiate a major tree planting program to green the corridor. This is anticipated to begin long before any road reconstruction occurred. The Township will seek enhancement grant funds from MOOT to help pay for such enhancements, as well as new sidewalks on both sides of the road. • The Township should seek assistance from MOOT for seeking funding for some of the other road improvements described below, as they will help with some of the truck turning issues created by installation of a boulevard. A list of potential plants for use along the boulevard and other streets in Chocolay Township appears at the end of this Chapter. If it turns out to not be feasible to establish a boulevard design along US-41 /M-28, then the Township should go forward with establishing a tree line outside the existing right-ofway. This will require working closely with property owners to ensure it is implemented as soon as possible. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-15 �Also, the current pedestrian overpass on US-41 /M-28 at Silver Creek Road should be relocated so it is not so close to the intersection and so that a bicycle can be easily transported across it. Now, children must carry their bikes up and down the steps which is a struggle for small children. Some may choose instead to try and cross the highway instead of using the overpass. Figure 7-4 Proposed Boulevard Cross Section for US-41/M-28 as it goes through Harvey New Roads Future roads should also meet these design specifications. Consideration should particularly be given to where these roads should be located . An improved road can be a great attraction for development. But the development should be where it can be conveniently served by local services, such as the sewer and water, ease of maintenance, access to public facilities, schools, recreation facilities, and other goods and services. Therefore , determination of where development should occur should be a major determinant to deciding where the new roads should be built. The other major determinants for new roads are: • Provid ing missing links on an interconnected road pattern • Relieving and preventing congestion • Providing alternative means of access for certain types of traffic. There are five locations that should be considered for new roads (plus some small connectors) in the Township over the next twenty years . Each meets the three criteria above. They are very generally depicted on Map 7-3. Specific route alignments would be determined following detailed study in each area. Future land use along these new roads is depicted and described on the Future Land Use Map in Chapter 10. • The first is a north/south connection between US-41 and M-28. This would be an expensive road as a river crossing is involved . Several locations should be explored , but extending the North Big Creek Road to M-28 would be the shortest distance and would come out at an existing commercial area and is a good distance away from the US-41/M-28/Cherry Creek Road intersection. • The second involves use of the old Lake Superior and Ishpeming railroad line east of M-28 all the way to North Big Creek Road. This would put a connection to M-28 about a half mile from the US-41/M-28/Cherry Creek Road intersection, and an effort should be made to keep it at least that far away if possible. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-16 �• • • The third is a connecting road from Harvey behind existing businesses to M-28. Routing the road adjacent to the old railroad right-of-way (which is in private ownership for this segment) may be a possible location, but that would take the road farther east than necessary (but would align it with the second option described above). If that was not feasible, a new road from the east end of Wright Place (or perhaps another street) in Harvey that paralleled US-41 /M-28 all the way to US-28 would give another connection option to M-28 from Harvey and hopefully permit a connection from the trucking company property so east bound trucks would not have to do a left-turn onto US-41 /M-28 and could instead do a left-turn onto M-28 which has a lower volume . In any event, this road should connect to M-28 at least 1/3 mile east of the existing US-41 /M-28 intersection and½ or more miles east is better. With any option, the Township is strongly encouraged to balance the needs of the transportation network with the potential intrusion of commercial vehicle traffic within a close proximity of a residential area. The fourth is continuation of the radial street design already in place on the south quadrant of the US-41/M-28/Cherry Creek intersection, on the other three corners. A large part of this continuation on the north side of the intersection would be accomplished by the third suggestion above. The other two corners are of a lower priority and should occur as the opportunity presents itself. It is essential that all the new streets line up with one another, but it is likely that as traffic grows at the intersection that only right-turns in and out of these new streets would be permitted on all legs. The fifth is connection between streets on the west end of Harvey, south of US41 /M-28 to Willow Road. There appear to be several possibilities that should be explored. Going through the Township owned property is likely the most feasible. This will help continue the interconnected street pattern in this area and facilitate future residential infill development in this area. This may be feasible to accomplish with developer contribution of at least a portion of the ROW as part of the approval of a new project. The developer would also construct that portion of the road serving his development. If the railroad right-of-way is to be used for the second option, efforts should be made soon to determine the ownership of the ROW and the potential for public acquisition. Consideration should also be given to acquisition of the ROW for recreational trail purposes as well. Construction of a road and recreational trail in the same ROW may be more eligible for state or federal funds, than just the road itself. If so, the rest of the ROW to the southeast should also be considered for acquisition for trail purposes at the same time. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-17 �LEGEND -I ::::, - StateHighway - -- County Highway - - - Named Roads CD () ······· General Proposed Location of New Public Roads Streams - - - Township Line Un-Named Roads ::::, Ol ;:::i. State Lands Lakes "tJ Sedion Line ""I .A y , Source Md'tigan Ceni.r for Geographic lnfonnation Oepl ol lnfOffflalion TechnolOgy 0 "'C 0 Map Prapared by the Land lnfonnahon Aeces• Auoaat1011. August 2004 .... "r} CD VI CD C. :i: -5· G) CD :::, CD ...., ~ :J (/) ::::, ""I 0 r- () ::::, --..J 0 0 a-o o· ~8 oo ru --..J '< -v 3 . ( l "O co :::, ,,-v~ ,, () 0 I •• ~ Ma I. CD :J (/) <" !I CD -u "' \ u ~-, f j ci" ru :J N ~ ~ l :·.1 J,,) - 1 I "tJ ,, ;·, 31 ~, ,._ I (}1 ,._ "I C" \. ) r ,. "!"- ' I I~ 11 ;;o 0 DI C. "' 1" r r. c=;· ·t I,.,_ ... I I C I 31 0 A s.z i " .ll { ::::, 0 s: n ru ~-~t '?-b ~~. c>«'I VI ,. i I ) ,. ,. 'f- I v,) �PRIVATE ROAD CONDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS Another significant part of the road system in Chocolay Township is private roads. Unfortunately, private roads are frequently laid out and constructed without any consideration of road design standards. The result is that private roads are often located where geologic conditions are unsuitable, roads have insufficient or no roadbed preparation, and have inadequate drainage, inadequate right-of-way, etc. They are also often overgrown with vegetation. This makes it difficult or impossible to safely bring a fire truck, trash truck or delivery truck down them. Because of safety concerns, many communities do not permit the construction of new private roads. Such roads are also often costly to maintain. However, unless the road contains a 66 foot right-of-way and is built or brought up to County Road Commission specifications, the County will not take over the road and provide maintenance. The result is generally after-the-fact hard feelings on the part of residents who may not have realized the responsibility of living on a private road and who feel they are being denied public services that others take for granted. In the 1977 Zoning Ordinance, the Township provided requirements for private roads. These standards originally provided for approved private streets to have a minimum 66 foot right-of-way, an 18 foot width and be paved with gravel or similar material. Since then, however, the requirements have increased to insure that private roads are developed properly. Services such as public school buses will typically not travel on private roads and some Township services such as refuse collection will not be provided to the property owners on a private road unless the road is properly maintained and passable. Improvements to private roads, as well as construction and maintenance, is totally the responsibility of the property owners. However, the additional regulations have not resulted in private roads with the same quality as public roads and the Township should require that all future roads in the Township serving more than a single residence or business, be public roads. This may pose a problem in implementation however, when open space developments are concerned. These are projects where dwellings are clustered on a small part of the site and the balance is left in permanent open space. These projects attract residents who want to be in the country and enjoy a natural setting. When trees are cleared for a full 66 feet (as is often required for public roads), then the rural character of open space developments is often badly undermined. Speeds are slow on these roads and few homes are served, so a narrower pavement width and clearing of vegetation for only one car width (and to 12' in height) on either side of the pavement is all that is necessary. The Planning Commission should work with other area Planning Commission's and the County Road Commission to create a new set of public road standards for open space developments serving a small number of lots. If this does not happen, the Township will either have to accept public roads with current standards, or substantially beef up its private road standards to ensure the design, construction and maintenance is much higher (i.e. up to public road standards). This will require new standards on road design and construction and number of lots served. It will require imposing road maintenance agreements that are signed by the developer and Township and recorded with the Register of Deeds for all property affected. It will also require a special assessment clause permitting the Township to special assess all properties served by the private road if it is not adequately maintained. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-19 �Following is a list of the private roads in Chocolay Township as of early 2005: Acorn Trail, Acre Trail , Anna 's Trail, Apple Trail, Autumn Trail, Bayou Street, Cedar Lane, Cheryl Court, Chocolay River Trail, Cindy Lane, Deerview Trail, Dock Street, Edgewood Trail, East Chocolay River Trail, Hidden Creek, Hillcrest Trail, Hotel Place, Industrial Drive, JH Lane, Keweenaw Trail, Lara Lei Trail, Morning Meadow Drive, Norway Trail , Ojibwa Trail, Pine Cone Trail , part of Poplar Trail, Red Fox Trail, part of Sandy Lane , part of Shimon Court, South Willow Road, Tia Trail, Vista View Trail, Wanda Street, Welsh Trail, and Willow Road. The Township does not currently have a program to monitor the maintenance of private roads and the responsibility lies with the residents located on the private road. However, because not all private roads have been properly maintained, the Township needs to be more assertive to ensure that emergency vehicles and fire trucks can always access dwellings and businesses along private roads. The changes to the Township private road ordinance outlined above will go a long way to solving this problem, but only conversion of all private roads to public will completely ensure this. MASS TRANSIT Marq-Tran provides a fixed Marquette/ Sawyer International Airport/ Gwinn route, which stops in Harvey and travels north and southbound US-41 through Chocolay Township. It passes through Harvey 12 times a day, seven days a week. In addition to this service, Marq-Tran also provides a Door-to-Door service, which provides service to township residents seven days a week. Figure 7-5 Marquette/Sawyer/Gwinn Route of Marq-Tran • Morq-Tron C.nt.r Hol'\Htil Area Citeo Station • • Horvev.Area Choe~ Twp Holl Cromoods• 76 Station • Crossroads c-n1enc• Store • SD TralJerParlt Inter~ Airport Gwinn Hl9h School • Kount,y • Korner Source: Marq-Tran website, 2004. Note: The Marq-Tran Center shown on this map has moved. A new map was not available as of August 2005. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-20 �FUTURE TRAILS Chocolay Township is the home of several all-season trails that provide important recreational opportunities for residents and nonresidents. However, existing trails were not planned with the kind of citizen and property owner input that is typical of Township initiatives and any future trails must be-irrespective of the entity proposing the trail. The nuisance effects of snowmobiles very near single family dwellings is considerable, and wh ile future 4-cycle eng ines are expected to cut noise considerably, there are other issues that need to be addressed as well, including speed, clear vision at intersections and driveways, and travel off of designated trails. In particular, the Riverside Road Lakewood Lane intersection and the Green Bay Street - Lakewood Lane Intersection with the existing trail have bad sight distances and poor stopping distances and these safety issues need to be addressed in the near future, and similar problems need to be prevented by better trail planning in the future. Increased monitoring and enforcement of public safety laws should also be a key component of future trail planning and development. Photo 7-6 All-Season Trails need Improvements to Address Safety and Noise Issues CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM The Township should use a capital improvements program (CIP) to schedule all future public improvements. A CIP is a timetable or schedule of all future capital improvements to be carried out during a specific period and listed in order of priority, together with cost estimates and the anticipated means and sources of financing each project. Usually the time period is six years with the first year being a capital budget. The Township enters into contracts with the County Road Commission for reconstruction and repaving on local roads on a 50-50 match basis. As discussed earlier, this type of arrangement has been beneficial to the Township as well as to the Road Commission in prioritizing which roads in the Township need reconstruction or repaving. This type of an effort should be continued. The County Road Commission ranks all paved roads every four years. 1996, 2000 and 2004 data are available. The Township Planning Commission should review this data when available as well as other road needs. Appendix C includes a road ranking system that was included in the original Township Plan. It may need updating, but is a relevant starting point for a contemporary ranking The Charter Townsh ip of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-21 �system. Road improvement recommendations should be considered annually as part of the CIP process in order to allow the Planning Commission to identify transportation needs and to recommend projects consistent with this Plan . In addition, the Township should pay additional attention in the future to construction projects such as bridges, culverts, drainage, etc. that have previously not been considered a priority for funding . Similarly, more attention should go to constructing new pedestrian and bicycle paths now that a path runs from the US-41 /M-28/Cherry Creek Road intersection all the way to Marquette. POTENTIAL PLANTS FOR USE ALONG STREETS AND HIGHWAYS The following plants are suitable for planting along public streets and highways in Chocolay Township. Some are more salt tolerant than others and care should be given to selection of plants that are best suited to the conditions they will face when planted. Deciduous Trees: Common Name Shademaster Locust Larch* Ornamental Pears Red Oak* White Oak* Black Locust* Paper Birch* Basswood Shrub Maple Ginkgo Serviceberry* Scientific Name Gleditsia triacanthose 'Shademaster'' Larix species (a deciduous conifer) Pyrus species Quercus rubra Quercus alba Rob inia pseudoacacia Betula paovrifera Tilia Americana Acer ginnala Ginkgo biloba Amelanchier species Even:1reen T rees: Common Name Wh ite Spruce* Colorado Spruce Austrian Pine Junipers (*Eastern Red Cedar is native) Norway Spruce Scientific Name Picea glauca Picea pungens Pinus nigra Juniperus species (* Juniperous virginiana) Picea abies Shrubs: Common Name Alpine Current Siberian Pea Honeysuckle Bridalwreath Spirea Snowberry Lilacs Forsythia American Cranberrybush Viburnum* Mockoranqe Arrowwood Viburnum * Scientific Name Ribes alpinum Caragana arborescens Lonicera species Spireaea Vanhouttei Symphoricarpus species Syringa species Forsythia species Vibrunum trilobum Philadelpus species Viburnum dentatum *Native species. These plants may be more likely to survive than ornamental species and can more favorably contribute to a natural, rural visual character. John f:lwinwordlchocolaylfinal\CHAPTER 7 final.doc ; The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 7-22 ��Chapter 8 VISION, GOALS, POLICIES, AND OBJECTIVES INTRODUCTION The bulk of the Comprehensive Plan is composed of statistics, maps, figures, projections, and hundreds of details ranging from specific land use criteria and local soil conditions to the locations of Areas of Particular Concern. This information, when digested properly, will provide a framework for understanding the Township's planning needs and a rational growth strategy. To implement the growth strategy, decisions must be made by Township leaders. This chapter will assist those decision-makers in determining what directions the Township could take by outlining specific goals, policies, and objectives for each of the functional decision areas. To assist in a complete understanding of this chapter, four basic terms must be explained: Vision: This is a description of what residents of the community want it to be like in the future, usually about 20 years into the future. It is based on a series of exercises conducted with residents at a public, visioning or futuring meeting . Goal: (Long term) The generalized end toward which all efforts are directed. It is normally stated in terms of fulfilling broad public needs or the alleviation of major problems. Goals tend to not be immediately attainable because they are generally unmeasurable and idealistic. Policy: A statement of position or course of action which provides a means to attaining the stated goal. They are factual rather than value-laden, and can be measured by the impact it has on existing conditions. Since it is an adopted strategy, it must be periodically evaluated and revised. It must also be within the Township's authority and resource capabilities. Objective: (Short term) A specific alternative towards which effort is directed, derived from goals. It is expressed in measurable terms and is quantifiable. It must therefore be attainable and realistic considering the Township's resources. Objectives are targets to be achieved, relating what has to be completed to achieve the goal. VISION STATEMENT Introduction The Township website (www.upsell.com/choctwp.htm) opens with the following: Our vision for Chocolay Township is a community: • Which is forward thinking, • Where there is a strong sense of place, belonging and pride, • Where development is compatible with the maintenance of our "quality of life", • Where development is "park-like", • Where quality of development is favored over quantity of development, • Where the community is environmentally conscious, The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-1 �• • • • • • Where water is clean and accessible, Where sound forestry and agricultural land use is encouraged, Where the community is known for its beauty, Where there are green zones which include parks, corridors and naturally buffered activity areas throughout, Where we develop along the "village concept", and Where the total community (public and private) supports the vision. This vision was developed for the Chocolay Township Strategic Plan in October 1995 and remains a succinct description of the future desired for the Township. Following is a vision statement that describes Chocolay Township as residents in 2005 want it to be in the year 2025. This statement was prepared based on a Visioning Town Meeting conducted on August 5, 2004 and a leadership survey two months earlier. It was refined following subsequent Planning Commission, Township Board and public input. Photo 8-1 Chocolay Residents Help Create the Vision for a Sustainable Community in 2025 The vision statement is organized into topic areas that separately focus on key elements of the Township and the process of planning for and managing its future. It is consistent with the vision on the Township website, and attempts to give a clearer view of the desired future. Following the vision statement are goals and policies to chart a path for achieving the vision statement. These provide a clear direction for future decisions, both short and long term, to achieve the vision. When reading this vision, it is necessary to mentally "transport" yourself into the future. Thus, there are references "back" to the early 2000's. This approach is intended to give the reader a clearer sense of the desired future. Proactive Planning and Sustainability Chocolay Township has moved into the third decade of the 21st century as one of the most desirable places to live within the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Residents and businesses in Chocolay Township enjoy a rich, diversified quality of life and are reaping the benefits of proactive planning The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-2 �and commitments started in the 1990's and refined in the early part of this new century. Chocolay Township has become a true reflection of sustainability. Sustainability means meeting the needs of all the people of the present generation, in all parts of the Township, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Neighborhoods, businesses, local government, parks and natural resources are healthy and self-sustaining in 2025. Reaching sustainability required the community to look beyond short-term gains in order to plan for a better life for its children and grandchildren. Growth in Chocolay Township has been characterized by a mix of land uses, that have helped balance the tax base, with commercial and limited industrial growth helping to support services desired by both businesses and the residential population. Some of the stores that Chocolay residents had to drive a considerable distance to reach have now located in Chocolay Township. Where business development has occurred, it has done so in a character that has maintained or enhanced the visual character of the community, and has been built close to existing population centers. Quality of Life: Impressions, Standards and Visual Character When asked about Chocolay Township, residents use descriptive terms like "lots of green," "sense of space," "avoids problems of city," "good schools," "quick work commute," "great recreational opportunities," "no sprawl," "woods and forests," and "clean water." In Chocolay Township, large-scale changes to the landscape have been minimized by the consensus decision of community leaders to permit growth that meets standards of sustainability, maintenance of the natural resource base and visual character. Photo 8-2 Chocolay Residents Envision "Lots of Green" as a Measure of a Hi h Qualit of Life 3 8 2004 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-3 �The major corridors within Chocolay Township have a vegetated, natural, visual character, with well-designed and well-kept businesses, homes and signs. Special efforts to improve areas of decline have paid off with a turnaround in those neighborhoods and business areas. Quality of Life: Close to the City but Retaining Rural Qualities Chocolay has the advantages of close proximity to Marquette, which provides jobs and many stores, health care services and cultural attractions, and a quiet, low-intensity, rural quality of life. The vegetated landscape does more than simply provide scenery, as the benefits of nature, quiet and nature-based recreation to citizen mental well-being are recognized as very important. The large area of stateowned land in the eastern half of the Township ensures that natural landscapes will continue. Farming continues as a viable economic enterprise for those landowners interested in continuing in agriculture. Woods and fields help with water infiltration, maintain biological diversity, provide habitat for wildlife and serve as hunting and snowmobiling recreational areas. Property owners have coordinated the retention of natural areas, forming connections to create ecological corridors, enhance recreation and provide a more continuous natural scenic view along transportation corridors. Lakes, streams, wetlands and ponds have buffer plantings that help protect water quality. The Lake Superior shoreline remains one of the major visual, recreational and environmental features of Chocolay Township. Views of the Lake Superior shoreline have not deteriorated over the past two decades and improved public access is now available. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-4 �Photo 8-3 Visual and Recreational Access to the Lake Superior Shoreline Remains a Major Quality of Life Feature Citizens, well-versed in land and water protection approaches, have been deeply involved in making decisions about preservation. Key recreation and natural features parcels have been preserved in the western part of the Township to complement the extensive state holdings in the eastern part. This has occurred by working with landowners, conservancies, developers, Marquette County and the State. Many approaches have been used over the past two decades, including donations, conservation easements and development rights purchases and transfers from willing landowners. As a result, wetlands, forests, farmland and green spaces that comprise the scenic character and ecosystem of the Township have been permanently protected while protecting the property rights of affected landowners. Quality of Life: Neighborhoods Chocolay Township residential neighborhoods are well-kept and provide a variety of housing choices, especially with the expansion of opportunities for seniors over the past two decades. Neighborhoods that had once suffered deterioration have been improved. There is greater pedestrian access within and between neighborhoods than at any previous time, leading to a safer and healthier lifestyle. Quality of Life: Access to Opportunities Commercial and industrial employment centers have expanded in Chocolay Township in carefully planned locations that are easily accessed from the county and state road system. These job centers provide new opportunities for some residents to live close to work. Transportation corridors to existing job centers both within and outside the Township have been improved and access has been managed in order to provide for safe and efficient commutes and an attractive and The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-5 �largely natural view from the road. Quality of Life: Recreation The Township has long held recreational opportunity as an important aspect of quality of life. Recreational opportunities abound in all seasons, both indoors and outdoors. Chocolay Township is an important destination for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, hunting and fishing, plus wildlife viewing. A community center, established through creative partnerships, provides indoor recreational opportunities for people of all ages, including youth and seniors. Township parks have been maintained and expanded. Chocolay Township is known as a walkable and bikable community, providing safe connections for recreation, enjoying nature and for a transportation alternative to driving. These connections are part of a Township-wide greenspace system that includes greenway trails and undeveloped open spaces. There are also links to greenways with trails that extend beyond Chocolay Township into other communities throughout the region. Through manufacturing improvements, appropriate trail siting and new bridge crossings, snowmobiles are no longer a noise nuisance. Recreational riders enjoy their ATVs in designated areas within well-enforced laws. Photo 8-4 Recreational Opportunity Abounds in Chocolay Township Quality of Life: Urban Infrastructure Beginning in the early 2000s, the Township carefully planned for the extension of utilities and the expansion of roads in order to foster pockets of growth where appropriate, while preserving uncongested travel and using designs that protect community character. Good quality County primary roads help move people around and through the Township and access management has helped preserve the public investment in roads. In order to maintain a rural character many roads in the rural parts of the Township remain gravel. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-6 �Quality of Life: Enrichment Chocolay Township has gained many of the features and amenities of a city while maintaining its low-intensity quality of life. Township residents have been enriched by new restaurants and unique shops, as growth in the Township population has occurred to support them. These have been clustered where they are convenient to residents, as part of walkable communities and so they do not contribute to sprawl. They fit with the character of the community. GOALS, POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES Balanced Growth Goal: 1. Guide development in a manner which is orderly, consistent with the planned improvement of the transportation system and expansion of public facilities, and strives to preserve the quality of life, scenic beauty, foster the wise use of natural resources, protect areas of particular concern, and enhance the special, low intensity character of Chocolay Township. Policies: 1. The Township shall carefully plan for a balanced mix of land uses so that the tax burden of public services is not all borne by residential landowners. 2. Development should occur in locations that are consistent with the capacity of existing and planned public services and facilities, and are cost effective in relation to service extensions. 3. All new development should be consistent with this Plan, the Township Zoning Ordinance and all related ordinances. 4. New development should occur in compact increments adjacent to existing development. 5. The Township should review and comment on all draft plans by other public entities for expansion and improvement of existing road and street networks for impacts on growth patterns and for consistency with the goals and policies of this Plan. 6. Consider the impact of land use planning and zoning changes along the borders of the Township on neighboring jurisdictions, and discuss proposed changes with the affected jurisdiction(s) prior to making such changes. A common procedure for such communication shall be established and followed. 7. Ensure that private property rights are both respected and protected in the implementation of this Plan and related Township ordinances. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-7 �Photo 8-5 New Development Should Occur Near Existing Development Objectives: 1. Update the Zoning Ordinance to reflect the updated goals and objectives of this Plan. 2. Approve infrastructure improvements and development projects that require increased services according to the capacity of the Township to pay for those improvements with as much of the cost of the new improvements borne by those who will directly benefit as possible. 3. Provide educational opportunities and materials for Township residents on the fiscal and quality of life reasons for guiding growth in a planned manner and steps the Township is taking to guide growth. Explanation: The goal and the accompanying policies and objectives recognize that the Township has a responsibility to protect and enhance the quality of life of its residents, and to be fiscally prudent in doing so. Unmanaged growth could overextend public services, raising the cost to provide them, and could also destroy the character of the community that resident's value. This Plan and the Township Zoning Ordinance are designed to prevent the negative impacts of unmanaged growth. Housing/Residential Goal: 1. Encourage a variety of residential dwelling types in a wide range of prices which are consistent with the needs of a changing population and compatible with the character of existing residences in the vicinity. Policies: 1. Recognize through the administration of land use controls and other development policies that the provision of housing is a public as well as private responsibility. 2.New housing should be located in areas without significant environmental hazards. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-8 �3. Encourage variety in the housing stock through revision and enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance, subdivision regulations, and other land use controls. Photo 8-6 Encourage Variety in the Housing Stock 4. Encourage energy-efficient housing types. 5. Encourage improvement of housing and subdivision design. 6. Encourage improvement of the numbering system to improve emergency vehicle accessibility. 7. Stabilize property values by protecting residential areas from the encroachment of incompatible land uses. 8. Encourage the upgrading and improvement of residential dwelling units showing signs of deterioration . 9. Discourage the pattern of scattered , rural housing in areas of important and prime farmland . 10. Maintain within the Zoning Ordinance acreage for multi-family and mobile home development. 11 . Consideration should be given to the need for housing assistance for the elderly, low income, and handicapped families and other segments of the Township population. 12. Maintain "rural residential" with a large minimum lot size as the primary residential land use in the Township in those areas where sewer and water are not available or planned . Encourage the clustering of such dwellings where the land is suitable for such a design and it would help preserve the rural character of the area, especially as viewed from the road. 13. Explore alternative measures to reduce housing costs and make home ownership The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-9 �more affordable, such as zoning regulations and other programs which are designed to reduce the cost of constructing new housing, provided the exercise of these measures still preserves the character of the area in which the housing is to be built. 14. Expansion of existing mobile home parks or construction of new mobile home parks adjacent to existing mobile home parks should be encouraged over the creation of new mobile home parks elsewhere in the Township. 15. Allow only quiet, low traffic, low intensity home occupations in residential areas to preserve the stability of existing neighborhoods. 16. Consider, adopt and enforce a basic property maintenance code. 17. Encourage the preservation and retention of older homes to maintain community character and history and utilize zoning regulations to prevent homeowners from splitting older single family homes in neighborhoods of exclusively single family homes into multiple family apartment or condominium units. 18. Encourage eligible landowners to participate in federal, state or county housing rehabilitation grant programs. Objectives 1. Annually review changes which have occurred in the Township's housing stock (new construction, demolition, conversions, etc.) to determine the extent to which adequate choices exist with respect to housing type and price range. 2. Perform an evaluation of the Zoning Ordinance and other codes and regulations and modify them if necessary to insure that a wide variety of housing types and prices is enabled. 3. Foster educational opportunities for Township residents on increasing the energy efficiency of their homes. 4. Foster educational opportunities for Township residents on building maintenance codes and any changes in Township codes, and in assistance programs available to improve deteriorating structures. Explanation The goal and the accompanying policies and objectives recognize that currently there exists little variety in housing types within the Township. The predominant housing type is the single-family home. The second most prevalent is the mobile home. While the Township does not directly decide the precise mix of housing types, it does have an influence through the administration of zoning and other land use controls. Housing prices are also influenced by land use controls. The strategy set forth above will help ensure that land use regulations do not present an obstacle to the construction of a variety of housing types and price ranges on a variety of different sized lots and via ownership or rental means. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-10 �Goal: 2. Housing needs are met in Chocolay Township without straining the capacity of local governments to provide essential public services. Policies: 1. New developments should pay for the full cost of sewer and water extensions (if a public water system is created) and densities will be sufficient for the long-term costeffective support of those systems in areas where these services will be extended. 2. The Township should ensure new residential subdivisions and site condominium projects are permitted of a size and scale that does not exceed the capacity of roads serving the development. Photo 8-7 Residential Developments Should Not Exceed Road Capacity 3. Residential development patterns throughout the Township should reflect economical and efficient use of land and be especially mindful of the value of protecting renewable resource lands such as agricultural, forestry and other land-based resources from premature conversion or land fragmentation. Objectives: 1. Local officials, developers, realtors and residents understand housing trends and the relationship between different residential development patterns and their fiscal, environmental and scenic quality effects. 2. The Zoning Ordinance will be updated to direct new, higher density residential developments to areas where roads and infrastructure are available or are planned to accommodate such density, with larger lot sizes away from Harvey and other settlements. 3. The Township Planning Commission, in cooperation with local jurisdictions, realtors, developers and other interest groups will develop educational materials for citizens and home buyers on housing trends in the Township, and the potential impact of those trends with alternatives that provide for residential development that minimize adverse The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-11 �effects on community finances, the transportation system, scenic character and the environment. 4. New developments should be discouraged in areas where there are not all season roads. The Township will adopt zoning regulations limiting development on gravel roads to a level that does not exceed gravel road capacity. 5. The Township will strongly encourage that all roads in new developments be public roads, and adopt regulations that require whenever more than two dwelling units are served, the road shall be public. However, since there are already nearly three-dozen private roads in the Township, the Township will maintain private road standards that require adequate emergency vehicle access without excessive surface water runoff or damage to rural character and which ensures proper long term maintenance of the road. 6. The Zoning Ordinance will be updated to zone rural areas of the Township with a density based standard to prevent over development. Overall density will be tied to maximum lot sizes to encourage clustering and the retention of open space. Explanation: This goal, objectives and policies recognizes that an unplanned pattern of new housing development can place a tremendous strain on the capacity of the Township to provide a variety of services to residents. In order for the Township to continue to be fiscally responsible, it will need to guide intensive development in a compact pattern the taxpayers can afford to service. Goal: 3. Land is not divided into parcels of a number and/or size that negatively affect transportation, the environment, areas of particular concern, provision of services by local governments and rural character. Policies: 1. The regulation of land division is actively and thoroughly implemented to the full extent of the law by Chocolay Township. 2. Appropriate land division standards prevent unbuildable lots or those that create traffic hazards, harm the environment, limit agricultural activities, create unnecessary public service burdens or contribute to the destruction of rural character. Objectives: 1. Land division regulations are periodically reviewed to ensure they remain consistent with state law, this Plan and the Zoning Ordinance. 2. The Township land division standards are posted on its website, so they are readily available to land owners, realtors and persons interested in buying land in Chocolay Township. 3. The Township makes available educational materials on appropriate land division practices. Explanation: The goals, policies and objectives recognize that how land is divided-the size and The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-12 �shape of a parcel and the capacity of the land to support development of that parcelaffects the use of roads, the health of the environment and the cost for the community to provide services compared to the revenue generated by those parcels. It also affects the range and type of land uses that might be built there . Thus, it is an important tool for managing growth and needs to be periodically reviewed and updated. Goal: 4. Residential development fits the scenic, rural character of Chocolay Township. Policies: 1. The Township should adopt rural residential development standards that set aside open space and employ vegetative buffers along roadsides and where there are sensitive environments, greenways and potential trail and wildlife corridors. These standards should be adopted as part of site plan review, cluster ordinances, conservation subdivision ordinances, site condominium ordinances and planned unit development ordinances. 2. The Township should adopt and promote design guidelines for residential development, both for single parcels and for large parcels developed with multiple homes, that promote roadside open space and buffers to protect or enhance scenic quality. 3. The Township will employ capital improvements planning to phase investment in new infrastructure and improvements. Objectives: 1. Chocolay Township will identify important open space and scenic resources, including public lands, focus attention on protecting open space, rural character, scenic views and provide a package of tools to accomplish this. Photo 8-8 Vegetative Buffering can Protect Scenic Quality 2. The Zoning Ordinance will be updated to ensure new residential development respects the natural conditions and characteristics existing in the Township . The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-13 �3. Design guidelines (such as the extensively illustrated Grand Traverse Bay Region Development Guidebook) will be used to educate landowners and developers on how residential development can protect scenic quality through vegetative buffering and other techniques. Explanation: This goal, policies and objectives recognize that the Township Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Ordinance and other regulations and actions foster a style of compatible development that is not self implementing and that without the Plan and appropriate regulations, new development can destroy the visual character of the Township. The Township can modify its regulations and actions to better protect Chocolay Township scenery and visual character. Goal: 5. New residential development enhances Harvey and existing concentrated settlement areas and is compatible with historic sites. Policies: 1. The Township Planning Commission will help develop design guidelines for historic preservation within the Township. 2. The Township Planning Commission will help develop design guidelines for residential development that identifies local architectural character. 3. The Township will require that new subdivisions and site condominium projects include provision for bicycle and pedestrian circulation between residential areas, town centers and important natural features. 4. The Township Planning Commission will encourage new residential development to occur adjacent to and to be of the same character as existing neighborhoods of Harvey and other settlements. Objectives: 1. Actively encourage redevelopment and expansion of existing neighborhoods, reinforcing and strengthening the small town character in the Township. 2. Encourage new residential development that creates a sense of place and achieves harmony with existing development and historic sites. 3. Create new neighborhoods which are pedestrian oriented and interconnected with the larger community by non-motorized forms of transportation. Explanation: This goal, policies and objectives recognize that both the pattern and the design of new development will affect the quality of life for community residents, and new development that provides for efficient movement of cars and pedestrians, protects the visual identity of historic and newer places, and protects the environment will fit most comfortably into the life of Chocolay residents. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-14 �Commercial Goal: 1. Encourage the development of commercial land uses in appropriate locations which serve the current and future needs of residents and visitors, are of a character consistent with community design guidelines, and which promote public safety through prevention of traffic hazards and other threats to public health, safety, and general welfare. Policies: 1. Encourage new commercial development to locate adjacent to existing commercial areas, with the only concentration of commercial development at the US-41 /M-28 intersection and west to the MOOT Visitor's Center (the west Township line) along only the east side of US-41 (except at the intersection with M-28). 2. Promote the development of small commercial centers off M-28 and US-41 adjacent to existing commercial development, rather than as lot-by-lot commercial strips. Photo 8-9 Promote the Development of Small Commercial Centers Adjacent to Existing Commercial Development, Such as Beaver Grove 3. Encourage the design and location of commercial development in a manner which complements and does not conflict with adjoining residential areas. This will require separate regulations for neighborhood commercial development and general commercial development. 4. Encourage a compatible and desirable mix of commercial uses. 5. Provide design guidelines to commercial landowners which promote similarity in the height and design of storefronts and buildings and which prevent the creation of structures whose mass is too great for the lot and structures on adjoining lots. 6. Improve unsafe and unsightly strip commercial development along the M-28/US-41 corridor through design and landscaping requirements such as maintaining existing large trees, creating berms, planting , and providing shared access and shared parking when possible. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-15 �7. Encourage landowners to maintain and where necessary improve the condition of commercial structures and parking lots. 8. Avoid separate parking lots for each business and encourage centrally placed lots which serve several businesses, where feasible. Photo 8-10 Encourage Centrally Placed Parking Lots that Serve Several Businesses 9. Implement access management regulations along both US-41 and M-28 consistent with the Access Management Plan for US-41/M-28. Objectives: 1. Assist in the design and creation of a commercial center in Harvey, from the west Township line to the US-41 and M-28 intersection. 2. Acquire the right-of-way for the eventual construction of a boulevard on M-28/US-41 from the west Township line to the US-41 and M-28 Intersection. Ensure appropriate context-sensitive design standards are used to respect and enhance community character. 3. Foster the visual enhancement of, safety and pedestrian and bicycle access to the small commercial nodes at the intersection of County-480 and US-41, the intersection of Hiawatha Road and M-28, at the Varvil Center and at the Casino. 4. Create and distribute commercial development design guidelines. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-16 �Photo 8-11 Foster Visual Enhancement, Safety and Pedestrian and Bicycle Access at the Varvil Center Explanation: This goal, policies and objectives recognize that in order for the Township to diversify land uses, and tax base it is necessary to include commercial uses in a pattern and design that has a positive impact on the community. The Township will have to take an active role in the process, helping to acquire rights-of-way for a transportation corridor, adopting access management measures and revising the Zoning Ordinance to promote attractive and efficient designs. Industrial Goal: 1. Encourage the location of non-polluting light industry in the Township without damaging the environment, spoiling the scenic beauty of the area, or overburdening local roads, utilities, or other public services. Policies: 1. New industries should locate contiguous to existing industrial facilities and in new locations with appropriate public utilities and adequate roads to minimize service costs, traffic problems and negative impacts on other land uses. 2. Implement site plan requirements for light industries which are designed to incorporate generous amounts of open space, attractive landscaping, and buffering from adjacent non-industrial uses. 3. Require the separation of industrial sites from residential areas through buffers made up of any combination of parking, commercial or office uses, parks, parkways, open space, forests, tree plantings or farmland. Objectives: 1. Provide opportunities for an industrial park in the Township. 2. Attract appropriate industries to the Township in order to expand the tax base and increase jobs. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-17 �Explanation: The goal, policies and objectives recognize that diversification of the tax base and expanding jobs is important to the community, along with insuring that new industrial development fits into the existing pattern of the community without placing a burden on residential areas, transportation networks and the environment. Transportation Goal 1. To provide for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods with a balanced transportation network at minimal environmental and fiscal cost. 2. To coordinate the improvement of the transportation network with the overall development of the Township. Policies 1. All road construction, whether public or private, should meet appropriate minimum design standards. 2. Encourage alternative uses for abandoned rail and road facilities, such as pedestrian/bike trails in the summer and ski pathways and snowmobile trails in the winter. 3. Encourage and properly provide for the use of alternative forms of transportation , such as bicycles, car-pooling, etc. 4. Discourage the proliferation of curbcuts and driveway intersections so that the capacity of major traffic corridors can be maintained and public safety improved. 5. Establish the maximum capacity of existing gravel roads and zone contiguous land at densities that do not exceed gravel road capacity and in a manner consistent with this Plan. Objectives 1. Develop the M-28/US-41 corridor from the Township line to the M-28/US-41 intersection as a boulevard which is tree-lined and appropriately landscaped. 2. Develop a ring-road around the M-28/US-41 intersection in order to safely accommodate local commercial and industrial traffic, off the main road . 3. Develop a new road into Harvey on the east side of US-41, to link to the downtown. 4. Implement access management regulations on the M-28 and US-41 corridors. 5. Provide pedestrian cross-walk signals at the M-28/US 41 intersection in order to improve pedestrian safety and access. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-18 �Photo 8-12 Improve Pedestrian Safety and Access Along US-41/M-28 6. Continually revise and strengthen the Township's Zoning Ordinance, subdivision regulations, and other land use controls to reflect the Township's transportation needs and design standards. 7. In cooperation with the Marquette County Road Commission and the State, adopt and implement an annual Capital Improvements Program for road improvements. Target roads and intersections for improvement in areas with recent and planned increases in development. 8. Annually review road conditions throughout the Township and recommend a priority for road improvements. Gravel roads should remain gravel until such time as the density or intensity of development requires paving. 9. Identify and classify roadways within the Township as suggested by the State Department of Transportation. 10. Periodically review the potential for providing public transportation service in the Township. 11. Seek methods of reducing the number and length of unused county road right-of-ways. Explanation Since the Township is inhabited by a number of persons who commute to adjacent areas to work, shop, etc., the automobile is the most important transportation mode. For this reason, the goals, policies, and objectives strongly emphasize appropriate improvements to the road system and the coordination of these improvements with the overall development of the Township . This will ensure that future development, which will be influenced by the road network, and will occur in areas which are consistent with the desires of the Township as expressed in the Comprehensive Plan. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-19 �Economy Goal 1. To provide an environment within which a diverse and stable economic base may be developed . Policies 1. New economic development should be limited to that which will significantly increase local employment, tax revenues, and/or commercial services in relationship to the cost of providing services to the development. 2. Balance the supply of public services provided by the Township with the demand and willingness to pay for those services. 3. Wherever possible, services should be financed by users of the service through special assessment districts, user fees , etc. 4. Encourage well designed , safe, convenient, well landscaped and attractive commercial plaza type developments. Objectives 1. Annually review the area economy to identify emerging trends and work with other governments in the area to expand employment opportunities. 2. Encourage expansion of retail-wholesale and service industries within the Township to meet the needs and services desired by Township residents and study the use of limited special tax incentives without competition with the City of Marquette for big box retailers. Photo 8-13 Encourage the Expansion of Retail, Wholesale and Service Businesses BREAKFAST- LUN (I&. 8 2 2005 3. Encourage conversion of noncommercial land use within existing commercial zones to commercial uses. 4. Encourage carefully designed commercial areas which are safe, convenient, environmentally sound, well landscaped and attractive. Explanation Taken together, the above statements express the realization that further economic The Charter Townsh ip of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-20 �development is important, but that the character of the Township should not be sacrificed for the sake of short term economic gains. Similarly, the relationship between the Township's ability to provide services and the people's demand for services, and willingness to pay for them , is acknowledged. Lastly, it is suggested that the Township make use of special assessment districts and user fees whenever possible so that only the benefiting landowners pay for the cost of the expanded services. Natural Features Goal 1. Preserve and enhance Chocolay Township's natural environment by utilizing the natural resources in an orderly and prudent manner. Policies 1. Ensure that the use of land and the intensity of use is suitable to the natural environment. 2. Encourage the preservation of prime agricultural and forest production areas from more intense types of land use. Photo 8-14 Encourage the Preservation of Agricultural and Forest Production Areas 3. Avoid further development of land in designated "areas of particular concern." 4. Encourage the preservation of high quality fish and wildlife habitat. 5. Coordinate watershed management activities with the Chocolay River Watershed Advisory Council and the Marquette County Soil and Water Conservation District. Objectives 1. Periodically review designated "areas of particular concern" and enact strict controls on development in those areas of high risk erosion, steep slopes, wetlands, and other natural and cultural "areas of particular concern ." 2. Encourage the state Department of Natural Resources and the Marquette County Soil and Water Conversation District to further study the sedimentation problem in the Chocolay River and its tributaries, and to work with the Chocolay River Watershed Advisory Council to recommend solutions. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-21 �3. Enforce high risk erosion area and floodplain regulations by including in the Zoning Ordinance. 4. Continue to enforce the sand dune protection regulations in the Zoning Ordinance. Photo 8-15 Continue to Protect Sand Dune, High Risk Erosion Areas and Floodplains 5. Annually evaluate the performance of the Zoning Ordinance, subdivision regulations, and other land use controlling ordinances to protect natural features. 6. Prepare educational materials for Township residents and business owners featuring the "areas of particular concern," and best management practices to protect those resources. Explanation Several concerns are embodied in the above statements. First, there is the need and desire to give full consideration to the natural character and qualities of the land and water resources in making development decisions. The vehicles for accomplishing this include: the designation of "particular areas of concern," zoning and subdivision regulations, and the provision or non-provision of utilities and services. Secondly, there is the need to learn more about the nature of the problems associated with the Chocolay River in particular, which the Chocolay River Watershed Advisory Committee seeks to understand and correct. Lastly, it is recognized that the Township is growing and developing, and therefore development controls must be reviewed periodically to assure that they are producing the desired results. Recreation Goal: 1. Enhance the well-being of area residents by providing a variety of opportunities for relaxation, rest, activity, and education through a well-balanced system of private and public park and recreational facilities and activities located to serve identified needs of The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-22 �the area. Policies: 1. Identify and explore opportunities to cooperate with other jurisdictions, with county and state agencies, including Marquette County and the Department of Natural Resources , as well as with other local organizations, on recreation projects which would benefit area residents and strengthen the tourism industry. 2. Examine the feasibility of, and establish if feasible, a shared use building to house a community center to serve residents of all ages. 3. Examine the feasibility of expanding low cost opportunities for public beach facilities for area citizens . 4. Promote a system of non-motorized , biking, hiking and cross-country ski trails with other jurisdictions or agencies if possible, through the use of local funds, grants and loans, and coordinated long-term capital improvement programming . Photo 8-16 Promote a System of Non-Motorized Trails with Other Jurisdictions, Such as on this Abandoned Railroad Right-of-Way 5. Encourage local government participation in activities designed to enhance the area's seasonal festivals. 6. Retain, maintain, and improve all existing publicly owned parks so that they continue to meet the diverse recreation needs of area citizens and tourists. Objectives: 1. Implement the recommendations of the 2004 Recreation Plan, and those of subsequent Recreation Plans. 2. Prepare a non-motorized transportation and recreation plan for the Township. 3. Expand trail opportunities for bicycle and pedestrian use of the snowmobile trail by providing a smooth surface that will make it usable for persons with disabilities or a wide The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-23 �variety of users and seeking funds to acquire and develop other trail routes. 4. Prepare educational materials for citizens and developers on the health benefits of having a walkable community and on techniques to make new and existing developments more walkable and bikable. Explanation: This goal, policies and objectives recognize the importance of recreation sites in general, and walking, biking and other activity trails specifically in the well-being of residents, and seeks to foster an expanded recreation system and a trail system connected to residential , commercial, governmental and recreation sites. Community Facilities Goal 1. Provide public facilities and services as requested by Township residents, and at the best value for the expenditures. Policies 1. Continue to provide adequate administrative facilities for governmental and community use. 2. Provide a sewage collection system in accordance with decisions based on environmental needs and public cost. 3. Encourage the Township to pursue planning and financing for future, phased water facilities . 4. Encourage conservation and maintenance of the existing quality of the water supply. 5. Continue to provide solid waste collection with an economically equitable system and consider expanding recycling opportunities. 6. Provide adequate recreational facilities to meet Township needs. 7. Provide adequate police and fire protection for the Township. 8. Develop, annually update and implement a Capital Improvements program which meets the Township's needs and is consistent with this Plan. 9. Provide other services to the Township in accordance with the ability and willingness of the people to pay for them. 10. Update the Township's Recreation Plan every five years in order to qualify for Natural Resources Trust Fund grants. 11 . Whenever feasible, expand recycling opportunities. Objectives 1. Prepare a plan for the future expansion of the Township Offices. 2. Prepare design plans for development of local park areas and public access to water The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-24 �areas. 3. Obtain advice from the state Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers on the feasibility of keeping the Chocolay River mouth open. Photo 8-17 Study the Feasibility of Keeping the Chocolay River Mouth Open 4. Encourage the state Department of Natural Resources and Natural Resources Conservation Service to assist the Marquette County Soil and Water Conservation District to implement action items in the Chocolay River Watershed Plan. 5. Develop a mapping and numbering system of the Township to provide adequate fire protection and other emergency services. 6. Consider installing an elevated storage tank or other options for rapid filling of fire fighting equipment and construct a public water system to serve Harvey and US-41 /M-28 from the west Township line to the area served by the intersection of the two highways. 7. Study and adopt special assessment districts to fairly distribute public costs in critical service areas where deemed necessary. 8. Annually review and prioritize a program of capital improvements. Explanation: This goal, policies and objectives recognize that the Township needs to provide facilities and services for a relatively small, residential population spread over a large area, which requires careful use of limited funds, while at the same time, residents increasingly desire more elaborate and sophisticated services. Thus, it focuses on providing and expanding services first in the Harvey area, where the bulk of the Township residents and most businesses are located. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-25 �Community Character Goals: 1. Retain and enhance the quiet, scenic, and small town/rural character of Chocolay Township. 2. Preserve the established character of neighborhoods within Chocolay Township. Policies: 1. Encourage architectural and site design that complements, rather than detracts from existing development on neighboring parcels. 2. Encourage the preservation and restoration of historically significant structures. Photo 8-18 Encourage Preservation and Restoration of Historically Significant Structures 3. Preserve the character of the area by encouraging land uses and densities/intensities of development which are consistent with and complement the character, economic base, and image of the area. 4. Improve the appearance of entrances into the Township through landscape designs, signs, and land development which promote the vitality and character of each community, without unnecessary clutter or safety hazards. 5. Manage the trees lining streets in residential and commercial areas to provide a continuous green canopy. Plant indigenous trees along the M-28/US-41 corridor and maintain them along other roads in the Township. Encourage the use of "context sensitive design" on roads in Chocolay Township. 6. Discourage the development of "bigfoot" homes that restrict views, block light and the free flow of air for neighbors, detract from the charm of a neighborhood, and serve as a catalyst for sending excess stormwater runoff onto abutting properties and into lakes and streams. 7. Discourage designs which would block significant views and vistas . 8. Ensure enforcement of existing ordinances and regulations to better preserve the The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-26 �established character of Chocolay Township and promote the goals and policies of this Plan. 9. Consider the adoption of "dark sky" provisions to the Zoning Ordinance that will provide for adequate down lighting of streets, parking lots, sidewalks, yards and signs in order to prevent the creation of a halo of dispersed light over the Township that can diminish the view of stars and the northern lights. Objectives: 1. Prepare and implement a Scenic Character Preservation Plan for Chocolay Township with mapped scenic areas and design guidelines for property owners on how to manage their properties in order to protect the scenic quality of the Township. Photo 8-19 Prepare and Implement a Scenic Character Preservation Plan for Chocolay Township r 2. Update the sign ordinance to insure it helps protect the visual quality of the Township as viewed from Township roads and highways. 3. Provide residents with educational materials on the historic structures in Chocolay Township and on approaches to protecting them. 4 . Update the Zoning Ordinance to provide for setbacks, natural landscaping, buffers and other provisions to protect scenic visual character. 5. Consider creating and enforcing property maintenance codes for the upkeep and maintenance of homes and businesses. Explanation : These goals, policies and objectives recognize that the appearance of Chocolay Township , which has both natural scenery and small town charm, is important to the quality of life of the community, and that it will require an active involvement of the Township and knowledgeable, committed citizens in order to preserve the community's visual character. John f:lwinwordl chocolay\fi nal\CHAPTER 8 final.doc The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 8-27 �Chapter 9 AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN INTRODUCTION Throughout this Plan, mention has been made of "areas of particular concern." Originally an environmental planning concept used by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to indicate potentially threatened habitat areas, the term, "Areas of Particular Concern" was expanded in the 1989 Chocolay Township Comprehensive Plan to include both cultural and natural resource areas. In this update of the Comprehensive Plan, Areas of Particular Concern are defined as those geographic areas which are significant because of their importance to a quality of human living and the enrichment of the human experience. This may be due to unique values, resources, problems, or conflicts. They incorporate these key concepts: a) they are limited in quantity either in total amount or within any given geographic area; b) they are irreplaceable; once destroyed or altered, the resources will not or cannot be replaced, c) they are sensitive and fragile areas, and d) Township growth patterns place a unique burden on the land, water, infrastructure or existing or future occupants of the area. Photo 9-1 Areas of Particular Concern Include Areas that are Irreplaceable, Fragile, Limited and have Unique Value - Many are Natural Areas For areas identified as such, the underlying objective is to express some measure of concern, and to manage these areas so as to conserve resources, resolve conflicts, and foster preferable land and water uses. It is inevitable that the expanding needs for development will impact Areas of Particular Concern, either directly or indirectly. However, to provide for the orderly and coherent development of those areas and surrounding lands, this Plan should incorporate the appropriate management principles for Township Areas of Particular Concern, including measures to coordinate with agencies at various levels of government. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-1 �This chapter will attempt to provide a guide in identifying and dealing with Areas of Particular Concern. This discussion will include natural, and cultural Areas of Particular Concern. It will consist of those areas previously mentioned in this Plan and other significant Areas of Particular Concern found within the Township. This chapter then concludes with suggestions for specifically managing Chocolay Township's proposed Areas of Particular Concern. The 1989 Plan included a Decision Map to indicate areas used, suitable or suitable with limitations for different purposes. Instead of a Decision Map, an Areas of Concern Map (Map 9-1) has been created to reflect current important issues, including areas of particular concern. Many other special areas, especially environmental ones, are depicted on maps in other chapters (especially Chapter 4). PROPOSED AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IN CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP The list below is an inventory of those areas deserving classification as an Area of Particular Concern. It is separated into natural areas and cultural areas. Natural areas are those characterized by a lack of human land change activity even though they may or may not be under human control now. Cultural Areas of Particular Concern are man-made or developed artifacts. Other areas include those involving infrastructure or recent and anticipated settlements. The categories are clear-cut and self-explanatory. The following listing is by no means conclusive, and should continue to be periodically updated. Natural Areas of Particular Concern 1. Environmental (wetlands, wildlife, plant life areas, etc.) • Cherry Creek watershed • Waterfowl area on Lake Levasseur • Escanaba River State Forest • Jeske Flooding • Natural features as identified in the Marquette County Natural Features Inventory • All wetlands within the Township as identified in the Comprehensive Plan or as determined by the DNR or Zoning Administrator Photo 9-2 Chocolay Township has Significant Natural Areas of Particular Concern, such as Lake Le Vasseur The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-2 �2. Wilderness and Natural/Scientific Area • Fish hatchery on Cherry Creek • Waterfowl area on Lake Levasseur 3. Geologic Formations • Steep sloped areas as identified in the Comprehensive Plan • Protruding bedrock areas as identified in the Comprehensive Plan • Rock Bluff area. See Map 9-1, Areas of Particular Concern Map. 4. Flood Areas • All flood areas identified in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Rate, Flood Hazard Areas Map, Map for Chocolay Township . See Map 4-4 in Chapter 4. 5. Erosion Areas • High-risk erosion areas on Lake Superior shoreline as identified on Map 4-5 in Chapter 5. 6. Shorelands • High-risk erosion areas as designated on the Lake Superior shoreline. See Map 4-5. • Chocolay River mouth • Coastal shores of Lake Superior (Harvey and Shot Point area) • All Lake Superior waters and bottomlands 7. Lakes (inland) • Lake Kawbawgam and Lake Levasseur 8. Rivers and Streams • All rivers and streams within the Township • In particular, the Chocolay River Watershed. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-3 �Photo 9-3 Stream Crossing Stabilization on Chocolay River Source: Chocolay River Watershed Project 9. Agricultural Lands • All land currently under cultivation. 10. Prime Forestry Lands • Forested areas on steep slope areas • Forested area in southeastern part of Township along M-28 11. Mineral Resources • Existing gravel and sand operations in the Township. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-4 �Map 9-1 Chocolav Township Areas of Concern Map Rock Bluff Scenic Entry I US-41/M-28 Corridor - State Highway - -- County Highway - - - - Named Roads Q Other Areas of Concern Streams - Un-Named Roads LEGEND State Lands Lakes Township Line Section Line N w◊ • Source Michigan Center for Geographic Information , Dept of lnfOfmation Technology Map Prepared by the Land lnformatlOfl Access Association. August 2004 Lake Superior Shoreline Scenic En~ !!!!!!!!!!!.,_;;:::_,!!!!!!!!!!!!!laa-a;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;i!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!S-a;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;i M1le5 US-41/M-28 Intersection ~ ~~ry 10 I 1;, County Road Bu r ,;- ·~ 14 -v l • r l I 'I ,. I ' I 19 ~ 1=- j 15. Mangum Rd I 1 I ...,-''"-:- 1~ I '3 ... 0 33' )4 r ,I.- r t :24 ~ ..,,__-~~ ,-1 Green Garden US-41 Scenic Entry "- I -- Lr . . . I .,. J I ~"'' 0•.,<,Q , ~ n The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-5 ' 'j• I .l ! - ~~ . .. ·t• - - - · . 1 "' J: a ♦ l' ~ �Cultural Areas of Particular Concern 1. Aesthetic Areas • US-41 corridor from the Township line south toward Green Garden. • Eastern entry and highway scenic turnouts on M-28 along Lake Superior. • Natural scenery along highways and local roads in general Photo 9-4 Green Garden Area is an Aesthetic Area of Particular Concern 2. Recreation Areas • Marina on Chocolay River. • Snowmobile trail and Chocolay River crossing. • Rock Bluff Area (privately owned). • State forest lands. The Escanaba River State Forest occupies a large portion of Chocolay Township, but primarily in the sparsely settled eastern part of the Township. It provides a variety of recreational opportunities, including hunting, hiking, and fishing. • Highway scenic turnouts on M-28 • State roadside park on M-28 • Public access site on Lake Levasseur and Jeske Flooding 3. Historic Sites • Those areas identified by the Marquette County Historical Society 4. Urbanizing Areas • Shot Point residential area • Kawbawgam Lake • Lakewood Lane area east of Harvey • Harvey-nonconforming Zoning with regards to lot dimensions. • Intersection of M-28 and US-41. • The commercial corridor of M-28/US-41 from the west Township Line to the Intersection of M-28/US-41. • Casino Area. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-6 �Photo 9-5 The Casino Area is an Urbanizing Area of Particular Concern MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP'S PROPOSED AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN For those potential Areas of Particular Concern identified in Chocolay Township, a program of management and preservation must be explored. The kinds of management techniques employed are dependent on local decisions. To assist in this decision making, Chocolay must make a concerted effort to officially identify and develop an inventory of Areas of Particular Concern on a regular basis. The inventory in this chapter is intended to begin the process. The discussion on the Criteria for Areas of Particular Concern will provide a minimum basis for the identification process of any other, or new areas. Once identified, the Township must prioritize its listing, recognizing that each area represents a certain "value." Areas will vary in importance. Those given a higher priority will require more stringent protection. Those less important will have less rigorous regulations or be put off to a later point in the implementation process. For the most part, the Township's management program will be limited to use of zoning and development controls as described previously. It is recommended that they participate with County, State, or Federal programs geared towards preserving these unique areas. They should continue to enforce the traditional protective ordinances, such as the county health codes, building permits, zoning permits, etc. The following discussion will identify possible management programs for those Areas of Particular Concern in Chocolay Township. Parts of this discussion will be more detailed than others. That is because many of the Areas of Particular Concern identified were general in nature - rivers and streams, lakes, wetlands, etc. - while others are more specific - the waterfowl area, fish hatchery, etc. - requiring specific management techniques. The DEQ has a helpful local guidebook available that addresses many of these areas. It is entitled Filling the Gaps: Environmental Protection Options for Local Governments, 2003. It is available for downloading at http://www.michiqan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313 3677 3696-73358--,00.html, and the appendix to the report includes sample zoning regulations. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-7 �Natural Areas of Particular Concern 1. Environmental Areas A. Cherry Creek Watershed, Lake Le Vasseur Waterfowl Area and Escanaba River State Forest The Cherry Creek Watershed, which supports the State Fish Hatchery, and waterfowl area on Lake Levasseur are both outside the jurisdiction of the Township. They are in State ownership and are presently under a management program. The Township should actively participate in management planning for these areas. However, for zoning purposes, it is recommended that both areas remain zoned Open Space. The Township should take steps to safeguard the Cherry Creek watershed area by supporting the activities of the Chocolay River Watershed Project, which benefits the Cherry Creek watershed. B. Chocolay Township Wetlands A management program for the Township wetlands should include enforcement of county health codes, state building codes, and Land Division Act, (formerly the Subdivision Control Act) , P.A. 288 of 1967 as amended, as well as the Wetlands Protection Act, Part 303 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, PA 451 of 1994. The Farmlands and Open Space Preservation Act, Part 361 of PA 451 of 1994, offers certain tax deferral options to property owners who enter into an open space agreement with the State or local unit for at least ten years. The Township should also endorse and enforce where appropriate those sections of the Inland Lakes and Streams Act, Part 301 of PA 451 of 1994 of 1972, the Endangered Species Act, Part 365 of PA 451 of 1994, the Shorelands Protection and Management Act, Part 323 of PA 451 of 1994, and the Wetlands Protection Act, Part 303 of PA 451 of 1994, related to the preservation and utilization of wetlands . For zoning purposes, all large wetlands should fall into the Open Space and Resource Production districts. C. Natural Features. A wide variety of management techniques are available for protecting natural features on private lands. Primarily, education of landowners is needed in order to raise their consciousness about the existence and importance of natural features. A landowner's guide is available from the DNR (Managing Michigan's Wildlife: A Landowner's Guide, available from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/landowners Guide/Re source Dir/Acrobat/index.htm.), plus the assistance of staff of the Marquette County Soil and Water Conservation District should be promoted. In addition a publication targeted to both citizens and Township officials is also available. Entitled Your Upper Peninsula: A Guide to Planning for Tomorrow's Shorelines, it presents a variety of shoreline planning tools that can help preserve a natural appearing shoreline as well as water quality. It is available from the National Wildlife Federation (www.nwf.org ) and the Central Lake Superior Watershed Partnership (www.superiorwatersheds.org). 2. Wilderness and Natural/Scientific Areas See the discussion under subsection "A" under Environmental Areas for the areas identified under this section, the State Fish Hatchery, the Lake Levasseur Waterfowl Area and Escanaba River State Forest. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-8 �Photo 9-6 Management Concerns over Wilderness and Natural/Scientific Areas, such as the Lake Levasseur Wetland Project Involves Working with State Agencies 3. Geologic Formations A. Steep Sloped Areas: The steeped sloped areas of the Township are generally less desirable for most types of development because of the higher construction costs, high erosion possibilities when soils are disrupted, and the high cost of providing public services like road construction, snow plowing, sewage collection, etc. Therefore, intense types of development should be limited. The two larger areas in the southwestern portion of the Township can support good timber production; this is encouraged to avoid erosion problems. The area should be zoned Open Space. Photo 9-7 Protruding Bedrock Areas are Notable in Good and Bad Weather r B. Protruding Bedrock Areas: Protruding bedrock can create development problems in construction of septic tank drain fields, public sewer lines, or construction on its rock bluffs. It is recommended that intense development be limited in those areas because of those problems; and if development occurs, it can be monitored by enforcing the health, building, and subdivision controls . Most of the bedrock areas on The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-9 �the eastern portion of the Township is on State-owned lands and should remain zoned for Open Space. The rock bluffs in the northwest corner of the Township should be closely monitored because the pressure for intense development exists. 4. Flood Areas The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued a final Flood Hazard Boundary Map identifying those lands lying within the one hundred year floodplain. It is recommended that the Township prohibit any new construction, expansion of existing structures or fill within the floodplain areas and that they participate in the Federal Flood Insurance Program to provide proper protection for those areas affected by floods. Most major flood areas should remain zoned for Open Space or Resource Production. 5. Erosion Areas Management efforts to curtail Lake Superior shoreline erosion stem originally from the Shorelands Protection and Management Act (now Part 323 of PA 451 of 1994). The State has performed a study of the High Risk Erosion areas and has developed a management program of which Chocolay Township is a part. The DEQ has established setbacks by calculating the known receding rate of the banks. Permits must be obtained from the DEQ for construction on properties designated as high risk erosion areas. Those lands not developed should be zoned Open Space. Map 45 identifies all High Risk Erosion areas in the Township. 6. Shorelands A. High Risk Erosion Areas: Refer to the high risk erosion discussion above. B. Chocolay River Mouth: The Chocolay River mouth is experiencing a sedimentation problem, sometimes restricting access to Lake Superior. Keeping the mouth open for public use would help boating access from the marina. It is also a problem identified by the Chocolay River Watershed Project. The Township should contact the Army Corps of Engineers to determine what procedures would be necessary to keep it free flowing, and promote best management practices identified by the Chocolay River Watershed Management Project to help reduce sedimentation. C. Coastal Lakes, Lake Superior Waters and Bottom Lands: Coastal lakes and rivers are covered by the Shorelands Protection and Management Act, Part 323 of PA 451 of 1994 and Great Lakes Submerged Lands, Part 325 of PA 451 of 1994. It is recommended that reasonable setbacks be established in the Zoning Ordinance to provide protection of water quality, aesthetic quality, and resource integrity. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-10 �Photo 9-8 Protect Water Quality, Aesthetic Quality, and Resource Integrity of Coastal Lakes and Rivers 7. Lakes (Inland) Lake Le Vasseur is wholly within the jurisdiction of the State and is discussed in Subsection "A" of Environmental Areas. Kawbawgam Lake is in private ownership and is experiencing rapid development along its shores. The area surrounding the eastern, western and southern sides of the lake is within the proposed flood hazard area and wetland area, and should follow those recommendations, as discussed above. For those developed areas, it is recommended that reasonable setbacks be established in the Zoning Ordinance to preserve their integrity. The Township should enforce all developmental controls, the Subdivision Controls, State Building Code, and Health Code, as well as the Inland Lakes and Streams Act. 8. Rivers and Streams All streams and rivers should be afforded a minimum amount of protection from overuse and intense development. Those portions surrounded by wetlands or flood hazard areas should follow the recommendations for those areas. Reasonable setbacks should be established through the Zoning Ordinance. The Township should enforce developmental controls, as well as honoring the Inland Lakes and Streams Act, Part 301 of PA 451 of 1994 and the Local River Management Act, Part 311 of PA 451 of 1994. The Chocolay River Watershed Project, managed by the Marquette County Soil and Water Conservation District along with many partners, developed a program of restoration, education and conservation in order to protect this valuable water resource. The Chocolay River Watershed Management Plan is available by contacting the Marquette County Soil and Water Conservation District or online at http://www.portup.com/%7Elindq/. The Watershed Project has been involved in the clean-up of contamination, stream restoration, dam removal, implementing forestry best management practices and other stewardship activities. There are many road crossings of streams in the watershed, and these are of particular concern as possible sites of sediment and other contamination. See Map 9-1. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-11 �Map 9-2. Road Crossings of Streams in the Chocolay River Watershed From Updates to the Chocolay River Watershed Restoration and Management Plan. Chocolay River Watershed Project. 9. Prime Agricultural Lands Only agricultural lands under current cultivation have been identified as prime agricultural lands for Chocolay Township. It is recommended that the Township work closely with the Marquette County Soil and Water Conservation District to continually redefine Chocolay's responsibility to agricultural production needs. Zoning agricultural land as Open Space or Resource Production can provide the necessary protection from unwanted development. The Farmlands and Open Space Act will also prevent development for the period of the PA 116 contract, as discussed earlier, if property owners were inclined to enroll. 10. Prime Forested Lands Chocolay Township has no major commercial timber production even though it is · extensively forested . Much of the eastern portion of the Township is within the Escanaba River State Forest and therefore is outside the Township's jurisdiction. It is recommended that Chocolay work closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and DNR to determine the potential productivity of the private forested lands. To preserve the quality and quantity of forested lands along roadway, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds, reasonable setbacks could be utilized. To preserve larger tracts of forested lands the Private Forest Reserve Act, Part 5 of PA 451 of 1994, could be instituted . If commercial land is involved, the Commercial Forest Act, Part The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-12 �511 of PA 451 of 1994, would be involved. Lands intended to be preserved for its timber resources should be zoned Open Space (timber resource) or Resource Production. 11. Mineral Resources Existing gravel and sand operations are the only mineral resource areas in Chocolay. More valuable mineral resources only exist in trace amounts and are not economically feasible for extraction at this time. To ensure protection to those resource areas and provide maximum limits on how much extraction should occur, it is recommended that an industrial mining zoning classification be used on only those specified areas, if and when they are ever formally identified. Cultural Areas of Particular Concern The location of some of the cultural areas of concern identified below can be found on Map 9-1, Areas of Concern and maps in other chapters should be referenced where indicated . 1. Aesthetic Areas A. US-41 corridor from the Township line north toward Green Garden. This area lies in the viewshed along both sides of US-41 as it slopes down toward the north, allowing distant views of relatively undeveloped scenery. Most of the area is in private ownership and protecting this scenic resource will be a challenge if conservation easements are not obtained. An overlook at a high point along the highway should be developed. MOOT grant funds should be explored. B. Eastern entry and highway scenic turnouts on east M-28. These are valuable public assets owned by MOOT and maintained by Chocolay Township and should be protected. They provide stunning views of the Lake Superior shoreline. (See scenic turnouts on Map 6-1 ). C. Natural scenic areas in general. Scenic roadsides in all areas of the Township can be protected by adequate setbacks, appropriate sign regulations, and design guidelines that promote the use of scenic easements (can be donated instead of purchased if owners are willing) and natural vegetative screening, either left standing during the construction process or restored in roadside areas already cleared. A scenic protection plan should be prepared to identify areas worthy of long term protection . The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-13 �Photo 9-9 Many Roads in Chocolay Township are Scenic, such as CR 480 2. Recreation Areas For the location of recreation areas, see Map 6-1, Chocolay Township Public Facilities in Chapter 6. The state forested lands, highway turnouts, and Lake Levasseur public access site are out of the jurisdiction of the Township. For zoning purposes, they should remain zoned Open Space. A. Marina. The marina, which is primarily a boat ramp, is located on the Chocolay River about 1,500 feet from Lake Superior, and shallow water is sometimes a problem for boaters seeking access to the big lake. The 2004 Recreation Plan proposes minor improvements to this site. B. Snowmobile trail and Chocolay River crossing. Snowmobile owners can use their machines on a trail in the northern part of the Township. However, there are problems with the trail. It passes through a residential area, with resulting conflicts over noise, late night use and speeds. There is no separate snowmobile crossing of the Chocolay River, so snowmobilers use the M-28 bridge, which is not designed for safe snowmobile use. A separate bridge should be constructed. The trail could be used by pedestrians and bicyclists in the warmer seasons if it were surfaced with crushed compacted limestone. C. Rock Bluff Area. The Lake Superior shoreline across from the Michigan Department of Transportation Welcome Center on US-41 /M-28 has a scenic rock bluff. This is a natural location for a viewing place, which could be a tourism draw. Development of a scenic viewing place would require coordination with the property owner and Sands Township. Access to the site may pose some challenges. 3. Historic Areas Current protection for all state and federal registered sites come from the Historic Division of Michigan's Department of State. All local preservation efforts (funding and enforcement) should go through their office or the Marquette County Historical Commission. Each area identified is unique unto itself so will require individual attention in its management. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-14 �Photo 9-10 Each Unique Historic Area Requires Individual Management 4. Urbanizing Areas A. Shot Point. The Shot Point area development is within the Flood Hazard Area of Lake Superior. See Map 4-4 in Chapter 4. Since development exists, zoning and developmental control ordinance should be rigidly enforced to preserve the quality of the resources and protect existing and future development. Setbacks would be most useful here. Zoning in this area should be Lake Shore/Residential. Undeveloped areas and environmentally sensitive areas should be rezoned Open Space. B. Kawbawgam Lake. Although not an immediate problem, the Kawbawgam Lake area is a potential candidate. As an Area of Particular Concern, development is spreading in an area that is both wetlands and a Flood Hazard Area. Here too, zoning and developmental control ordinances should be rigidly enforced. C. Lakewood Lane. The Lakewood Lane area development consists of areas designated as High Risk Erosion Areas. Since development exists, the Residential-One single family zoning should be maintained, and coordination with the DEQ should occur for all proposed developments. D. Harvey-Nonconforming Zoning. Most of the lots in the Harvey settlement are . non-conforming according to current zoning with regards to lot size. This places an unnecessary burden on property owners, on the Planning Commission and on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Zoning needs to be updated for this area in order to remove the non-conforming status of most parcels. E. Intersection of M-28 and US-41. This intersection, located just southeast of Harvey, is of particular concern due to the two major highways that intersect at this point, generating traffic conflicts, and because of the existing growth and the likelihood for more growth immediately adjacent to it. Due to the location of a major The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-15 �trucking terminal just northwest of the intersection on US-41/M-28, the intersection receives substantial truck traffic. A ring road that would allow local traffic, especially trucks, to by-pass the intersection may relieve some congestion, improve safety and help manage access to existing and future businesses in the area. Pedestrian crossings also need to be improved in the area of this intersection. Sidewalks exist, but pedestrian signals do not. F. The Commercial Corridor of M-28/US-41 from the Township Line to the Intersection of M-28/US-41. The US-41 /M-28 corridor from the Township line, southeast to the intersection of the two highways currently has a mix of uses, but its location suggests development as a commercial corridor. It is the main route for people in Chocolay Township entering and exiting from the city of Marquette. Major existing businesses include a trucking depot, which is more industrial than commercial. This corridor is a prime location for businesses serving commuters, rather than industrial uses. Conflicts between trucks, commuters and users of future commercial development will need to be avoided by access management solutions put in place before more growth or redevelopment occurs. Buffers between commercial and industrial uses and residential uses should be provided. There are challenges to development of this segment of highway as a commercial corridor. The existing pattern of residential streets crossing US-41 /M-28 and the shallow setback of many homes to the highway will make acquisition of additional right-of-way and access management difficult. The lack of a municipal water supply is also a problem. A water supply study has been completed by STS Consultants, Ltd., which recommended that if a public water system were needed, a connection with the Marquette City system for the developed area of Sands Township and this area of Chocolay Township is the most feasible alternative to a new, separate public water system involving new wells. The cost of development of a public water system could be at least $5 million, and community sentiment was against using public funds for its development at the time this Plan was prepared. However, expanded commercial development and redevelopment along this corridor is unlikely to occur without it Photo 9-11 The Commercial Corridor of US-41/M-28 is an Area of Particular Concern The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-16 �G. Casino Area. The Marquette Ojibwa Casino is located at 105 Acre Trail, accessed by Kawbawgan Road, south off of M-28 about midway between the east and west borders of Chocolay Township. The casino is operated by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. It is a relatively small casino, and there is interest by the Indian Community in expanding the operation, either at its present site or at another site in Negaunee Township. There is room to expand at the present location, but if the casino relocates to Negaunee Township, the Indian settlement surrounding the existing casino may be able to use the existing building for another use, related to the community. The present casino site has little frontage on M-28, where there are a number of privately held , undeveloped parcels. This presents the opportunity for commercial development related to the casino, such as motels and restaurants, but such development should only occur if the casino is expanded and with appropriate access management and visual character protections. A zoning change from the present residential classifications would also be required. Photo 9-12 The Casino Site has Little Frontage on M-28 John f:\winword\chocolay\final\CHAPTER 9 final.doc The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 9-17 �Chapter 10 FUTURE LAND USE & INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT INTRODUCTION This chapter opens with a general description of the purpose of this chapter. It is followed by a description of future land uses in the Township. Then the key infrastructure management strategies necessary to implement the future land use arrangement are described. The last section addresses issues associated with ensuring consistency with the plans and zoning regulations of adjoining jurisdictions. This chapter is directly related to the next chapter which presents the Zoning Plan for the Township and the two should be read and used together. PURPOSE OF THE CHAPTER This chapter presents the arrangement of future land uses in the Township for at least the next twenty years. This arrangement is intended to implement the vision, goals, policies and objectives presented in Chapter 8, in a manner that properly respects the areas of particular concern described in Chapter 9. In some parts of the Township, proposed future land use is merely the continuation of existing land uses. In others, more intensive use is proposed. Where more intensive use is proposed, as around Harvey, it is because a higher level of public services already exist there, and additional public services are both needed, and most economical to provide because of economies of scale in this area. Future land uses are depicted on Map 10-1, entitled the Future Land Use Map. Each future land use category corresponds to one or more zoning districts which are described in the next chapter. The density of all land is as permitted by the corresponding zoning district. Where land is presently used and zoned for a low intensity use, like farming or forestry, and a more intensive use is proposed, approval of the more intensive use should not occur unless a determination is first made that all the public infrastructure and services necessary to adequately serve that development are in place, and that the environmental impacts of the change to a more intensive use are minimal or properly mitigated according to applicable federal, state, county and Township laws. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-1 �Map 10-1 Future Land Use Chocolay Township: Future Land Use Map Township Line - Agriculture-Forestry r:= County Highway Section Line - Commercial - Named Roads State Lands - Industrial State Highway - Un-Named Roads Lakes -- Multiple Family Residential Rural Residential Single Family Residential Lakeshore Residential - Local Public Lands Streams Source : Chooolay Twp Equalization Dept. Michigan Center for Geographic lnf0<mati:>n, Dept of Information Technology " w◊• Map Prepared by the Land Information Access Association, March 2005 05 3 Miles County_ Road Bu The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-2 �FUTURE LAND USES Map 10-1 depicts future land use in the following categories which correspond to existing and future zoning districts as listed on Table 10-1 below: Table 10-1 Relationship Between Future Land Use and Zoning District Categories Future Land Use Map 10-1 Agriculture and Forestry Lakeshore Residential Single Family Residential Multiple Family Residential Commercial Industrial Local Public Lands Existing Zoning Districts (early in 2005) RP - Resource Production OS - Open Space RR-2 - Rural Residential 2 RR-1 - Rural Residential 1 LS/R - Lakeshore River R-1 - Residential R-1 Residential R-2 Residential R-3 Residential RR-1 Rural Residential 1 R-4 Residential C-1 Commercial C-2 Commercial C-3 Commercial PL - Public Lands Proposed Future Zoning Districts AF - Agriculture and Forestry LS/R - Lakeshore Residential R-25 Residential R-12 Residential MFR Multiple Family Residential C-1 Commercial C-2 Commercial I - Industrial PL - Public Lands Generally these proposed changes to the zoning districts would accomplish the following: • Streamline the number of zoning districts by consolidating similar districts • Once the revised districts were created, the Zoning Map would be changed. Many properties, especially in Harvey, would then be conforming with the dimensional regulations of the district, because the zoning standards would match the most common lot sizes in the district. Currently, there are many nonconforming lots in the Township, especially in Harvey. This will reduce administrative burdens and hassles for the property owners. Following is a description of each of the categories of land use on Map 10-1. Ag ricu ltu re-Forestry This future land use category is made up of two major types of land use: agriculture and forests. In addition, many wetlands are associated with each of these land uses. Most of the eastern half of the Township is either forested or wetlands (or both) and much of it is publicly owned and managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. This category is comprised of all lands in early 2005 zoned as RP and OS, plus all lands zoned as RR-2. All lands in this category would principally be permitted to be used for Agriculture-Forestry activities as principal uses by right, such as agriculture and forest management. The minimum lot size would continue to be 20 acres. A single family home would also be permitted as a use by right in this area. In the portion of this category presently zoned RR-2, zoning district standards would be changed to allow one single family home by right on 20 acres and additional dwellings at a density of one dwelling The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-3 �unit per 5 acres, only if clustered on a part of the property and at least 50 percent of the property maintained as permanently protected open space by means of a conservation easement or other protection acceptable to the Township. For example a 100 acre parcel would be permitted to have 20 lots (100 divided by 5), which would be clustered on not more than 50% of the property. The minimum lot size of each clustered unit would be not smaller than that required by the Public Health Department, nor on average, more than 2.5 acres in size (or else more than 50 acres would be used up for the residences). A new cluster ordinance provision would have to be added to the Zoning Ordinance to permit this and it would allow such developments by right. Photo 10-1 Agriculture and Forestry Agriculture In addition to the above changes to the Zoning Ordinance, the following strategies should be pursued to encourage continued agriculture in the Agriculture-Forestry area: • Encourage farmers to farm as long as they want to • Encourage farmers to participate in PA 116, the state Farmland and Open Space Protection program which gives an income tax benefit to farmers who agree to keep their land in agriculture for a period of at least 1O years. Special attention should be paid to future residential development along gravel • roads in this area, because once the number of dwellings exceeds about 80 with no other road users (fewer homes ifthere are other road users), then the gravel road capacity will be exceeded and it will either have to be frequently graded, or paved, and if paved, it will serve to attract additional residences. Thus, the density of development along gravel roads should be kept low to preserve gravel road capacity, while still permitting Agriculture-Forestry activities. Higher density residential development should be permitted where roads are paved , and at levels commensurate with the need for other public facilities, such as sewer and water. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-4 �Forest Management In addition to the above changes to the Zoning Ordinance, the following strategies should be pursued to encourage continued forest management in the AgricultureForestry area: • Encourage private owner participation in Commercial Forest Reserve Act. Landowners of forested property managed for long term forest production can receive significant tax benefits by participating in the Commercial Forest Reserve Act. Several landowners in the Township already participate in the program. Others should be encouraged to. • All forested landowners should be encouraged to use sustainable forestry management practices consistent with state policy and industry guidelines. • Work with landowners to stage tree harvesting in key viewsheds. This will require identification of key viewsheds and then private landowners who plan to harvest trees. By staging harvesting and avoiding large clearcut areas, the impacts on key viewsheds will be greatly reduced. The most important area to target for viewshed protection is the view of the Green Garden valley from westbound US41 at the south central portion of the Township. Residential Citizens and local leaders strongly believe it is important to provide for a wide variety of types and densities of residential dwellings. All homes are desired to be sited in surroundings which permit quiet enjoyment of the property, whether or not the lot or dwelling is large is small. Some is expected in more urban small lot settings, while others are expected on large lots in the country surrounded by large quantities of open space. Photo 10-2 Single Family is Expected to Continue as the Largest Housing Type 6 10 2004 Single family housing is and is expected to continue to be the largest type of residential housing, but it could be provided in many forms, such as detached site constructed single family homes and detached manufactured homes. At the same time multiple family dwellings could be provided in apartments and attached site constructed single family homes and condominiums. Large and small lot development could be involved. To accomplish this goal will require some modification of residential zoning districts in the Zoning Ordinance to create new options. It is critical that accompanying such districts be a strong set of subdivision regulations and if necessary incentives to The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-5 �encourage subdivision development (as opposed to lot split and metes and bounds development) so that over time, the interconnected street system in Harvey is continued to serve all the most intensely developed parts of the Township (present and future). Four categories of residential development are depicted on the Future Land Use Map and each is discussed below. Rural Residential These are areas planned for low density residential development surrounded by open space. As of early 2005 there were two rural residential zones. The RR-2, 5 acre minimum area was addressed above in the Resource Conservation category. It would be retained as a district in the Zoning Ordinance, but would be developed as either one dwelling unit per 20 acres, or using cluster zoning, at a density of one dwelling unit per five acres. It is shown on the Future Land Use Map as part of the Agriculture-Forestry category because it would have the same base density. Figure 10-1 shows a comparison of conventional land division, conventional subdivision and a conservation subdivision based on a 5 acre minimum lot size. In addition to permanent preservation of open space for buyers and the community, there are substantial benefits to the developer in the form of lower costs to develop. The RR1 area is presently a 2 acre minimum lot size. Consideration should be given to rezoning undeveloped portions of this district into the AF classification, or the R-12/R-25 category to be consistent with abutting property. If this was done, then the RR-1 category would be eliminated, or revised, so that no new lands would be zoned into this category. Lakeshore Residential The existing title of this district is Lakeshore/River District, yet in spite of miles of lakeshore and riverfront properties, there is a limited amount of land zoned LS/R in the Township. This district is specifically targeted to all waterfront property but in reality, is only applied to some lakefront property. While most of the lakefront property has already been developed and it is appropriate that all residential lakeshore property be zoned into this classification, it makes less sense that all riverfront property be so zoned unless, following a careful review, it is determined the existing regulations make sense on all the riverfront property and all the lakeshore property. It may be that a separate Riverfront District is more appropriate for those properties. Permitted uses in the LS/R are residential and recreational uses. If this district is renamed and applied to all lakeshore property, then existing resorts would be permitted to continue and new buildings or alterations would be regulated through the special use permit process. New resorts, except perhaps B&B's under special use permit conditions, would not be allowed. Rezoning some RP, some RR-2, and some R1 lands into the LS/R classification would be necessary to achieve this goal. Some new special use permit standards would also need to be adopted. This change should be carefully considered and the boundary lines between districts carefully studied before making any change. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-6 �Figure 10-1 Cluster Subdivision Compared to Other Land Division Options on the Same Land 230 Acre parcel with density = 1 dwelling unit per 5 acres. Conventional strip residential development. 38 home sites and 14 driveways (some shared) on the public road. No large open spaces. ! · ,.,.. ~--,. '\ Conventional subdivision development. 34 home sites. Five have access to existing public road, rest to a new road. No large open spaces. \ ' / [:?)~>~~\;./ '· ~-.. . \ ··,'• \ ' ~,-,; ' ' .. ..c:I.. - .. -··-· _.. _.. _,,_.. _,,_,' -~..4_ ' .. _ .. _ .. _ ,._ ... I.. - .. _ .. _ ,,_ ,,_ ,, _ ,, I_ ! r·-..~..-.._.. .._ .. _,,_,,_,,_,,_,,_,,_i ,,_ .. _ .. _,,_ .. I i .. - .. - .. - .. , _,._.,_, _,_,_,_,_..L . _. _, _,_, . I ! ··- ··-··- ··-··- ··-··- ··..J_ .. _ ,._ .. _,___, Road Conservation subdivision. 46 home sites. Extensive open spaces, some of which can remain income producing. Meets 5 acre density but with maximum 2 acre lot size . All homes are served from two new cul-de-sac roads . ' Reserved Open Space (through conservation easement) ,-. l'" i\ Open space that could be used for trails. Can be designated for agrlcultura i ·. or forast management. Can be i1 allowed to grow up u meadow ;--·· and woods. Can never be used for i,... more houses. i--· i..i..- ~--- i.. - _ ,._, ,_ ,. L.. __________., ____ ,,_,,_ .,_ ,, _ ,. ____, _________ , Important location for open space. Road In this illustration , the community is choos ing to preserve fa rmland . A commun ity may choose to preserve woodlands. Single Family Residential As of early 2005 there are three residential districts that require a 25,000 square foot minimum lot size. There is no material difference between these districts and they should be combined into a single district. In addition, a new single family residential district should be created that has minimum lot size and setback requirements that are The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-7 �consistent with what has already been built upon in Harvey. Presently most lots in that hamlet are nonconforming which requires property owners to obtain waivers or variances before making any changes to property. This is an unnecessary burden on property owners and zoning administrators. A new district should be created that has standards which would make the overwhelming bulk of existing lots in Harvey conforming . Land abutting those lots should be permitted to be divided with the same dimensions as existing lots, if served by public sewer (and public water if available). This will increase the likelihood of the construction of more affordable housing and the efficient provision of sewer services in the Township. Implementation of these two changes would result in the elimination of the R1, R2 and R3 districts and the rezoning of all lands in those districts to one of two new districts: R-12 (for Harvey) and R-25 (abbreviation for 25,000 square foot lots) reflecting where they were located. Multiple Family Residential As of early 2005, the R-4 district is used exclusively for lands zoned for mobile home parks. This is a similar density to multiple family dwellings or apartments. The R-4 district should be renamed MFR and the text revised to accommodate both manufactured homes in parks and apartments. All such residences should be required to be served by public sewers , and if available, by public water. Nonresidential There are three types of nonresidential lands in the Township . The first are commercial, the second are industrial and the third are local public lands. These lands are important to the creation of a balanced tax base and a complete community. Photo 10-3 Small Expansions are Proposed to Existing Commercial Areas Commercial The lands zoned C-1 and C-2 commercial in early 2005 represent the bulk of commercial property in the Township . They include both traditional retail commercial businesses, personal , home and business services and highway services. The lands presently zoned into these districts are proposed to be retained in those uses and small expansions may be appropriate depending on the circumstances described in the The Charter Townsh ip of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-8 �special corridor analysis below. Expansion of nonresidential tax base should only be permitted along US-41 /M-28 from the west township line to the intersection of these two roads and to 500 feet either side of the intersection, with the exception of possible small expansions along M-28 in front of the Casino and adjacent to the Varvil Center on M-28, and at Kassel's Korner (corner of US-41 and County Road 480). Industrial Lands zoned as C-3 are permitted to be used for both commercial and light industrial uses, but most such lands are used for light industrial purposes. Since there is no separately described industrial zone, and on first glance, this may appear to be exclusionary, the Township should consider renaming the C-3 zone as I Industrial (or 1-1 Industrial), and permit certain heavier intensity, but not retail commercial uses in this zone. That would include commercial wholesale and highway service, but not retail commercial uses, along with light industrial uses. Local Public Lands This is a category limited only to lands in Township ownership as the large amount of state land is included in the Agriculture-Forestry category. This designation identifies these park and Township Hall lands separately because of the significance they have on community development and services. All local public lands (except for trails) should be similarly included and depicted on the Zoning Map or allowed as uses in all zoning districts. Photo 10-4 All Public Lands, such as the Beaver Grove Recreation Area Should be Depicted on the Zoning Map 18 1 2005 Areas of Particular Concern Chapter 9 identified a number of areas of particular concern that deserve special attention as new development takes place in the Township. Most are natural areas with special natural features that are desired to be maintained. Some are cultural areas. The following recommendations relate to future actions that should be taken to protect these areas of particular concern . Natural Areas of Particular Concern Zoning regulations should be updated to ensure that the natural areas of particular concern in Chapter 9 are adequately addressed. This is most important with regard to: floodplains, wetlands, high risk erosion areas, sand dunes, ground water, surface water, The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-9 �shorelands, areas with endangered plants and animals and the exposure of soil as new development occurs. These areas are already subject to state laws which seek to protect them, but separate local regulations can also be adopted (see Filling the Gaps: Environmental Protection Options for Local Governments, DEQ, 2003). At a minimum, zoning regulations should be updated to ensure Township approval of development is linked with approval by other governmental entities such as the DEQ, County Health Department, MOOT and the County Road Commission. Beyond that, the Township should consider preparing and adopting a separate greenspace plan which identifies important ecosystems and viewsheds and includes recommendations on specific measures that could be implemented to protect those areas. Cultural Areas of Particular Concern Areas with special aesthetic features and recreation areas can be identified for linkage in a greenspace plan with a greenways element. Greenways could be public or private land planned for active or passive human use, but must respect private ownership. Viewshed protections can be a part of such a plan, as could protection of key historic structures or areas. A comprehensive trail system for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiles (on certain trails) should be an integral part of the greenspace plan. There were a number of urbanizing areas of particular concern identified in Chapter 9 as well. Key future land use issues associated with most of them are addressed in the description of future land use along and/or near key corridors are discussed in the next section. Special Corridors Land use in area along M-28 east of the intersection of US-41/M-28 There are three subareas along this corridor that should be the focus of special attention in the future and following detailed study, may result in future rezoning if done consistent with this Plan. • There is already considerable strip residential development along this corridor which adds unnecessarily to crash risks. All new residential lots should be required to have at least 300 feet of frontage unless access comes from a parallel road (such as in a double frontage lot in a subdivision). Subdivisions should be strongly encouraged instead of lot splits, with no new residential lots fronting on M-28. • Additional but limited, traveler related commercial services (like hotels and restaurants) should be permitted contiguous to the existing Casino if the tribe makes a decision to expand the casino here. However, if there is no casino expansion, there should be no additional nonresidential development permitted in this area. • The nonresidential services area at the Varvil Center could be expanded if a connecting road between US-41 and M-28 is created with the M-28 connection contiguous to or very near here. Otherwise, expansion of nonresidential development in this area should only occur if not incompatible with development of adjacent lands for residential purposes. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-10 �Land use in area along US-41 south of the intersection of US-41/M-28 There are two subareas along this corridor that should be the focus of special attention in the future and following detailed study, may result in future rezoning if done consistent with this Plan. • There is already considerable strip residential development along this corridor which adds unnecessarily to crash risks. All new residential lots should be required to have at least 300 feet of frontage unless access comes from a parallel road (such as in a double frontage lot in a subdivision). Subdivisions should be strongly encouraged instead of lot splits with no new residential lots fronting on US-41. • No additional land area should be approved for commercial (or industrial) development along this segment for the next 20 years, except perhaps adjacent to existing neighborhood service commercial uses at the corner of US-41 and County Road 480. These should be permitted only in the face of significant residential development in the area, and not in response to increased traffic on US-41. The commercial needs of through traffic should be met by commercial land uses in the next corridor segment. Photo 10-5 Land Use Along US-41 South of the US-41/M-28 Intersection US-41/M-28 west of the intersection (business strip through Harvey) There are three subareas along this corridor that should be the focus of special attention in the future and following detailed study, may result in future rezoning if done consistent with this Plan. • First, a special residential zoning district should be created in the hamlet of Harvey so homes are on lots that are not nonconforming and homeowners can more easily use and improve their properties. • The second subarea includes all lands abutting US-41 /M-28. A study to determine the feasibility of a boulevard should be the first initiative (see Chapter 7). If a safe boulevard design is not feasible, then a major and dense tree planting program should be initiated to both green up and close in this corridor. This will help to both improve aesthetics and slow traffic through this, the densest part of the Township . The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-11 �• Third, based on the results of the boulevard feasibility analysis (above), a detailed land use/transportation plan should be prepared for this subarea and for all abutting lands. New connecting roads should be planned and constructed and new residential development should be encouraged off the corridor. Commercial and service uses should be planned and permitted along the corridor. A mix of highway service and community service businesses should be sought. The provision of public water service should continue to be examined and if a financially feasible way is found to provide it, then it should be provided. Nothing else has more potential to facilitate the appropriate expansion of planned development in the Harvey area, than a new public water system and planned interconnected streets. These infrastructure management issues are discussed in more detail in the next section. INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT The efforts the Township makes to support future road, sewer, water and recreation services in the Township consistent with this Plan will have more to do with the location and type of development in the Township than anything else beyond merely zoning the land for various uses, densities and intensities. Properly conceived and executed, the following strategies will both support and stimulate land use change consistent with this Plan. Road Improvement Strategies Following is a list of strategies that should be implemented to improve roads and highways in the Township: • Adopt access management regulations consistent with the US-41/M-28 Comprehensive Corridor & Access Management Plan cooperatively completed with the cooperation of MOOT and seven other adjacent units of government along the corridor in 2004. • Following further study, if it is feasible, adopt new expanded right-of-way line along US-41 /M-28 to accommodate a future right-of-way of 150 feet and establish a new setback in the Zoning Ordinance from the future right-of-way line. • If feasible, work with MOOT to adopt a cross section boulevard design similar to that in Figure 7-4. • Develop a right-of-way acquisition program and local funds for use to acquire right-of-way as the need/opportunity exists. Acquire as much as possible through voluntary donations by landowners as new development or redevelopment of properties along the corridor occurs. • Develop an enhancement grant application for additional vegetation, stylish street lamps, improved sidewalks and related features if boulevard plan is feasible, and even if it is not (but not until a firm determination is made). • Initiate a comprehensive tree planting program along this corridor to create a solid green canopy from the US-41 /M-28 intersection west to the rock bluff: Add vegetation requirements and buffer standards to the Zoning Ordinance for all • new development along state highways and county primaries in the Township. • Increase driveway separation distances for all lots fronting on and taking their access from US-41 or M-28 or a County Primary Road, by increasing lot width to 300 feet. Consider increasing lot width requirement in the Commercial Districts to a similar amount when they front on these roads, unless they use shared access, frontage roads, or rear service roads. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-12 �• • • • • • • • • • Support intersection improvements and new pedestrian crossing alternatives as described in Chapter 7 on Silver Creek Road and Corning Street at US-41/M-28. Support installation of pedestrian crossing markings and pedestrian signals at the intersection of US-41 /M-28. Support efforts to redesign the ninety degree corner on County Road 545 and improve road condition throughout its length. Build a connector road between US-41 and M-28 following the guidelines in Chapter 7. Build a connector between east end of Harvey and M-28 following the guidelines in Chapter 7. Continue the radial street design on the other corners of the intersection of US41 and M-28 as the need and opportunity exists. Update Township subdivision regulations and require interconnected streets and stub connections to permit future interconnection between new streets. Encourage all existing private roads to be upgraded and converted to public roads when they meet public road standards. Increase maintenance responsibilities of landowners on existing private roads. This may require a new separate ordinance that uses special assessments to require private road maintenance. Require all new roads serving more than two dwellings to be public. As discussed in Chapter 7, private roads are proliferating in the Township, as are requests for conversion to a public road. However, it is often financially difficult, if not impossible to do so after the fact. Many private roads are not well enough maintained to permit safe emergency vehicle access. Public roads are much better over time, especially when it becomes necessary to connect roads. Sewer and Water Strategies Following is a list of strategies that should be implemented to improve sewer services and add water service in the Township: • Sewer service will continue to be expanded upon request and at the expense of the benefiting property owners. • Sewer service will be expanded only within the area illustrated on Map 10-2 over the next 20 years. • A means to provide economical water service should continue to be explored for the Harvey area and from the west Township line along US-41/M-28 to onequarter mile from the US-41 /M-28 intersection. The market demand for a broader range of commercial and personal service businesses along US-41/M-28 will not be likely to be met without a municipal water supply. • Water service will only be provided within the area illustrated on Map 10-2 over the next 20 years if a water system is established in the Township. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-13 �Map 10-2 Public Sewer and Water Service Area Map Beyond 2025 LEGEND rw.l State Highway - - - - County H1gt...vay - - - Named Roads State Lands Lakes Streams . - - - Township Line Un-Named Roads - Sectiool.ine w~ Souroe Mtdi9¥1 Center for Geographic lnfonnauon, Dept of lnfOffllalion Tecmology Existing Sewer System Planned Sewer Expansions before 2025 Public Sewer and Water Service beyond 2025 • Map Prepared by the Land Information Access Associauon August 20CM Countt Road Bu ----; ,. '4 ' -\J •· · .•I l • ae 19 ,_ I " ,t ,. •l m " -~ --r I + I 11 I. " .:4 -~-~ 1 -i · ~ , .-, I " .' 23 ,. ill V) I M I ] l I I ~1 2 2, ~ (/,,~ ""~al,, c> 13 .d. ---l -- . . --- ,. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-14 ;I; 2' " • •l • 2' lp - ' �Recreation Following is a list of strategies that should be implemented to improve park and recreation services in the Township: • Existing park and recreation facilities should continue to be improved per the Township Parks and Recreation Plan. • New park and recreation land should be acquired consistent with the Parks and Recreation Plan, or in response to a unique opportunity presented to the Township which is approved by the Township Planning Commission and Township Board. • Expansion of existing snowmobile and non-motorized trails should be undertaken consistent with a Township Greenspace Plan with a greenways element, and such plan should be consistent with the Township Park and Recreation Plan. • The Township Park and Recreation Plan should be updated every 5 years to continue to be eligible for state and federal park and recreation improvement funds . Photo 10-6 Township Staff Works to Maintain and Improve Park and Recreation Services Entryway Strategies Following is a list of strategies that should be implemented to improve entryways into the Township: • Work with MOOT and private land owners to maintain where good and improve where needed the aesthetic character of the lands at the entry to Chocolay Township. • Create and install a quality sign with appropriate landscaping at each entryway to the Township. • Work with MOOT to construct a scenic turnoff at the south end of the Township on US-41 where it overlooks the Green Garden area. The Township may desire to help acquire the land necessary for the turnout in order to ensure a quality design and use by Township residents as well as travelers. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-15 �• Explore the potential for a scenic viewing area on the top of the Rock Bluff at the western end of the Township. This needs to be done in conjunction with the Michigan Tourist Center, Sands Township and the landowners involved. Budgeting Strategies Most of the above strategies will require careful budgeting for the preparation of special studies and subarea plans, as well as for some major capital improvements. As a result it is important that the Township Board, with input and support of the Planning Commission: • Adopt an annually update a capital improvements plan to aid in implementing the infrastructure strategies in this Plan. • Annually incorporate into the general fund budget, or other special budgets, adequate funds for conducting special planning studies, preparing updates to zoning or other related land regulations, or for the design of other implementation tools consistent with this Plan. RELATIONSHIP TO FUTURE LAND USE PLANS AND ZONING IN ADJOINING JURISDICTIONS Chocolay Township shares a border with six jurisdictions. Adjoining jurisdictions are illustrated on Figure 10-2. Figure 10-2 Adjoining Jurisdictions Marquette Township LauSuperlor Onota Township Sands Township West Branch Township Skandia Township ~ z ::> 0 ~ II- w ::> 0 >- Rock River Township I- §0 (.) a:: w (,!) ..J a:: < < ~ The comprehensive or future land use plans and zoning ordinances of each of the six communities adjoining Chocolay Township were requested at the start of the Plan update process. The intent was to examine them for their potential to affect land use in Chocolay Township. The Onota Township Policy Plan and Marquette City Plan were obtained and examined. Future land use plans and zoning ordinances were not provided for Skandia and West Branch Townships, however, the County Planning Department and the Skandia Township Zoning Administrator provided some basic zoning information. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-16 �Onota Township Plan Onota Township and Chocolay Township share a common boundary on the east side of the Township. Onota Township is in Alger County. There were only 146 occupied dwellings in the Township in 2000 and most were along M-28. The Township worked with CUPPAD and prepared a draft Policy Plan in October 2004. It does not include a future land use map, but focuses on preservation of rural character and future residential as opposed to nonresidential development in the Township. It is difficult to say more about the degree of compatibility between planned future land uses. No copy of a zoning map was provided and it is unclear what zoning controls are being implemented along the Onota Township border with Chocolay Township. The present land uses are compatible with Chocolay Township zoning for that area. Rock River Township No response was received from Rock River Township and nothing is known about proposed plans or zoning in the Township. Chocolay and Rock River only touch at a point and no major road is located there, so the likelihood of any land use incompatibilities are small. Existing land uses are compatible. Skandia Township Zoning Skandia Township and Chocolay Township share a border along half of the southern boundary of the Township. Sections 1 through 5 are zoned TP-40 which is Timber Production and has a 40-acre minimum lot size. This zoning classification occurs on land of which a majority is owned by the State of Michigan. Section 6 is zoned RP-20 which is resource production on 20-acre lots. Each of these zoning classifications appear to be consistent with proposed future land uses in Chocolay Township. West Branch Township Zoning West Branch Township and Chocolay Township share a border along half of the southern boundary of the Township. A portion of Section 4 and Sections 5 and 6 are zoned RP-20 which is resource production on 20-acre parcels. A portion of Sections 3 and 4 are zoned RR-10 which is rural residential on 10-acre lots. The rest of the property is zoned RR-5 except for a small portion of Sections 1 and 2 which is zoned RR-2. Each of these zoning classifications appear to be consistent with the future land uses in Chocolay Township except for the RR-2 and RR-5 districts which may promote a higher density than what is desired in this part of the Township, although this density will not have a significant negative effect on the Chocolay Township RR-2 and RP districts. Sands Township Zoning Sands Township shares a border with Chocolay Township along the west side of the Township. There is no future land use plan in Sands Township. The Zoning Map has four different zoning categories on lands abutting Chocolay Township. In Section 1, and parts of Sections 12 and 13 the land is predominantly zoned R-1 A which permits residential development on 30,000 sq.ft. lots (0.688 dwelling units/acre). In parts of Sections 12, 13 and 24, the land is zoned R-1 B which also permits residential development on 30,000 sq. ft. lots. In the lower half of Section 24 the land is zoned F-1 which permits one dwelling per 2.5 acres. In Section 25, the land is zoned for Forestry and Recreation (F-2) which permits dwellings at one dwelling per 5 acres. Each of these zoning categories are compatible with proposed future land uses in that portion of Chocolay Township. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-17 �City of Marquette Plan and Zoning The City of Marquette touches Chocolay Township only at the point that Sands Township and Chocolay also meet at the rock bluff on the northwestern edge of the Township. The City has the area at the point along the Lake Superior shore planned for residential use, and the area on the south side of US-41 /M-28 planned for recreation/open space. These are compatible land uses. However, land in this area is currently zoned General Business and, if developed as currently zoned, may create a conflict with the future land uses provided for in this Plan. Marquette County Comprehensive Plan The Marquette County Comprehensive Plan was adopted in July 1982 and has been amended several times. The Plan is a general policy plan and does not contain a future land use map, however, the Goals and Policies outlined in the Marquette County Comprehensive Plan support the future land use recommendations in this Plan. John f:\winword\chocolay\final\CHAPTER 10 final.doc The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 10-18 �-- Chapter 11 ZONING PLAN INTRODUCTION This chapter opens with a general description of a zoning plan. It is followed by a brief explanation of the relationship between this Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Ordinance of Chocolay Township. Next, the intent and key dimensional standards of the zoning districts in the Zoning Ordinance are briefly described. As they exist, the districts are consistent with the Future Land Use Map and land use descriptions in Chapter 10, but they could be revised to be significantly closer to that proposed in Chapter 10. If the districts are changed , this chapter should be updated to reflect the changes made. WHAT IS A ZONING PLAN? A "zoning plan" is another term for a "zone plan" which is used in the Michigan planning and zoning enabling acts. Section 1(a) of the Township Planning Act, PA 168 of 1959, as amended, requires that the plan prepared under that act serve as the basis for the zoning plan. Section 7 of the Township Zoning Act, PA 184 of 1943, as amended, requires a zoning plan be prepared as the basis for the zoning ordinance. The zoning plan identifies the zoning districts and their purposes, as well as the basic standards proposed to control the height, area, bulk, location, and use of buildings and premises in the township. It must be based on an inventory of conditions pertinent to zoning in the township and the purposes for which zoning may be adopted (as described in Section 3 of the Township Zoning Act). RELATIONSHIP TO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE This Comprehensive Plan Update sets forth the vision, goals and policies for growth and development in Chocolay Township for approximately the next twenty years. It includes a specific strategy for managing growth and change in land uses and infrastructure in Chocolay Township over this period, and will be periodically reviewed and updated at least once each five years. This chapter presenting the Zoning Plan, along with the rest of the relevant parts of this Comprehensive Plan, is intended to guide the implementation of and future changes to the Zoning Ordinance. However, existing permitted uses of land, including density, setbacks and other related standards are as established in the Zoning Ordinance. DISTRICTS AND DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS Following are the general purposes and characteristics of zoning within Chocolay Township. The specific purpose of each zoning district and permitted land uses are listed in the Chocolay Township Zoning Ordinance. The Section references indicate where detailed ordinance language is located within the ordinance. Table 11-1 presents a summary of key dimensional standards under the Zoning Ordinance requirements as they existed in Chocolay Township in early 2005. ZONING DISTRICTS Residential Districts The following zoning districts are considered "residential districts." Section 202 R-1 Residential 1 District Section 203 R-2 Residential 2 District The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 11-1 �Section Section Section Section Section 204 205 206 207 208 R-3 Residential 3 District R-4 Residential 4 District LS/R Lakeshore-River District RR-1 Rural Residential 1 District RR-2 Rural Residential 2 District The principal purpose of these districts is to provide for a range of residential dwelling types at various densities within individual zones tailored for specific uses. Minimum lot areas range from 25,000 square feet to 20 acres. R-1 and R-2 districts, address detached single family residences in a low density setting. The R-3 district is similar to R-1 and R-2 but encourages medium density by allowing multiple residences. The minimum lot area for all three districts is 25,000 square feet. The R-4 district addresses mobile home parks where the density is limited to 7 mobile homes per acre. The Lakeshore-River district borders portions of Lake Superior and Lake Kawbawgam and accommodates both residential and recreational uses. The minimum lot area for this district is 25,000 square feet. The RR-1 district is a low density district established to maintain the integrity of the rural environment in an alternative residential setting. The minimum lot area for this district is 2 acres. The RR-2 district is a low density district with limited accessibility and infrastructure. This area of the Township is where farming, dairying, forestry operations and other similar rural-type land uses exist and are intended to be encouraged and/or preserved. Detached single family residences are allowed in the RR-2 district on lots with a minimum area of 5 acres and a minimum lot width of 300 feet. Chapter 10 proposed that the R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts be consolidated into a new R-25 zone in recognition of the minimum lot size and that a new R-12 district be established. It would be applied to lots within Harvey where most lots are nonconforming under existing zoning. The R-12 district with a 12,000 square foot minimum lot size would make them conforming. The R-4 district is proposed to be renamed to MFR to reflect a permitted density appropriate for mobile home parks and apartments. The RR-1 district is also proposed for possible elimination (see related text in Chapter 10). The RR-2 district is proposed for revision to establish 1 dwelling unit/20 acres as the base density (like the OS and RP districts), but land could be developed at 1 dwelling unit/5 acres if done using cluster zoning with a minimum of 50% of the land preserved as permanent open space. The zoning map is proposed for changes (see related text in Chapter 10) consistent with the above changes, plus the LS/R district is proposed to be extended along the entire Lake Superior Shoreline and along Lake Kawbawgam, and be renamed to Lakeshore District. Commercial and Industrial Districts The following zoning districts are presently considered "commercial districts." Section 209 C-1 Commercial 1 District Section 210 C-2 Commercial 2 District Section 211 C-3 Commercial 3 District The basic purpose of these districts is to provide opportunities for regulated commercial or office activities serving both local and area shopping needs. Minimum lot areas range from 25,000 square feet to one acre in size. The C-1 district provides small retail and service establishments designed to promote convenient pedestrian shopping and stability of retail development by targeting local and area residents and minimizing heavy commercial impact. The C-2 and C-3 districts are located along the main highway The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 11-2 �corridors and are designed to promote automobile-oriented shopping with on-site parking . In addition, the C-3 district promotes light industrial use and locations are most compatible when adjacent to C-2 districts. Motor vehicle sales, rental of farm equipment, food packing and bottling works are typical uses for this C-3 district. Minimum lot area for both the C-1 and C-2 districts are 25,000 square feet and the minimum lot area for the C-3 district is 1 acre. Chapter 10 proposes renaming the C-3 district I-Industrial, revising the purpose statement to more closely match light and perhaps heavier industrial uses. Commercial, wholesale and highway service uses would also be permitted, but not general retail uses. Resource Production District The following zoning district is considered a "resource production district". Section 212 RP Resource Production District This district is designed for low intensity use due to its location and environmental surroundings. It is best suited for agricultural, forestry, and recreational uses. Single family housing is allowed on lots or parcels that are 20 acres or more in size. Open Space District The following zoning district is considered an "open space district." Section 213 OS Open Space District This district is designed to maximize preservation of existing environments by discouraging development on land that because of their soil, drainage or topographic characteristics, have been deemed unsuitable for intensive development. The minimum lot area for a single family home in this district is 20 acres. There is very little difference between the OS and RP districts and they are proposed to be merged and renamed Agriculture-Forestry (A-F). Public Lands Zoning District The following zoning district is considered a "public lands zoning district." Section 214 Public Lands District The purpose of the Public Lands district is to provide adequate land resources for the purposes of administering and performing necessary public services by the Township of Chocolay and other public agencies. Land in this zoning district is intended solely for public buildings and related uses. There is no minimum lot area within this district. Not all public lands are in this district. Lands managed by the DNR for forestry, wildlife or recreation are in the RP or OS districts. Chapter 10 recommends that only Township owned lands be permitted in the PL district. Schools would be permitted in any residential or commercial district. Planned Unit Development District The following zoning district is considered a "planned unit development district." Section 215 PUD Planned Unit Development District The Planned Unit Development district was established to incorporate mixed residential and commercial land uses. The goal of the district is to encourage innovative ways to develop this land by having more flexibility in the zoning than the other zoning districts, although the predominant use is residential, except in the case of golf course PUDs where it both recreation and residential. The district also encourages open space for The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 11-3 �recreational activities and preservation of the existing environment. The minimum lot area within this district is 2 acres. The lands in this district are reflected on the future land use map in the land use category most dominant in the PUD-single family residential. Table 11-1 Chocolay Township Zoning District Regulations 2005 Minimum Lot Area Minimum Lot Width 125 ft. Maximum Ground Coverage Ratio None Maximum Floor Area Ratio None 30 ft. Front Setback R-1 25,000 S.f. D R-2 25,000 S.f. D 125 ft. None None R-3 25,000 s.f. 125 ft. 25% 30 ft. R-4 20 acres ** None 30% None None 30 ft. LS/R 25,000 s.f. 2 acres 125 ft. 200 ft. None RR-1 None None RR-2 C-1* 5 acres 300 ft. None 25,000 s.f. 125 ft. C-2* C-3* RP OS PUD Public Lands s.f. Side Setback Maximum Building Height ts 25 ft. 30 ft. F 30 ft. r 30 ft.,. 30 ft. 30 ft.,. 30 ft. 30 ft. 10 ft. B 30 ft. 30 ft.,. None 30 ft. 30 ft. 30 ft. 30 ft. None 30 ft. 30 ft. 30 ft. A 40% 80% 30 ft. 5 ft. 20 ft. 30 ft. ,. 40 ft. 5 ft. 20 ft. 30 ft.,. 30 ft. 10 ft. 10 ft. 10 ft. Rear Setback B 0 35 ft. 25 ft. 25,000 s.f. 125 ft. 40% 80% 1 acre 20 acres 150 ft. 40% None 80% 40 ft. 5 ft. None 30 ft. 30 ft. 20 ft. 30 ft. 30 ft. None 20 acres None None None 30 ft. 30 ft. 30 ft. A 2 acres 200 ft. None None E E E E None None None None 40 ft. 20 ft. 30 ft. 30 ft. =square feet, ft. =feet Footnotes: A. Height at any point on a structure shall not exceed the horizontal distance to any lot line. B. A detached accessory building not exceeding 14 feet in height and not exceeding 720 square feet may be located within six feet of a side lot line and 20 feet from a rear lot line. A detached accessory building less than 100 square feet and so located that no portion is located in the front yard setback is exempt from the provisions of the zoning ordinance. C. Lot width shall be measured at front setback line. D. 18,750 sq .ft. where lot is served by public sewer and/or water supply E. Setbacks and height limits are to be determined as required by the original zoning district. Any modifications are subject to the final approval of the PUD. F. No detached accessory building shall exceed fifteen (15) feet in height nor exceed the exterior perimeter dimensions of the principal structure on the lot. * See Section 400 of the Chocolay Township Zoning Ordinance ** See Section 205 (D) (1) of the Chocolay Township Zoning Ordinance RECOMMENDATIONS Chapter 10 set forth a number of recommendations for changes to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map to best implement this Plan. Those recommendations are incorporated into this Chapter by reference and are summarized briefly below. In addition, other proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance are proposed to address day-to-day problems encountered with zoning administration. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 11-4 A �1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Consolidate the RP and OS districts into a new district named AgricultureForestry and keep the same dimensional standards as presently exist, with a continuation of the 300 front footage requirement. Eliminate the RR-2 district as a separate district, but modify the AF district to continue allowing a minimum lot size for uses by right of 20 acres, and permit rural clustering with a minimum of 50% open space based on a density of one dwelling unit per 5 acres by special use permit. The ordinance should specifically acknowledge that any existing 5 acre lots are not nonconforming. Eliminate the RR-1 District by consolidating portions of the district into AF or R12/R-25 Districts to be consistent with abutting property, per the guidelines in Chapter 10. Rename the LS/R district to Lakeshore Residential and rezone all the privately owned lots on Lake Superior into that zone. Allow single family uses by right and resorts or other recreation uses by special use permit. Consider creating a separate Riverfront Residential district, if warranted. Consolidate the R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts into a single district since they all have the same minimum lot size and setbacks and call it R-25. Create a new district for all lots in Harvey with dimensional standards that match existing lot lines and call it R-12. Rename the R-4 district to MFR to permit both manufactured homes and multiple family uses at the same density, and consistent with the other dimensional regulations presently allowed. Rename the C-3 district as 1-1 and permit industrial uses and some commercial uses by right, and possibly other commercial uses by special use permit. Retain the PL district, and put all Township public lands used for a structural use in the district, but keep all DNR lands in the Agriculture-Forestry district. Allow schools as a use by right in any residential district. Amend the private road regulations in Section 402, to add better design, construction, and maintenance standards, including authority to require a special assessment for improvements on private roads that have been neglected, per the recommendations in Chapter 10. Provide a maximum length for cul-de-sacs, require stub streets for future connections to streets on abutting property and require all developments with more than thirty lots to have two or more means of public ingress and egress. Consider adding a section regulating fences, and if added, be sure to require that the finished side of the fence must face abutting property. Add snow storage requirements to Section 500 - Off-Street Parking. Change the last sentence in the first paragraph of Section 403 to require ordinance setbacks be applied to nonconforming parcels. Consider adding additional flag lot (20' requirement in Section 402), requirements to greatly limit where they can be created, or prohibit flag lots altogether. If prohibited, decide how best to address land-locked parcels. The general standards of the Ordinance need to be updated along the lines of Section 80.60 of the City of Marquette Zoning Ordinance. Definitions in the Zoning Ordinance need to be updated to reflect all of the terms used in the ordinance. At a minimum there needs to be a definition for a trail (motorized and non-motorized), junkyard, and park. Create guidelines that address the placement of temporary storage structures used as accessory buildings. John :\winword\chocolay\final\CHAPTER 11 final.doc The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 11-5 ��INTRODUCTION As important a benchmark as this updated Comprehensive Plan represents, the initiatives proposed in this Plan will not implement themselves. It will take continued support and commitment for many years. The central ingredients to successful Plan implementation will be: • Commitment by the Planning Commission, the Board of Trustees, and staff of the Township . • A citizenry better educated on the vision in this Plan. FOCUSING ON PRIORITIES As the body principally responsible for preparing and maintaining a land use plan for a community, but one which also has substantial responsibilities in review of proposed developments for zoning compliance, it is easy for a Planning Commission to become distracted with ongoing tasks or ad hoc, controversial issues. Still, the Commission needs to prioritize its tasks relative to implementation of this Plan. Time needs to be set aside for high priority items. These include the preparation of an annual report and work program for the next year, drafting updates to the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations , assisting the Township Board with any capital improvements or public land acquisitions or disposals, and the five-year Plan update. These are discussed below. ANNUAL TASKS As required by the Township Planning Act, the Planning Commission should prepare an annual report to the Board of Trustees on all the activities it undertook in the previous year, with a special focus on actions taken to implement the Plan. A proposed work program that identifies priorities and projected expenses for the next year should also be prepared and submitted in time to be included in the annual Township budget process. TOP PRIORITIES The Planning Commission cannot be expected to implement all of the measures listed Chapter Eight (Vision , Goals, Objectives, and Policies), Chapter Ten (Future Land Use & Infrastructure Management) and Chapter Eleven (Zoning Plan) alone. Many of these can only be accomplished with support from the Township Board and with help from other agencies or groups. It is essential that discussions begin with each of these entities so that they understand the goals, find agreeable common ground as well as where there are differences, and obtain a commitment to a common action . One approach to establishing priorities is to use the following guidelines: • Establish as a high priority those actions that are the precursor to other actions or initiatives. One example is the action to reexamine the residential zoning districts with an eye to eliminating or consolidating some, and rezoning some lands. • Those actions that are assigned to a particular group (like the Planning Commission) elsewhere in this Plan are a high priority. The Charter Townsh ip of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 12-1 �• • A lower priority may be those actions that are not assigned to a group or broadly identify the "Township" as the responsible party. If an action does not list a responsible party, it remains a lower priority until a group or agency steps forward. Photo 12-1 A Key Priority is to Study the Feasibility and Timing of Provision of a Public Water System to Serve the Northwest Portion of the Township, Such as this Home in Harvey The following activities should be the key priorities of the Planning Commission for the next five years: • Educate all citizens about the vision, goals, objectives, and policies of the updated Comprehensive Plan and provide technical assistance in the integration of these elements into property owner development and redevelopment efforts. • Undertake the ROW study along US-41/M-28 to determine the feasibility of a 150' boulevard, and if feasible, change zoning standards to assist with ROW acquisition, as well as creating a budget element to acquire ROW as the opportunity exists. Be sure to retain the portion of land in front of the existing Township Hall for future ROW in the event of any sale of that property. See the guidelines in Chapter 7. • Update the Township Zoning Ordinance to be consistent with this Plan as outlined in Chapter 10 and 11. Adopt access management regulations as part of the Zoning Ordinance and • implement the recommendations of the US-41 /M-28 Comprehensive Corridor . Access Management Plan. • Review other land development regulations in the Township (such as land division and subdivision regulations) and update as necessary to be consistent with this Plan. • Review the private road regulations and revise to require a maintenance agreement whereby landowners served by the private road pick up all future maintenance and improvement costs, and require connections to other existing private or public roads in the area wherever feasible. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 12-2 �• • • • • • • • • • • Conduct a feasibility study for the creation of the new roads depicted on Map 7-3 and develop the best mechanisms to pursue development of those roads at the appropriate times Continue to study the feasibility and appropriate timing for development of a water system to serve the northwest developed part of the Township. Assist the Township Board with decisions on public land acquisition, development or disposition. Develop a Township Greenspace Plan with a Trails Plan sub-element in conjunction with the Township Board, the Park and Recreation Commission, the DNR, MOOT and the County Road Commission. The Trails Plan sub-element would identify trail locations and options for creating the trails, as well as identify and implement tools for acquisition of title or development rights from willing sellers, and set up funding mechanisms for implementation. Use this Plan in the analysis and review of proposed rezonings, zoning text amendments, site plans, and new or amended master plans of adjoining jurisdictions submitted to the Township for statutory review and comment. Exercise the inter-jurisdictional review authority of draft plans and plan amendments in ways to improve local decisions by guiding decisions toward integrated and coordinated solutions based on the core policies in this Plan. Monitor neighboring jurisdiction and County agency decisions and periodically inform other local governments and the County Board of Commissioners on the status of efforts to implement this Comprehensive Plan. Join efforts with others outside the Township to modernize planning and zoning enabling legislation and to authorize or use new tools to better manage growth and preserve open space. At least once each five years, the Comprehensive Plan should be thoroughly reviewed and updated by the Planning Commission with support from the Township Board. Develop a Capital Improvements Plan Consider developing sub-area plans in conjunction with large scale property owners in the Township. John f:\winword\chocolay\final\CHAPTER 12 final.doc The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 12-3 �Appendix A The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 A-1 �2000 Census Demographic Profile ) Chocolay township Marquette County MCD's Number Number Percent TOTAL POPULATION SEXAAl>AGE Male 7,148 PERSONS BY RACE 4,157 58.2% Female 2,991 41.8% Onc~c White Black or African American American Indian/Alaska Native Asian TOTAL POPULATION Under 5 Ycan S to 9 years 10 to 14 years 15 ro 17 yea,, JS and 19 years 20 ro 24 yem 320 421 ·458 546 696 731 710 588 6 .4% 7 .6% 9.7% 10.2% 9.9% 8.2% 402 288 371 172 33 5.6% 4.0% 5.2% 2.4o/1 0.5% 1,570 5,344 576 22.0% 74.8% 8.1% 499 25 ro 29 years 30 to 34 years 35 to 39 years 40 10 44 yea,, 45 to 49 yea.rs to 54 yea.rs so 55 10 59 year, 60 to 64 years 6510 74 years 75 to 84 years 85 years and over Persons under 18 years Persons 21 yean and over Persons 65 years and over FEMALE t;oder 5 Years Sto9ycan lOto 14yem IS to 17 ycars JS and 19 years 20 to 24 ycan 149 208 252 155 ycan yem years years ycan 55 to 59 years 60 to 64 years 65 to 74 years 15 to S4 years 85 years and o"·c r 2.9% 115 143 179 277 288 317 254 2.0% 2.5% 3 .9% 4.0% 4.4% 3.6% 186 132 171 Females under 18 ycan Females 21 years and ovCT Females 65 years and over 2.1% 3.5% 2.2% 0. 8% l.6Y• 56 25 ro 29 yean 30 ro 34 35to 39 40 to 44 45 to 49 50 to 54 330 158 425 4.5% 5.9'/4 7 .0% 4.6% 2.2% 5.9'/4 2.6% Native Hawaiian/Pacific I.slander Some Other Race Two or More Races Percent 7,023 6,193 619 144 41 98.3% 86.6% 5 0.1'/4 21 125 0.3% 1.7% 8.7¾ 2.0¾ 0 .6% PERSONS BY HISPANIC ORIGIN AND RACE Hispanic or Latino(of any race) Not Hispanic or Latino Oncl!acc White Black or African American American Indian/Alaska Native AJian Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Some Other Race Two or more races 0.8% 57 7,091 99.2% 6,162 616 143 41 86.2"/4 8.6% 2.0% 5 5 0 . 1'/4 0.61/, 0 .1% 1.7% 119 PERSONS BY RELATIONSHIP TO HOUSEHOLDER 1,479 1,883 1,799 84 Spouse Child Natural born or adopted Stq, Grandchild Brother or sister Parent Othc:r relatives NonrclativC$ Roomer or boarder Housemate or roomatc Foster child Other nonrc:lativcs 20.7% 26.3% 25 .2% 1.2% 0.6% 0.4% 0.3% 0.4% 3.2% 0.2% 40 26 20 31 229 16 36 14 163 o.s•;. 0.2% 2.3% CHILDRE!'( BY LIVJNG ARRANGEMENT Total children In households In group quarters In.stirutionaliz.ed population NonillSlltut1onal ized 1,570 1,566 99_7•;, 0.3% 0.3',0 0.0% 4 4 0 1.8% 88 2.4% 1.2% 21 0.3% 764 2,146 280 10.7% 30.0% 3.9% PERSONS 65 YEARS+ BY LI\T.\'G ARRANGEMEST 576 Total persons 65 years and over In households 568 In group quarters 8 lnstirutionaliz.ed population 8 Noninstitutionalized 0 98 .6% 1.4% 1.4% O.O'lc MEDIA.'i AGE Total 38.I 37.2 Male Female 39.4 POPULATION IN OCCUPIED HOUSr.-lG UN1TS Populatioo in owner-occupied units 5,329 Popu.latioo in renter-occupied units 703 74.6% 9.8% ) H'SUIC~ntcr for Urba1t Stwdiu/MJMJC Sourct: The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 A-2 ]O<)() c~n.nu �2000 Census Demographic Profile Chocolay township Marquette County MCD's Number Percent HOUSING OCCUPANCY Total housing units Occupied housing units Vacant housing units For rent For sale onJy For seasonal, recreational, or HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES Total households Total persons in households A\·eragc household size 2.324 6.032 2.60 Total fa.'Tlilies 1.742 5.221 3.00 Total pe~n.s in families Average family size Percent Number 2,643 2,324 319 45 occasional use 87.9% 12.1% 1.7% 7 0.3'Y~ 195 7.4¾ All percents: Ul this column are based oo total bouseh0Jd1 HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE (related cbUdn,a) Family Households (families) With related children under 18 With related children under 6 1,742 863 298 75.0% 37.1% 12.8"/4 Married~ouple family With related children under 18 With related children under 6 Male householder, no wife present With related children under 18 With related children under 6 1,479 671 237 63.6% 91 61 24 3.9% 2.6¾ 172 131 37 7.4% Female householder, no husband present With related children under 18 With related children under 6 HOUSL1'G TENURE Occupied bouslng units 2,324 Owner-occupied housing units Renter-occupied housing units 1,974 350 84.9% 15.1% 28.9% 10.2% AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE BY TENURE A veragc size of owner-occupied units A veragc siu of renter-occupied units 1.0% 2.70 2.01 5.6% 1.6% HOUSEHOLDS BY TENURE AND AGE OF HOUSEHOLDER ) UNMARRIED-PARTNER HOUSEHOLDS Total unmarried-partner households Male householder and male partner Female householder and female partnerMale and female partners Owner--occupied units 113 4 4.9'/4 8 IOI 0.2¾ 0.3¾ 4.3% 582 487 252 235 25.00/i 21.0% 10.8% 10. 1% 175 139 70 7.5% 6.00/4 3.0% Householder 15 to 24 years Householdu 25 to 34 years Householder 35 to 44 yean Householder 45 to 54 yean Householder 55 to 64 years Householder 65 to 74 years Householder 75 to 84 years Hoosehold.er 85 years and over NOliFAMILY HOUSEHOLDS Total nonfamily households Householder living alone Male householder Female householder Houic:holder 60 yean and over Householder 65 years and over Householder 75 years and over Renter~c11pled units Householder 15 to 24 years Householder 25 to 34 years Householder 35 to 44 years Householder 45 to 54 yea~ Householder 55 to 64 years Householder 65 to 74 ye.an Householder 75 to 84 years Householder 85 years and over HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN Total households ""'ith children Family households Married-couple families Olhcr families Nonfamily households 884 865 673 192 19 38.0% 37.2% 29.0o/, 8.3% 0.8% HOUSEHOLDS \\1TH PERSO:-iS 65 YEARS AND OVER Total households with person(s) 65 years-;Family households Nonfamily households 408 261 147 17.6% 11.2% 6.3% 487 828 428 370 165 31 15 21.00/4 35.6% 18.4% 15.9'/4 7.1% 1.3% 0.6% ) 18 201 489 576 363 207 98 22 0.8% 8.6% 21.0% 24.8% 15.6% 8.9'/4 4.2% 0.9% 350 40 92 77 57 34 25 21 4 1.7% 4.0% 3.3% 2.5% 1.5% l.]% 0.9% 0.2°,, GROUP QUARTERS POPULATION lnsntutionalizcd population Correctional institutions N~~Homes Other institutions Noninstinuionalized population College dormitories Military quarters Other group quarten HOUSEHOLD BY SIZE I-person household 2--person household 3-pcrson household 4-pcrson household S•pcrson household ~person household 7-or~morc person household 1,974 WSU/Cenier for Urban Studie~'IMJMJC 1,116 I.I 12 0 4 0 0 0 0 100.00/4 99.6% 0.0% 0.4% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% o.o,, Source: 2000 Census The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 A-3 �UNITED ST ATES DEPARTMENT OF CO MM ERCE Economics and Stat ist ics Adm in istration U .S. Census Bu reau Washington :JC 2C233-00C 1 OFFICE OF 7HE DIREC-OR \1arch 11, 2002 FRO:.f THE ACTING DIRECTOR C.S CEXSUS BUREAU This is an official statement of the reYised Census 2000 population and housing unit coums for Chocolay township, Marquene County, :'vfichigan, including corrections made through March 4, 2002. According to the official returns of the TWENTY-SECO>.'D DECE°N">.'IAL CE:'iSuS OF THE L">-"1TED STATES, on file in the l.".S. Census Bureau, the counts as of April 1. 2000, for Chocolay township, :-.1arquette County, Michigan, are: Population . . ........ . . . ... . .. 6,095 Housing Units ......... . ....... 2,643 Sincerely, William G. Barron, Jr. This sta:ement is being sent to the highest elected official of this goYemmental unit, the Secretary of S:ate, and other state officials. Census counts used for Congressional apportionment and legislative redistricting and the Census :woo data products will remain unchanged. The Census Bureau will include the corrections in the errata information to be made available via the Lrnemet on ihe American Fac1Finder system and used specifically to modify the decennial census file for use in yearly postcensal estimates beginning in December 2002. De;ails regarding the Census Bureau ·s calculation of these figures are attached. lfyou require addi:ional information, please call the Census Bureau's Count Question Resolution program staff. toll-free, on I (866) 546-0527. USCENSUSBUREAU www.census.g::::,•; John f:\winword\chocolay\final\Append ix A final.doc The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 A-4 �Appendix 8 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 B-1 �APPENDIX B Summary of Major Soil Series in Chocolay Township Au Gres (AuA): Somewhat poorly drained soils developed in sixty inches or more of sand . Occurs in outwash and till plains. Water table fluctuates between two and ten feet. Alluvial (Ad): This is a soil that occurs along streams. It is subject to flooding by stream overflow. Drainage is variable. The water table fluctuates with the level of the stream. Textures are variable in short distances, but the sandiest material is usually closest to the stream. Water movement through the soil is variable. Bohemian (BhB): Well to moderately well-drained soils with loamy surface layer over loam to light silty clay loam, which in turn is underlain with calcareous, stratified silts and very fine sands. Occurs in lake plains. Thickness and texture of layers variable. Brimley (BrA): Somewhat poorly drained soils with loamy surface very fine layer over loamy material. Calcareous, stratified sandy loamsilts and very fine sands at a depth ranging from 24 to 42 inches. Nearly level lake plains. Water table fluctuates between two and ten feet. Texture and thickness of layers variable. Burt (Bu): Poorly drained soils with less than 20 inches of mucky sand sandy loam sand over sandstone bedrock. Numerous sandstone fragments and slabs on surface and in profile. Water table at or near the surface unless drained. Subject to ponding. Burt (BwA): This is a somewhat poorly drained sandy soil loamy sand underlain by sandstone bedrock at 10 to 20 inches. It has a seasonally high water table which fluctuates between about six inches to below the bedrock. Water movement through the soil is rapid in the soil material. Natural fertility is low. Carbondale (Ck): Very poorly drained soils with more than 42 inches of muck and peat. Derived from coniferous woody plants mixed with fibrous materials. Nearly level and depressional areas subject to water ponding. Water table at or near surface unless drained. Chippeny (Cm): Very poorly drained soils with 12 to 15 inches of muck or peat over limestone bedrock. Organic material derived from wood material mixed with fibrous material. Subject to ponding. Water table at or near surface unless drained. Thin mineral layer is common between organic material and bedrock. Crosswell (CrA): Moderately well-drained soils with sandy surface sand layer over acid sands to 60 inches or more. Found in low dunes, outwash and lake plains. Drouthy and subject to wind erosion. Water table commonly below five feet, but can be within three feet of surface in wet periods. Dawson (Da): Very poorly drained soils with 12 to 42 inches of muck extremely to strongly acid muck and peat over sands. Level and depressional areas subject to water ponding. Water table at or near surface unless drained. Deer Park (DkB): Well-drained soils with sandy surface layer over acid sandsands to 60 inches or more. Found in low dunes, outwash, and lake plains. Drouthy and subject to wind erosion. The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 B-2 �Deerton (DmB): Well or moderately well-drained sand or loamy sand sand soils 20 to 40 inches deep over acid sandstone bedrock of 20 to 40 inches. Occurs in till plains and bedrock benches. Deerton (DoA): This is a somewhat poorly drained sandy soil sand wet underlain by sandstone bedrock of 20 to 40 inches. It variant has a seasonally high water table which fluctuates between about one foot to below the sandstone. Water movement through the soil is moderately rapid to rapid in the soil materials. Deerton (DsB) This is a well-drained sandy soil underlain by sand shale-sandstone bedrock at 10 to 20 inches. Water movement low variant through the soil is moderately rapid to rapid . Deford (Dt): Poorly drained to very poorly drained soils with loamy fine loamy fine sand surface soil over stratified fine sand, very fine sand and loamy fine sand . Thickness and texture of layers vary greatly. Nearly level and depressional areas of outwash and lake plains. Water table at or near surface unless drained. Dune land (Du): This miscellaneous land type consists of long narrow strips of sand dunes which occur along the shore lines of Lake Superior. The areas of dune land comprise partly stabilized dunes which lie immediately inland from the lake beach. The dunes have slopes that range from 8 - 40%. Soil profiles developed in these areas are virtually absent. Vegetation is sparse and consists of beach grass, yew, and scattered jack pines. Gay muck (Ga): Poorly and very poorly drained soils with loamy sandy loam surface layers over sandy loam or light sandy clay loam. Acid sandy loam at a depth ranging from 33 to 48 inches. Depressional areas on till plains and moraines. Water at or near surface unless drained. Subject to water ponding. Greenwood (Gw): Very poorly drained soils with more than 42 inches of peat strongly acid muck and peat. Derived from mosses and sedges in leatherleaf bogs. Nearly level and depressional areas subject to water ponding. Water table at or near surface unless drained. Ingalls (lnA): Somewhat poorly drained soils with 18 to 42 inches of sand, loamy sand or sand over calcareous stratified silts and very fine sands. Occurs in lake plains. Water table fluctuates between two and ten feet. Kalkaska (KaB): Well-drained soils with sandy surface layer over acid sands to 60 inches or more. Found in low dunes, outwash and lake plains. Weakly cemented at 10 to 24 inches in some area. Drouthy and subject to wind erosion . Kawbawgam (KbA): Somewhat poorly drained soils with 20 to 40 inches of sandy loamsandy loam over sandstone bedrock. Sandstone fragments on the surface and throughout the profile in some areas. Keweenaw (KmA): Well-drained or moderately well-drained soils having loamy, sandy loamy, sand surface layer over loamy sand with a thin sandy loam layer and a very weak to moderate fragipan . Acid loamy sand at about 30 inches. Occurs in till plains and The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 B-3 �moraines. Strata of sand or sandy loam below 24 inches in some area. Keweenaw (KmA): This is a somewhat poorly drained predominantly sandy loamy sand soil. It has a seasonally high water table which wet variant fluctuates between about one and six feet. Water movement through the soil is moderately rapid . Keweenaw (Kp ): This is a poorly drained predominantly sandy soil. It has a seasonally high water table which fluctuates poorly between the surface and about three feet. Water drained movement through the soil is moderately rapid. Kinross (Kr): Poorly to very poorly drained soils having a sandy mucky sand surface layer over very strongly to strongly acid sands. Depressions and nearly level areas of outwash and lake plains. Water table at or near surface unless drained. Subject to water ponding. Munising (MuB): Well-drained to moderately well-drained soils with sandy loam, loamy surface layer over sandy clay to sandy loam. Acid sandy loam glacial till at a depth ranging from 30 to about 50 inches. Occurs in till plains and moraines. Stony in some areas. Moderate to strong fragipan at about 18 inches. Ocqueoc (OcB): Well-drained and moderately well-drained soils with fine sand18 to 42 inches of sand or loamy sand , over calcareous stratified silts and very fine sands. Occurs in lake plains. Onota sand (OnB): Well-drained and moderately well-drained soils having loam20 to 40 inches of sandy loam glacial material over sandstone bedrock. Numerous sandstone fragments and slabs on surface and throughout profile in some areas. Onota sandy (Op): This is a poorly drained loamy soil underlain by loam poorly sandstone bedrock at 20 to 40 inches. It has a drained seasonally high water table which fluctuates from the variant surface to about three feet. Water movement through the soil is moderate. Rousseau (RoB): Well-drained soils with fine sandy surface layer over fine sand. Acid stratified fine and very fine sands to 60 inches or more. Found in low dunes, outwash and lake plains. Drouthy and subject to wind erosion . Rubicon (RuB): Well-drained soils with sandy surface layer over acid sand. Sands to 60 inches or more. Found in low dunes, outwash and lake plains. Drouthy and subject to wind erosion . Seney sand (SeB): This is a well-drained sandy soil. Water movement through the soil is rapid . Skanee (SkA): Somewhat poorly drained soils with loamy surface sandy loam layer over sandy loam or sandy clay loam. Acid sandy loam glacial till at a depth ranging from 24 to about 36 inches. Occurs in till plains an moraines. Water table fluctuates between two and ten feet. Weak to moderate fragipan, 5 to 18 inches thick, at about 24 inches. Tawas muck (Ts): Very poorly drained soils with 12 to 42 inches of muck and peat over sands. Organic material derived from coniferous woody plants mixed with fibrous The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 B-4 �material. Level and depressional areas subject to water ponding. Water table at or near surface unless drained. Wainola (WaA): Somewhat poorly drained soils with loamy fine sand fine sand surface soil over stratified fine sand, very fine sand and loamy fine sand. Thickness and texture of layers varies greatly. Nearly level areas of outwash and lake plains. Water table fluctuates between one and ten feet. Yalmer (Ya): This is a well-drained sandy soil underlain by loamy material at 20 inches to 40 inches. It has a hardpan (fragipan) in the upper 4 to 16 inches of the loamy material. Water movement through the soil is rapid in the sandy layers, moderately slow in the pan and moderate below the pan. Yalmer (YaB): This is a poorly drained sandy soil underlain by loamy sand . Loamy material at 20 to 40 inches. It has a seasonally high loamy sand water table which fluctuates between the surface and about three feet. Water movement through the soil is rapid in the sandy layers and moderate in the loamy layers. Yalmer (YsA): This is a somewhat poorly drained sandy soil wet underlain by loamy material at 20 to 40 inches. It has a seasonally high water table which fluctuates between one and five feet. It has a hardpan (fragipan) in the upper 4 to 12 inches of the loamy material. Water movement through the soil is rapid in the sandy layers, moderately slow in the pan and moderate in the remainder of the soil. John f:\winword\chocolay\fi nal\Appendix A final.doc The Charter Townsh ip of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 B-5 �Appendix C The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 C-1 �CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP TRANSPORTATION PLANNING Criteria and the Plan The transportation goals, policies and objectives expressed in the Comprehensive Plan should provide the basis for developing a set of criteria to prioritize future road improvement projects. Of course, the actual criteria design will necessitate considerable amplification of the goals, policies, and objectives to obtain enough detail for point assignment. This process relies heavily upon the judgment of the Planning Commission and their understanding of the Comprehensive Plan. The actual criteria to be used for this sample Capital Improvements Program grew out of policies and objectives of Chocolay Township as contained in the plan. One of the plan's transportation goals is "to coordinate the improvement of the transportation network with the overall development of the Township." This recognizes the close relationship between road improvement and increased development and the need to use road improvement expenditures to influence development patterns. The plan further states that new development should primarily "occur in areas where it can conveniently be served by local services, such as the sewer system, schools, school bus, recreation facilities, etc." It was felt that the utilization of zoning district boundaries would adequately represent future growth areas and areas where better roads should be encouraged (refer to zoning map). Points were allocated according to which district a project fell into. That is, a proposed road improvement in a R-1 zoning district would receive more points than one in a Rural Residential zoning district, since it would occur in a more developed, service-accessible district. The result of this criterion will be more road investment in areas where growth is encouraged. One transportation policy of the plan states that, "all road construction, whether public or private, should meet minimum design standards." This is done to ensure that roads are able to accommodate traffic quickly and safely. Standards for each road upon which a project was proposed were established from the Road Design Manual of the County Road Association of Michigan. A proposed project was given four points if it brought a road into compliance with surface design standards, or two points for other design standards. The effect of this criterion will be to eventually bring all roads up to a specified standard, a design standard which varies by type of road. Because these standards are assigned to make road design and construction reflect road use, the end result will be wise expenditure of public road investment dollars. The final criterion stems from the plan objective, "to annually review road conditions throughout the Township and recommend a priority for road improvements." Under the system developed, a project receives points in an inverse relationship to the condition of the road for which it is proposed. For example, a road judged to be in good condition will receive zero points, since any improvements needed certainly are not urgent. A project on a road in fair condition will receive two points, and one on a road in poor condition, since repairs are so vitally needed, will get four points. Procedure The procedure for establishing eligibility for consideration of ranking for road projects shall require an annual review of all existing public roads in the Township by the Supervisor of the Department of Public Works, Police Chief, and the Zoning The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 C-2 �Administrator. A listing of roads and associated problems and/or improvements needed shall then be forwarded to the Marquette county road Commission. The Road Commission will then review the list and break projects into major and minor categories. Major improvements shall be those so designated as to require a 50/50 local match for the improvements. Minor improvements are those which are maintenance projects which are part of normal maintenance conducted by the Road Commission. A project shall be listed as a maintenance project unless resurfacing or reconstruction is requested. This list is then analyzed and forwarded to the Township Planning Commission to rank the major projects into the point allocation system. This list is then forwarded to the Township Board to be used in formulating budget priorities. Goals, Policies and Objectives Goals To provide for the efficient movement of people and goods with a balanced transportation network, accommodating travel patterns safely and efficiently at minimal environmental and fiscal cost and with a maximum conservation of resources. Sub-Goals 1. 2. 3. Maximization of energy conservation. Utilization of transportation facilities and planning to implement and guide land use planning. Avoid proliferation of curbcuts and driveway intersections, especially along M28 and U.S. 41, which are statewide arterials. Policies 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. All road construction, whether public or private, should meet specified minimum design standards. For roads located in the RP and OS zoning districts, the minimum design standards shall not include paving with a bituminous material. Encourage the use of alternative forms of transportation such as bicycles. Encourage participation in regional, state and county transportation planning. Encourage improvement of transportation safety and convenience and maximize the mobility of road systems within the Township consistent with other portions of the plan. Minimize traffic conflicts between abutting land uses and the principal roadway along statewide arterials and principal collectors by means of land use controls, such as zoning and roadway access point geometrics. Discourage continuing ownership and maintenance f portions of county roads serving areas not suitable for development. Encourage use of public transit, van or car pooling. Objectives Continually revise and strengthen the Township's Zoning Ordinance, subdivision regulations, and other land use controls to reflect the Township's transportation needs The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 C-3 �and design standards. In cooperation with the Marquette County Road Commission and the State, adopt and implement an annual Capital Improvements Program for road improvements. Annually review road conditions throughout the Township and recommend a priority for road improvements. Identify and classify roadways within the Township and suggested by the Department of State Highways. Periodically review the potential for providing public transportation services in the Township. road located within an R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, C-1, C- Points *4 road located in an RR-1 zoning district road located in an RR-2 zoning district. road located in an RP or an OS zoning district. *3 *2 *1 Location 1. 2, 2. 3. 4. Project occurs on a C-3 zoning district. Project occurs on a Project occurs on a Project occurs on a *If project occurs on a road which is determined to serve as a collector/distributor, an additional two points shall be given. If project occurs on a secondary residential street, an additional point shall be given. If project occurs on a dead end road, no additional points shall be given. Road Conditions Points 1. Project occurs on a road in good condition (can be traveled year round 80-100% of length at design speed). 2. Project occurs on a road in fair condition (can be traveled year round, 50-80% of length at design speed. 3. Project occurs on a road in poor condition (cannot be traveled year round and/or only 0-50% can be traveled at design speed). 0 2 4 Design Standards Points 1. Project brings a road into compliance with standards in terms of surface design. 2. Project brings road into compliance in terms of resurfacing design 3. Project brings a road into compliance with other design standards. 4 Density 3 2 Points 1. Project occurs per mile. 2. Project occurs per mile. 3. Project occurs per mile .. 4 . Project occurs per mile. 5. Project occurs on a road located with a density of 25 or more houses 4 on a road located with a density of 20 or more houses 3 on a road located with a density of 10 or more houses 2 on a road located with a density of less than 10 houses 1 on a road located with a less than 5 houses per mile. 0 The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 C-4 �Administrative Considerations A Capital Improvements Program requires a significant commitment by the Planning Commission in terms of time and effort. Annually, the Planning Commission should review and update policies within the Comprehensive Plan, as needed. If policies are changed, then criteria (outgrowth of policies) must also be altered to properly reflect those changes. Of course, the Planning Commission cannot hope to do all of this by itself. Strong staff support is needed, along with the assistance of various outside professionals. For example, very detailed information will be needed from the Road Commission or township supervisor in order to evaluate road condition criteria. Lastly, it can be mentioned that a Capital Improvements Program for the area of transportation is relatively more difficult than for recreation, for example. This is due to the fact that many of the proposed projects are very similar, and require very technical criteria . John f:\winword\chocolay\final\Appendix C final.doc The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan - 2005 C-5 �Resolution of Adoption of Chocolay Township Comprehensive Plan Whereas the Chocolay Township Planning Commission has supervised an update to the Chocolay Township Comprehensive Plan to replace the Plan adopted on _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ; and [insert date of adoption of prior plan] Whereas the public provided input to development of the Plan via Town Meetings on ___ and _ _ _ ; and [insert dates of town meetings] Whereas the Chocolay Township Planning Commission has reviewed the draft Plan and provided comments for its refinement which have been incorporated into the Plan; and Whereas the Chocolay Township Planning Commission has duly reviewed the joint plan and accepts it as a basic plan for the development of the Township pursuant to the authority of Act 168 of 1959 (known as the Township Planning Act); and Whereas the Chocolay Township Planning Commission has conducted a duly advertised joint public hearing on August 4, 2005 to receive public comment on this plan; and Whereas a set of Plan amendments were presented at the hearing as a result of public comment, planning commission and governing body review over the last four months; [delete this whereas if there are none] Now therefore be it resolved that the Chocolay Township Planning Commission does hereby adopt on the date listed below the Chocolay Township Comprehensive Plan along with the amendments attached to the th minutes of the August 4 public hearing and does direct the Chairperson of the Township Planning Commission to deliver a copy of the adopted Plan to the Township Board and following their adoption, to the County Planning Commission along with this Resolution as certification of the adoption of the Plan; [delete reference to amendments if there are none] Be it also resolved that this Resolution be published inside the back cover of each copy of the Chocolay Township Comprehensive Plan to certify that all maps, charts and descriptive and explanatory matter therein are a part of the Plan as so signified by the signature of the Chairperson of the Chocolay Township Planning Commission on this Resolution. Roll Call Vote: �Date: Signature of Chairperson Chocolay Township Planning Commission MW:E;\word\chocolay\Twp Plan Resoultion .doc � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wyckoff Planning and Zoning Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Planning & Zoning Center (Lansing, Mich.) (Organization) Wyckoff, Mark A. Description An account of the resource Municipal master plans and zoning ordinances from across the state of Michigan, spanning from the 1960s to the early 2020s. The bulk of the collection was compiled by urban planner Mark Wyckoff over the course of his career as the founder and principal planner of the Planning and Zoning Center in Lansing, Michigan. Some additions have been made to the collection by municipalities since it was transferred to Grand Valley State University. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1960/2023 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Comprehensive plan publications Master plan reports Zoning--Michigan Zoning--Maps Maps Land use--planning Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-240 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Chocolay-Charter-Twp_Comprehensive-Plan_2005 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Chocolay Township Planning Commission, Chocolay Township, Marquette County, Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2005 Title A name given to the resource The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan Description An account of the resource The Charter Township of Chocolay Comprehensive Plan was prepared by the Planning & Zoning Center, Inc. under the direction of the Chocolay Township Planning Commission in 2005. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Planning & Zoning Center, Inc. (consultant) Subject The topic of the resource Comprehensive plan publications Chocolay Township (Mich.) Marquette County (Mich.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/6d448ce0bc0e7b798577f99af1efe39a.jpg 4ccc5f04b4489e54dd585ce5cb538c5a https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/627e0d3e21c7cdd2766c963ed25a8b88.jpg 8ed91fa8aaad8a768a2d37a0548005ac Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Adriana B. and Peter N. Termaat collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Termaat, Adriana B. (Schuurman) Termaat, Peter N. Description An account of the resource Collection contains genealogical, personal, and family papers and photographs documenting the lives and interests of Adriana and Peter Termaat. The bulk of the materials are related to family history and genealogical research carried out by the Termaats, including research notes and materials about places in the Netherlands that were significant to the Termaat and Schuurman families, such as the city of Alkmaar. Other materials in the collection are related to the Termaats' experiences on the eve of and during the Second World War, especially the German occupation of the Netherlands and the Termaats' participation in organized resistance to the Nazis. Also included are materials that document the family's post-war life in the United States, including their public efforts to recognize, commemorate, and honor people and events significant to World War II. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1869 - 2012 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/719">Adriana B. and Peter N. Termaat collection, RHC-144</a> Subject The topic of the resource Netherlands Netherlands--History--German occupation, 1940-1945 World War, 1939-1945 World War, 1939-1945 -- Underground movements -- Netherlands Dutch Dutch Americans Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-144 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Text Image Type The nature or genre of the resource application/pdf image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng nl Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-144_Termaat_PHOT_1908-Neetltje-Termaat-recto-img760 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Chrispijn, J. (photographer) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1908 Title A name given to the resource Neeltje Termaat (1886-1975) with two unidentified women, circa 1908 Description An account of the resource Portrait of Neetlje Termaat (1886-1975) with two unidentified women, by J. Chrispijn. Neeltje was the unmarried daughter of Aris Termaat (b. 1832) and Neeltje De Jong (b. 1847). Subject The topic of the resource Dutch Group portraits Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/719">Adriana B. and Peter N. Termaat collection (RHC-144)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NKC/1.0/">No Known Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/01d14694ff786c699b2c046cb44ab322.mp4 b46dfaa53d1a67f4202d1d4d2f5b7526 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/baf1f1f80b5d52425024ae74deaad8cf.pdf b47c911c1a9375155342192d8cec3274 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans’ History Project Hoyt Christensen World War II 42 minutes 14 seconds (00:00:10) Early Life -Born on May 14, 1926 just south of Greenville, Michigan in Montcalm County -Father was a farmer -Mother worked in a silk mill in Belding, Michigan -Father continued to farm during the Great Depression -Mother quit her job to raise the children -Father grew corn, wheat, hay, and oats as his crops -Finished the seventh grade -After completing the seventh grade got a job working on a nearby farm -Went to work at a dairy farm and managed it when he was fifteen years old (00:02:21) Start of the War -Had the radio on when he and the rest of the family heard the news about Pearl Harbor -The start of the war didn’t affect the community immediately -Knew of some neighbors that enlisted in the military shortly after the war began -Hadn’t followed the war in Europe prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor -Thought that the war would be over before he would be old enough to have to fight in it (00:03:19) Getting Drafted and Basic Training -Went to the draft board in May 1944 just days before his eighteenth birthday -Reported to Detroit for his Army physical in August 1944 -Started basic training in November 1944 -Reported to Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas for basic training -Got there by way of troop train -Very slow train ride -Would stop in towns to get food -Camp was located close to Little Rock, Arkansas -Basic training was relatively tough -Training lasted about six weeks -He did better in basic training than some of the men that came from cities did -He had more experience with grueling physical labor due to working on a farm -Discipline and following orders were the main emphasis during basic training -Didn’t have a hard time adjusting to that -Training also consisted of physical training and firearms training -Some of the older men didn’t handle physical training well -Didn’t do well with marksmanship training -Didn’t want to do well with rifle training so that he wouldn’t have to be an infantryman -Army still gave him the designation of being an expert marksman (00:07:28) Deployment to the Pacific Theatre -Sent to Fort Ord, California to wait for deployment -Only spent a week there at the most �-Left California on a troop ship on Friday April 13, 1945 -Voyage took thirty seven days -Travelled with a convoy onboard a Liberty Ship -Didn’t run into any storms during the voyage -A lot of men got seasick -He never got seasick, just lost his appetite for a few days (00:09:23) New Guinea -Landed at Maffin Bay, New Guinea and was sent to the replacement depot there -Got assigned to the 31st Infantry Division -From there went to the islands of Halmahera and Morotai -Encountered limited fighting on those islands -Followed the older more experienced soldiers -Physical conditions on the islands were not good -Had to use local water sources -Usually didn’t have water purification or anti-malaria tablets -Japanese resistance wasn’t too heavy on those islands -His unit’s goal was to mop up the remaining Japanese soldiers that were there (00:12:51) Mindanao, Philippines -After New Guinea they were sent to aid in the liberation of the Philippines -Made an amphibious landing at Davao on Mindanao -Didn’t encounter much resistance on the beach -Japanese had been pushed inland -Worked their way up the length of the Mindanao River searching for the Japanese -Experienced mountainous and swampy terrain -Doesn’t ever recall seeing snakes while on Mindanao -Theorizes that that may have been due to the fighting on the islands -Saw a lot of the native Filipinos while on Mindanao -Lived in bamboos huts -Lived off the land and whatever they could steal or scavenge from the U.S. troops -Employed the natives to be used to carry materials -Got stationed at the Del Monte Pineapple Plantation -Stayed there until the end of the war -While stationed there contracted malaria and dengue fever -Ran a high fever and had terrible joint pains -Basically had to wait for it to pass -Both diseases lasted about two weeks (00:18:15) Encounters with the Japanese Pt. 1 -Some of the Japanese were well defended in built up fortifications on Mindanao -Some of the Japanese were hidden and dug in in the swamp -Japanese snipers used the trees to their advantage and hid out in them -Encountered a few banzai attacks at night -Basically the Japanese would fix bayonets and charge the American position -Usually knew they were coming, but got surprised by one, one night -Used his helmet to cover and suppress the blast of a concussion grenade -Uninjured except for a sore butt from sitting on the helmet during detonation -Only ever took one Japanese prisoner on Mindanao during the course of encountering them �-Had to go up into the mountains when the war ended to tell the Japanese they lost -Only one Japanese soldier believed them and surrendered -The rest were abandoned or attempted to be burned out with flamethrowers -Never encountered a fully-fledged post-war Japanese insurgency (00:22:40) End of the War Pt. 1 -The 31st Infantry Division was sent home after the war ended -He was transferred to an ordinance unit -Made shop foreman on the automotive section of that unit on Mindanao -Had mechanical knowledge and was a sergeant which allowed him to have the position (00:23:47) Relationship with the Filipinos -Filipinos would take whatever they could carry -Didn’t steal from the shop though -Usually they would raid salvage areas for anything that might be of use to them (00:24:51) Downtime on the Philippines -Army supplied them with movies to watch while on Mindanao -Doesn’t ever recall the USO coming to entertain them -Soldiers would play cards and play baseball games -Beer was made available to them by the Army -Discipline was not an issue during the war -After the war soldiers would go into nearby towns and get drunk -Usually led to disciplinary issues that the Army had to resolve (00:26:46) Background of Other Soldiers -Served with men from a variety of different backgrounds in K Company -Large spread of ages (18-50 years old), regions, educational backgrounds -The 31st Infantry Division was a combination of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama National Guard -Led to him serving alongside a lot of rural southern men (00:27:39) Leyte, Philippines -After the war ended, in 1946 he was attached to an Army Engineers outfit on Leyte -Mission was to build roads and infrastructure for the Filipinos -Drove a fuel truck -Provided fuel for the machines that were being used for construction -More Americans were on Leyte than on Mindanao -American soldiers got into trouble with Filipino women pretty frequently -Stayed with the engineering unit for about two months (00:29:48) End of the War Pt. 2 -He left the Philippines on October 17, 1946 -Most Americans had already been withdrawn from the Philippines -There still was a Japanese presence on Leyte -A fair amount of survivors had surrendered to American forces -Japanese were kept in POW camps, but mostly allowed to keep to themselves -Once defeated the Japanese were civil, honest, and friendly to Americans -He trusted the Japanese POWs more than the local Filipinos (00:32:54) Encounters with the Japanese Pt. 2 -At a place called Coogan’s Woods K Company lost about forty percent of their troops -Happened during the surprise banzai attack -The other losses they incurred were from random, sporadic encounters �-Most of the combat encounters happened while they were on patrol in the field -Towards the end of the war the Japanese soldiers he ran into were either very old or very young (00:34:33) Coming Home -Got told one day to pack his bags and report to the airfield -Told that a plane was waiting to take him to Manila -Waited three days and no plane came for him -Returned to base and was told there was a ship waiting in Manila to take him home -Given the option to wait for a plane or take the ship -Decided to take the ship so he wouldn’t have to wait for a plane -Ultimately regretted that decision -Voyage home took seventeen days -En route they ran into a typhoon -Had to stay below decks for about three days -Landed in San Francisco and spent a night there -Took a troop train back to Chicago -Given ten days of leave -Reported back to Fort Sheridan and was discharged from the Army there (00:38:30) Life after the War -Got a job driving trucks -Couldn’t handle driving the long distances to Texas and Florida -Put in an application at the State Hospital -Got a job there and worked there for twenty eight years -Eventually got placed in charge of a ward in the Department of Mental Health -Was able to work his way up and eventually got to a position of authority (00:40:21) Reflections on Service -Had trouble with alcohol when he first got out of the Army -If he had to do it again he would still do it -Glad to be part of a family legacy of veterans -Believes that his military experience did prepare him for the rest of his adult life -No specifics but is sure that it played a part in teaching him how to function as an adult � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ChristensenH1599V Title A name given to the resource Christensen, Hoyt (Interview outline and video), 2014 Description An account of the resource Hoyt Christensen was born in 1926 in Greenville, Michigan. Prior to his service he left school after the seventh grade and worked on a farm and later at the age of fifteen managed a dairy farm until he was drafted at the age of eighteen in the summer of 1944. In November 1944 he attended basic training at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas. On April 13, 1945 he was sent to New Guinea and was assigned to the 31st Infantry Division. He aided with clearing out the remaining Japanese forces on the islands of Halmahera and Morotai. After that operation his unit was sent to aid in the liberation of the Philippines. His unit landed at Davao on the island of Mindanao where they encountered fierce Japanese resistance. He was stationed on Mindanao until the end of the war and afterwards he was reassigned to an ordinance unit and then on to the island of Leyte where he joined an engineering unit where he drove a fuel truck. On October 17, 1946 he was sent home and was discharged from the Army at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Christensen, Hoyt Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Veterans Video recordings World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource eng Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2014-06-10 Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/9624108968526b25d03d04bb485173d9.mp4 7c47b775020bd9adad34e675ecd684f7 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/29c161ef2361c50654dda1acecebcd86.pdf 7372a4d5d40f719686f2dc362656ae4b PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Iraq Sherman Christensen (1:21:52) Background information (00:14)             Born in Covington, Kentucky, on February 24, 1988. (00:15) Sherman was adopted. At age six he moved to Utah where he and his family stayed for 10 years. Finally they moved to Petoskey, Michigan. (00:20) His father worked teaching college level courses. (1:00) He attended high school in Petoskey he graduated in 2011. (1:09) On 9/11 he remembers being in the car and having the radio cut with a breaking news announcement. (1:55) He wanted to see what was happening. But his house did not have a television. (2:30) Sherman does not recall the invasion of Iraq as clearly as he does 9/11. (4:03) He was a big fan of history growing up and read many books about iconic early Americans. This inspired him to go into the military. (4:56) Sherman began talking to a Marine recruiter when he was a sophomore in high school. He originally wanted to be a pilot in the Air Force but was unable to because of his eyesight. (5:56) His parents were unsupportive of his choice to go into the military as they were hoping he would serve on a mission for his church. (7:24) His parents were generally unsupportive of his choice throughout the entirety of his military career. (8:28) Sherman signed up for the Marine Corp. reserve in February of 2006. He started training in the summer of that year. (9:21) Training (9:36)           Sherman was first placed in a program to ready the men for basic training. (9:38) Sherman was in this program for six months before being sent to boot camp. (10:22) He was then sent to California for his basic training. Sherman’s training was completed in a three months long stint with basic and advanced training included. (11:20) When he arrived in California, they had to wait at the airport for buses to pick the men up. (12:31) Once the men arrived in the base, the drill sergeants immediately began yelling at the trainees and placing them in platoons. (14:05) The Reserve tried to get the men ready for boot camp but it was inadequate.(15:09) The first week of boot camp involves a lot of paper work, medical checkups, and ends at a basic test. (16:21) When tested for his aptitude he qualified for many specialized jobs, but he wanted to be in the infantry. (18:15) By the end of boot camp men were able to understand how things work in the military but Sherman never entirely was used to it. (19:22) �     Sherman trained only along men. There were some men who were defiantly older as the common recruit which was just out of high school. These older men in their late 20s seemed psychologically stronger than the common recruit. (20:24) For most of the recruits, it seemed common for them to have a history of military service. (22:40) Sherman was able to adapt to boot camp and the military fairly well. (23:40) If a soldier was washed out, they will with be completely discharged or have to start training over again. (25:42) First phase of training is basic learning of physical skills like marching and emphasis on discipline. The second phases is when weapons training and long hikes occur. The third phases consisted of guard duties and the more complex workings of the military. (28:20) Advanced training (30:30)       After boot camp in January of 2007, Sherman was given 10 days on leave. (30:30) Sherman’s infantry training took place at Camp Pendleton and lasted two months. Here is where he got his basic MOS. (30:45) In the first week the men will cross train on various weapons. (31:33) Sherman served as a mortar man. This was still a simple weapon and worked much like it did in the Vietnam era. (33:46) It was odd being in Infantry training because the men were technically marines but also still in school. (35:21) There was a physical element of training that was used in order to teach the trainees particular lessons. They were not deliberately beat up. (37:29) Arrival and in Country Training (38:55)        Sherman was assigned to Bravo Company 124 and was attached to Weapons Company. (38:38) In August of 2007 Sherman was told his unit was headed overseas. They left for Iraq in September of 2007. (40:54) Before being sent into combat, Sherman’s unit had to go through a series of training exercises judged by another unit to see if they were ready for combat. (44:38) Sherman was given basic language for Iraq service. (46:10) When being sent to Ira the unit was flown to Germany then to Kuwait. (49:20) The only thing the men were issued where their personal weapons such as rifles but no ammunition. When they were issued ammunition they were issued one magazine. (49:56) The heavy weapons such as mortar systems, .50 cal machine guns and grenade launchers were exchanged between units. (53:20) In-Country Training (54:30)    For the first several weeks in country the replacement unit is taken out by another to be shown how to carry out patrols and intended tasks. (54:40) The men often encountered small villages while traveling in country. Though the areas were not dangerous, IEDs were very prevalent. (55:46) The Iraqi army and police were frequently in contact with American soldiers. (57:20) �    The 81mm mortar, the weapon that Sherman worked with, was not allowed to be used in country due to the amount of damage it was capable of causing. (59:31) Sherman was assigned on his first time out with an experienced unit he was made the driver of a humvee during a night assignment without any night vision equipment. (1:02:24) M-raps, armored trucks, were used but Sherman never had to drive one. (1:04:35) The purpose of a night mission was to established what the streets looked like at night and how they acted when they ran into U.S. solders. (1:05:17) Service in Iraq (1:06:00)       Most assignments were simply to patrol areas and check for IEDs and weapons caches. (1:06:03) One of the hardest parts about the war was that it was not uncommon to help someone out who would soon shoot at American soldiers or had been shooting at them. (1:07:00) Money was able to get a lot done in Iraq. Paying for information was easy. (1:07:57) Company commanders would occasionally come out to see how particular companies were running. (1:08:47) The unit did have a wanted al-Qaeda list. The men often captured these persons of interest. At times the unit joked that they were police men as much of their duties included policing and arrests. (1:09:27) Snipers did become a problem but not with Sherman’s company. (1:10:26) Life in Iraq (1:11:12)         Sherman was in Iraq for 11 months. (1:11:12) The Marines lived in wood “huts” with bunk beds and no air conditioning. (1:11:15) Lunch and dinner were provided. (1:12:01) Parts of Sherman’s unit worked at an Iraqi police station. (1:13:00) It was understood that marines, particularly those from the reserves, would not be overseas for more than seven months. (1:14:11) Sherman’s unit did have several casualties from IEDs. But for the most part his unit was very lucky and relatively untouched. (1:15:54) More often than not there was an internet station that was available and working for the soldiers. (1:16:45) TQ would have some forms of entertainment. Sherman’s base did not have any amenities. (1:16:52) Life after Iraq (1:17:21)     When the men returned they had accumulated a month of leave. When they returned back in country the men could either take the leave or the military would purchase this time off of them. (1:17:33) Sherman returned to the U.S. and Michigan in August of 2008. At this time he had three and a half years reaming on his service. To finish it he served one week a month and two weeks during the summer. (1:18:10)] He began his major in Psychology at Grand Valley State University. His goal is to go to Law School. (1:19:01) Sherman finds it easy to pick out veterans in his classes. (1:19:55) � He finds that the service had made him much more disciplined and a bit more critical of other individuals. (1:20:34) � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Christensen, Sherman (Interview outline and video), 2012 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Christensen, Sherman Description An account of the resource Sherman Christensen, born in Covington, Kentucky, in 1988, served in the U.S. Marines and Marine Reserve stating in February 2006 and served 11 months in Iraq in 2007-2008. He joined the Marines out of high school in February of 2006. He trained at San Diego and Camp Pendleton as a mortarman, and was assigned to Bravo Company 1st Battalion, 24th Marines. During his service in Iraq, Sherman mostly patrolled and looked for road side bombs and IEDs. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings United States. Marine Corps Iraq War, 2003-2011--Personal narratives, American Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012-09-27 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ChristensenS1443V Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e5719330e9f35af8eeabccf0b7806177.mp4 45664778e39e1d8517afcc6b5cfa253b https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/8d00ab3cdf45be5eb3ad3fee235781b4.pdf c3ec0785e45e0ca91b0bbdfd5560df39 PDF Text Text ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW DAVID CHRISTIAN Born: Muskegon, Michigan Resides: Grand Rapids, Michigan Interviewed by: James Smither PhD, GVSU Veterans History Project, Transcribed by: Joan Raymer, May 30, 2013 Interviewer: Mr. Christian, can you start with a little background on yourself, where and when were you born? I was born in 1946 in Muskegon, Michigan. My family lived in Muskegon Heights, Michigan and I grew up there. We moved when I was five years old, I guess, to the home that I grew up in, the only one that I remember. Interviewer: Was that still in Muskegon? Yes, that was in Muskegon Heights and I went through grade school, junior high and high school, and graduated in 1964. 1:09 Interviewer: What did your family do for a living? My father worked for Tyler Sales, which was Drewry‟s Beer. He was the warehouse manager, so I grew up helping him on Saturday‟s, wash the trucks, loading the trucks, doing that. My mother worked for Stanley Home Products for several years. My dad left that job and worked at Bennett Pumps in Muskegon Heights. They made the pumps for gas stations and he retired from there and they moved on to Florida. I graduated from high school in 1964 and Vietnam was just starting and there wasn‟t much in the papers about it, but a friend and I that graduated together, we decided that we were going to go into the Marine Corps together. 2:10 So, we went in and he couldn‟t get in. 1 �Interviewer: What was your motivation at that point, just a whim? What was attractive about the Marine Corps? No, I knew some guys that had been in the Marine Corps, only older of course, and the uniform, like everybody says, that uniform is a killer. So, I thought that was pretty impressive and I read a lot about the Marine Corps and the things that were going on and what they had done since 1776. I just said, “I‟m not messing around with any other branch of the service, I‟m going for the big guns”. Interviewer: And why go into the service rather than...? Did you have a prospect to go to college, or would you just have gone to work somewhere? I graduated with the general degree and I never had any college thoughts. 3:05 I figured I‟d just work and then I went and talked to the recruiter and decided, “This is where I want to go”, and so we joined. Interviewer: You said your friend didn’t get in. No, he didn‟t get in, but another friend of mine that I graduated with, he did get in, so we went in on the buddy system, and went to San Diego for our recruit training. We got out of San Diego and came home on leave. Interviewer: Now, let’s back up here a little bit. A lot of people nowadays aren’t familiar with what the Marine Corps basic training consisted of , so what kind of reception did you get when you got to San Diego? If you‟ve ever seen anything on TV that‟s it Interviewer: Can you explain that? You get off an airplane, or however you got to California, you get on a cattle car, or a bus and these drill instructors are in your face. 4:11 It‟s dead on, you sit straight, you don‟t 2 �talk, you look straight ahead, you don‟t scratch, you don‟t do anything. If you just turn your eyes, they‟re right there, they watch you and It‟s discipline, discipline, discipline the whole time. You get off the bus and they‟re yelling at you, there‟s five or six that some and swarm you. You get off the bus and they got footprints painted all over and you go jump on the footprints, drop all your stuff, and stand at attention, as best as we knew attention, and they will tell you, they‟ll adjust you until you get it the Marine Corps way. Then for the next ten days, I mean, it‟s nothing but yelling, the whole time they‟re yelling. Drill instructors do not talk, they yell. 5:03 Interviewer: Were you expecting that when you went? Yes, because I had seen some things on TV, my brother-in-law, at the time, was a Marine Corps recruiter in New York, so he kind of clued me in on what was going on. Interviewer: So, you knew these guys were not completely insane and there was a particular thing they were doing? In general, how well did you adjust to the marine way of doing things? I enjoyed it because I‟ve always been kind of—I like discipline, I like things in a certain order, and I liked the discipline, I got to it right away and it never bothered me, because I knew how to take an order. Interviewer: Aside from learning to take orders and so forth, what other kind of training were you getting there at that stage? A lot of physical, of course, you get up in the morning and triple S and you‟re out the door. 6:10 You stand in line and then you start calisthenics for a while and they start out fairly slow to get people adjusted to it, but then a lot of running, a lot of heavy lifting and things. It‟s all to break you down and then build you up mentally and physically. 3 �Interviewer: Were you in pretty good physical shape when you went in? Yeah, I was because I was on the gymnastics team, and the cross country team in high school, so I was in pretty good shape. Interviewer: That and throwing a few beer kegs around probably helped. Well, I did a lot of that too Interviewer: In general, what kinds of people were there along with you? People from every walk of life--we had people from New York, Chicago, California and, of course, they stood out because they were “sunshine boys”, and all glamour guys it seemed. 7:09 A lot from the Midwest, farmers, I mean people that were uneducated and people that had college already, it was amazing. Interviewer: Was there an ethnic mix to it? Were there blacks? Oh yeah, we had black, white, Mexican, I think there were a couple Japanese, it was just a mixture. Interviewer: Did most of them get through the training in one piece, or did people bounce out? Oh, we lost a few and I can‟t remember exactly how many we started out with, but we lost a few through—they couldn‟t take the physical part of it and they‟d fall out. Some of them couldn‟t take the mental part and they‟d fall out. 8:00 Some of them just absolutely didn‟t like it, so they‟d do anything they could to get out. Interviewer: Now, at this stage, was the Marine Corps in a position where they could still be a little bit pickier than they were going to be later? Oh yeah, the Marine Corps back then was an elite group. There were probably less than fifty thousand people in the Marine Corps, so they could be pretty selective at that time. 4 �Interviewer: So, how long is the basic training then? Thirteen weeks, everything in the Marine Corps seems to be thirteen weeks. Interviewer: Now, did you got to an advanced training before you got leave to go home, or did you go home just after the thirteen weeks? After boot camp we went to, it was called ITR, infantry training regiment, in Camp Pendleton, and then we left right from there and went home for a few days. Interviewer: How was the infantry training at Camp Pendleton different from boot camp? 9:01 It‟s a lot more physical, you‟re carrying packs because they‟re getting you set to carry things, plus the rifle, taking instant orders, and acting instantly in bad situations, where somebody‟s shooting at you. Interviewer: At this stage in your career were you still just basically a foot soldier or were you going to get training for more specialized duties? I knew that I had signed up for air wing, which was working on either fixed wing or helicopters, and I knew that schooling was coming, so after ITR, the infantry training, we knew we were going to a different school. Interviewer: But in the meantime, you were getting the same infantry training as everybody else. Oh yes, yes, all marines are riflemen, it doesn‟t matter, clerk, cook, it doesn‟t matter, you‟re all riflemen. 10:04 Interviewer: What kinds of weapons were you training on at that point? 5 �The M-14, at that time, is what we had. We started out carrying the M-1 carbine, but we never did shoot that, you just carry it, but then they switched over, afterwards, to the M14 and we got later into the 45. Interviewer: Did you work with machine guns or mortars or things like that too? We got to shoot each one of those. They just—they give you the basics, if you were, especially the ground troops, if they were going on to infantry, they would give them more training, either on mortars, machine guns, or BAR, whatever they had. Interviewer: The people who were doing the training, were they combat veterans mostly, or just people who had been in the corps in peacetime, or do you not know? 11:00 I really didn‟t know, now there were some that-- the little older guys, who had Korea. Most of them were younger and probably hadn‟t seen any combat because there really wasn‟t anything going on then. Interviewer: Right, we hadn’t been engaged in Vietnam yet, so they’re not coming back from that yet, at this point. There were some that were from Vietnam because Vietnam, we had troops there since like. 1955. Interviewer: Yes, there were some that had been advisors. There were some that had been there, but not in a combat situation. Interviewer: So, was the combat training still geared for fairly conventional warfare at that point? Yes it was, the same thing that, probably, every service went through, it was all the same. 6 �Interviewer: Not geared specifically toward Vietnam or jungle fighting, or that kind of thing yet? No Interviewer: Later on it would be, but not at that stage. So, you go through the infantry training, and what was it like to go back home again after several months in the Corps? 12:04 I walked a little straighter, I walked a little prouder, I probably thought I was a little tougher than what I really was. That was interesting, to see some of my friends that I had competed against in high school. Here I come home in a uniform and Marine Corps, that was—they were impressed. Interviewer: It was still early enough for that response—you could still come home in uniform and it was not a big deal. Then you go—where do you go for your next round of training? After my leave I went back to California, Camp Pendleton, for ITR. We got out of there and I went to Millington, Tennessee, Memphis, for they call it mechfund, mechanical fundamentals, on the jets. 13:04 Interviewer: How long of a training course was that? I really can‟t remember that, but it was probably, at least, three months, because we went through how the aircraft is built and the structures and everything, and there was quite a bit on that, and some hydraulics, some electronics, seeing as how I was an aviation structural mechanic, we got more into the metal facets of it. Interviewer: What was the daily routine like there as opposed to what it had been in the infantry training or something else? 7 �There wasn‟t a whole lot of PT. You might get out and do a half an hour of calisthenics or something, but then it was mainly just a school situation. 14:07 Interviewer: Did you get much hands on work? Oh yeah, after the first couple of weeks then it was your--of course not right on a jet, because that was what I was going into was fixed wing. We‟d have parts to look at. Interviewer: Was the group that you were with a little bit different from the one that you’d been with in the earlier stages of training? Did they have more education or practical experience? Most of them had higher education or at least finished high school. Some of them had some basic metal training. It was just a bunch of nineteen year old kids trying to do something. Interviewer: Once you finished that, what’s the next step for you? 15:00 After that, after the school, then we got to go home on leave again, and then we were assigned a base where we were going to go and learn what was going on all levels of fixed wing aircraft, and like a group situation with hundreds of guys working and doing different jobs. Interviewer: Okay, so where did you get sent then? After Tennessee what’s the next stop/ After Tennessee, I‟ve been trying to think of that and I‟ll tell you it is—my mind—I can‟t remember a lot of the things that went on. I can‟t remember where I went. Interviewer: Was it a long stay or just a couple of months? 16:02 It was fairly short because September, August—September of 1965 I was in California and at El Toro and we got on a ship at Long Beach and went to Vietnam. 8 �Interviewer: What was the ride on the ship like? It was like nothing I had ever seen before in my life. I‟d watch the thing—my father was in WWII and he was in the 8th Army air wing, or Air Corps, and when they came home they came home with their planes and that and it was the first time I had ever seen a ship that big with that many people on it. 17:04 Twenty guys in a room like my bedroom, and you had beds that were this far apart stacked floor to ceiling and bulkhead to bulkhead. It was just—close quarters, very hot, and just chaos to me. Interviewer: Did people get sea sick on top of that? Oh yeah, fortunately I grew up in a fishing family, so that never bothered me and I‟ve been, growing up in Muskegon, I‟ve been on Lake Michigan, and Muskegon Lake, so storms, that never bothered me, but I watched a lot of guys over the rail. Interviewer: About how long did that trip take? Thirty days, we were on the USS Princeton, an LPH-5, which was carrying helicopters and jets. 18:07 I can‟t remember how long the ship is, but you could run around it in about three minutes and we did a lot of that. We ran into a big storm out in the middle of the ocean and it was—we were going up and down sixty feet, and I mean, it was a lot and a lot of people getting sick. Interviewer: Did you stop off anyplace on the way? We stopped in Hawaii, we got in there early in the morning, I can remember coming around, I think that‟s Diamond Head, coming into port in Hawaii and I thought, “This is nice, we‟re going to get some leave in Hawaii, all right”, and they wouldn‟t let us off the base, so we did get to go off the ship and walk around on the docks while they refueled and took on more food. 19:08 We were standing there watching them load the ships 9 �and they were loading on live ammunition, and everybody was saying, “What‟s this for?” They told us that we were going on an exercise and when they started taking on live ammo everybody‟s thinking, “What, what is this?” Of course there are some guys that were smarter than others and they kind of figured that we were going to Vietnam, but they didn‟t tell us that until two days out of Hawaii, and then they told us we were going to Vietnam. Interviewer: Was Vietnam the next stop, or did you stop somewhere else? Vietnam was the next stop. Interviewer: Where did you land? We landed just off of Chu Lai, and we went off the shop in helicopters—bail out of the helicopter and set up what they call a hasty perimeter for defense, because we were all thinking we were going to be getting shot at and all this, you know, nineteen year old kids. 20:07 We jumped off and everybody‟s aiming their rifles and all this. We looked up and here‟s a Seabee sitting on his bulldozer just laughing at us. He‟s out there with no shirt just enjoying the sun and watching these dumb marines coming off the helicopters and thinking they‟re going to be getting into a battle. Interviewer: So there were some people there before you were? Oh yes, we were one of the first air units to go in, probably the first big influx of marines to go into Vietnam. Interviewer: What did you do once you got there? Once we got there, the first thing they did was, once we got everybody off the ship and all our gear and everything, the first thing is you‟ve got to set up a perimeter for guard duty. 21:09 Of course, that‟s the first thing I got, was being on guard duty, because they 10 �didn‟t have anything built yet to start working on aircraft and we only had a few aircraft at that time. We just got in our fire teams, which is four guys. It‟s usually a lance corporal, corporal and then three lesser people to run a fire team, and they‟d set us on a bunker line. We had to build our own bunkers, but fortunately we ran into a Seabee and kind of made friends with this guy and gave him some cigarettes, or something, and he took his big bulldozer and dug us out a hole right on this ridge. 22:00 I mean it was beautiful; we had the best bunker in the whole unit. Interviewer: What kind of building materials were you working with? Was it sandbags or metal sheeting? A lot of sandbags, and we‟d go out and cut down palm trees and use them and just steal what you can. We went in and we got some—it the night we‟d go in and commandeer some martial matting. We‟d put it over the hole and then four or five layers of sandbags. Whatever you could get, that‟s what you‟d use. Guys dug it by hand and used rocks or anything else they could get. Interviewer: Now, did you have things like barbed wire and mines and stuff like that as well? There was that, but we didn‟t get into that because that was more of a specialty and there were guys that were trained in how to use that. They call it concertina wire and it comes in big rolls, but all it is, is barbed wire. 23:02 They went down on the beach and set those up and they‟d put out mines and pop flares and other things for security. Interviewer: So, were there regular marine ground troops there? We had the ground troops, but just a very small unit, just for that reason, to do those things. 11 �Interviewer: Now, the area where you were, was there a civilian population there? There was a village not too far from where we were at Chu Lai. There was some ROK marines, Korean marines that were stationed not too far away. There was a hospital area being built not too far away, a couple of miles, I guess. Interviewer: Did you have much contact with the civilians or the Koreans? 24:02 No, no contact what so ever, we were on one hundred percent alert, because they didn‟t know and nobody knew what was going on right then, so we were on, pretty much, one hundred percent alert all the time and you couldn‟t go anywhere, and there wasn‟t anywhere to go, because there was nothing there. Interviewer: So, there was not really a city or town close to where you were, or anything else like that. No, just the little village Interviewer: Now, did you have any contact with the enemy after you got there? Yeah, we did—of course we had--the probes would come in right away, I mean the first night we had people coming up close to what wire we had out there, and we didn‟t have a lot that first night. I‟m thinking, it was either on the second or third night we were out there, we had some come in and I was on my turn for watch. 25:02 At that time there were just two guys—you had the fire team, but you had two guys in a hole and that was just a foxhole. I was on watch and I was looking out and the enemy shot one round and it hit right in front of me and kicked pebbles and stuff in my face, and cut my face up a little bit, but not bad, and then everybody just unloaded on that one spot that they thought where he was. Then that first night, that was just about it, or second night, then after that it was intermittent mortar attacks and sniping, nothing real serious. 12 �Interviewer: So, you didn’t get sappers trying to come in and blow things up yet or anything like that? No, not then, because there really wasn‟t anything there yet, they hadn‟t even gotten the tents and stuff set up and the runway—the flight line wasn‟t even built yet. 26:06 That was part of our job, during the day we did that and at night we were on guard duty. Interviewer: So, you were actually trying, physically, help build a runway at that point? Yeah, the runway and we used Marshall matting, they call it, and it‟s just big eighteen foot steel sheets and they interlock. Of course the Seabees were out there and they leveled the stuff off and then we went out there put it down and they moved the stuff around for us then. Interviewer: Then how quickly did you get aircraft in? It seems like once we got a big enough section they started bringing stuff in pretty quickly. It was maybe two weeks before we really got the birds coming in. Interviewer: Once the aircraft started coming in did your job switch more to actual maintenance work, or were you still doing a lot of guard duty? I was on guard duty and doing that the whole time I was at Chu Lai, I never did work on any of the planes there. 27:08 They weren‟t flying any operations or anything then. I was there maybe two months and then I got transferred up to Marble Mountain, which was helicopters. Interviewer: Okay, well tell us about that then. First of all where was Marble Mountain? 13 �Marble Mountain is three or four miles, I think, from Da Nang and right on the South China Sea. That base was already set up when I there and they already had the Marshall matting down and there were helicopters there, so I moved in right there, right into the metal shop they call it, and they were doing operations when I got there. Interviewer: How was life there different from what it had been like in Chu Lai? 28:03 It was a little more peaceful and you weren‟t so on edge all the time, at least I wasn‟t. We had a place, a tent, a hardback they call them, we had a place to live, the mess hall was set up, you had three meals a day, and you‟d just get up in the morning and go do your job, it was just pretty much like it was after Vietnam, you get up, go to work and you come home. Interviewer: This was not an area where you were under rocket attack, or mortar attack or things like that? There wasn‟t a lot of that—we did get—we‟d get the probes, of course, and we‟d get people trying to come in through the wire, and once in a while there‟d be two or three mortars come in, but it was never anything serious until like October. 29:08 We got—I think it was October 28th, 29th of 1965, and that‟s when we had quite a few come in and they attacked Marble Mountain, Da Nang, and Chu Lai on the same night. Sappers came in and we lost sixteen aircraft, one corpsman was killed that was sleeping in the aircraft, because he was on standby. I heard later that it was Tab Hunter‟s, the movie star's, brother, and I don‟t know that for a fact. At that time I was on reactionary platoon, so I did my job during the day, and then at night, if anything happened, they‟d call us out. 30:06 After work on the 29th or 28th, whatever it night it was, I went to the club like I 14 �always did because there‟s nothing else to do, so I‟m in there drinking beer and having a good time there and went to bed, and about one o‟clock in the morning they called us out. Mortars were coming in, the siren went off and everybody grabbed their rifle, helmet, and bandolier and you go out and do your job. Interviewer: What happened, or what did you see that night? We had a place we were supposed to meet, and then they told us where to go and there was a group—they told us to go up to the flight line, because we had them coming in through the north wire. 31:00 So, we were heading up there and soon as I got to the flight line I saw several helicopters on fire, of course stuff is still going off, rounds going off, it‟s like watching a John Wayne movie. There were three or four of us running up the flight line going to where we were supposed to go and one of the rockets that was , I don‟t know how it happened, it was either on the bird or in staging, or whatever, but it had lit off and it was shooting down, and I mean, coming at us, We weren‟t in any danger, I didn‟t think because it wasn‟t that close to us, but here comes this rocket shooting down the runway—it was—then I was thinking, “Wow, what is this?” 32:03 Later we were laughing about it, of course. We were running up to our spot and this one corporal that lived in our tent, Corporal Brulet, he was on bunker watch that night and he was yelling at us, “There‟s some over there, there‟s some over there”, and then he opened up with a machine gun and killed three or four of them. We ran up to our flight line to where we were supposed to meet and the VMO squadron was up here, that‟s Huey‟s, I was in 34‟s, H-34‟s, and they said that they were coming, they had been through the wire already, so we got our people out here on bunker watch, but then there‟s people inside the wire and I don‟t know how many they‟d killed then, but they did kill some of the enemy. 15 �33:07 Then we got just grabbed up by somebody else and said, “Were going over here and see what we can see”. Lieutenant Green--Greenway, or something like that anyway, he said, „We‟re going to take some captives, take some alive, so you, you and you setup here”. Well, I jumped—I ran up--we were on the ground and watching in between the tents, and I looked between these two tents and there‟s a VC here and a VC here on the corner of this tent and I pulled up to shoot him and the Lieutenant said, “No, don‟t shoot him, don‟t shoot him”, and about that time I saw a little spark from this guys‟ hand and something hit me in the shoulder. 34:05 It rolled down and I looked and it was a C ration can grenade and it looked to me like a C ration can. They had told us some of the things to expect there, so I yelled, “Grenade”, and rolled over and put my hands over my head. This thing went off and chewed up my right side a little bit, nothing serious, but the pain was unbelievable, but fortunately my rifle took the worst of the hit and it chewed my stock all to pieces, and we were carrying M-14‟s, so that‟s a pretty good stock. It got me in the right side, and it got another guy that was a little ways from me, and he took some in the left arm. Interviewer: Did that finish the fight for you, or did you stay in a while longer? They—I heard somebody yelling for their mother and I was thinking, “What a pansy this guy”, and I found out later it was me. 35:11 I‟d never experienced anything like that, but they did, they dragged me off and the corpsman was right there, and said, “It‟s not serious”, and he threw some bandages on and said, “You stay here”, and about that time the Captain came up and he took my rifle and he went after the guys‟, I guess. Interviewer: As far as you know, did they actually capture any of them? 16 �Yes they did, we did capture two alive, I believe, and they killed--I don‟t know how many were killed, but I was sitting out the rest of the fight pretty much. When it was all over they came, and I got my rifle back and my wounds weren‟t serious, it was—inside the C ration can was flints from a lighter and they were green, so they were Russian flint. 36:10 Plus, there were some other things—I had a few pieces in me, but it was—I could walk and I was still able to move around. Then we were going out, and they sound the all clear and everything was done with. Of course it was daylight then, and they started gathering up the dead and we had four or five wounded, I think, of our guys, and of course the corpsman was killed, but there was a boatload of VC and they were picking them up and putting them on a four by, which is a big truck. Interviewer: How quickly were you back on duty after that? They took me from there, put me on a helicopter and took me to the Charlie med, which was up right near Da Nang. 37:07 They just took out the pieces that they could and bandaged up stuff and said, “Okay, you can go back to your unit”, so it was about three miles, I think, and started walking back to base, there were a couple of us. We got a ride from other units and they just took us back to the base, and when I checked in it was just work as usual. Interviewer: Now, did you have any other incidents, large scale attacks, or was that the one crisis point while you were there? That was the big thing and we did have one later on. I was—like I said before, “All marines are riflemen”. 38:02 So, you do your job during the day, then at night you‟re on guard duty. I was on guard duty, and you get that about every couple months. You get it anywhere from two weeks to thirty days and I was on the listening post every third 17 �night, I think it was. There was another guy, and I can‟t even remember his name, it‟s been a long time, but this was around December, because I remember some people had Christmas trees and things. I used to really enjoy Christmas and after the Christmas of 1965 I never liked it again. I didn‟t want anything to do with Christmas because I really missed being home. 39:00 We were out on the listening post and we had—of course you have a night vision scope and that would take any heat and magnify it. They were nothing like they are today, but back then they called it a Starlight scope and it was quite scientific back then. We had wires out and if any vibration would come on it would light up this board and tell you where movement was. It wouldn‟t tell you what it was, it would just say there was movement, and it had to be—they could put the sensitivity, so they‟d put it like ninety, eighty, ninety pounds, so they figure it would be a human. We had this board and we had a radio that we could radio back with, and one night our board lit up, so we called in and said, “We got possible movement in wire at station---“. I can‟t remember what it was, well then another light went on and pretty soon the whole board lit up. 40:05 I mean, it was lit up and the lights were just flashing, so we knew there was a lot of movement. They lit a flare and there were probably twenty people in the wire, and they had already gotten through the outer wire. Interviewer: The listening post itself, was that inside the wire? That was outside the perimeter of the bunker. Interviewer: But the wire was still beyond— We had two things of wire beyond that, so—but we were the farthest ones out. It lit up and they called us back, of course you‟re whispering you know, and they said, “Keep your head down, they‟re all over out there”, so that‟s what we did and there was shooting 18 �for maybe a half hour or so. 41:00 When it was over they—of course flares are going off the whole time, and if we would have popped our head up it would have been like that little Gopher in those games, pop your head up and somebody is going to stomp on you. Interviewer: So, you just stayed hunkered down? We stayed right down in the bottom because that‟s what they told us to do, so we did that and I can‟t remember how long it was, but it seemed like it took an awful long time, but it probably was no more than ten or fifteen minutes actually. But, then they sounded the all clear and there were a lot of flares going off, when we got up out of the hole they said, “Get up and come back to the bunker line”, and when we did that there was a VC about ten feet from us that had been shot, so he was close to us and fortunately didn‟t see us. They had sapper charges on some of them, but most of them had those old single shot rifles and a couple of them just had sticks. 42:03 But, they dope them up on Opium, or whatever it was and they‟d go at us with anything they had. Interviewer: No, when you were doing your actual maintenance and mechanical work, did you have a lot of battle damage to repair? Did you have a lot of work to do? Yeah, we did, and mainly it was patching bullet holes, because helicopters and 34‟s, they‟re a slow flying thing and ninety five percent of the bullet holes were in the bottom, so what you‟d do is you‟d just drill out that hole and make it bigger and it all depends on where it was on the helicopter, you‟d just put a patch over it, or put a flush patch, which is make the hole bigger, put a piece that fits inside that hole and then put a piece over that and one on the inside and rivet them together. 43:02 19 �Interviewer: Now, were you losing a lot of helicopters shot down, or completely disabled? No, we did, we had a couple that were shot down and lost, but I don‟t think there were that many. You know, after that initial, we lost sixteen helicopters in October and after that I can‟t remember losing, but maybe, one or two that crashed. Interviewer: Did those sixteen get replaced pretty quickly? Yeah, it was just a day or two and we had them come in, because they had them stacked up at Da Nang. Interviewer: Did you get to fly in the helicopters yourself? Once in a while, I‟d just go on like a mail run or a test flight or something, but I was never a crew chief or anything like that, but once in a while we got to fly in them. 44:01 Interviewer: Now, a Marble Mountain, did they have any Vietnamese or civilian personnel there? Yeah, we had quite a few—they worked in the mess hall, they worked in the laundry, the barber shop, we had them doing a lot of things. They‟d work for us during the day and at night some of them were VC sympathizers and they—we did have—our barber cut hair during the day and at night he‟d come in with some others and mark trails. They had little trails through the wire. Interviewer: Now, did he get caught at some point? He was caught and he was shot and killed and he died up in our water tower. They didn‟t find him for two days, but they found he was dead up in the water tower. Then, of course, they had to drain it and clean it and start over again. 45:01 20 �Interviewer: Did they give you much by way of security warnings or tell you what you should or shouldn’t say around the Vietnamese people who came through? We got the Vietnamese etiquette on board ship. They told us that you don‟t touch them on the head, when you‟re sitting you don‟t cross your legs and point the sole of your feet at them, because the sole of your feet is the closest thing to the devil, and if you did that you were, evidently, wishing the devil on them, and if you touched them on the head, the little kids, you weren‟t supposed to do that to little kids, because that was closest to Buddha. Interviewer: In terms of just warning you about some of these people maybe being VC sympathizers, or to be careful what you say around them or anything like that? Yeah, you know that old thing back in WWI or WWII of whatever, you know, “Loose lips sink ships”. 46:07 That old saying, they‟d throw that at us a lot, but you didn‟t know because they all look the same. I mean, we had some that worked for us during the day and we‟d shoot them at night, and that happened, not every night, but that happened a bit. Interviewer: Did you have any Vietnamese military personnel working with you? We did on some of our—we‟d go out on patrols—I got to go on a few patrols. We‟d go down to the orphanage, that was down the beach from us a few miles, and we‟d have a, either South Vietnamese military personnel with us, or a Kit Carson scouts. 47:00 Kit Carson scouts were North Vietnamese, or Vietcong, that had been captured and retrained, repatriotized, or whatever they call it, and they worked for us. A lot of them hated the North Vietnamese. 21 �Interviewer: While you were there, did you have much of a sense of the larger political picture of what was going on, or were you just kind of there to do a job and do what they told you? Pretty much, I was there to do what I was told to do and get back home. Interviewer: What impression did you have of your enemy at that point, what did you think of them? Kill him before he kills us and that was pretty much it. Interviewer: About how long then did you stay at Marble Mountain? I was probably at Marble Mountain about ten months. 48:01 Interviewer: During that time did you get any leave time or R&R, or anything like that? I was—Yeah, I did—I was to—I got my R&R, rest and relaxation, but that‟s not what we called it, we called it I&I. I had picked Hong Kong, so I got to go to Hong Kong for five days and that was inebriation for five days, that‟s what that was. Interviewer: What was it like to go back after that? It‟s like coming back home, you know, I felt comfortable in that combat situation. When we were in Hong Kong, when I would sober up, I was afraid. 49:03 I‟d always look, you know—when I was sober the first thing in the morning I‟d go into a bar, I‟d walk in off the street and immediately go left or right, put my back against the wall, and wait until my eyes adjusted before I went in, and then I would sit against the wall so I could see the doors. Interviewer: So you’d absorbed a certain amount of what you had to do to survive where you were. 22 �Yeah Interviewer: In general, how would you characterize the morale on the base while you were there? We were pretty much “gung ho”, everybody knew they had a job to do and we were told we were saving Vietnam from communism, and the guys were ready to do their job and you would always watch somebody else‟s back. 50:05 That‟s the one thing that I truly loved about the Marine Corps, somebody was always watching your back. That was really instilled in me, just even in that short time that I was in, so far less than a year. Interviewer: Some of the sort of stereotypes about the Vietnam experience includes issues like racial tension, or drug use or other things like that. Was there really much of a discipline problem where you were? Not in the beginning, after a while it got to be—because there was a lot of stuff going on back in the states, racial things were going on, so it got to be that way there also. Of course, you got your cliques—the black guys had their own things and white guys would stay over here and there was a lot of racial tension toward the end of my first tour. 51:15 Interviewer: Now, would that boil over into fights? Oh yeah, there were fights, there were some stabbings, there were shootings on both sides, and I never got into any of it because I was pretty much—I had some—I grew up, went through school, my whole time in school was a mix. Interviewer: Muskegon Heights was one of the first places where you had a large black population in that area. 23 �Yeah, so I grew up in that and I just—I never had any problems. I knew some guys that did, because they came out of the Midwest, or something, that didn‟t have a significant black population and there were some troubles. 52:04 Interviewer: Were their southern whites there as well? Yeah, and they were—they had the rebel flag up and they were told to take it down. They took it down from outside, but they had it up inside and there was a lot of that. Some areas—it‟s like the base—it‟s like a little city, there‟s some places—just like Grand Rapids, there‟s some places a white person doesn‟t want walk and there‟s some places that black people will kind of shy away from, and it was the same there. You didn‟t go into certain sections of the tent unit. Interviewer: How much of an effort did the officers, or leadership, make to deal with this and control it? Oh, they tried, they tried to do a lot of things, but it just never seemed to—nothing ever worked. 53:01 The only way you could do it is you try to figure out the ringleaders, the heads of it, and transfer them out, and that happened quite a bit. Interviewer: Were there problems with things like drug use or was it too early for that yet? I never saw it, but I talked to some people that were there with me, later in years, and then I found out that there was some heavy duty drug use there. I knew some guys that did it, we went—we use to play a lot of cards and we were playing cards and these were in there smoking marijuana. I didn‟t know what it was, it wasn‟t anywhere around when I was in school. I didn‟t know what the stuff was and I didn‟t want anything to do with it. I smoked cigarettes, but I didn‟t want that, but I drank and my big thing was beer, I love 24 �beer. 54:06 I would drink the beer, but you‟d get that contact high in the tent and that was enough for me, but I never did any of the hard stuff, injections, I never would do that. Interviewer: As you got toward the end of your thirteen months there, were you kind of counting down the days to get out at that point? Oh yeah, you get your short timers calendar after—at a hundred days left, and what these are is just a drawing of something. Ninety percent of the time it‟s a naked woman and you color it in the spots, the numbers, starting from ninety nine on down and once you get down to a few days, the shorter you get then you come out with the sayings, “I‟m so short I‟ve got to climb on a ladder to get to the mess hall”, or a lot of silly things. 55:15 Interviewer: One of the things that went on a lot in Vietnam later on when they had a regular system of troop rotation, and guys come and go as individuals, but you had gone in pretty much as a unit initially? Yeah, we went in as a unit, but when we got to Chu Lai then we kind of dispersed and went out to other air stations. Some guys went up to Phu Bai , Marble Mountain and that, so we were leaving at the end of our thirteen months, we were leaving by ourselves and going back home. Interviewer: So you are all on separate schedules and things, not all picking up and going at the same time at that point? Yes Interviewer: Did your duties change at all as you got toward the very end of your tour? Did they pull you off of certain things, or did you just keep doing the same thing the whole time? 56:04 25 �They kept us on the same—we were on the same thing. Some of the guys would say, “I‟ve got five days left, I don‟t need to go out on guard duty”. Well, you‟ve got a limited amount of people, so some guys had to. Two days before I left I had bunker watch and that was just—that was my job, so I did it. Interviewer: Now, were you having new men transferred in while you were there? Yeah, it was constant; there were people going and people coming all the time. Interviewer: Did you have a responsibility to orient the new men and things like that? Was that part of what you did? Not so much, because we—in the metal shop we were a pretty close knit group and all of us had just about the same amount of time, so when one guy left it wasn‟t very long that somebody else would come in and somebody else would leave, so that change, I didn‟t really see that because I was one of the first ones to go. 57:11 Interviewer: Once you do finish that tour, then where do you get sent? They sent me back to the states. I got in California and they said, “You got thirty days leave and then you‟re to report to your next duty station”, and mine was going to be Cherry Point, North Carolina, fixed wing aircraft. So, I went back to Muskegon for my leave and I left early, I didn‟t stay my whole thirty days, I couldn‟t take that undisciplined life, it was too hard on me. 58:00 It was a real shock when I got—when I left California it was beautiful California, short sleeve shirts and I had on my short sleeve uniform, got to Chicago and in the middle of a blizzard. I‟ve got on my green uniform, the wool pants, but just a cotton short sleeved shirt and it is cold, and that‟s about all I really got. Fortunately I had my big heavy horse coat in the bottom of my seabag, so I did dig that out in Chicago. I flew into Muskegon, got off the plane in Muskegon and it‟s not too 26 �bad. It was cold, but didn‟t have a whole lot of snow. It was early in the morning, five o‟clock, or something like that, in the morning and I called a cab to go home. 59:04 I didn‟t want to bother my parents, they didn‟t know I was coming home. I called them when I was in California and said, “I‟ll be home when I get there”, because I was having a hard time adjusting to civilian, or not civilian life, but not in a combat situation. I was having a hard time. I got off the plane, called a cab, and I‟m standing there outside waiting for the cab and he pulled up and I‟m in my uniform and he flipped me “the bird” and drove off, so he was a Vietnam protester. Interviewer: That’s only like 1966. That was 1966, so I said, “Well, I guess I‟ll walk”, so I started walking from--I lived on the north side of Mona Lake and the airport is on the south side of Mona lake, and it‟s maybe three or four miles around, so I just started walking home. 00:12 I walked out to the main road, which is Airport Road and some guy was coming by and stopped and gave me a ride, and took me right to my house. Interviewer: That kind of balanced out the cab driver a little bit. Yeah, it was an older guy and he was going to work, you know. I can‟t even remember now, our conversation or anything, but he took me right to my house and I got out of his car and thanked him for the ride. I walked up and looked up, I was standing in the middle of the road looking at my house and the drapes opened up and there was my mother standing in the window. And of course then it‟s, “Everybody get up, David‟s home”, and that was pretty nice. Interviewer: But you weren’t all that comfortable staying there then once you got home? 27 �No, I loved my family and I missed them the time I was gone, but I also loved my brothers still in Vietnam. 1:13 I didn‟t want to leave them in that situation, so I was having a hard time. I felt guilty about leaving and I‟ve talked to a lot of guys since and a lot of guys had that. They felt guilty about leaving “Nam”. After the first couple of days of seeing family and friends and that, I kind of got back into going to the bar at night. The VFW, of course, you‟d have to go to the club with my dad, he belonged to the Muskegon Heights Eagles, so I had to do that and do that route, and VFW‟s, everybody had things for vets. 2:05 You could go in and get a couple of free beers. I did all that, then I hung around a lot with my friends too and did a lot of drinking and would search out the “Nam” vets, and that‟s the only people that I would really talk to. Of course, you didn‟t say anything to anybody else about anything that happened in “Nam”. They just didn‟t understand it, or they were against what you did, even back then. It was worse the second time I came back. Still in 1966 there were a lot of protesters and “baby killers” talk even then. It got worse in 1968 and 1969, but it was bad enough in 1966. Interviewer: So, you’re not entirely comfortable back in civilian life. Do you still have a lot of the reflexes from being in Vietnam? 3:03 Oh yeah, I did, anywhere we went—I‟d—going from sunlight into a building, I‟d still, I‟d walk in and I‟d go left to right and put my back to the wall and stay there until my eyes adjusted. It didn‟t matter where I went, I did it—my grandparents, my dad‟s folks, lived two blocks from us and I went up to them and when I walked into their garage, I stood in the garage until my eyes adjusted, and my grandma‟s standing up there saying, “What‟s the matter?” I said, “I‟m just waiting for my eyes to adjust grandma”. I had nothing to fear, but in the back of your mind it was there. 28 �Interviewer: So, how early did you wind up going back then? This was 1966, I went to Cherry Point, North Carolina working on—we started out with A-4‟s and after about three or four weeks, then they brought in the A-6‟s to us, which was the new-- 4:11 Interviewer: Ground attack aircraft? Yeah, they were a bomber type aircraft. That was 1966 and I met a girl there and we got—we were married in 1968, and then I reenlisted. She didn‟t want me to, but I said, “Yeah, it‟s a—I love the Marine Corps”, so we reenlisted in 1968 and I got transferred from there—I was hoping to stay at Cherry Point, because I did like North Carolina, because I‟m a big—I love fishing and hunting and there was a lot of fishing there, so I liked that. 5:00 I got transferred to California and we got out to California and we were there, it wasn‟t long, just two or three months and they cut orders that the unit was going back to Vietnam. I was in fixed wing out there and I found out my wife was pregnant and they sent me—I brought her back to North Carolina and I flew back out to California. We loaded the ship up and away we went. Interviewer: Where did they send you to in Vietnam this time? I went right back to Chu Lai. We put all out stuff on board the ship and they left off while I was—they kept three or four of us, they kept us back to finish up packing and stuff. 6:04 We flew over in a “big mac”, big plane, huge plane, we had all our gear and everything in there. Interviewer: Was it a military transport? It was a military transport plane, almost like a C-5 Galaxy, this thing it was big, just might be three quarters the size of C-5, but it was a big plane. There were three or four of 29 �us in there and we flew from California to some other spot on the west coast, I can‟t remember now where it was, but we refueled, or picked up some more stuff, or something, and then we flew to Guam and refueled in Guam. Of course, it was an air force base, so we ate very well, the air force eats good. 7:02 We weren‟t there very long, maybe four or five hours, just long enough to take on fuel or whatever else we had, and we flew from there right into Chu Lai. Interviewer: Now, was Chu Lai a different place this time? Chu Lai was like it was when I came back home to Muskegon after several years. The change was amazing. Here‟s this—it was a metropolis, I mean it looked like a regular— it looked like the Gerald R. Ford Airport, you got a big flight line, big buildings up everywhere, and then behind them then you‟re in the tents, but it was huge coming over it. Of course, I was there before there was anything in 1965, and here I am back there again in 1969 and seeing it from the air I‟m thinking, “Wow, this is amazing, look at all this stuff‟. 8:06 We landed and getting out of the plane--there was some new guys on the plane, I guess we‟d picked up somewhere, three or four new guys, and they got off and of course, if you‟ve ever seen the movie “Platoon”, you see the guys marching out and Charlie Sheen‟s coming in and these other guys that had been there are going out and that thousand yard stare, you know, you see that. The smell, you don‟t forget that smell. I smelled it in 1965 and thought, “What is this?” The whole country smelled like that and it just smelled like garbage. It smelled like a landfill, the whole country smells like that. 9:04 Except probably some of the bigger cities are pretty nice, but that just—when I got off the plane that hit me again and then it was back and it felt okay. The heat and humidity, you take that first breath after that air conditioning and that catches you. These 30 �new guys got off the plane and they‟re all wide eyed looking all around, and there was a rocket attack and it was coming down the runway, and there was two or three rockets that hit and that was old hat, I was a salt, I‟d been there, so it didn‟t bother me, I‟m just standing there watching the rockets and some people are running for the bunkers. I looked up and here‟s the Captain from the Captain from California saying—by then I was a sergeant, and he said, “Sergeant Christian come over here”. 10:09 He had a six pack, so we‟re sitting there drinking beer watching the rocket attack and watching all the other people scurry around, and I‟m just—it happened almost every day, they‟d rocket the runway after a plane would come in or before it would take off, and they hardly ever hit anything. Interviewer: Kind of harassment fire? Yeah, it was harassment and interdiction, they call it. Interviewer: Now, this time around, were your duties just largely working on the aircraft now? Yeah, I was higher in rank, so I was in charge of the metal shop, instead of—I told the people what to do rather than them telling me, but I still had my other duties. I now was a sergeant, so I was in charge of the bunker line instead of just being on watch. 11:03 I‟d do my job during the day and at night I‟d go out to the bunker line and do what I was supposed to do out there. Interviewer: But they’re still using men from the metal shop and other kind of services, they’re still using them on the line? Yes, everybody had not only their main job, but they also had something else. If you weren‟t on mess duty, and that‟s—I don‟t care how long you‟re in the Marine Corps, 31 �you‟re still going to get mess duty, until you get up higher in rank you‟re still going to have other jobs to do. Interviewer: One other thing that gets said a lot about Vietnam is for every guy that’s out there actually in a line unit fighting, you got fifteen or twenty doing other stuff, but the division between the grunts who were out there all the time on the ground and everybody else is not always that simple. If you’re pulling guard duty on a regular basis, you’re manning a perimeter and things like that; you encounter some of the same things. 12:06 Not the physical wear and tear that you get from stomping around in the jungle all the time, but still a fair amount of that stuff comes up. Oh yeah, we‟d go on patrols every now and then, but we did a lot of—they were back in 1969 and 70, they were doing a lot of this—trying to help instead of just flat out trying to kill, and so we‟d go into villages and we‟d go on these medical things where the doctor would go in and help some of the people, but then the ones on patrol, we‟d have to set up the perimeter and we were just like guard duty, but we got to go some things, it was—we never encountered any main line forces or anything. 13:03 We‟d get a little sniper, or something, or going down a trail and finding a booby trap, but it was not like the guys from the bush. I talked to quite a few after I got out of the Marine Corps and joined the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter in Muskegon, and then I got to talk to a lot of guys that their thirteen months was in the bush and I mean--that‟s horrible. “Platoon”, the movie “Platoon” is the closest you‟re ever going to get to being real. That was so close, and since than they‟ve come out with “Saving Private Ryan” and “Full Metal Jacket”, and those are—they‟re close, but “Platoon” was right on. 14:02 32 �Interviewer: The physical conditions and circumstances? The whole everything, the whole aspect of it—“Platoon” was real. They had a special screening for Vietnam vets at the Michigan Theater in Muskegon and some of the guys— I didn‟t see the whole thing, I had to leave, but some of the guys, after the first ten minutes, were gone. I think I lasted about a half hour and I just had to get out of there because all that stuff just came back. Interviewer: It also, was a film with an apparently strong political message and you wind up with the fighting between the sergeants killing each other and all that kind of thing. There are a fair number of Vietnam vets who really don’t like that movie. Oh yeah, oh yeah, there‟s a lot that absolutely refused to see it and probably haven‟t seen it yet today because they were so much against what went on there. 15:00 Interviewer: But, on the other side of it, there are, also, some that think it’s sort of an unfair depiction of the characterization of the soldiers and all the rest of that kind thing, so there’s that side of that as well, but the part of it that you saw, as far as you can tell, they had basically gotten it right? Oh, they got it right, they hit that right on—Oliver Stone got that right on the money. Interviewer: Now, your physical circumstances at Chu Lai, at this point now, are relatively good. Were you living in tents at this point? We had what they call hard back tents. Still the same thing, but they‟d have a metal roof, sides, you had mosquito netting all the way around it, we had—the tent that I was in, we had an old parachute, because we had a mixed group in our tent. 16:00 There were seven or eight of us, corporal, sergeant, some that worked in the paraloft, some that worked in supply, so we had—ours was pretty nice, and we had an old parachute up on 33 �the roof, we had three or four fans, but we had air moving, we had a refrigerator, we had a TV, We went out and requisitioned a bar that was made for the first sergeant, and it was nice burnt wood with Naugahyde rails, we had that in there, we stole that and put that in, as a matter of fact, we had two refrigerators, one was all beer and then the other one was liquor and sodas. So, that was pretty nice, rather than having to go to the club, we just would go to our own tent and watch TV. 17:08 The old reruns of Batman, well, they were not reruns, but Batman. Interviewer: In those days there were not many reruns. So, the armed forces provided television? Armed Forces Radio had the TV and the radio, a lot of programing. Interviewer: I couldn’t think there would be a whole lot of Vietnamese programing to watch. No, I don‟t ever remember watching anything. I don‟t even know if they had anything. Interviewer: By Chu Lai, anyway—now, aside from the fact that the base was just now a lot bigger, what else was different about being at Chu Lai the second time from the first? You’re in a better position than you were and in terms of just what was going on, what kinds of missions were being flown, or anything else like that? They flew a lot of sorties, we were—what was it we had then? 18:04 F-8‟s maybe, I think, F-9‟s, Phantom jets, so they did a lot of bombing runs, you know, all over. Mostly when they‟d come back, they were too damaged for us to mess with, so we‟d get them enough to where they could either fly or crane them out , or whatever there was, aboard ship and they‟d take them somewhere else and have them fixed. We would, I can remember a couple times, putting in new supports for the strut, because when they‟d 34 �come in and land, it would be a hard landing, or something, and that was mainly it. Not a whole lot of bullet holes this time, but when they were, they were big, because of antiaircraft fire, big guns. 19:03 Mainly it would be structural damage, not bullet holes. Interviewer: Did you have—this time did you have more Vietnamese people on the base than you had the first time? Yeah, there were—it was like a little city there. You could go—they had a PX then, you could go in and it was fairly large, with all kinds of stuff that you could buy. There was a little cafeteria all the time and you could go in and get things you wanted, and, of course, there‟s the clubs, so you had beer and you could get whatever you wanted. They had a barber shop, and there was quite a bit. You could walk around in relative safety, and there were some things to do. 20:02 At night you‟d have the outdoor theater. You could get popcorn, just like this, you‟re sitting on the beach all relaxed watching a movie. Interviewer: And you’re not in this phase getting sapper attacks or things like that? Not at Chu Lai that I can remember. It was mainly rockets and mortars, and mainly rockets, because Chu Lai, it was a long way from the mountains, so they used rockets and that was mainly it, but usually it would be four or five rockets and that was it, because it—once they‟d light off the first one, of course we had spotters all around the place and they‟d spot them and then right away you‟d have outgoing fire. They‟d call in support from the South China Sea, plus planes would fly off, and they‟d go out, so they would only do two or three shots and that was it, they quit. 21:02 Interviewer: Now, was the morale situation different than it was before, or was it pretty much like it was when you’d been at Marble Mountain at the end? 35 �Probably pretty much the same, and you still had the cliques, and there was still some racial tension, but on the main part, everybody seemed to get along. Everybody knew you‟re there to do a job and do your time and get out. Interviewer: Was there a sense among most of the personnel whether it was even important to do the job well, or would that vary? That would vary, you know, some guys—I wasn‟t—I‟m not a real political person and I looked at it, “This is my job and I‟m here to do the job as best I can and get out”, and that‟s how I was raised, you do the job the best you can with what you have. 22:04 That‟s what I did, I tried to do the best that I could with what I had, with what time I had left to do it in. There were some guys that were political. They said, “I‟m not picking up a weapon, I don‟t care what they say”, and I‟d say, “What if he‟s got one pointed at you, what are you going to do? Are you going to shoot him or are you going to take it?” “Well, I guess I‟ll get shot”, and I said, “Well I guess you will, because if you‟re that stupid, take it”. I wouldn‟t do that. Interviewer: Would those guys resist doing guard duty, or things like that? Oh yeah, we had guys go to LBJ, Long Binh Jail, for—they‟d refuse to pick up their weapon. Some of them would go on guard duty, but they wouldn‟t pull their post, so whoever‟s in charge—I had to write up a couple guys, so they got busted and sent to jail, but that was part of it. 23:05 Interviewer: Now, did you spend your whole second tour at Chu Lai or did you go anywhere else? We were in Chu Lai for six or seven months and in 1970 they were starting the pull out and we were one of the first air units to go in, so we were one of the first units to leave, 36 �so they sent us up to Iwakuni, Japan as a unit. I was on the forward unit, so I went there, probably, a month before everyone else to help get things set up. Interviewer: What part of Japan is Iwakuni, in? Iwakuni is in Honshu Province? Interviewer: Honshu’s the main island. Honshu‟s the main island and we were south of Hiroshima, probably a hundred miles south, I guess. 24:01 Interviewer: Far south on the island and south of Tokyo and all of that. Yeah Interviewer: What kind of facility was there? It‟s all barracks like any Marine Corps base, you know, it was hardcore barracks, a big cement flight line, a concrete flight line, you had big rooms for the shops that were all set up. It was pretty nice, we had a big metal shop and everything was—everything we needed was there. Interviewer: What kind of work did you have to do there? It was mainly going to be the same thing. We‟d—any planes they couldn‟t fix in Vietnam they‟d send to us and we‟d pull the—do whatever we had to do to get them back over to Vietnam. Interviewer: You were doing things that you couldn’t do back at Chu Lai? Yeah, we had—at Chu Lai we didn‟t have a lot of the big things that we needed to bend the metal. We‟d do it, we had small brakes, they call it, that bend metal. 25:02 In Japan we had three or four different brakes and some hydraulically operated to bend the heavy metals to make struts or frames or whatever it was. 37 �Interviewer: What was it like to be outside of a combat zone again? That took me some adjusting, you know, and the not listening for the warnings. All the time I was in “Nam” I‟d—if you ever watch M.A.S.H., Radar always knew something was going on before anybody else. I knew when something was coming in most of the time before anybody else, just something that I could hear or sense or whatever it was. I was always on alert, always on guard, listening for something. 26:00 Watching, I‟d always look down at my feet when I‟d walk anywhere looking for booby traps, and I never spent that much time in the bush, but when I did, I‟d focus in front of me, so I still had that. Interviewer: Did you, pretty much, spend all your time on the base, or did you get out? Oh no, I‟d—8 to 4:30, whatever time my shift was, I‟d—I don‟t remember that now, but back to the barracks, take a shower and put on civilian clothes and hit the town. Iwakuni, on the—coming out the main gate there‟s bars on both sides of the road and I‟d hit them all until I found one that I really liked and then I started going to that one. I went to, probably every bar in Iwakuni. Interviewer: What kind of a relationship was there between the American servicemen there and the Japanese civilians? On the most part they really enjoyed us being there. 27:06 They were always polite, but there were some that didn‟t want us there. They‟d be outside the gate, or the gate and the fence line with signs, “American Go Home”, but I can‟t ever remember any physical confrontations or anything with the Japanese, they‟re just very gracious people, and I enjoyed it. 38 �Interviewer: Did the marine MP’s make sure the servicemen behaved? Oh yeah, we had MP‟s, had Navy Shore Patrol, plus we‟d have marines—I pulled MP duty a while when I was in Japan. You walk around and you kind of just corral the drunks and make sure they get back to base okay. 28:04 We had to break up a few fights and then there‟s just the regular—we were cops, that‟s all it was, peace keepers mainly. Interviewer: Then how long did you stay in Japan? We were in Japan for the rest of our thirteen months tour, and that was either six or seven months, I can‟t remember exactly, but then we left Japan and that was in 1970 and I went to New River, North Carolina, right next to Jacksonville, Camp Lejeune, I was at the air station there. I worked on—what did we have? 29:01 We had—there were helicopters and fixed wing there. Interviewer: Were you able to make that adjustment fairly easily? Yeah, I did and I got back with—I was married and we had—my son was born when I was in Vietnam, so he wasn‟t quite a year old, almost a year old. I got back and we bought a—instead of living on base we bought a mobile home and lived in that, and then it was just like a nine to five job. I did my job, came home and lived family life. Interviewer: Now was there another group of men on base, working with you, that had all gone to Vietnam by then? 30:01 There weren‟t a lot--there weren‟t a lot of “Nam” vets. There were the older ones that were. I was the sergeant, and my staff sergeant had been to Vietnam, the gunnery sergeant, and first sergeant, they had all been to Vietnam, but a lot of the younger guys 39 �hadn‟t been anywhere yet. Most of them had been in the Marine Corps less than two years, so they hadn‟t been there yet. Interviewer: Did you feel there was kind of a gap or separation between the ones that had been there and the others that hadn’t? Oh yeah, yeah, “Nam” vets knew each other and even today I can walk down the street and I can tell pretty much all the time if somebody‟s been to “Nam” or not, and it‟s just a brotherhood. We know who our brothers are. Interviewer: How long then did you stay there? 31:04 I stayed there until 1972, and then they sent me to drill instructors school down at Parris Island, South Carolina. I went through drill instructors school and made it through that and worked three or four platoons at Parris Island before I was relieved of duty. Interviewer: Was it fine with you, at that point, that you were relieved of duty or did you want to stay in longer? I wanted to stay. I loved drill instructor, I loved it, you got power, and you‟re the boss of everything. That was an experience, you know, and I hated my drill instructor when I was going through boot camp, and he was relieved of duty. 32:04 He got malpractice, he and a couple of them got—for force, so they were relieved. Interviewer: Was it possible for a drill instructor to go over the limit? Oh yeah, I mean, yeah, this was before—you could hit them, you could get in their face and yell at them and call them names, that was all part of it, That‟s the thing, you take somebody out of civilian life and you change them completely, physically and mentally. Of course some of them—when I went in it was mainly high school kids, or hadn‟t finished high school. When I was a drill instructor a lot of the guys were college people. 40 �33:04 So, they knew what was happening, they had things figured out. They knew why the drill instructors were doing some things. Calling them names, yelling, they knew all about it, so they had a heads up on it from when I was a recruit. Interviewer: Were you a kinder, gentler drill sergeant than the ones that you had, or did you do pretty much the same thing they did? No, I was much more physical than ours was. My first platoon that I worked, of course I was a junior drill instructor and we had senior drill instructor and he was a staff sergeant, and he said, “What we‟re going to do is, each of you guys pick out the biggest guy you can see and you beat him down”, and then, I was in great shape and I could. 34:07 I was strong, I knew a lot of things, I could take somebody down, so I picked out the biggest guy—and I was a small person, I wasn‟t big, but I was fit, so I picked that big guy and got in his face a lot until he got to the point where, “I‟m going to fight back”, and when he did, I took him down, and after that I had no problems with anybody, after that. So, that‟s what I was taught—to do that—and that‟s what I did, and I did that in every platoon that I worked. Interviewer: Did that eventually cause problems for you? Yeah, it did, the last platoon that I worked—we graduated two platoons, took them all the way through. 35:00 The third platoon I worked—I can‟t remember now exactly what it was, some situation going on somewhere else where they had to move a couple of us to another platoon, so I got pulled out of that third platoon and started another, and the sergeant that came with me—we had this one recruit, well we had two that were problems right off the bat and we knew they were going to be problems. Private Baker was one of them and I‟ll never forget that kid. He was overweight, slovenly, lazy, a little 41 �mama‟s boy, so we just—we never were physical with him. 36:02 We took this guy from a sane intelligent person and made him nuts. We had him believing he was seeing space ships and, I mean, we just—we had a lot of fun with Private Baker. We made a little Sergeant Spandau, made a little space ship and hooked lights on this thing and I can‟t remember now how we did it, but we had lights hooked on this and we had a wire that went from the top of the barracks, down across our windows in the drill instructors room, and went right down alongside the windows, passed by Baker‟s bunk. We‟d send that thing down lit up and it would be down in there swinging in the breeze and we‟d stop it at Private Baker‟s window and then go and wake him up. 37:04 “Baker, look at that”, and he went nuts. He was in the psych ward for a while and then they released him and gave him a medical discharge. Another one we had, he was from New York, and he was a mouthy kid, so we were physical with him, but he made it through. He was tougher than what we thought and at the end, we were really hard on him, harder than anybody else, but he made it through and at the end he came up and thanked us both and whether he meant it or not, I don‟t know. I think his name was Pardo or something like that, a New York kid. Interviewer: Was that your last group that you worked with? 38:02 Then it wasn‟t long after that, after the Baker incident—I didn‟t get to graduate that platoon, as a matter of fact, our whole company got relieved, but it went from the Captain on down, everybody, our whole company was relieved for mistreatment. We were heavy handed and it caught up with all of us, the whole company was relieved, and for punishment they sent me to work out at the boat basin driving the General‟s boat, which I absolutely loved. A twenty-eight foot boat with two Grady-White diesels on it, it was a 42 �nice machine, so I want fishing every day until I got transferred to Quantico, Virginia and that was my last duty station, at Quantico. 39:05 I was supposed to go the HMX-1, which is the presidential helicopter squadron because back when I was in Vietnam the first time, in 1965, they‟d done a security check on me and I had a final sop secret security clearance for some reason. To this day I don‟t know why I had that clearance. Since I was supposed to go to HMX-1, instead I went to HMM-263, which was right next door and which was CNI helicopters, the twin rotor blades. I went there until September of 1974. Interviewer: At that point, basically, they’re—were they not letting you reenlist, or were you deciding just not to? 40:01 No, I had decided, I wanted to reenlist; I wanted to stay until I died. I absolutely loved the Marine Corps. My wife, at the time, said “If you reenlist again, I‟m gone”, because her father had been in the navy and the army, retired, and had worked at Cherry Point, North Carolina for thirty some years, so she‟s been in Morehead City, North Carolina, and Morehead City is a lot of military, because Cherry Point is sixteen miles away., so she‟d been around the military a lot and she didn‟t want any more of it. So, I said, “Well, okay”, so I got out and went to work for—we stayed in Morehead City, actually near Jacksonville, in between Jacksonville and Morehead City, and I went to work for the Department of Transportation, North Carolina, driving a truck, road maintenance, pretty mundane stuff. 41:10 Interviewer: How long did you stick with that? Well, we were there, maybe, about a year and a guy that I was working with was moving from there to Detroit and I said, “Detroit, Muskegon, two hundred miles”, and I said, “I‟ll 43 �help you move your stuff to Detroit and I‟ll go home”, so I did that, I moved him to Detroit, dropped his stuff off and I came to Muskegon and never left. We were up here, maybe, a week and I said, “I‟m not going back”, so I called my wife and said, “You know, sell the house, we‟re moving up here”, and I drove my truck to Detroit and let this guy take my truck back and he gave it to my wife and I got a job in Muskegon. 42:10 Interviewer: What kind of work were you doing there? I was working at the chemical plant making, modeling anti-freeze windshield washer solvent and thing. I did that for a while until I found a little better job, and I went to work for a company that made display cases for stores, glass display cases. I went to work for them and I worked there, then I went down and got my wife and by then she‟d had another, had a daughter, so we had two kids. We got them and moved them up to Muskegon Heights, and I just worked. 43:07 Interviewer: Stayed in Michigan? I stayed there until 1980, and then I went to work for the post office in Muskegon. I stayed there, I think, in—I think I went to work for the post office in 1978 or 1979, and then we started having marital problems and separated, got a divorce, she moved back to North Carolina and took the kids. I met another lady at the post office and we got married and had a daughter. 44:05 Having post-traumatic stress, I was still having that and I had a lot of flashbacks. I was still doing a lot of drinking and that marriage didn‟t work out either. I got transferred from Muskegon to Grand Rapids and worked at the post office here, divorced, I met a lady there and we got married in—we‟ve been married twenty-one years now. Interviewer: You still got the ring, so that one worked. 44 �That one worked Interviewer: Tell me a little bit about what it was like to be military personnel back in the states in the early seventies. When you got back, to what extent did you encounter anti-war or anti-military sentiments? Oh, there was a lot of that. 45:01 The only safe place you could go was to the VFW, American Legion, or someplace where Nam vets hung out, that was the safest place to go. Otherwise, any other bar that I went to there would be somebody in there—of course then, Vietnam was on TV every night, I mean, every night and a lot of people protesting, and there were some confrontations. I had some problems with that and a couple of times—someone would say something derogatory about what was going on, on TV, and it didn‟t matter if I was the only Nam vet there or if there were two or three of us, it didn‟t matter, we were in the guys face, and there was some police involvement a few times. 46:02 Interviewer: Did you talk to your family at all about this stuff? No, no, the only one I could talk to was my dad, and he‟d never told me a whole lot about his time in the service. He shot down a Japanese Zero. He was a belly gunner on a B-24, I think, and he‟d seen combat and he‟s lost some friends, so he knew a little about combat. He never talked to me much about it and the only time I ever heard anything about his time in the service was when we‟d go see some of his friends that were in and then they‟d have a few drinks and alcohol loosens things up, and, of course, I was always right there. 47:00 I could hear some of the things that happened, and it was probably the same with me, I wouldn‟t tell anybody, I didn‟t tell my parents any of the things I did until in, what was it, 80? I got sent to—I had to go to Battle Creek for a while, PTSD got 45 �a hold of me and my parents came and visited one time and I had—going through that training you had to tell some things to get out. Before, the only times I could tell anybody would be another Nam vet, so they knew, and it was all Nam vets that were in this class, of course the instructors weren‟t, they were civilians. 48:00 It was hard to tell them that, but they keep at you and keep at you, keep at you, so you finally would, so then, finally, I could say some things to non Nam vets. I was telling my folks, one day, some things and my mother started crying and she said, “You never told me that, I didn‟t know”, and I said, “I didn‟t want to tell you that, mom”, and I couldn‟t. Interviewer: Now, you mentioned, before we started the interview, there was an occasion when you actually went back to Muskegon and visited your old high school a few years afterwards? I did, and this was—I can‟t remember, but I think I was home on leave in between one of my duties, and I‟d just gone in to see some of my teachers and, of course, the principal was still there, Mr. Kruizinga. 49:03 He asked me if I‟d talk to the senior class and he said that it was coming up that they were going to have the recruiters come in, and when they did, I went there when the recruiters were there and, of course, they wanted me in my uniform, so I did that, and I went in and I talked to the senior class and then I had some medals and these, and the kids were impressed, they‟re easily impressed. I didn‟t go into any big detail, because I still couldn‟t—that was before I‟d been to Battle Creek, so I couldn‟t say many things, but I told them a little bit. 50:01 The first question they asked was “Did you kill anybody?” I just said, “Well, I shot at somebody, but it wasn‟t confirmed”, and I left it at that. Interviewer: Is that an experience you decided not to repeat? 46 �Yeah, I couldn‟t—I could never really talk about it—we did to other Nam vets, but only after a few beers. I still couldn‟t do it, if I was dead sober, I couldn‟t do it, I couldn‟t say anything about what I had done, but once the beer started flowing a little, and a couple shots, then it gets even easier, and they‟d say the same things, and then it would start with how many were there, “I got two”, “Well I only got one”, so it was like that. 51:03 Interviewer: All right, if you look back at the time you spent in the Marine Corps, and so forth, do you have kind of a balance sheet of kind of the positive and the negative? What kind of effect and you mentioned some of the effects it had on you, and on the whole, was the experience more positive than negative, or how would you characterize it? Oh, it was definitely positive; the Marine Corps made me a man. They wrote an article about me, after I was wounded, in the Muskegon Chronicle and it said, “A boy becomes a man fast at nineteen”, and I did, I grew up quick going from the Midwest, comfortable, no cares, no worries about anything, civilian life, going through boot camp, learning some things and then going to Vietnam when I was nineteen years old and getting shot at, getting hit, it changes you. 52:11 I saw the world in a different perspective. There are people out there that actually want to kill me, so I have to kill them or be killed myself and that‟s just the way it was and it‟s—I carry that yet today. I wouldn‟t hesitate, somebody go to kill me, if I can take him out--I‟m going to. But, I love the Marine Corps, I loved the discipline, I loved the structure, everything in a certain order, I love that and I‟ve tried to do that throughout my life. It worked fairly well with my first wife, but now I‟ve gotten softer in my old age and things are different. 53:05 But, I still—I like to have order. 47 �Interviewer: Are there individuals, or incidents, or things that kind of stand out in your mind that you haven’t mentioned yet that you’re willing to add to the record or have you covered things pretty well as far as you’re concerned? I‟ve covered things pretty well I believe. There‟s some things that I‟ve done that I‟m not proud of that I still won‟t talk about to anybody, I don‟t care who it is, I won‟t, but I think pretty much we covered it. Interviewer: Well, we’ve gone the better part of two hours; you’ve covered quite a bit and done a great job of it, so thank you very much for coming in and talking to us. Well thank you, I certainly enjoyed it. 54:0 48 �49 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Christian, David (Interview transcript and video), 2010 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Christian, David Description An account of the resource David Christian was born in 1946 in Muskegon Heights, Michigan. After completing high school there in 194, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. After training in California, David was sent to Chu Lai, Vietnam in 1965. David's first tour was spent at Chu Lai and fixing aircraft at Marble Mountain Air Facility. After returning home and marrying his wife, David reenlisted for a second tour. David was promoted to sergeant and repaired aircraft at Chu Lai until 1970. David also worked at Iwakuni Marine Corps Base for the remaining 6 months of his second tour. David returned to the United States in 1970 where he worked at Camp Lejeune and as a Drill Instructor on Parris Island. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American United States. Marine Corps Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010-07-29 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ChristianD Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c55f7aeb7291263076141aa4c775faa7.mp4 f410805a58db268915e6581f215f6bbf https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/00bdf224fb9d739282bcc2e24955f9f4.pdf c76351428bafbb2a9aea41485531a92d PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Harold Christian (13:14) Background Information (00:05)      Born May 24th 1935 (00:07) Served as a corporal in the Army in the mid to late 1950s. (00:12) He attended high school in Troy, Michigan until he enlisted in the Military. (00:33) He enlisted due to the safety of Korean conflict having just ended and the opportunities the military offered. (00:49) Between his graduation in the spring and his activation in service n September of 1953/1954, Harold worked at a grocery mart. (1:29) Service (1:40)               Military life was very strange. His first week of service was mostly physicals and paperwork. (1:44) After men from the Korean conflict returned, it was hard for young men to get work in the civilian job market. (2:13) Harold served as a quartermaster. (2:35) He served 2 of his 3 years of service in Alaska. (2:50) There was never a threat of danger for Harold. He was afraid of the war stating up again. (3:17) Most men passed time by drinking or playing pickup basket ball games in a gym. (3:44) Harold sent many letters to his sisters. They often sent boxes of cookies back. (4:26) Holidays were very hard to celebrate in the service. Christmas songs were played at the base in Alaska the day after Thanksgiving. (5:05) Some men would even cry because they knew they would not be home to see their family for Christmas. (5:40) On one Thanksgiving, Harold was invited over to a civilian’s house for Thanksgiving. (6:00) Harold believes he wasted his time in the service. He could have taken more classes and learned more while he was in the service. (6:55) He received a tattoo while in the service. He very much regrets it. When he got them in 1954 the coast for 3 was 50 dollars. (7:53) Harold was turned down from 2 jobs due to his tattoos. (8:55) He was told that if any infection occurred as a result of his tattoo than he would have been court martialed. (9:46) Exiting Service   Harold was discharged in Texas. He was tremendously happy the day he left the service. (10:37) He was able to make close friends while in the military. He lost contact with these people after he was discharged. (11:16) Life after Service (12:09) �   Harold worked for Ford Motor Company. He then went to an airline school in Kansas City. (12:11) In 1994 he retired from the airline business. (12:42) He supports the VFW but is not in any veteran’s organization. (12:50) � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Christian, Harold (Interview outline and video), 2011 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Christian, Harold Description An account of the resource Harold Christian served as a Quartermaster in the U.S. Army from approx 1954-1957 after the Korean Conflict. While in the service, Harold spent two years stationed in Alaska and one year stationed in Texas. After exiting the service he pursued a care as an airline pilot. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Christian, Tessa (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Other veterans & civilians--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2011-11-19 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ChristianH1356V Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c4ad955dae087db3546af692209036df.mp4 55e96ab89ff22ae4c717a448d73e27e7 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4373ead65aafeed97672573aad2980d1.pdf 745d6159f1993439bbf05dabe69fc2ee PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Interview Robert Christiansen Length: 34:05 (00:01) Background Information • • • • • • • Robert was born on August 11, 1920 in Muskegon, Michigan His grandparents were from Denmark Robert’s father sold milk and was a lumberjack He went to 2 years of college Robert got married in 1940 He worked at Teledyne Motors They had 2 children (6:20) Training • • • • Robert was drafted and volunteered for the Navy He trained at Great Lakes Training Camp in 1944 Two of his brothers were also in the service Robert was sent to Camp Shoemaker for 2 weeks (10:20) Deployment • • • • • • He boarded a ship with 2,000 soldiers and went south of Hawaii They went to New Guinea and were put in tents with cots The place flooded from all of the rain and many of the soldiers got dysentery Robert was sent to Finschaefen, New Guinea They went up a mountain with a lot of clay and it rained hard making it hard to move He was taken to the USS Ward, but they didn’t have an opening for a fireman striker (14:53) USS July • • • • • • • • • • • They went in a convoy to Northern Philippines Robert spotted a pilot land in the water and helped get him rescued They did a depth charge run and they think they hit a sub because oil surfaced Robert went to the Leyte Bay area and ran into a typhoon on the way Their ship was damaged so they were put on picket duty, searching for subs The ship picked up Army Rangers and they destroyed the radar station at Leyte After that a lot of ships came in for the landing They took a convoy north of Manila and helped some paratroopers that missed their mark because of wind Robert then went in a convoy to Okinawa, Japan They narrowly escaped being hit by a couple of Japanese kamikaze planes Robert was stationed on a 20mm anti aircraft gun �• • • When they left Okinawa they were escorting tugboats that were pulling damaged destroyers A kamikaze plane hit the hospital ship in their convoy The USS Ward, that he was on before the USS July, was sunk and they thought Robert was on it so he didn’t get any of his mail (25:58) Back to the US • • • • • • • • • • • Robert went to Pearl Harbor and then to San Diego, California He got a 30 day leave and went home Their ship got repaired and they were heading out, but heard that the war was over They brought the ship to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to be decommissioned Robert went to Detroit, Michigan, for a month He then went to Navy Pier, Chicago and was discharged at Great Lakes Training Center in 1945 after 20 months of service Robert was in California when the Atom bombs were dropped and thought it was a good thing because it saved a lot of soldiers lives He moved back to Michigan and worked at Continental Motors, building tank engines and testing them Robert joined the VFW and a Polar Bear Post He retired in 1973 and moved to Florida for 10 years Robert now lives in Michigan because of his health problems � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Christiansen, Robert (Interview outline and video), 2008 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Christiansen, Robert Description An account of the resource Robert Christiansen was born on August 11, 1920 in Muskegon, Michigan. He joined the US Navy in 1944 and served in the Pacific on board the destroyers USS Ward and USS July. He served on convoy duty between New Guinea and the Philippines and in the Okinawa campaign. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource McCauslin, Kelly (Interviewer) Spring Lake District Library (Spring Lake, Mich.) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings United States. Navy World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-08-02 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ChristiansenR Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e7f44ec977048fb668b2003ec615e376.mp4 6acb643cc6ada924a414eddadf96f089 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e972b3adb1cd5be457d83c410d38c494.pdf 4be6ca0b6327707aee5137b99c243e21 PDF Text Text Christl, Roland Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Interview Name of War: World War II Interviewee’s Name: Roland Christl Length of Interview: (52:07) Interviewed by: James Smither Transcribed by: Maluhia Buhlman Interviewer: “We’re talking today with Roland Christl of Richmond, Michigan and the interviewer is James Smither of the Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project. Okay now start us off with some background on yourself and to begin with, where and when were you born?” October 29th, 1924 Berrien Springs in the farm house that I stayed in till I retired. Interviewer: “Alright and– Now born in the 1920s and of course the depression starts not too long afterwards, did your family own that farm?” (00:39) Yes. Interviewer: “Okay and you’re able to keep it through the depression?” Oh yes, well that’s your livelihood you can raise about anything you need besides salt and pepper. Interviewer: “Okay, so you didn’t have– Some people got foreclosed on and that kind of thing but you kind of made it through. How many children were in your family?” There was four of us. Interviewer: “And where were you in line?” �Christl, Roland I was the last born. Interviewer: “Okay, alright and how long did you go to school?” I went through high school and graduated. Interviewer: “Okay, and when did you graduate from high school?” 1943. Interviewer: “Okay, now do you remember how you heard about Pearl Harbor?” I didn’t know anything about Pearl Harbor, you know as a kid “What’s Pearl Harbor?” You know, is it a harbor of the United States? You know I had no idea where Pearl Harbor was. Interviewer: “Okay, but do you remember how you first heard the news? Okay, at what point did you understand what it meant, a couple days later?” (1:50) Sure, after you find out where Pearl Harbor was and what really actually happened. Interviewer: “Okay, now when the war started did things change at all in your community or with the people you knew?” Well nothing that I know of because I’m like 15 years old, you know and you’re more interested in what you’re doing than what the country’s doing really I think. Interviewer: “Okay, now I mean did you have a radio, could you listen to news and things?” Oh sure we had a radio. �Christl, Roland Interviewer: “Now did you consider– Did you know a lot of people who started to enlist in the military or get drafted?” Well sure, most of the people that went to school see we had 35 in our class so you know everybody pretty well, even in the other classes. Our neighbors, you know they had, oh I don’t know, four or five boys I think, four of them went into the Air Force and learned how to fly. So we knew all that. Interviewer: “Okay, now did you have rationing?” Sure we had rationing and things on the farm, you know you have your own butter, my mother used to make butter and take it down to Herman’s grocery store and sell it to him, then he would put it in saleable sizes and sell it to the people, and so farm is– When you live on a farm we had meat stamps that would expire, people were upset when they saw those expired meat stamps “What, you let those expire?” And they’re short on meat, they get a little bit every day. Interviewer: “So what kind of stock did you have on your farm?” (3:57) Well everything that we needed to support a family really, had chicken, we had cows, we had horses and no tractors at that time. We did get a tractor in ‘39 it seemed like, or was it ‘41? I think it was ‘39. Interviewer: “Okay, alright so you had some animals and then what were you growing on your farm?” Well we grew mostly things for the livestock and then fruit, it was a big fruit area here and mostly fruit. Anything from strawberry to– You know and you’re 15 you’re out there picking every time something out there starts to develop, you’re out there working with it. Interviewer: “Did you get an extra gas ration because you were running a farm?” �Christl, Roland My brother went into the service, he was drafted in ‘41– Or before ‘41, for a year, In a year– “In a Year I’ll be Back, Darling” The song but soon as Pearl Harbor happened well then you’re in there for the duration, but he had a model A Ford car and he left it to me. So we both– My dad had a sticker– I think he had an A sticker but my tire size was sort of over sized, I could buy a new tire, my dad could only buy a used tire. Interviewer: “Alright, so you did reasonably well there, now did you only have one brother?” Two brothers. Interviewer: “Okay, and then what– Was the other brother younger than you or older– Older he was older than you.” Both older, yeah. Interviewer: “Okay, and did he go in the service?” (5:43) Well my eldest brother– I was four of, he got several– Two bad operations that disqualified him and he became a dentist. My second brother was the one that was drafted for a year and he became an officer and he was working in California install– Overseeing the installations of the anti aircraft in California, making sure if the Japanese try to land they have to have something over there to shoot with, and so after that expired– You know that threat expired, then he went to France and became a major, yeah. Interviewer: “Okay, now as for you, did you have a deferment because you were working on the farm?” Oh absolutely, there were several boys that farmed and had deferments so I could’ve stayed out but I decided well I’m gonna go in, see what happens, see what’s going on. �Christl, Roland Interviewer: “Okay, so was it you were just kind of curious at that point or?” Well of course I knew what’s going on, we had friends and I was in the service and I said “Well other than just loafing around, you know and–” I said, told the draftsperson, I said “I think I wanna go in and see if I can be of any use in there– Out there.” Interviewer: “Alright, so I’m sure they’re happy to take you at that point.” Oh absolutely. Interviewer: “Alright, so when did you enter the service then?” Well– It’s right there, that was April 11th, 1945. Interviewer: “Alright, and where did they send you for basic training?” (7:47) Camp Robinson, Arkansas. Interviewer: “Okay, and how did they get you down there?” More than likely by train I think. Interviewer: “Okay, alright so you don’t remember much about the train ride?” No, not the train ride. Interviewer: “Okay, so what was Camp Robinson like?” �Christl, Roland Well it was the middle of summer and it was really hot and I was pretty fit, I played basketball in school and I was pretty fit and working on the farm I was pretty able to do about anything and so other than being hot and tiring it was endurable. Interviewer: “Okay, now what about the discipline part, what was that like?” Well nothing like you see in the movies or on the T.V that’s for sure, had no problem with that. Interviewer: “Okay, so the drill sergeants were okay?” Reasonable guys, yeah. Interviewer: “Alright now were you used to taking orders, I mean was that easy or hard to do?” Well it was pretty much a unit order, it wasn’t an individual order and I was squad leader so I had a few benefits and– Like no KP. Interviewer: “So how did you wind up a squad leader?” (9:20) I guess I was tall, they put all the tall men in the front and the small guys in the back and we go out to the rifle range, we’ll do six miles and the little guys had to run sometimes to keep up. “Slow down, slow down!” Well we’re 2nd platoon, 1st platoon is already getting ahead of us, we’re trying to keep up with them and the little guys in the back are hollering “Slow down!” Interviewer: “Alright, how long did you spend at Camp Robinson?” I think it was 11 week basic, a long basic, a long basic because I was training for a replacement now. So I was trained in mostly all the hand weapons. Interviewer: “So you’re expecting to be just a replacement infantryman at that point?” �Christl, Roland Absolutely. Interviewer: “Okay, alright and did you figure you were going to go to Japan?” No, no I had no idea until I got to Fort Ord and I said “Well, must be going across the Pacific.” Interviewer: “Okay, of course the war in Europe ended while you were in training.” Right. Interviewer: “Cause that’s in early May so Japan is about the only place left to keep fighting. Okay, so you finish your 11 weeks, now by the time you finish that, let’s see had Japan surrendered yet or were they just about to?” Well they surrendered in– Interviewer: “They surrendered in August.” (10:53) August 15th. Interviewer: “Yeah, so do you remember where you were then?” I was still in the states I hope, they– We stayed there, I don’t know when we left Camp Robinson but then we went down to Hampton, Alabama– I can’t remember the name there, then from there we went to Fort Ord, California, we didn’t ship out there either cause now the war’s over and they needed to figure out where to put these guys so they sent us up to– I think, Lewis– Interviewer: “There’s Fort Lewis in Washington.” �Christl, Roland It was in Washington, and then we shipped out from there. One day while we were there they had us file out and the officer came out and said “We need 1,000 volunteers.” Now what? What do you think goes on in your mind “Are they gonna send 1,000 back home? Are they gonna keep 1,000 here?” And so we didn’t know until one of the fellows that lived in Eau Claire, which is about five miles from Berrien Springs, but I knew he volunteered, so I didn’t know until I came back and talked to him, they all went to Germany, took them all the way across the country, sent him to Germany. Yeah, so we went and ended up in Japan. Interviewer: “Okay, now how did they get you to Japan?” On a troopship the–[unintelligible]? A troopship, forget the name of it though. Interviewer: “Okay, now do you have a sense of how many men were on this ship?” I think it was the General [unintelligible], I have no idea. Interviewer: “Okay, and what was the ocean voyage like?” (13:03) Well it was not too bad until we got out of Puget Sound then all– We said “Well this isn’t bad at all.” You know, but we were still in Puget Sound, when we got out in the ocean then it started rolling and then we got, I don’t know, maybe half way across and run into a storm. We were– You look over the rail and the boat wasn’t going through the water, it was just practically standstill because of the head winds I guess. So they called for a change of course and they went south and you could see the boat going through the water. We got close to Japan, they spotted a mine so everybody battle stations and they shot until they said “Stop shooting.” Yeah and a fella who worked in the mess hall, a Navy personnel, and I got acquainted he was– And then there was another friend who ran a 20 millimeter gun and then just kept shooting. We couldn’t see the mine, they couldn’t either but they’re all shooting in that one direction and so it was kind of interesting to see how they operate that. They got a barrel 20 millimeter and that’s a pretty good size and they had an extra barrel and a container and I don’t know if this was water or what it is, probably water, they shoot the canister, empty, they take the [unintelligible] that barrel hole, drop �Christl, Roland it in this container and it starts boiling. Then you get the other barrel, snap it in, put another container on there, start shooting again, keep doing that until they make the order to stop but it was very interesting to see how that was operated, you know and then not long before that we stopped another mine, it wasn’t all the far away from the one. On the way over during the storm in the third hole we were getting leaks through the seams they said– The G.Is “Just stay down there, just stay down there.” Well they didn’t stay down there, wasn’t my hole but I’d say they come up and they couldn’t stay down there, water seeping in, if that broke open any larger than that you know it’d be a lot of water gushing in. Interviewer: “Alright, so where did you land, in Japan where did you go?” We went to Osaka and couldn’t get off because there was a bunch of Marines out there on that area, there was no place for the soldiers, the Army and so we stayed on the boat. Well that was 28 days before we ever got off that thing, a very long time. Interviewer: “So how did you spend your time?” (16:15) Well everybody has a job doing something or other, we were to clean up down in the mess hall and they had cafeteria style of course but when you have– When you have mess you have a line of people going in the mess hall and it goes up this ladder and up that ladder and down this way and that way, very very long line and so we’d get down there early and eat and then because we’re in clean up we’d get in the line again that’s like two and half hours later, you know we’re hungry again, go through the line a second time. First time you gotta get your card punched, second time we’re in clean up so they let us through, we ate standing up. Interviewer: “Okay, so did they let you go ashore at all or were you just–” No, we didn't go ashore at all. Interviewer: “Okay, so now did they finally let you go ashore in Osaka or did you go somewhere else?” �Christl, Roland Got to go to Osaka, from there it must have been Yokohama, got to a big port there and we got off and we were in the Tokyo area now. Interviewer: “Okay, now did you have a unit assignment yet or were you just still a replacement?” Trying to think, I got into the 98th Division, I was 8th Army. Somewhere I got mixed up but anyway I got into the infantry there for a while and they needed a truck driver, well I drove truck on the farm and so I got a truck driver’s license and drove. Well the 98th Division was made up of people from the New York area, never saw a day of combat, floating reserve through the whole war. The fella that was driving the truck going back home I took his place, he was a bus driver from New York. Interviewer: “Now what was it like to drive a truck around Tokyo?” (19:00) Well, as long as you’re following someone not too bad, sometimes these roads were only about as wide as this room, the truck has got this much space on either side and the people are riding bicycles on both sides. So you know you drive it the best you can, I guess if something happens it happens you keep going, it was some– And then we went to the Yokohama– Forget what they call it where they had most of the supplies came in and they’d have supplies backed up, you wouldn’t believe. Barrels, 55 gallon barrels like from here to that other building, about 10 feet high and about that wide, two of you, you know and they had motor ships I mean a lot of stuff comes off and we’d go in there for supplies and they’d load our trucks and take it back to camp. Well after that– Interviewer: “Well, now just a little more here, what did Tokyo itself look like at that point?” Tokyo downtown wasn’t too bad, they didn’t really destroy it because of imperial palaces, they’re located really right there. They didn’t drop any bombs on that but later on when I got �Christl, Roland transfered over to Sugamo prison, all you had was cement slabs here and cement slabs there and I got a picture of desolations. Unbelievable, just you know they have these houses, smaller houses, even probably the bigger ones they’ve all got these sliding doors, you know with sort of a paper windows in them and very very fragile buildings. So when the many pom-poms hits I mean it goes, the fire extinguishing system they had, we had one there at 720th and we had a fire there and so they called the Japanese fire department and we had a reservoir or a tank a little bigger than a swimming pool probably about 10 feet deep, concrete, full of water, that was their water for fighting fires. They drive their truck up there, throw a hose in, start the pumper up and then that’s the way they fight the fires. Well when they got all the water pumped out, you look down there in the bottom, there’s a napalm bomb there and it had busted open and the napalm was kind of run out on the bottom, but if that thing were to hit ground and splattered that whole camp would’ve– It was a Japanese military camp at one time, we took over– Took it over and lived there and seeing that down there if it hit bare ground it would’ve splattered and that’s what happens, you know they hit a residential area, nothing left, burned the whole thing down. Interviewer: “Now how long did you spend as a truck driver?” (22:19) Oh not too long because they needed someone in the telephone section so they transferred me to the telephone section. Well when I got to the 720th MPs I worked in the telephone section, then they transferred me to Sugamo prison. Well if you know wire, you know electrics wire so they transferred me to the electrical department. Well then they needed some refrigeration work so they sent me to a battalion of engineers to learn refrigeration. So I did learn refrigeration and then I was discharged as a refrigeration service man. Interviewer: “Okay, now let’s back up a little bit, let’s go back. You had your initial assignment as a truck driver for the 98th Division and then you switch and your next unit is–” The telephone. Interviewer: “Okay that’s– For which that was 720th?” �Christl, Roland No, that’s still the Army. Interviewer: “But it’s still the 98th Division at that point?” 98th Division, yeah. Interviewer: “Okay, and how long did you work telephones?” I don’t know, I got my T-5 there, they just jump from private to T-5, they were gonna jump me to sergeant but, I don’t know they stopped it. Interviewer: “They stopped promotions after a while?” Well they stopped promotions for a while, I really don’t know how long I stayed there but– Interviewer: “Were you just a telephone operator or did you lay wire?” (24:05) No, no– Yeah, I even climbed poles, I was up on a pole we were supposed to tag all the wire that came in there, before we got there the first bunch of G.Is got there they strung all these wires and so we got all these wires up there, I went up the pole I’m gonna tag all these lines. Well so you have a double E8 phone, you hook it in, crank the crank, and see who was there “Colonel Bork here. Colonel Bork, who are you?” “Well I’m Corporal Christl, I’m up here on the pole checking these lines.” “Tag that line, never get on it again.” He had a private line to– Interviewer: “America’s headquarters?” America’s headquarters. So one day they come in, called me into the day room, they said “Well we’re looking for an honor guard for General MacArthur, and would you like to accept that?” Well probably would’ve been interesting to accept that but I didn’t and– Too much spit and polish man, you know you shine them every minute you were up there and it was kind of �Christl, Roland interesting and I always thought I probably would’ve done nice and seen him, maybe even spoken with him, you know. Interviewer: “Did you ever see MacArthur or see MacArthur’s car?” No. Interviewer: “Okay, alright so you’re stringing telephone wires and then how do you end up changing jobs?” From, well when I got out of the– When I got into the 720th I’m still in the telephone section, you know it was just four of us and we didn’t have much to do because most of the other wire stuff was all installed already. There was one line between us and some prison that they were renovating and over out there stringing wires to get line from where we were to the prison and all of a sudden here comes all these Army trucks full of prisoners, and we’re backed up against the building and the road’s about like from here to your window and these guys are kind of swatting see if they could hit us, you know all the prisoners. I won’t tell you what color most of them were but– Interviewer: “Okay, so these were American servicemen who were prisoners?” (27:05) All American servicemen. Interviewer: “Okay, so people who had been acting up in Japan and got themselves arrested.” That’s right, we had a few people come from Europe– European campaign that had bad time, now if you have bad time in the military after you get you, you gotta make up that bad time. So we had people over there and couldn’t get them to do anything, they did what they wanted mostly. Sergeants in charge they give up and there wasn’t really that much for them to do and most of what we did have to do they just didn’t do it. So now comes time to send stuff home and �Christl, Roland anything Japanese you could send home, the machine gun, anything. This fella that was in– I think it was our group, saw him all the time, he was sending home boxes full of Japanese military stuff, a flare gun, and at the warehouse you could get that stuff and no one said anything about it. Interviewer: “Alright, so well why did you change from the 98th Division over to the MP unit?” Well the 98th Division was coming back to the states and I hadn’t been there very long so I’m not going back with them. Interviewer: “Okay, those guys most of the rest of them had been in the division longer during the war itself and so they rotate home but you’re still there. Okay and now they gotta rotate you into a different unit and so you wind up with the MPs.” Right. Interviewer: “Okay, and then how long did you stay with that MP company?” (29:02) Well I really can’t say because we had that bad fire and the building was completely practically destroyed and the colonel came out and– I think he’s a colonel, and– But he was intoxicated “Someone get the hose on that fire!” “Well we’re waiting for the Japanese fire department to come.” “I don’t care, call them again.” Well after him coming out like that he got transferred to Sugamo prison. So then he had the MP battalion overstaffed, so they wanted to get us down to what the staff should be. So some of us got transferred out and he had a way of getting some of us over to Sugamo prison where he was at. So we’re in review at Sugamo prison some time, he came by and he asked where we had been in service– Stationed before, and so I told him I, well was at the MPs and he said “Well how do you like it here?” Was only about four– Three, four miles difference between one and the other, so I said “Very good sir.” So that’s where he ended up and where I ended up. �Christl, Roland Interviewer: “Now what was your job at the prison, what was your job?” Well then I would become an electrician because I knew wires, so wires are wires, telephone wires, electrical wires, that’s the Army, and so I’m in the electrical. Well then the– We did all these odd jobs and like Tokyo Rose’s switches and other things. We had a short one of those big barracks now we’re in the Japanese campgrounds. They had these buildings, two story buildings, long ones like from here way over to that other building there and so it short and blew the fuse. Well you pull out the wooden box and there’s a terminal here and there with a lead wire in between, so every time you flip the switch the lead wire would melt. So it was a short and it’s not working in the middle of the day, ”How you gonna find a short in a big building?” I said “Well one way we can find out– I’m an electrician, one way we can find out we’ll put a copper wire in there.” And down at the other end of the building they have a small section sectioned off for a guard house and they had a bulb hanging down on the wire and pull the chain, you know and then you have electricity, have a light. So all of a sudden that thing was shorted out and started smoking and they sent in the fire alarm. So we quickly, you know, knew where the short was, so well then they had two elevators in the prison, one was working fine the other one was not working. (32:40) So, work order comes in “See if you can get the other elevator in operation.” So went up on the roof, opened the door, looked in there and I don’t think I’m going to try to do a thing in there, close the door back up, you know all these copper, brass switches and poles and what not. So that was one experience, now the officer’s latrine didn’t have hot water. “Fix it and– Fix it and hurry up.” Well, so we took a look and the electrodes would come out like that, spark and set off the oil. They were burned out, there’s no replacement “You ain’t gonna fix something? Hurry up.” Well I says “You know we have these welding rods, they got a flux on them and so let’s try one of those.” Well we put those in and sure enough it worked, for a week and then burned out again. So now the officers are really hot, you know “You guys fix something it don’t stay fixed what’s the matter with you!” You know, blah blah blah. So I forget how we ever resolved that but I think they did finally find it. See I wasn’t in charge of the electrical department, we had an old man who was in charge of that, he was regular Army come to think about it, and so that was another– Then the– How I became a refrigeration repair man, they brought in– �Christl, Roland Interviewer: “Hang on before we get there, before we started the interview you told me a story about Tokyo Rose and if I could record that on the cam here. First off, could you explain who Tokyo Rose was?” Well she was an American citizen and she went to Japan to visit her family and the war broke out, she couldn’t come back. So she’s an American citizen just like we are, she speaks– Probably spoke Japanese too, I have no idea but she visited her family so she probably does and so they asked her, or told her one or the other, that they wanted her to broadcast on the radio to the G.Is in the area and they would give her what she should say, and so she said “Well you know how it goes.” You know, we know where you’re at, we know where you’re going, you’re not gonna make it, you know and things like that. Interviewer: “Yeah, so it’d been basically a propaganda broadcast during the war that became very famous that way. Alright, so how was it that you met her?” Well as an electrician the order came in, Tokyo Rose needs her electrical switch fixed. (36:00) So we had a young Japanese electrician and an older one and so if we had anything that needed fixing we could either try to do it ourselves or take the Japanese, I took the old Japanese man with me and we went all the way to her prison cell, they had four or six cell blocks– The last four or six cells was boarded off by the door. That was where the two women were in there, Tokyo Rose is one and there was another younger one from Saipan they said, and so we got up there and a guard let us in and I said– Told the Japanese fellow to fix the switch and I sat down at the table like this and talked to Tokyo Rose and so I asked her if I could have her signature. She said yes but I don’t have anything to write on, so I had a ten yen note in my pocket and this is the ten yen note and on the backside there’s her signature Iva Jade Toguri which was her name then. She got married I think in the states after that and Tokyo Rose in books. Interviewer: “Alright and then you left the room.” Definitely left, well I went through and told her that– The guard left and I’m sitting there with her and she said to me “Are you gonna– Are they gonna leave you in here alone with me?” I said �Christl, Roland “I won’t bother you.” She said “That’s not the point.” She says “I haven’t been alone with a man for a long time.” Well that kind of interested me and so then I got her signature and fellow fixed the switch and we left. They had a guard right outside of her door all the time. Interviewer: “Okay, now were there other Japanese prisoners being held there?” Oh yeah, Tojo and all his bunch were– Bunch of them, there was a lot of them there and I had this picture showing the bus that they took him on and down to Tokyo to the war crime trials just like they did in Germany. They had several they took on the bus, they had escorts in the front and the back and away they went and we couldn’t get into the prison until they were out. When they were loading the bus I got someone sitting up there I said “Well one day I’m gonna take my camera and take a picture.” Interviewer: “What kind of impression did you have of the Japanese people generally?” Oh they were wonderful, wonderful people, they were not a bit aggressive or unruly or anything like that. If you went downtown Tokyo and walk down the street they would part, they would part to let you walk through. They were instructed by their emperor what to do. Interviewer: “Were you surprised that they were that well behaved?” (39:48) Oh absolutely, I surely think the young men would heckle or say something, none of them ever did because we were out there– Well at the prison you lived in a quonset hut, it was outside the walls of the prison, the wall was like six feet from the quonset hut about 30 feet tall and our quonset hut now is about this far from the sidewalk and the sidewalk is right next to the street and the Japanese living on the other side they can’t walk– They’re not supposed to walk on our side, they were walking back and forth across the street. So being in the Army most everyone smoked after we ate, sit down along the wall of the quonset hut and smoke our cigarette and when we’re done we’d flick the cigarette butt out in the middle of the road, about ten little kids would jump on it, really. When we got done at the mess hall we dumped our trays, that was like service, self service, and when we got done we had something left, went into the 55 barrel and �Christl, Roland we dumped our trays into two or three different barrels and left but when we were done eating they took this 55 gallon barrel of leftovers, pulled it across the street and little kids are lined up there with their little pails to get what they could out of there. It was two little girls, must’ve been twins, and their folks live right down the street, I could see them down there looking out the door waiting for them to come back. They lived in little shacks it’s all they had cause this is a couple months after the end of the war, and one day the two little girls didn’t get anything were too late and so crying boy oh both of them crying walking back with their empty pails, that was pretty sad and a lot of people in the big parks they had– There was people always crawling under the buses and dying, yeah. Interviewer: “So there was starvation, there was a lot of other problems. Alright, now one of the things that went on I mean there was also a lot of prostitution and things like that going on, were you aware of that?” Yeah, oh sure, I don’t think I’ll get into that. Interviewer: “Yeah, wasn’t a personal question more just were you aware that was going on kind of thing.” (42:45) Well there at Sugamo prison we had a little walk, like from here to where I live, to get to the train station to go any place, was mostly all cement slabs and every night there’d be a bunch of girls out there waiting for anybody that came out. We were getting battle rations at that time so we’re getting a lot of stuff for free and when we did buy cigarettes out of the PX I think they were one carton a week because, you know cigarettes is real high, you know I think it was 60 cents per carton of cigarettes, ten packs. You could sell them to Japanese for $20 and so 60 cents for a carton of cigarettes, you know how much is one pack worth, and I’m thinking it’s ten packs so each pack is worth six cents and to the Japanese it’s worth 30 yen which is $2 and that’s all it took, you could have one of the girls anytime you wanted one for one pack of cigarettes, for the price of one pack of cigarettes. Interviewer: “Did that create health problems in the unit?” �Christl, Roland Well sure, would any place it would be that way in the United States. Interviewer: “Okay, now were there also, I mean were there– The downtown area, did they have regular restaurants and things that were open that you could go to?” Not too much, we weren’t allowed really to eat anything or not to drink anything either when I was back in the 98ths a couple guy went to town to drink some– Something that the Japanese gave them, which was wood alcohol, and almost died, yeah almost died. Interviewer: “Alright, now you were going to talk about becoming a refrigeration specialist, how does that happen?” Well then we had a walk-in cooler that they used when they are out in the fields and it was gasoline driven and now they wanted us to convert it to an electric motor. So how we gonna do that? (45:27) Well nobody in the electrical department that I’m in there could figure that out so they sent me to work at an engineering battalion to learn refrigeration. So I learned quite a bit about refrigeration, how to test refrigerators that are not performing properly and how to convert one to electric. So I got the old electrician, the old man, and tried to explain to him what we wanted and he got most of everything and we got it going. Yeah, we did convert it. Interviewer: “Alright, now when you were in Japan did you know how long you were going to have to stay?” I had no idea, no. Interviewer: “Okay, now while you were there were a lot of the other men rotating home or once you got to the prison did those people stay pretty much the same?” Well everyone has points and you’re on a point system, when you get so many points then you go home. Yeah so some people left, when I left I think two of the people that were in the MP �Christl, Roland battalion were– Still stayed. Then you get down to what they call the repple depple which is a replacement depto where you go to get shipped out. We had chow lines, must have been almost from here to Eric’s barn over there long, single file. “What are we eating?” “Well we’re having– ” This and this and you get about halfway there and guys they’re coming back already “What are they eating?” They changed the menu already, that’s how long– How many people were there and then of course when the boat comes in and we’re ready to load up then we go, going back was easy yeah. Interviewer: “And when did you come back to the states?” Well we came back to Fort Lewis, Washington and didn’t stay there all that long they– Got discharged there. Interviewer: “Okay, I guess you’ve got a discharge date, January 4th, 1947. Now do you remember where you were Christmas of ‘46?” (48:07) I remember going down to Tokyo to the– What’d they call those clubs, G.I clubs and I think it was run by the Red Cross, they had a big Christmas tree and I went down there. Interviewer: “That must have been right before you left then, unless that was the year before.” I wasn’t paying much attention to dates. Interviewer: “Alright, now once you do get back home, you’re out of the Army now 1947. What do you do?” Well before that I got to Chicago, wanted to catch the Twilight Limited to Niles, they said “No, no G.Is” So my brother lived in the suburbs in Chicago and I called him and he said “Well come over and stay overnight and I’ll take you back to Berrien Springs tomorrow.” I was surprised that they wouldn’t– Twilight Limited is a faster train to Detroit, Chicago to Detroit stops at Niles but �Christl, Roland they wouldn’t let us on, wouldn't let us on. I thought that was a fine “How do you do?” You know? Interviewer: “Yeah thank you for your service, maybe some other G.Is got in trouble.” Yeah, so after I got home well I just sat right back in, my bed’s still there. Interviewer: “So you just went back to farming and then–” Well I worked at Studebaker for about a year I think, I know I spent one summer there because we didn’t have all that much crops because my dad cut back and so I spent about a year a Studebaker’s making $3 and something an hour and that was a high paying place in this area at that time. Interviewer: “So why did you leave Studebaker?” (50:20) Well, needed a little cash, I sent mine home from Japan, and I think I needed a little operating money and there wasn’t much coming in at that time. Interviewer: “But then after a year at Studebaker you left?” Yeah, I left yeah and start farming with my dad. Interviewer: “Okay and is that basically then what you did as your career, were you a farmer?” Absolutely, and then we started putting in orchards and you know only takes about three years, especially peaches you start getting production and grapes and pears. Next family expanded on those acreages, we raised a lot of fruit. We had a hundred ton of grapes, had to plant them all by hand, picked them by hand, hold them in our– Mostly in the wineries at that time. �Christl, Roland Interviewer: “Alright, now to think back at the time you spent in the service how do you think that affected you or what did you learn from it or were you just the same guy when you got back?” I figured I was. Interviewer: “Alright, you certainly saw and did some interesting things so thank you very much for taking the time to share the story today.” Well you’re welcome � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ChristlR2164V Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Christl, Roland Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-10 Title A name given to the resource Christl, Roland (Interview transcript and video), 2017 Description An account of the resource Roland Christl was born on October 29, 1924 in Berrien Springs, Michigan, where he graduated high school in 1943. Since several of his friends and brothers were in the service, he decided to enlist into the Army to offer his contribution to the war effort. Enlisting in April of 1945, Christl was sent to Camp Robinson, Arkansas, for Basic Training. Both the war in Europe and the war in the Pacific ended while Christl was in training, and he bounced between camps in the United States awaiting postwar orders. From Fort Lewis, Washington, he was deployed to Japan on a troop ship, dodging several ship mines in the Pacific during the voyage. The ship landed in Osaka before transferring to Yokohama. In Yokohama, Christl was assigned to the 98th Infantry Division and volunteered to be a truck driver, operating supply lines between the port and Tokyo. Later, he volunteered and transferred into the telephone section of the 98th Division alongside the 720th Military Police Battalion. Eventually, Christl accepted a job renovating a prison that held American servicemen from both theaters who were being penalized for insubordination. Since most of his division rotated home shortly thereafter, he was transferred to the 720th Military Police Battalion, working in a detachment at the prison. He, again, became an electrician with the MPs and worked electrical maintenance duties around the prison. Christl also had the opportunity to meet the famed wartime broadcast host Tokyo Rose while fixing her cell’s electrical switches. While talking with her, he managed to get her autograph on a ten yen note. The prison also held several Japanese officials who were being put on trial for war crimes. Overall, Christl thought the Japanese people were wonderfully respectful toward American troops despite the heightened poverty and starvation rates they suffered after the war. He was also briefly transferred to an Engineer Battalion to be trained as a refrigeration technician. He worked as a refrigeration technician until he accrued enough service points to rotate back to the United States in January of 1947. After leaving the service, he moved back onto the family farm and briefly worked for Studebaker Automobile Company before returning to farming. Reflecting upon his time in the service, Christl believed he left the Army as the same man or character that entered it. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Lest We Forget Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States—History, Military Veterans Video recordings World War, 1939-1945—Personal narratives, American Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401. Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/046f9ac8aaffcc434cf53d52a0e8e54c.mp4 6af7f95612648bdace8403ec7f12aa67 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/6a2431db152d895162a7bf959ffc03b9.pdf d83c2ea2fc2b866f60c06fc1fea6a9dc PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Interviewee: Norman Christopher Interviewed by: Dr. James Smither Born: New Jersey Transcribed by Jennifer Hughey Interview length: 1:58:21 Norman Christopher: Okay, I was born in New Jersey, in Patterson General Hospital and then lived in Ridgewood New Jersey, went through all the public school systems in Ridgewood and graduated from Ridgewood High School. [0:51]Interviewer: Alright, what year were you born? 1943 And what did your family do for a living when you were growing up? We lived in the northwest corner of Ridgewood and my father, at that time, commuted into New York City and he would get up on the train and leave and then come back in the evening and then we were at that corner in the northwest where the school system started with elementary school, which was close, and then middle school got further away, and by the time high school came it was way on the other side of town with no school buses, so we had to figure out how to get to school every day. Alright, what kind of job did your father have? He was in the insurance industry and, interestingly enough, was a hull secretary and hull secretaries insured ships. So he was with Atlantic Mutual Marine Insurance which sort of got me interested, at that time, in boats. Now, what did you do after you finished high school? What did I do? Yeah. Immediately upon graduation, the question is where do you go to college? I was one of the few that went south. I went to the University of North Carolina. And why did you go there? �[2:10] They had a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program, it's called the ROTC. I entered that in conjunction with going to college, and it paid for a portion of the education and it was a full almost like immersion into naval history and you also spent each summer aboard a ship and then upon graduation, you receive an instant designation and then from there, had the opportunity to share what kind of ships you might be interested in and from there your naval career would get underway. Did you go into this with the idea of actually maybe having a career in the Navy or was it just something to do? I did. Didn’t work out that way full time, but I did have an idea in the back of my mind about that. Ok and did you start college in ‘61? Yes So at that point there is no hot war going on, there is a cold one, but not that. Now you were talking a little but about the ROTC program was structured, you mentioned that you went aboard ships during the summers so what ships did you go to, and what were you doing? [3:25] Right, so I could remember several of them one--and again these were not necessarily all the types--so I was aboard a submarine, which was the harder, and these were deployed usually along the East coast, and so I remember several of the deployments being either out of Norfolk or out of Charleston. Second one was the USS Recovery, very interesting ship, which was a rescue ship. And so these were usually few week deployments where you would go aboard for training in a different area and then you would sort of see. I remember also going down to flight school, looking at that, determining that that was probably not going to be something that I would long term get engaged with. I was out of Pensacola, I think maybe that was my third summer, so you just get a little but of a variety and then you would come back with those experiences and then get back immersed into the full ROTC program. I was called what they call a 2x6 which is a minimum of 2 years active and a minimum of 4 year reserve as your commitment to that program. Interestingly enough, I recently went back to the reunion and it was one of the strongest showings of any--whether you picked a sorority, picked any group at UNC--I was moved by it. A lot of the people who had served in Vietnam and other areas all came back, and of course nobody had ever followed anybody for all that period of time but we had a chance for 3 hours to just get together and it was very quiet in terms of--I don't usually share what I'm gonna share and it’s just because that's just the nature of the service--and so I saw such a strong kind of commitment to some of the things that we were about to engage that these fellow ensigns and others came back to see each other so there was a camaraderie that was there that I just missed, but we had a chance to see that camaraderie many, many, many, many, years later. Now was this a 50th-anniversary thing? �Yeah, I just went through that it was very moving So, you're basically in college in 61 to 65, Correct [5:56] And over the course of that time, the country is kind of leaning toward actual conflict in Vietnam. Did you pay much attention to the news of the world while you were in college or did you just stay focused on your own stuff? I was aware but boy, was I focused. Because even though you don’t get a degree in naval science per se, you’re taking all those courses and then you're also looking at a BS which I was trying to do. So it was a fascinating thing so it was a lotta schoolwork at that time so I was fairly focused, probably not as aware of current events at that time, but it was focused cause you had to go to drilling as well and you had your own obligations to the--not just to the ROTC program but to those on campus that would engage the training program-- so there was constantly something going on all the time. Now did things like the Cuban missile crisis or the Kennedy assassination affect things? Kennedy assassination, sure. So that sort of heightened it was like “wow these things really can happen” and not so much what your role is gonna be in it now but it was more like the scouts’ law: be prepared something is coming. So it was like creating a much higher sensitive awareness if you will. That what you’re going through isn’t just necessarily going through the motions. That's when I first felt like “wow something might happen here where you could actually serve in other than a normal time effort.” You could feel it coming. While you were doing all the ROTC stuff what was your actual academic major? Chemistry, so it was basically a Bachelor of Arts and I was always on the science side of the equation, naval science was there, chemistry was there so that's where my focus was on the campus. When you become a Naval Officer, then you normally have some kind of specialization or area, did you pick that or was it picked for you? [8:15] That was probably the first earmark into some extensive training. So I graduated in that May ‘65 timeframe and then went to nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare school. I was in Philadelphia, very intensive and that, when you come out you are certified as what they call a Damage Control Assistant so it's very, very extensive program for several months I remember going to that Philadelphia shipyard, so when you come out of it you now are an ensign but you’re beginning your specialization if you will, so when you go aboard a ship it isn't just having an ensign degree--I mean an ensign rank--but you could be going to things like main propulsion �assistant, you could go to that kind of training. And then you get into more line operation training, which I can talk about in a minute. So that was the first, I would say, and that left a lot of memories which I still have today because that was an extremely close enough program with simulated exercises that you would have a taste forever of what a casualty situation or collateral damage might look like. What were some of the exercises or things that you did in that first training? Two or three of them that come to light. First, well, there’s a lot of fire training, so they would light fires and you would have to figure a way to get them out and so they might be class A, class B, class C fires some of them are oil generated electrical generated but these were not small fires these were large fires that you had to actually go in, because ships might offer a Class Alpha, Bravo, or Class Charlie fire so you were immersed in that so that was the first thing is what does a 10-15 foot flame really look like and how do you get in there to take care of it. And there are different techniques. But they also had an exercise of smoke training and that is one that is extremely difficult. So you’re actually in a compartment that’s totally sealed and you have your what is known as and I still think today they know as OBAs or Oxygen Breathing Apparatus where you’re put with a canister, and it’s okay with your canister on, but then they rip your canister off and they ask you to get out. And there’s certain things you learn about smoke and I do remember that one completely to this day of actually trying to walk down several decks and crawling through spaces. Now, they did have people in there to take care of you if you needed it, but that was an exercise that of how do you get out of a smoke-filled compartment. [11:23] Did you do gas drills and things like that too for tear gas or things like that? Oh yeah, so you had a chance to cry some, cry none so this is where you are now exposed to some of this you are also exposed to learning how to give yourself shots, which you had to have so you were carrying these at the same time. And then another exercise that I do remember going through was a potential drowning exercise so they actually had a hull in there and they would submerge it and then you were placed in the middle of it and had to figure out how to get out of it through compartments. Still remember that exercise to this day. And then what about the nuclear side of things? Were you preparing for a nuclear attack or for, say, leaks on a ship that was nuclear powered? Probably more on the biological warfare side than nuclear. Nuclear was basically if you were in a scenario where a nuclear attack was underway you had to wash down the ship and do some other things. So it was more of “yes this could happen” but then you had to be self-contained, but not only that, is radiation. So you were exposed to that yes, we did have tags and looked at what that would mean, but we also saw at that time, which today you see carried on all these years later, is biological warfare which is still probably one, if not the, most lethal ways. We were given way back then videos of where biological warfare had actually taken place, and you can’t recreate those scenes but I do remember looking at how a biological warfare could actually take place and it was done fascinating by using an aircraft at very high altitudes dropping it into the �air stream, and they used a particle sensitivity and then put the plates on the back of telephone poles. You could actually go out and figure out with one airplane dropping this and seeing where the air streams would take it and then seeing what the concentration was on the back of plates. That was so many years ago so you just see the sophistication, I can't even describe it today, but that to me was fairly sophisticated and alerting us to the fact of this could come a nuclear attack it could come, we were more concerned about biological at that time because, not so much to the ship but to a country, like taking out feedstocks, contaminating water. Then, of course, the other ones were basically what you might see as a casualty drill aboard a ship either from a fire, from smoke, or from water being brought on board by a compartment so you got kind of a very intensified hands-on capability as you walked out of that. [14:38] Now was this school the only one you did before you went to your first ship? Yes So what’s your first actual assignment? When you leave, I left North Carolina actually found the document while I was getting through some of the files and I wondered how I arrived there so i actually put “I would like to have the opportunity to go on a FRAM II Destroyer” so I actually wondered myself how I wound up there but there it was as I left Carolina there it was, so that's what I went on board. That ship was home ported in Norfolk. Okay now which ship was this specifically? DD 724 USS Laffey And you have an idea about when that was built? Was that a post WWII ship? No most of these ships I was on, including the Neches which we’ll talk about, these were older ships, so they had been around, and it's this really good surface destroyer but what was interesting about this, so I remember leaving the school and then going, so I came aboard the Laffey right away in September of ‘65, so it was right after that school which was for the summer of 65, and there I went. So I was kinda like transported, the ship was not homeported it was already doing its exercises in the Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea. And how did they get you out to the ship? Very interesting, so I was wondering the same thing. I was wondering whether I was gonna pick it up in a port or how I was gonna do this. I actually was helicoptered in. I do remember that because the seas at that time were about 15 ft, and that was a memorable opportunity to be dropped in by a helicopter on top of a destroyer while you’re underway doing exercise drills so I do remember that. �[16:38] And you say the sea is 15 feet so you have like 15 foot high waves essentially, so the ship is going up and down. I remember at the time a little bit about the exercises so I think at this time, might have been the Roosevelt, that name comes back to me, but it was plane guarding. So one of the exercises for destroyers is--besides combatant and firepower--is to plane guard. So you would be in formation with other ships and exercises and they would be doing flight operations and you would be plane guarding, so that if there was in fact a plane with an overboard drill or casualty you would peel off and do a rescue. So that was one of the, I remember, one of the task force operations that was originally part of that. So these are usually deployments that last for 6 to 9 months unless you were asked to stay on. But I knew going in is that I was one of the overcomplemented ensigns, so they have a certain amount of deployment of officers and enlisted people and I remember when I went aboard that i was on the over complements, I always wondered about that, over complemented meant you were one above the number. I never really got to figure out why that happened but I guess they anticipated somebody leaving, but there was no room so instead of joining officers’ quarters, I do remember joining chiefs’ quarters. So this was a fascinating opportunity when I first came aboard, that does usually not happen so I had the opportunity to really see the senior enlisted side which was the chiefs. That was an interesting experience for me because usually everybody--you’re a boot ensign--and everybody wonders to know whether you’re gonna make it or not, and you're really really green, and I was in many many areas, but I was blessed with the opportunity of having some really senior people there that began to mold and shape a little bit of that for a short period of time. [18:50] So you arrive on the ship then, and you mention there’s no room for you in the officers’ quarters so you join the petty officers instead. In general, how are you treated, or what kind of reception do you get when you come onto the ship? Yeah I remember that too, it basically all now comes to fruition. All the training world is not gonna give you this, you’re now there and have to perform. I do remember struggling, seas were just really really difficult, you had to get your sea legs and that took forever. I remember, I mean everybody goes through it but it takes weeks to get your sea legs and so I had to go through that period, but yet also stand all the watches and do everything you're supposed to do and I do remember those struggle days and people wondering, as they look at you and they know your struggling, “what are you gonna be like in the next couple of weeks after all this sea legs and you get a little bit more?” So very very challenging time to really sort of, now all of a sudden you are who you have been trained to be, now reality sets in. Did anybody try to help you or coach you or do they leave you to your own devices? A couple of the junior officers were there, and I do remember a few of them, but basically you're on your own. [20:30] What actual duties did you have then, on the Laffey, what were you doing for them? �Well I do remember one specific training that I, again you would not actually take an officer of the deck but you could become a quarterdeck watch officer. So I was certified during this timeframe as a quarterdeck watch officer. So you would be part of four on-four off, or four oneight off, whatever the exercise required, meaning four hours on and eight hours off so you’d be continually doing this and then you would be with the officer of the deck and a quarterdeck officer and those requirements would be up on the bridge. So you’re up on the bridge, you’re simply there. Did you have any-Sightings? Yep, you’ve got people as lookouts on the sides of ships, that was a specific area first for officers to be acquainted with what the bride duties really were and so some of those officers might be in supply, they would not be part of this, now you’re considered part of the “line duties”. That was the first piece that I do remember going through and then takes awhile to get certified but then you are now a quarterdeck watch officer, and you’ve got other officers--junior ones--that might be main propulsion assistants whose requirements are down inside the ship, but they had a group of us that were now being exposed to how ships really maneuver, what the exercises are, because you can see what’s going on. [22:17] As far as you can tell or put together, what was your ship actually doing, or what was the task force you were with actually doing at that point? Again, a little bit of this is foggy, I get a little better with the next level but it was because I was getting my legs and everything else, I was not as--what shall we say--cognizant of what these exercises were. There were a number of ships that you were just not in this by your own. I do remember the carrier there, I do remember other destroyers and other ships so there would be a lot of this information. So there are several ways that you would have a task force group operating and so we’d have a carrier and then would have certain ships on the outside for one exercise I remember, it’s called a bent line screen which is where you have a carrier in the middle and you have certain ships that are on the outside and a bend line screen for protection. So all these were different types of exercises in formation. That’s what I remember first because when i left the ship and then went into this next service area that became very helpful because you think when you’re just out there you’re by yourself, you’re doing it oh no no no. You’re given orders to do this in formation and so regardless of what those water conditions are you have to be 2000 yards directly behind at this end. So I would watch the officers of the deck try to maneuver these ships to stay in these formations and you could see them on the radar screen. You wanna stay as tight in this type of formation so they would expose you to different formations to protect and to also be on assault if needed so it was several different roles but this was part of these exercises that were coming from the fleet. [24:14] A Destroyer is a relatively small ship, did it help you to orient yourself to what the Navy does, because you were on something where you could see all these different dimensions? �I would say yes because even though I was there for a short period of time it gave me the opportunity to see a ship in action and all the component parts and how they all flow. Yes, they’re small, they’re hundreds of feet, they’re not 500 and above, these are small vessels. They can speed at a significant number of knots and they do a lot of warfare, so they’re very electronically, well I’m thinking ahead to the type of electronics we had, but they had probably the most up to date fire control systems, so that if you were being attacked by an aircraft you could look at the fire control systems, they had five-inch 38 mounts and other things. You had a chance to see the armament on the ship, you had a chance to see what it was like to maneuver in formation, you could see all these different departments aboard a ship, you could see the importance of the Chiefs and the warrant officers, they’re our most senior, they spent years in the service, and then you got somebody like ourselves who are here for the first time, yet you were assigned to different divisions and things like that. It was the first chance to be a part of enlisted with warrant officers to see how that whole division--because there were a number of divisions on a ship--would actually come together. But it was more for me an opportunity to soak in before I actually contributed. [26:02] How long did you spend on the Laffey? I was there from September of 65 to March of 66 with one important school that happened in between. After moving through, becoming a Quarterdeck Watch Officer I then had the chance to go to school for Officer of the Deck OOD tactics, that’s now where the opportunity will be to train to actually take over the ship from the captain when he is not actually on the deck. There are a number of people who are training, so I went to that school. OOD tactics school ended in December of 65, so while I was aboard the Laffey, a short period but I did get that training. As soon as I had that training, this complement of officers and shake-ups sort of came and then the question was where do you wanna go? I didn’t answer the question, I just said I didn’t look at this from a sensitivity with what was brewing in Asia at the time, I had just said wherever I can serve. [27:19] So the idea was that this was--on the Laffey--that was just a temporary assignment to give you--literally your sea legs. Now where did you do your Officer of the Deck Training? I’m trying to remember and I can’t, it just doesn’t come. [27:31] Was it back in the US or was it still with a fleet? They did these in Europe too, at some of the ports. It just doesn’t come to me, but it did at the time give you the fact that “wow there’s something more here coming” so now you have the DCA, the Quarterdeck Watch Officer, the OOD, so you’re becoming to have a set of complementary skills that can be used. That’s the best way to package--in a very short time frame, because we’re not even a year out of graduation and now, all of a sudden I have this. That’s what I remember is I have a package now and then when the question is where, that's �when the orders came back “You’re gonna go from the East Coast to the West coast” and that’s when the change happened. [28:25] While you were with the Laffey, do you remember if you ever went into port at anyplace or did you stay at sea the whole time. Well there is an interesting note here that I met my wife, who went to North Carolina for the same time I did, but I never met her. So I met her when the Laffey was ported in Norfolk. She was from Virginia Beach and actually taught school there. That was the first time that I had met her, it was aboard the Laffey while we were either running in or running out for a short period of time. So you went back to your home port. Did you stop in any overseas ports that you can recall or just back in Norfolk? I remember one where we had a degree of difficulty entering a port and actually had a small collision and it’s just all part of the background there, but I do remember that. It just happened and you were not--shall we say--put into a scenario where you couldn’t steam, you couldn’t do this, but I do remember the beginnings of what something might look like in terms of real action, but this was not under any course. East Coast was all preparation training for what was going to take place. When I left, I didn’t know I was going to the Neches which is AO-47, homeported in Hunter’s Point. But I had to go to school again, so now we go to the next school, which is Cargo Fuel Oil Handling. That was intensive training on how you move fuel. Where did you do this? That was in San Diego. The ship was in Hunter’s Point of San Francisco, but I do remember going. I went to that Cargo Fuel Oil Handling, or Petroleum school for several months in the spring of 1966. [30:51] What did that school consist of? Well, coupled with, you can see now with the background with chemical and biological warfare, you’re sitting on something that could explode easily. So you have to learn the types of fuel, there’s JP-5, JP-4, which are basically aviation fuels. Most of it is bunker fuel or what the ships use, and you were exposed to all of that. You were exposed to how to keep that fuel clean, and I didn’t realize the importance of that--I can share a story about that in a minute. You’re exposed again, to saltwater right? So you can think where sediment saltwater gets involved in these fuels. So you’ve gotta know what they are and then you have to know how to handle them, and that means pumping. All these fuels that we’re describing are on the oiler and are pumped to various ships as they come alongside. I’d never been a part of that, and seeing that operation. But then you have to realize you have to know flammability, you have to know safety, you have �to know how to keep it on spec, and you have to know how to move it. Then you also have to know the crew that you’re going to be with as part of the deckhands to move that fuel, so that was a lot. But, I came out of school and that’s now what I came aboard as. They had to have one of those aboard the ship, so that's what I was trained in. Now all of a sudden I’m not looking at anybody else, I’m looking at myself, because now I have that training that that ship required. [32:52] When you were doing this school, would they take you out to sea to practice refueling and things like that or did you stay in the harbor? Probably in the harbor, but they have so many videos now that they would use in class to show, you know I showed you one recently of what was taken of the Neches, it’s now been decommissioned and put to bed, but you could get these so there was a lot of these classes were done with videos. But the things that I do remember from that is that the ship that I was going to go aboard, all these valves had to be cranked by hand. The Neches is one of the oldest but most reliable oilers that the fleet had. A lot of them now move into hydraulics and you just sit and move them, no these had to be moved by hand. I remember asking myself “holy cow, am I gonna remember to turn the right valves on and the right valves off?” That’s all I remember out of that one, but I do remember that question living with me. And then to do it in seas and all that sort of stuff, wow. And I do remember the underway replenishment with the Laffey, doing a few of these, but never from the supply side. Most of the time you wouldn’t appreciate other than the lines come over, you take, you leave. Now all of a sudden, I’m looking at it through a different lens, like what’s all the preparation that has to go on before that ship comes alongside. And they could come along both sides at the same time so all of this is like, I have no idea what I’m gonna experience. You can see these by some of the videos that they were shooting in some of the sequences. So you could see those operations coming full circle pretty quick. Where and when do you join the Neches? I joined it in San Francisco in that spring right away, that March timeframe that I went to school. I went to school right there and came right back and then it was deployed. [35:13] Then you sailed with it out from San Francisco, and where were you going? We were going to, what they call, the South China Sea, Gulf of Tonkin, Yankee Station. All that are familiar terms to many, unfamiliar to me at the time, but we knew what we were going to do. We were, of course, all 7th fleet operations which were designated into the South China Sea. Our home port was Subic Bay, very interesting homeport. Just to add to that, we were part of what they call a task force. You have the 7th fleet but then they had different task forces underneath it. This task force was with underway replenishment group. We were an oiler but you also needed to have AEs which were ammunition ships and you have to have supply ships, so they were out there too. We were then, where do we get our fuel, and that was from Subic Bay. That was a steaming couple of days from Subic Bay in the Philippines out into the South China Sea, so that was what was ahead of us. �[36:37] When you went out the first time did you stop off at Subic Bay first, and then go on? Describe a little bit the setup at Subic Bay or what was there and what went on there. The biggest experience I could ever have is in this new role, so here I am, First Cargo Officer and a young ensign coming aboard to take on this fuel. So we go into Subic Bay and you take yourself down to where the depot is, the fuel depot, and you send your lines across and you start taking on fuel. I start taking on fuel, and we have a small lab, very unsophisticated at the time, but to take on bunker fuel you basically look for sediment. This fuel starts coming onboard, these are very deep tanks, 30-foot tanks. We’ve got several mains, ones were just at the bow of the ship, you had two up there, that was number one, number two through 8 or 9 all had center tanks and two wing tanks. So we started taking on this fuel and I started noticing, cause you’d spin these in centrifuges, I was picking up rust. I didn’t think too much about it, maybe it’ll percolate through. It didn’t percolate. So I took this up to the captain. I remember saying “Captain, I just wanna let you know something. This is what your fuel looks like.” He couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t believe it. We shut it down and we pumped it back. All I was doing was what that school had just told me to do. I always wondered why. I got into a little bit of well they’re gonna test the young ensigns, this is real time. Here, you know he thinks everything’s hunkydory and you’re over there and no it wasn’t hunky-dory at all. So the first fuel that I took on board, we were able to catch and that experience, every time I came back in I got the best treatment in this world. So to this day I don’t know whether they were testing myself and the captain or whether the captain was aware and we’re just gonna go do this. But that's the livest training you can ever imagine. [39:27] You’re making it sound as if you were sort of the one officer it was on that ship whose job it was to do this. We had a chief and we had a crew. The chief was there, of course, with me, but we were starting to catch this and wondered. So it wasn’t just me catching it, but it was our responsibility to take the fuel on. When everybody would go on leave or go offship for a while, no. I’d stay on the ship almost all the time, because you’re taking back on fuel. I didn’t get a whole lot of time in Subic Bay, because we’re always just very impactful, taking on fuel. It’s certainly, with this group of, and really the warrant officer and myself, looking at this fuel and saying “hey this is not acceptable fuel to take.” Part of what I was asking is there are not other officers on this ship with the same responsibilities that you rotate with. So it really is just you, and you’re just a new guy coming on there and okay that’s your job. But in the meantime you don’t get to, say, enjoy as much of Subic Bay. Oh no, no. That was the first time. You have to load up cause you’re using fuel to steam across the Pacific and you get a chance. I have in the book here that was for this tour, you can see actually where the ship went, but you now know the routine, well I didn’t know the routine yet, I just knew when we were out of fuel and supplies, we had to go back into Subic Bay. That’s where you were gonna get the supplies. Then you had to steam for a few days out into this 700, �900 mile big Sea to get you to your station. I hadn’t done that yet, because we had to take on all the fuel and all the supplies.I had not yet gone underway with any underway replenishments to know what that was like, but I now knew this was gonna be the routine for taking on fuel. So you’ve done that and now you head out for the South China Sea, explain a little bit for an outside audience what Yankee Station was. [41:43] Yankee Station was an area in the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea. They actually had two stations. Totally unfamiliar with what they called Dixie station which was in the South China Sea, so this is in the North part. So this, I presume--and I did a little bit more researching, is that they would have several groups. You needed to have two or three carriers at all times, so there would be two or three carriers in this area, and our primary job was to refuel--usually at night, so most of these operations were done at night. Some were done during the day, but that was to primarily keep as much of the carrier formations. We are further enough away except for one time, being fired upon. You usually are far enough away until storms et cetera get you in close, and I do remember that one time. But these carriers are the ones that were providing the flights and that’s where the Navy would go in with the aircraft. We were carrying JP5, it’s primarily kerosene, so besides sediment and bunker fuel, the other big problem is saltwater in kerosene. So you had to test all the time and you couldn’t leave the vents open. Lots of times you would want to, you could only open those vents when there was no rain, when the seas were not coming over the fo'c'sle. You had to watch what you were doing, so you’re always there wanting to make sure that you wouldn’t have built up flame vapors in these, but you also wouldn’t have them during the seas. That’s where your deck hands would be out there ensuring at all times that you had the right ventilation system. Yankee station was an area that we were a task force as a part of the 7th fleet operations, but we could not give any orders. We’re subject to those that are in the 7th fleet that would then start to say “okay, carriers X, Y, and Z: they need to be refueled. You’ve got destroyers, you’ve got the Canberra, I remember a few of the larger surface vessels being in there. I think, I did a little bit more research, there were about 40 Navy craft during this timeframe that were either in the Yankee station or Dixie station, cause each of those would have two or three carriers, and a number of destroyers. I was exposed to some ships while we were there that we can get into that I’d never ever seen before, because they’re the smaller ones. So we arrived in this Yankee Station as part of a task force, and then we would be called into formation by the superior officer who was in charge of those operations, which weren't us. [44:59] So, big picture, the carriers are there providing support for troops on the ground, or striking targets in North Vietnam, the base where the aircraft are conducting military operations and then you’re there to keep everybody fueled. Right, there were some other ships in there, and there were some guided missiles, and I can talk about a little bit of a couple of ships I had never ever seen before that we were actually able to refuel that were actually providing a lot of that firepower. Now let's go back to the Laffey, you had the destroyers in there and they’re doing the same things now that we’re actually in war. So that training that I had on the Neches going back to the Laffey, I now saw both sides of the �equation. They may be firing at certain times, they would go in closer and maybe provide firepower into the coastline and then the air wings would take off and go in and provide additional strafing runs into the country, I can see that, but I can’t speak to what actual firepower destroyers were giving, they would be doing that. A cruiser now and then, the big boys were around--not many of them. You would have that and then you would have others. They’re amphib vessels. You’ve got cruisers you've got destroyers, you've got amphibs, you’ve got carriers, you’ve got minesweeps, and you get river forces, so you could probably break down at least seven to ten task force groups. So if you can imagine the war now having 7th fleet operations, but 8-10 task forces, and how do they all come together. I never appreciated that actually until you asked me to go back and do a little research, and when I saw it, it was like how and where did those plans come from, and we would sometimes ask those same questions. [47:02] From your perspective onboard the ship, if you have to refuel, say, an aircraft carrier, how do you do that? What’s your job? There were a few that were pretty special in this, so I listed some of the carriers that we actually--I think the ones that I remember, there are two or three that I remember specifically. I do remember the Kitty Hawk, that was CBE 63. That was one of the first carriers brought into Yankee Station. Another big one, number two in this, was the Ticonderoga. These are the first responses. This was I think CB 11. That was an Essex Class, the Kitty Hawk was a Kitty Hawk Class, and then the third one, which was the only one we ever saw, was the Enterprise Class, which was the USS Enterprise and nuclear, only one. I do remember that coming alongside, and here we are at a 500 foot Oiler, steaming along. You had to be given orders on the speed, wind direction. Don’t forget, at any one time they might be flying, so this was not “let’s pick the smoothest” no you had to pick, get a certain amount of headwind off the front of that aircraft carrier so they could launch planes. You’d probably be doing this in the night. Then all of a sudden, how does a USS Enterprise come along close. I was so impressed with the ship handling of these care. So if you can picture, our operations were on the deck. So up in the front you’ve got the bow and you’ve got where the conning tower is for the oiler, and you’ve got the bridge and all that in communications and that sits up front. Then you go back and you get all this massive amount of tankage, and then you’ve got the stern. So we’re right in the middle on the deck. They have the ability to steam in, so you’d be steaming, you had to steam at probably a minimum of 12 knots, but it wouldn’t take them forever, they were not steaming at 13--it would take hours to catch up--they’d be steaming at 25 and know when to shut down. Just go into neutral, and then go in reverse and slow those engines down. It was the most impressive, and then you would look out: one deck, two decks, three decks, four decks, five decks, six decks, seven decks, eight decks. Then you realized, even though you thought you were on a big ship, my goodness gracious, that was the Enterprise. The operations for the carriers always concerned me, because you’ve got a lot of water that’s bouncing off that hull, and it would all wash back on this. We always practice Man Overboard drills, because besides the fact with a life preserver, getting a chance to get washed overboard was pretty easy. There was damage control and, really where all the operations were. You could get inside on the deck in the area where you could have some safety, but for the most part you’re going around, turning bowels. �[50:46] The interesting piece in doing that is that wasn’t the first ship that was toward the end. You then had to figure out all of this: how do you get these hoses over to the other side, they would always take their fuel, basically in the floor of the ship and the aft of the ship. It wasn’t just one, you have to send several lines aboard. Then you have to look at are you taking AB gas in addition to JP5. Ships like the Kitty Hawk would take bunker fuel to run on and then they want their AB gas, and you’d have to make sure, again, all those samples of all those fuels are right and then you’d have to send over. We’d shoot lines over so that was it with a rubberized kind of arrow, and it would go over. And we’d shoot these and there would be a line attached so then the line would come across, then you’d have to have, on both sides now, the ability to put up a fuel line and run it across. So this is like “can you hit the mark in the middle of the night and do all this stuff?” So we got guys that were really deck hands that were really good. They loved that. They loved the ability to go shoot at one of these big carriers. We tried to lighten it up, but you could see the seriousness of all of it. We also would take on destroyers. To the portside we’d go on to the starboard side. The dual operations were extremely difficult because now you’ve got four lines out. The most difficult thing is the pressure. These things are stoke with a lot of pressure and if they're not clamped on right, you’re gonna paint somebody black. That happened, not so much with us, but you’ll see ships that had a good dose of bunker fuel. So that was one of the issues. They maintained big pressure hoses and then once that fuel was aboard, you had to drain then right, and then bring them back right, and not drop a whole lot of this stuff into the water or on the board or side of ships, and make it as clean an operation. [53:03] For me, the first couple of times was just watching it happen. Thank goodness we had a great chief and great deckhands because they’d done this before, I hadn’t done any of this before, I got better as the replenishments went underway. Did you do any of the hands-on stuff yourself, would you get down and use the valves at all, do what they were doing? Oh for sure, cause you always wanted to participate, but I didn’t wanna take over somebody else’s respect. My job is I would always work with the chief, and I do remember that, with a sheet of paper to trace the lines because I just mentioned we have all these tanks, which one’s being drained at what time? I would kind of do a chalkboard thing and walk around to make sure we’re actually pumping from that and the pressure’s right. I was always there to trace. Then the question is “what happens when one tank is empty and then you have to shift to another tank?” Just to give people perspective, these ships, when loaded with fuel, they would hold, the Neches--by the way is the most decorated fleet tanker in US Navy history. It was commissioned in 1942 and went to rest in 1970. Most decorated--I did not know that till I did some research. It contained the following characteristics. It was what they call a Mattaponi class oiler. There were several classes of oilers like classes of aircraft carriers. Named for the Neches river in Texas, 242 officers and enlisted, so it had a fairly large complement. Displacement 22,445 tons so it's a fairly significant size ship, 520 feet in length. Still small compared to a carrier, but larger than most of the other destroyers and everything else. Beam 68 feet, flank speed 16 knots. Now one of the reasons were reliability, single screw, but a sitting duck. But the most reliable you’d ever see. And that’s why this was, probably weathered so many different campaigns for the Navy. I do remember that, maneuverability. We did all kinds of Man Overboard drills and competed with �one another on the deck and tried to do different formations. But the final disposition was sold for scrapping in December of 73. It took on a lot of fuel, so it would be over 35 feet in draft, fully loaded. When all the fuel was gone, we would offload all that fuel, we just come up like a floating top. So now all of a sudden you’re riding 10 feet versus over 30. Very interesting, right? You get a chance to ride in many different feelings and perspectives, we would stay out for every time for probably 30 plus days. In that timeframe, over 30 days, we would do, on average, probably 30 to 35 replenishment, and then we’re emptying and back. [57:00] While you’re out on duty, did you have to ride through any typhoons or bad storms? Yeah, I remember some well over 20, 25 feet. Which today is, if you watch some of these fishing, that’s nothing today. But it is when you’re doing replenishments and being told what formations. When we weren’t doing that during the day, you would get replenishments as well. Those were for the major ships, but as time passed, cause we did this month after month after month and then going back to Subic Bay, we’d be called out, even though it would take you’d go back in after 30 days from probably one to two, so that’s why my time was limited. So while they all get a good meal, every once and awhile I could sneak off the officers’ quarters and do, but Subic Bay is a tough area, so even though you look at it at user-friendly, it was a very different time. That was very memorable as well as some of the impressions that I was giving. The Filipinos in the Navy were just great because a lot of those were stewards on board. I remember being taught how to eat Gilly Gilly which is interesting pieces of rice and fish and Anissa. It was the culture side of this started. All of a sudden, you got all different people with all different backgrounds, all in this thing. Not quite sure why we’re here, what we’re doing. The routine sorta helped, so for me “okay, now we’re done, now we go back.” Every once in awhile, we’d be called back before that, two days. Alright, well let the first part of the crew off for one night, and another off, let some off two nights. We’d get called back out because of the need. We were prime time for this, at least in the northern part. Then we had a chance to even go in further as the months progressed. That became a routine that was helpful to me. If we could perfect that routine, which had its degrees of difficulty, I don’t ever remember exactly how many but for the months we were out there you can start adding them up and start looking at the types of vessels and then you realize how much fuel we actually, you know. [59:24] What were the dates of your service on the Neches? I came aboard in March-April of 66 and their tour came back in--actually released in June of 67 Over the course of that time, does most of the crew and ship’s complement remain the same? (Christopher nods his head) So it’s not like the army where everybody is going in and out on their own one year calendars and cycles. So you have pretty much the same group of people that you’re working with the whole time. I did receive a spot promotion in December of 66, while there from ensign to Lieutenant JG. �What impression did you have of the other officers? The captain or the ones you actually worked with? Some I remember very closely because I worked with them. Others, like on the supply we had people that would handle that side, I wasn’t quite as close with, but you had a close-knit because besides refueling, I also stood in as an officer of the deck. So now all of a sudden, not only am I doing the cargo but I’m also.. Now when the replenishments would come, I would come off the deck and an officer would come up. I do remember those days very well, from ship handling as well. From quarterdeck, then going to the officer of the deck, then from cargo field school, now I also was an officer. Actually, that’s almost like a job in itself because you would be on for four hours at a time and then off depending upon what. But sleep: you had to have a routine because, just picture you were up early in the morning standing your duty and by the way that night we’re doing underway replenishments for most of the night, so a little sleep deprivation every once in awhile, but you just learned to live through it. We were all young back then so we don’t worry about stuff like that, but I do remember juxtapositioning both those two. [1:01:49] What was the captain like? Captain Millar, great guy. Most oilers take on what they call “four stripers” as full captains so they rotate. He had both line duty, also shore duty, and he was very well experienced. He set the very right temperament and I can’t, we should talk about temperament a lot. It’s very difficult when you’re in 90+ degrees with 90% humidity to look your best, but you also didn’t wanna look like you didn’t care to be in the Navy. It was this balance, and he set a very good one. He also was very congenial, I do remember him as expecting, if he gave an order, for you to carry it out but he wasn’t micromanaging you, which in this case: absolutely you don’t want. Micromanaging this kind of operation-it’s the reliance on how everyone fits together. He did, I remember, put us through some good, challenging drills together. Those were good. There were a couple of ship handlers that definitely, among, there was a crew of us that could do many of this, because he had an executive officer and administrative officer. So you’ve got a number of those that are very well experienced and a crew of lieutenant JGs and lieutenants that have, cause don’t forget you’ve got armament, you’ve got people who have this capability too. The shiphandlers were good, I grew into being a better one, I wasn’t terribly good because--question: we dropped these big nothing more than wooden crates over the side and that would be all hands on deck Man Overboard. [1:03:45] And you would be challenged to be the first one in the shortest time frame to turn the ship around and bring it alongside. Number of ways to do that, and that was a competition I do remember that. I remember not coming in first, I remember not coming in last. I learned a lot from those types of “okay we’ll have all the OODs up on the deck here” and you would assume those if you just don’t walk off. Every watch you go up to be relieved, so there was a time frame 15 minutes before the watch actually happened where they would tell you to sea conditions: anything that’s happening in formation, what to expect in the next 24 hours, all the sensitive radar. You would get that total picture, so you don’t just walk up and take over. Then you’d have to salute and say “I assume the deck” and then the question is you can assume the deck and the con, which is the conning tower too. So there’s two pieces to that. Then if you are assuming the deck and the con the person that you have to--there are a certain �set of orders that the captain knows before he goes to take rest, that if you alleviate any of that or change any of that, you have to call him for that change. I remember doing that a few times, but you would want that captain to try to get as much rest as possible because now it isn’t just me. Think about all the other operations that he has to be sensitive for too. But we had some very very good times on board. We had spent Christmas at sea and shuttle Christmas trees and take back brass. Take mail out and shuttle people around, so it was a very lively time to do a lot of different things. [1:05:31] Now, did the routine kind of wear on people after a while? If you get to the end of that 30 days, is everyone kind of getting crazy? Well not for the first time, not for the second time, but if you keep doing these month after month. We actually had to go down for a little bit because some of the gun mounts. So we had to actually go back in Japan for a very short period of time to get some work done so that’s all scheduled. No question, it’s wearing. Most of those people, again the Neches has more than one deployment, I was not part of the other deployment. If you were aboard that ship and doing deployments one, two, and three, yeah, you could see that. There was a homesickness that started for some of those sailors that had been on not one not two but maybe additional tours of duty because they continued. It had a few more years left after but this was in phase two of the conflict so there was a discrete number of operations that they were held but i think i looked on and they were part of several of these, so that’s where the homesickness came. Tired, physical tiredness yes. Water, hydration, water was almost a premium as well, fresh water. [1:06:56] Did you have any kind of desalination equipment on the ship? Could you process seawater or did you just have to fill up at Subic Bay (Christopher nods) So did you have to take showers in saltwater or things like that on those ships? No but I remember having to talk about putting a ship on water rations and one of them was for a period of time when we actually were moving christmas trees around. Whoever gave that order we thought “if you’re going do into some of these” and it gets into some of these ships that I can describe a few of them that couldn’t come out all the way into formation because they were craft that were small like mine sweeps. Mine sweeps you’re not gonna pull off of the coastline so we actually had to get in and the hospital ships, they were in, so we actually had to figure out how to maneuver in and provide support. And then we had a few very unique ships, one of which I don’t think I ever saw again. They call them LSMRs, Landing Ship Missile Rockets which looked like a cut off destroyer and they would come out in it, you would never see those. They were always under cover, inside in the Delta. They took on much less draft. So you get a chance to see the full Navy here and experience, so physical fatigue with hydration, heat, and humidity. That is what took a big count. [1:08:37] You mentioned at one point that when you go ashore, there was at least one occasion when you got fired upon? Actually yes. I remember it was terrible storms and we were going up and down the coast, a little close, and have fired across the bow. They knew who we were so they just decided to give �us a little warning. They knew. So it was like “don’t come any closer.” When you’re on these lines and in these stations, it’s difficult with weather and rain. Clouds would definitely affect some of the radar. You knew you were in there, and you would be up near Hanoi or something like that but it would be like “but how close are we really?” and stuff like that. That’s the only time I do remember, but it’s interesting to talk about that for a minute. We did a number of exercises with our fire control. They would take, just to see if anybody actually did fire. These were five inch 38s, but never had the right fire control systems. I do remember a couple of times when they would put a sortie in over the course of the water and see if you could pick it up on radar and track it and at times that aircraft was behind us before that five inch 38 would ever track which tells you that if anybody had really decided you could take, because the systems were so old that they had never put in the new because basically its Korean and World War Two equipment that's being used. [1:10:26] And you’ve got an oiler which is not primarily a combat ship. You’ve got some, essentially had aircraft guns on there, but you’re not really supposed to be doing a whole lot of fighting so they don’t have the same kind of equipment they’re gonna have on a destroyer or something like that. From a damage control standpoint, you always wanted to know what you could provide and that always left me like “you’re probably not going to be able to do much.” That’s not the role but you have to have something if somebody came out from the coastline at any point in time of a smaller vessel, because most of the vessels that were there, a lot of fishing vessels. They’d always play games with us in the middle of the night. Try to look like we were running them over. They thought if they could, you could see them with their lights on. There’d be these small fishing fleets and they’d come out. They’d try to run across the bow of the ship as close as they could and it was always like “I presume we’re not hitting any one of these.” And the reason why they would do that, they thought the fishing would be better if they could get as close to that. There was a whole lot of different things. I could see these and like nothing you could do about them. There was always this in the night life that’s going on out there like “who are they? What are they doing?” and it’s like “oh, it’s the fishing fleets” and they’d come out and you would see these. That’s how close to shore some of the exercises were. [1:11:58] Did you go into any ports other than Subic Bay? Danang had a port in there and there were hospital ships and that’s the first time. Again, it’s very difficult to get any maneuver in these, but the hospital ships would be stationed in there, because that’s where they would take the people that had suffered significant injuries. That would be the only one where I would say that we probably made the foremost entrypoint. The other ones, we would get as close to shore as we could and then the mine sweeps would come out and the others. We had smaller replenishment gear we could actually use for that. But you’re not going ashore yourself in these places. You mentioned going to Japan, did you get to go ashore there? �I did, again a memorable experience. We were there for a short period of time and they always wanted officers that would be willing to be part of the military police, so I got a chance to be military police. That was another set of experiences because at that time, you can imagine, people had a memory of American ships. At that time you had Yokosuka, Yokohama, those were a lot of where the US had significant bases that could do repairs. You also had a population that wasn’t terribly excited to see the US Navy. So military police had the opportunity to get in and see some of the evening altercations and there were several, I do remember those. [1:13:52] At this point, was there sort of anti-war activism, or just general hostilities between sailors and locals. A lot of people talk about Japan as being a generally welcoming place, or they behave pretty well. It was, to be very honest it was very light in terms of the protesting. It was more of, I would say, our stirring up the locals than it was the locals stirring us up. There was some of that but you could deal with this. It was really our behavior. You’re dealing now with, it wasn’t just us, because you had other ships underneath repair there too. I do remember taking one tour to see Hiroshima, and it left a very vivid impression on me, because the person giving the tour was an individual who’d lost his family. They never forget that. They have some pictures where you would look at it and it was starting to be rebuilt for sure but you could see where that land looked a whole lot different than the countryside around it, so you know exactly the containment area where that bomb took place. But then to have somebody who’d actually lost his family, he felt to honor his family would be to describe what he went through and what took place. That left a mark with me. [1:15:40] A lot of Navy ships went down to Hong Kong at one point, did you get down there? Yep, and just stepping through all that, that’s where that military police. So you get to Hong Kong to get settled and then you get into yeah. So not much time there but the military police side of that is. You would see yourself as part of the police but you would be part of the Hong Kong military police, let me tell you they were no-nonsense with our guys. They were small but extremely combative. Once in action, goodness gracious. Probably for their size, the best handto-hand trained combat people I had ever seen in my life. It was a side of the equation that I had no appreciation of until we’re there for a short period of time and you’re letting those people go offboard, how they’re gonna behave and everything else. Staying aboard to make sure all the work on the ship gets done very very quickly so you can go back out on the line. I think we could’ve done some things differently to present ourselves in a slightly better way. So you’re kind of unleashing the soon to be unleashed on the town and someone cleans up after them. You spent some time sorting through the things that happened while you were on the ship. Are there kinda key things or events or incidents or impressions here that you want to bring into the story? �[1:17:12] Let me go to the tougher ones first. The tougher ones would be you’d be sailing along on Ranger Station during the day and you’d start seeing pieces of gear in the water and then you’d realize that these were ours, where are they coming from? When you first see them you’re not quite sure, and then you’d realize they were parts of aircraft. A lot of them turn out, but not all the time, to be fuel tanks. So those fighter jets that left those carriers would go out and provide firepower to wherever they’re asked for reconnaissance missions or whatever, helicopters, whatever. But they had a certain amount of fuel in those tanks and sometimes, as you know, we had no idea where some of those, I just watched the recent viewing of National Memorial Day and they had a family from Vietnam who went through all this. I watched it and it is so true that people were supposed to be at certain areas, but you weren’t sure where the area was. They were then captured, some came back, some didn’t, some died. Then you realize that the support for these people became absolutely tantamount to what you’re doing. It goes beyond fuel. So one of the biggest things we use to do is carry mail. Mail would go in there and that was just terrific, specifically for the smaller ships. Then at one point, we were just given a few Christmas trees that were actually in there, in the Delta, down at these different coastline areas and they would come out and they were just so appreciative, because they were the ones who were firing all that firepower and all that sweeping, and they were really the ones under the most difficult scenarios because they would take firepower from the coastline, we were not taking that firepower from the coastline. The only things we saw coming back were the planes. There were several carriers that experienced some significant issues. 44 died on the USS Oriskany and that was not due to anything, that was due to a problem aboard the carrier when they were launching. You would see that death didn’t occur necessarily all by enemy fire. We saw more of the ones where this came to light. Part of which is we saw a few planes not being able to get back. They were so close and you’d be praying for them, that they’d make it back on the top of that carrier. We saw a few, but that sort of brought all this to light. Like “what are we doing out here?” Then you see that’s what we’re doing out here. And you just pray to God that that pilot would be able to make it back. Most did, but a few didn’t, and you were able to get, some you weren’t, cause you just don’t know whether they were wounded as well as they tried to bring that back. That was the vividness, I guess, to us of how we saw that. Coupled with those ships that we would provide, we sent casings back, so we’d do just about anything anybody asked us to that was Captain Millar, even though it’s like “isn’t the ammunition ships those to bring back the brass?” “Yeah but when’s that next one coming through? I’m fully loaded with 38 shells.” I remember when I left I made a lamp out of mine. I took one piece of brass back and made a lamp out of it and I still have it today because that five-inch 38 was it. I mean, when you take it back that was the brass. You’d see how important that one piece of armament really was to everybody. But he was willing to be supportive and I think that’s another thing it’s like, we were supposed to do this, but we could do that. Well where in the regulations does it say that an oiler can’t take on a Christmas tree or deliver mail or take people, even though it might be a responsibility? (1:21:47) When you’re in times of conflict you really sort of do what’s needed. It gives you a full perspective. You’re out there and can see how the war really resides with those that are the pilots and in closer you would get mine sweeps and some of the other ships. The LSMR, which I still remember today is probably, if you look at some of the Vietnam movies, it’s the closest thing to looking at the bridge on one of these and seeing people in cutoff tee-shirts and armament like this, gun mounts where there shouldn’t be, but that’s what they did. I just �said “boy, that’s the closest thing that I can ever see.” Those were depicted but we didn’t have very many of those. The front end of this was just rockets. I’d never seen one of those before, you could see just by how many rounds of fire they could put off so quickly, and they needed a paint job. That was war and they could really provide great firepower. You never know the full complement of everyone out there, you had your job to do. You certainly had a chance to see casualties, you had a chance to see death, but yet you had a chance to see how everything fits together when a conflict like this takes place. I do have some even more difficult memories a little further down in the story, but that sort of gets us through where we are. [1:23:36] After we did this month after month after month, we had our ups and downs but for the most part never as many problems in the port Subic Bay as we had the first time. I still remember that, whether it was a challenge or an opportunity or whatever that was. We had a few problems with bad weather, I have the pictures that show the difficulty of those that come back and all of that. For the most part I would say we had a relatively successful tour. You’re called back for this period of time, so we were called back. I remember one of the biggest honors that I was given was to bring the ship home. So where was that, back to San Francisco? Yeah, so I brought it under the Golden Gate Bridge. Again, you would have pilots. We did a lot, thank goodness. That’s another thing we should say, because sometimes you can’t bring an oiler into Subic Bay or you can’t bring it into a port along the Vietnamese coastline without having a pilot. So I should always tell you tugboat pilots and all those crew that were part of those riverine forces along with the PBRs, which we can talk more about those, Patrol River Boats. They’re the ones that actually went up the coastline each and every day for the Navy. They probably were the best trained of anybody. To get back home you had to have to pilots, but I got it back, and what an honor to be given the opportunity to bring the ship home, at least for that watch when we got there. [1:25:33] I guess we’re generally following your story in order, so you got other sort of stories from the Neches that you haven’t gotten into yet that you want to bring onto the record. Part of them was kind of the extension of the difficulties with the military police that we had in Hong Kong, it was continued in Subic Bay. It was a very difficult spot, you can read all you want about Subic Bay, it’s a story in itself. You know, open sewage, all sorts of stuff. You can just imagine living like there with completely marginalized people, looking for handouts and everything else. Very difficult to immerse in a friendly way on an ongoing basis. We had out degrees of difficulty and we did suffer some significant consequences, but most ships had those inside Subic Bay. Subic Bay was the stopping point for all the seventh fleet activities as it was going over there. It grew, but I was always most concerned, and the stories present themselves, about the behavior that actually took place there. I saw some things that I just didn’t think I’d see before about how to treat people and that will always leave a memory too, just decency. You can talk about the bar fights, you can talk about all that, but it goes beyond. All of a sudden it was like “what’s the life value? What’s the value of a person?” At times, you would see people where there was no value, who didn’t look like they didn’t care. I’d never seen that. You’re brought up, go to college, people value things and all of a sudden “what’s the value of life?” It’s an interesting question. [1:27:41] Did you have any sailors who went into town, never came back? �Yep. And it’s known for the bars, and the prostitution, as well as crime and various things that can happen if you’re not careful. You just described it, that’s the trail. And when you would that, let’s just take that point for a minute and reflect upon it, you think you’re now in friendly territory, but what did you just say? You said they go ashore, they drink, there’s prostitution, there’s crime, and then they never came back. What’s the difference of that versus somebody who just lost their life serving out in Yankee Station? Where are we losing lives? We’re losing them in lots of places, I guess is the best piece that I can describe. I was seeing more of the other side of that than people who were actually on the combative side, although I did get a very good taste of what that was. There was more things on the other side of the equation than I ever imagined. By the time the Neches gets back to California, are you pretty close to being done with your active duty at that point? That’s when something memorable happened. I had spent time, I think I told you, with my wife and I was given the opportunity to ship over again and go to the next area of training which was Coronado Beach for River Patrol Boat. That’s what was next. My wife had the opportunity of saying if the Navy is your career, and this is where you’re going, maybe I’ll go somewhere else. So today, she’s still my strongest support, and she allowed me to continue the Navy a little bit more, which we could chat briefly about, but that was the line of demarcation for me. Although you asked me before, first question “did I have…”, and the answer is yeah I probably would’ve given it to myself. She was looking much further into this than I was, because once you get into this it becomes, I hate to say it, a lifestyle. Now, all of a sudden, I had had one lifestyle platform launching lifestyle, now I’m in the lifestyle. And of course, what does the Navy want? They want people who have had a launching lifestyle, have seen what this is, they don’t want to take on as many rookies anymore. Very very hard decision. I made it [1:30:50] How much time did you have left in active duty at that point? As soon as I said “no”, they processed me pretty quick. It wasn’t like “well let’s sit around and talk about old times” because they were preparing for their next deployment. THey also were looking for these River Patrol Boats. They usually were captained by a Lieutenant, so they had a small complement. Those were officers who usually had a warrant officer with them and in the deck. Those were the inshore river enforces, and separate task force. That was part of what could’ve come next, or staying aboard the Neches just to do another deployment. That was all in that mix. When you’re out there by yourself, she did come, my wife did come to see my ship brought back. I felt like that was a commitment. Because when you do this, you never know. There was this period of time, she made the commitment to come out and at least see. [1:32:06] Were you married at this time? No So you had met before and do you correspond while you’re on the ship? Just to stay in touch. That was not a good thing to do until you figured out whether your feet’s on really good ground or not so yes. That was the decision made back in June of ‘67. I did track my release there. Once you’re off active duty, you’re still in the active reserve then? Right, so I still have more years to finish out. Once you’re off active duty, did you go back to school, get a job? What did you do? �Now, all of a sudden, I go get married. That followed almost, you know, within the next period of time because that’s where this decision was made. I did get a job and one of the things being I had a background in chemistry. When I first came through, knowing that I might get out, I had looked at several companies and sort of processed myself. Dow Chemical was the first job I got. Now I have a job, but now I actually go for active-duty training. Now you’re in the active part of the USNR. Now I’m assigned AC-Dutra in the same timeframe, the latter part of ‘67, in New Jersey. Now I have part of a unit that is on active reserve there in New Jersey, which is where I was for my job. [1:34:02] What was your unit in New Jersey doing? This is a whole nother story and it’s bittersweet because I look back on it today not sure I made all the right decisions but there was a couple of things that turned my decision and you can share those because it's nationally known. Active duty is basically a reserve center. It’s a physical location in which you all spend a certain amount of weekends and a certain of week during the summer, a couple of weeks away. That started and it's called the Ready Reserve. After entering that, so for the late ‘60s early ‘70s, I spent summers aboard--and I think I can get most of these-- a couple of Oilers, so Caloosahatchee AO-98. Let’s see, let me get them in consequence. USS Trenton, and the Truckee, another oiler, AO-167, US Newport LST 1179. These were usually ships that were home ported, they could be out at sea or an employment. Half of them were, half of them were just at port. You would spend two weeks during the timeframe. It was all staying in a prepared readiness thing if, in fact, you were ever called up which we weren’t. That continued on. During this timeframe, in ‘69 I became lieutenant and at the same time became an administrative officer for this unit. Then I became the XO of this unit, executive of this unit, in 1974. So I was staying very engaged, I actually looked at a fitness report that I have, a couple fitness reports. You know it’s interesting how people look at you back then. I had them in my jacket, I think I told you I brought my jacket. I was looking in my jacket like “what did anybody think about this?” so I read a couple of the fitness reports. If I had really probably looked at them the way I looked, I would have stayed in and gotten my 20, but I didn’t/ The rub was this: there was about 250,000 that were in active duty, getting paid to all this, and then we had the executive order by you know what president that sort of said, “we’re just cutting back the reserves, we’re just scratching out pay and that’s it.” That took all the wind out of my sails because that means the only thing you’re doing is going down there one weekend a month, two weeks during the summer, you’re not getting paid, and what does all that mean? Cause now you’ve taken all these units off active reserve. Then you’re just pushing paper and pencils. That sort of came to light and I went in inactive standby reserve in 1978. Now I'm in a different state. So I’ve come from the East Coast Navy, to the West Coast Navy, to active duty, to inactive and so do I want to stay? I had to ask myself a question at the time “was this the best use of my time?” I made the decision I wasn’t gonna waste it. I was gonna go back and get an MBA, so that’s what I did. But I was just talking about my wife last night before I got here and I said “you know after reading all this stuff, what everybody thought, I don’t know whether I made the right decision.” [1:38:31] You did mention that the people who were the reserves were not getting paid? Right. But you were still showing up? �Had to show up. Inactive, as long as you were there, means you’re just getting your retirement pieces, you’re not getting paid for doing anything. Before you were being paid for something. So they took, under Clinton’s watch, which was starting to get in there, I believe that’s how it all started late into that period, those were the times when they shrunk the size of the Ready Reserve and shut down many of the Ready Reserve units and put many of them on inactive status. That’s where all that churn started for me and then I wound up [inaudible] Do you mean Carter rather than Clinton? I’m trying to remember. Cause Carter is ‘77. I’m trying to remember the president that decreed all this, I think I was in the reserves. When was Carter, 85? No Carter is after Ford, so Carter is ‘77 to ‘81. Alright, it may be Carter, I’m trying to remember who took it, who followed that piece right after that. You have Carter, then you have Reagan, and Bush, and then Clinton. Clinton’s not until the 90s. It may have been Carter. Somebody had taken out, maybe it was Clinton I guess, excuse me, he was the one who took out, I’m sorry I had it out of order in my mind, he’s the one who took out my brother-in-law who was a captain. He was the same issue. Got a name, his name because he stayed in for 20, my brother in law. It would’ve been this, but it was the shrinking at the time of this national, these active, what they call the act neutral programs. That’s when I had to make a decision on whether I just wanted to stay the next, because I was halfway there, to stay for these next 10 years and just do the retirement points, or whether I could use my time better and that was the decision I made. I think I was formally discharged in October of 1982. [1:40:35] Look at the time that you spent in the Navy, what do you think you took out of that, or how did it affect you? Well that’s probably worth more of the conversation than just some highlights of what you went through. Well first of all, I had no idea what the difference was between responsibility and accountability. We throw those terms away like “it’s your responsibility” but whose accountability? I learned what accountability means in the Navy, not responsibility. I could delegate you my responsibility, but not my accountability. I don’t know where I could’ve learned that lesson. Where does the buck actually stop? That’s what I learned. That was one important lesson. I would say another big lesson in that is this whole area that we talked about today is this journey. Everybody wants to reach a destination point and say that I’ve accomplished this and accomplished that. I don’t know a better set of tools that I could’ve been given that allowed me to have the journey I’ve had. Never knew that at that time. It’s a toolbox. What do you do under rapid fire? What do you do in the middle of the night? What do you do, what do you do, what do you do? Developing game plans, working with people, relying on people. I mean, it’s all there. You could put people through all the exercises, but unless you’ve done that on a consistent consistent basis. I never looked at it, I didn’t spend tours and tours, I wasn’t in hand to hand, but I’m walking away not knowing what you’re asking me today, but as you reflect back I don’t think I could have progressed on the career that I had done without having that. There were some �inspirations, my brother-in-law is retired full-captain. He was unable to make admiral, but he was a fighter pilot off-carrier, there’s a real guy. He stayed and we talked a lot. He was always kind of like, you know, you always have somebody in your family and my wife’s dad, he was the one who stormed the beach. Very quiet, both of them. You’ll learn in your family roots and so service became an important part. I don’t think I looked at service to the country like I look at it today. You can ask me a question and does it bother me what we’re doing? Absolutely. Absolutely. This sense of honor today, I don’t know how anybody even defines it when you see what’s going on. You look at these people that served and as I was saying, one of the most momentous things that I’ve seen recently is this recent PBR broadcast on Memorial Day for an hour and a half. My eyes glistened listening to those stories. Every family, school member, school kid, oughta see that. Only takes an hour and a half out of your life, listen to people. They couldn’t even tell their own stories so they used actors James to tell the stories then they had the people there. These are some that have been maimed for life and yet have rehabilitated themselves. Others that have served but are missing still today. Just wonderful stories about how our country has been built, and we seem to gloss over this today and don’t understand what honor and respect is. [1:44:42] I’m not sure, when you look back on what I experienced, I didn’t see the respect, I saw the honor of serving, but the respect I didn’t necessarily see. One vivid impression that also remains with me is, I told you that I worked for Dow Chemical first. I came out, I was given the opportunity to go to Midland, Michigan for a year and to see whether or not I was fit for duty to serve Dow Chemical. You say “well that’s easy once you’re employed.” The reason why I did that was, I came fully trained. Dow had the best training program of any other chemical company. Why wouldn’t you, if you’re a rookie, want to get trained the best? I stayed in Midland for the better part of a year before they actually allowed me to go talk to anybody. I thought that was kind of neat. What I did, my first job was in the Northeast, which is back where my area is. I remember today, walking into the Dow offices in New York and seeing on the inside of the glass windows burnt children from napalm and people maimed by Agent Orange. I didn’t recover for awhile. I was really, now you know I sort of separate myself from what I had been through, try to get myself--I always used the term, you know, I was taking, after being on active duty and having all these Navy terms, I coined my new part of my life after I left the service even though I was still active, I was “active duty” for civilian life. Well when I first went to work, that bridge fell apart because I’m now working for a company where people are out there every day of the week bringing the company down because they participated with the development of Napalm and Agent Orange. [1:47:25] Of course, when you first are joining Dow, late ‘60s or early ‘70s there’s not really much public about Agent Orange. The pictures were there, you could see the pictures. They were hung when I went in there in 1968, ‘69, the pictures of what Napalm effects had. Napalm you would see. That was immediate. That was there, you could see those pictures followed by. Those pictures were pretty descriptive and so now all of a sudden I have flash memories of a peace I didn’t necessarily see, but were a part. So that created a degree of instability because now you’re serving at home the company who had manufactured this product, what was its role and now it’s like “oh you’re gonna revisit this.” So there was a several year period in there where I had to get my sea legs back together again. I went through the same couple year period of now quite sure what I was �doing, why I was doing it. Fortunately, I was surrounded by some good people that were able to do that. Those flash memories backward with that picture still sit very vivid with me. I just remember walking up that long staircase in the city and it was glass and there are those pictures. And they were actually putting up pictures of the effects of what they made. Alright. Of course, you come back and now it’s like ‘67, then you go to ‘68, ‘69, and so forth, kinda get into the era of the peak of the anti-war movement. Did that register much with you, or did you pay much attention to it? [1:49:07] I did, but I went silent. I got kind of (trails off) I can tell you how I got brought back, it’s really because of Grand Valley and the LZ Vietnam piece. I went silent and there were so many questions that were there about why we did stuff, and we actually probably could’ve, online, come up with some better thoughts. We just knew and wondered why and, of course it’s a lot like, it was a very difficult war to fight because we knew nothing of the territory. I mean it was like, how do you do warfare along a coastline like that where you basically don’t have any experience being there before? It’s kind of like the current situations where you’re now in desert types of conditions but never been there. There was all of that. It was all a question of whether you were actually equipped to do, as we were working with nothing more than what we had previously fought with. We knew there was upgrades in technology, so you wonder where that was. Then you saw the whole issue of purpose. I didn’t really follow the war that greatly was happening south-Be careful with hitting your microphone, by the way. South in Dixie Station and starting to look at that whole area of the whole of the whole fall period, the new documentary that came out. That piece was kind of not there but very historically important, but I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to it. I just felt like I’d served, I got my feet back on the ground, I stayed in the reserves, I’d done my time, but yet I came to Grand Valley, been there for a while and then all of a sudden what happened was, you know, I got a little bit more in WGVU and then I saw a little bit more about what happened and then the LZ Vietnam came several years ago. I had never been to anything. Nothing. Then all of a sudden I went. It was very interesting, very few Navy people there, but the people I saw again brought back the service side and the pride side of looking at these people who were the combatants. The Marines were there, the Army was there, a few Airforce, not very many Navy. Then all of a sudden you saw the difference really was being made and why the war was fought. It wasn’t from everybody telling it, it was really the experience of what all those went though. [1:51:52] I don’t talk about it at all. I mean, it was a long time just to get to where we are today. I only have a little piece of this whole puzzle. I do think the service to our country is critically important and I’m glad I went through what I did. I know I was prepared, I didn’t quite know what I was being prepared for, but the preparation was there. So I took that after I got my feet re-back on the ground with some others, and I used those experiences very well, but I didn’t wind up with the haunting memories that some have had. Those memories start to come out when you see some of those people like at the LZ Michigan and they’re haunted to this day. I am so thankful to God that I didn’t have those haunting pieces. I mean, that little issue I shared with Dow, that was a flashback. You don’t wanna have too many of those, but I walked away with it with service to the country for a period of time which I learned something that I could use elsewhere. Fortunately, what I learned I was able to use in knowing how to work with people �and trying to get them set in the right direction into my business career. I stayed in the chemical industry for my life. Now it’s kind of interesting because you can talk to people who now are students and say “hey, you’re in the chemical industry” and some of them say “you’re the one” still to this day like “you’re the one that had all the pollutants and everything else.” Perceptions and images follow you and it’s fascinating to me when you talk to people who don’t know anything about the war, what image do you have in perception? And then to some that do. I still think the storytelling is what makes this whole picture the most truthful and representable account that you can find. So I commend you for taking the time in the History Project to get as many of these voices together, because voices left alone don’t necessarily give you the voice you’re looking for. It’s the collective voice that makes the big difference, because we were looking for collective voices and wondered where they were. Why were we being exposed to this? I didn’t even go into, picture this, a little flashback just came. So I’d go into Subic Bay and I knew what pieces of gear we’d need to go back out online or if we’re in a port along the coastline or something, I knew the pieces of gear. I learned the terminology I will never forget called comshaw. You ever heard of the word comshaw? [1:54:50] Don’t think so. It’s to borrow with the intent never to return. So what’s a better word for better word for borrowing with the intent never to return? Steal. From our own people. So you’d go into a supply and you’d look at stuff and if you knew you were gonna need it: take two. So all of a sudden it’s these kinds of scenarios of preparedness. It’s like “well, if you’re not gonna be prepared, I’m certainly gonna be ready.” You don’t learn that in a textbook. This is cultural, behavioral things. There’s a lot on the behavioral side of what you experienced during that time frame that I’ll never, ever, ever, forget. That was just something that came to mind. How do you, do you just put simple requests in? Oh yeah. But how do you really get stuff? You barter, you trade. Okay, that was part of the deal too. Those are all this background of experiences that you all go through, but that’s real life right. You get out online for 30 days, what are you gonna do if something breaks down? You’d better have another one. Specifically if you’re underway replenishing. Can’t wait for another valve to work, you gotta go get it. [1:56:07] Did you learn that kind of thing from the senior enlisted? Absolutely Yeah. They’re very good at that kind of thing. Oh, they were awesome. I don’t think the chief that we had aboard the oiler, I never gave him to this day,I wish I could meet him. I don’t know whether he’s alive today or what. I wish I could’ve thanked him better, cause he made me what I was. I don’t think I ever looked him in the eye and said that, but I sure wish I could. Chief Doyle. Awesome, awesome guy. He was the steady Eddy through all this like “hey tell me how does this really work.” He was there and he was the one that always made that, what we called our division. It was our division. He was the one that could always make that work, he’s in the book. I just look back and I’m saying “boy, if you have to look at somebody who really made this thing go, to your point, it was a senior petty officer. He was as good as it gets. Calm, steady under all conditions and here we are trying to jump around. So that calming influence, not only from Captain Millar, but, I mean you can’t find that. you always hear the other side. I was blessed to have some calming influence to go through what we did. Without it, now you’re in a highly reactive mode. They were being able to proactively put into you what to expect and of course the anticipation if you get it right is half the �game. “What are we gonna get for this next four hour period? What is it gonna really look like?” They were very good at that. Those are all pieces of this journey, but I guess I’d look back on it as a journey. It was one step, and a big one. You’re fresh out of college, and how you learn accountability, responsibility, all of this short order? This is how you do it. Well, I’ll tell you, it makes for a good story so thank you very much for coming and sharing it. You’re welcome. Thank you. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27_ChristopherN2129V Title A name given to the resource Christopher, Norman (Interview transcript and video), 2017 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-06-19 Description An account of the resource Norman Christopher was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey, in 1943 where he attended local public schools and graduated high school. His father worked as a Hull Secretary for Atlantic Mutual Marine Insurance, influencing Christopher's interest in naval vessels. In 1961, he attended the University of South Carolina for its Naval Reserve Officer Training Course, alongside the study of chemistry, with the idea of possibly making a career out of the Navy. While in college, Christopher was aware of the growing tensions of the Cold War, but remained largely focused on his education. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy put the tensions of the decade into perspective for him, fostering a heightened sense of awareness going forward. He graduated in May of 1965 and went on to attend Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which helped clear him as a specialist in the Navy. His first assignment came in the summer of 1965 when he was assigned to the DD724 USS Laffey. an older ship ported in Norfolk, Virginia. He recalled how his first few months of duty were challenging since the turbulence of the sea made his work difficult to complete without developing his 'sea legs.' As an officer, Christopher was then assigned as a Quarter Deck Watch Officer with duties on the bridge as well as elsewhere on the vessel. After his time on the USS Laffey, he attended a course on Cargo Fuel Handling in San Diego, California, before being assigned to the USS Neches. On this new ship, Christopher traveled to the South China Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War. He detailed how American naval carriers supported the inland ground forces with aircraft that did most of the fighting while Christopher and his vessel ran refueling missions between ships in the gulf. He also recalled having to occasionally operate in typhoons or enormous waves. While serving on the Neches, his fellow crew members remained largely consistent and Christopher was eventually promoted to Lieutenant JG on the ship. He had great respect for his Captain on the Neches and held many of the other officers in high regard, even though he did not come into close contact with all of them. Christopher also believed he became a better ship handler over time and how homesickness affected some men who had been to sea longer than others. In one instance, his ship was fired upon as a warning to discourage it from drawing closer to shore. In other instances, he recalled how local fishing vessels would travel in close proximity to the American vessels to conduct their work. Christopher did travel into port in locations such as Subic Bay in the Philippines, Da Nang in Vietnam to access the military hospital at the port, as well as in Japan where he briefly became a Navy Military Policeman. Later, noticing how some planes never made it back to their carriers or how others barely made it back, Christopher was given reason to start questioning why the United States was actually in the war. Reflecting upon the greater picture of American naval operations during the war, he analyzed how every branch of the service, class of ship, and crew assignment worked together and cooperated during conflict. Christopher described the situation in Subic Bay as relatively chaotic with large populations of marginalized people, poverty, and pollution. This made the interactions of American servicemen with local civilians tense and often dangerous due to heightened rates of crime, bar fights, and widespread prostitution. When the Neches returned to California, Christopher chose, with the persuasion of his future wife, to not pursue active duty in the Navy as his primary career going forward. In June of 1967, he was released from active duty, remaining in the active reserves, and pursued marriage as well as employment at Dow Chemical Company. While in the Navy Active Reserves, he moved to New Jersey where he became a Lieutenant and Administrative Officer, and then Executive Officer, for his reserve unit before transferring to inactive duty. Ultimately, Christopher decided the Navy was no longer the best career choice for him in favor of pursuing a higher academic degree and was discharged in October of 1982. He concluded that the Navy taught him the value of accountability, intertwining it with lessons on responsibility. He noted how there was an honor in serving, but not overall respect for being a soldier, and how he was haunted for years about imagery of the effects of napalm while working at Dow Chemical. Reflecting upon his service, Christopher was ultimately happy that he served his country. He was also fortunate that memories of combat do not haunt him as they do for many mutilated veterans who served on the ground during the war. Pre-Enlistment: (00:00:33:00) Enlistment/Training: (00:02:05:00) Service: (00:14:45:00) Post-Service Reflections: (01:40:28:00) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Christopher, Norman Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American United States. Navy. Naval Reserves Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Veterans History Project collection, RHC-27 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401. Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/98c3419a25f5e2bea453d7faf68c7d23.mp4 d19dba2d902c8213400722c20901265d https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/8b3d8f97a3a162e2c9af64966f057046.pdf 1723d5f119efc5774b84d272645ef643 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Demo Christopoulos 1:11:06 Background information (00:19)  Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 18th, 1925, at Blodgett Hospital (small hospital at the time) (00:14)  Father owned a restaurant on Michigan Street which was lost when the Great Depression hit (00:30)  House on Knapp Street was also lost During the Great Depression (00:42)  Moved to Burton Heights and father reopened restaurant (00:52)  Father opened another restaurant on Bridge Street in Grand Rapids and family moved back to the west side (00:57)  Attended Union High School (1:06)  Graduated 1943 (1:10)  4 children in family (one older brother and two younger sisters) (1:14)  Brother enlisted in January of 1943 (1:29)  Served in air force on the ground crew (primarily medical) (1:34)  Very little attention was paid to the world conflicts in school (2:22)  Registered for draft in October enlisted in the following summer for Army (4:06)  After enlisting two weeks were given to finish legal matters (5:37) Basic training (6:04)  Left for Fort Sheridan in Chicago in December of 1943 (6:18)  Attempted to join air force but was unable due to overloading (6:29)  Took a 3 day train ride to Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, Mississippi (6:44)  Basic training began January 2nd 1944 (7:57)  Learned military procedures, handling of a rifle, proper treatment of officers, night courses (8:13)  Age 18 at the time (9:32)  KP first Christmas (9:52)  Segregation of South came as a surprise (10:44)  No black soldiers only black workers. (11:50)  Furlough granted after 16 weeks of basic training in late April early May (12:35)  Denied deployment over seas because under the age of 19 (13:41)  Trained as a student cook for approximately a month and then sent to cook and baker school at Camp Shelby (14:31)  Sent back into platoon (15:48)  Left Camp Shelby for Camp Shanks in New York in December 31st (16:56) �  In 65th Division, Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion. 261st Infantry (17:05)/(18:55) The Division was often stripped of its men to replenish others overseas (17:35) Deployment (19:32)  Sailed out of New York Harbor in a convoy for England, then embarked for Le Havre, France (19:37)  One battalion (1,000 men) fit on to one ship (20:23)  Seas had been rough and many had sea sickness (21:25)  Depth charges could be heard by soldiers on the ship (22:25)  After unloaded from boat, he was loaded onto a truck and driven to Camp Lucky Strike. “a pile of tents in the snow” (23:10)  K rations where used for primary food source for 1 or 2 days. Food was delivered after 2 to 3 days. (25:01)  Camp Required several weeks to become functional. (25:36)  Other soldiers at Camp Lucky Strike had simply passed through (26:03)  Training continues (marches, classes) (27:35)  Loaded into a box car and moved east to Metz France. Unneeded equipment was left and advanced on to the Saarbrucken Area (28:16)  Replaced the 26th division. (28:48)  Stayed in a small town in position waiting for the spring push. (29:30)  During this time He stayed in a house (30:04)  The spring push took place approximately a week after his arrival. Advance began early in the morning across the Saar River(30:44)  Once on German territory, he discovered that the Germans had vacated most of the pillboxes (31:00)  Swept road using a mine detector (31:36)  Detector relatively effective however the immense amount of shrapnel on the road however made the frequent stopping impractical and it was turned off. (31:54)  Crossed the river by assault boat (33:44)  Crossed the Rhine River (34:50)  Patton Gave a pep talk to the platoon sergeants but not to the common soldiers. (36:02)  Big towns were very damaged, but small towns and the country had been left relatively untouched (36:25)  Children were more likely to contact the solders than the adult civilians (37:23) First Action (37:48)  One night while in a small village, he encountered a German offensive(39:10)  enemy tank was involved (40:41)  The air force became involved in order to destroy the tanks (42:30) �      The offensive led to the town ultimately being burned down. (43:16) The first big combat encounter he experienced (43:51) Company lost 2-3 (44:25) His squad had 2 killed and 2 wounded (44:45) Left in trucks (44:49) Witnessed the German use of the Autobahn as a runway due to the destruction of air fields (45:30) The Danube River Crossing (45:06)  Arrived the evening before the crossing (46:47)  Crossed early the next morning (47:07)  First quiet but soon had become pinned down by artillery and mortar. (47:18)  Infantry faced a lot of resistance (48:25)  Reached a building in the evening and went towards Regensburg (49:24)  Earned a bronze star in this action. (43:35)  From Regensburg his company headed towards Austria (49:46)  Arrived at the Inn River and met the Russian Army (50:00) Encounters with the Germans (50:43)  Surrendered often near the end of the war (50:48)  Young men and young boys where encountered most frequently (51:31)  Some SS soldiers had been encountered but mot many (52:10)  German where less likely to surrender to Russians than to American soldiers (52:35)  Prison camps were encountered (53:28)  The smell was terrible and the shape of the prisoners was horrible (53:40)  Many displaced persons (54:30) Post war Activity (55:23)  The unit stayed in a barn when the war was pronounced over (55:28)  Summer was spent waiting for equipment at St. Florian monastery (55:44)  Then the unit was disbanded (55:56)  He was transferred to the 9th Infantry where he spent his winter (56:00)  Last place stationed before his return home had been in Dachau (56:11)  22,000 S.S. troopers had been screened there which he guarded (56:29)  Platoon sergeant wanted to make him into a squad leader but after he had enough points by the point system he was anxious to return home (58:13)  Arrived in Germany of March of 1945 and left April of 1946 (58:35) Time Spent in Europe(59:15)  Most civilians had been relatively friendly (59:17)  Many nationalities in Austria who served in the German Army resided there (59:29) �    Germans treated soldiers well. (1:00:08) Spent a three day pass in Paris (1:00:32) Had a week tour in Switzerland whose opinion of U.S. soldiers had been relatively unwelcoming. (1:00:42) Many of the older members of his division had been sent home because they had acquired enough points according to the points system (1:01:37) Additional Memories (1:02:35)  Germans where very friendly, but desperate for food. (1:02:50)  Fishing and hunting were done frequently (1:03:03) The Return home (1:03:23)  Took a Victory Ship back to the U.S. this trip was relatively short and much more relaxing then the trip over (1:04:01)  Arrived in Camp Kilmer, New Jersey (1:05:05)  Sent to Camp Atterbury, Indiana where he was picked up by his father and brother (1:05:40)  Spent time between many jobs however most often worked in the restaurant business. (1:06:36)  Time in army made him much wiser. He wouldn’t go through it again but doses not regret the decision. (1:08:56)  Every year there is a reunion for his unit. (1:09:43) � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Christopoulos, Demo (Interview outline and video), 2011 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Christopoulos, Demo Description An account of the resource Demo Christopoulos is a World War II veteran who served in the Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 261st Infantry Regiment, 65th Division. He enlisted in the Army late in 1943, but did not go to Europe with his original training company because he was too young. He eventually sailed with the 65th Division, which joined the 3rd Army in time to participate in the spring offensive in 1945. His unit pushed through the Saar, crossed the Rhine, and then fought their way across the Danube, and ended the war in Austria. Christopoulos remained in Europe until the spring of 1946, with his last assignment involving screening SS prisoners held at Dachau. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) WKTV (Wyoming, Mich.) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings United States. Army World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2011-07-14 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ChristopoulosD1167V Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/0ef003427ed3d70bc6cbe4fe9f1164ff.pdf 6dc0aa51e7b996d9160bd80db84def90 PDF Text Text � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Incunabula Description An account of the resource The term incunabula refers to books printed between 1450 and 1500, approximately the first fifty years following the invention, by Johann Gutenberg of Mainz, of printing from moveable type. Our collection includes over 200 volumes and numerous unbound leaves from books printed during this period. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1450/1500 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Incunabula Collection (DC-03) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?language=en">No Copyright - United </a> Subject The topic of the resource Incunabula Printing 1450-1500 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-03 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource text Language A language of the resource eng it la nl de Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Kölnische Chronik. [Low German] Die Cronica van der hilliger stat van Coellen [folium 186] Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-03_186Chronicles1499 Description An account of the resource One leaf from Kölnische Chronik [Low German], Die Cronica van der hilliger stat van Coellen, by Chronicles: Cologne. Printed in Cologne by Johann Koelhoff, the Younger, on August 23, 1499. Illustrated with colored woodcut. [GW 6688; ISTC ic00476000] Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Cologne: Johann Koelhoff Subject The topic of the resource Incunabula Printing 1450-1500 Language A language of the resource de Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?language=en">No Copyright - United States</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1499 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seidman Rare Books Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Chronicles: Cologne Type The nature or genre of the resource Text https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/18f28924511d121fe894d2706e4a669d.mp4 e18ce37c0d04f9ca6e4011569249caae https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/42fa83b4249037a7282ae3c510cd570c.pdf 4b80717860cdbe278126bad57e024cbc PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans' History Project Dennis Churchill Vietnam War 1 hour 20 minutes 16 seconds (00:00:10) Early Life -Born in 1946 in Benton Harbor, Michigan -Grew up in Spinks Corner near Benton Harbor -Attended Benton Harbor High School -Graduated in 1965 -Father was a mechanic -Served in World War II -Part of the 100th Bombardment Group ("The Bloody 100th") of the 8th Air Force -Worked at a community zoo and helped his father repair cars and farm vehicles (00:02:16) Awareness of the Vietnam War -Knew a draft was coming because of the Vietnam War -Talked to his father about the service and whether he should enlist or wait for the draft -Father felt that Dennis had better opportunities in the Navy or Air Force -Didn't know anything about what was going on in Vietnam -Hadn't paid much attention to it (00:03:24) Enlisting in the Air Force -Zoo closed for the season on Labor Day 1965 -Dennis talked to an Air Force recruiter, Navy recruiter, and Army recruiter -Air Force guaranteed him a position where he could work on aircraft -Enlisted in the Air Force in late September or October 1965 (00:04:07) Basic Training -Left for basic training on November 9, 1965 -Sent to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in San Antonio, Texas -Even in November it was still hot -Shaved his head before going to basic training, so he could be prepared -Drill instructor noticed and told him that they would cut his hair even shorter -Learned how to march -Taught how to be responsible for your own security and base security -Stayed in dorms and only let in people that knew the password -Password changed daily -Remembers his drill instructor coming to the dorm and asking to be let in -Didn't know the password though, so he kept him out as per orders -Learned about the Air Force's mission -Learned about the ranks in the Air Force -Taught military etiquette for enlisted men and officers -Don't refer to sergeants and other non-commissioned officers as "sir" -Only refer to officers as sir (2nd lieutenant and higher) -A lot of physical training -Weighed 223 pounds when he started training and at the end he weighed 190 pounds -Basic training lasted five weeks -Because he was the heaviest man in his flight, he was made the chow runner -Meant he ran to the mess hall ahead of his flight before every meal �-Alerted the mess hall staff that his flight was coming for a meal -Had only six to ten minutes to eat each meal -Pulled kitchen patrol (KP) duty -He cleaned pots and pans, which was considered the worst job -Peeled potatoes with a short paring knife -Learned to take orders and be disciplined -In retrospect it was probably more difficult than he thought at the time -Had had a lot of freedom as a civilian, and absolutely none as an airman -Adapted to it okay (00:14:10) Technical School -From basic training he went to Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas -Learned about the mechanical aspects of aircraft -Specifically 5 Level Maintenance-turboprop aircraft -He was a 3 Level after technical school, but could rise to 5 Level -Relatively easy -Still had strict guidelines -Had fatigues you wore to school and fatigues you wore for inspection -Ironed your own shirts and pants -Trained by a retired aircraft mechanic -Learned a lot from him -Easier for Dennis than for other men -Able to finish his class work before he left school for the day -Had inspections in the afternoons, twice a week -Kept everything as unused as possible to make inspections as successful as possible -Meant walking on one side of the hall, using one toilet, one urinal, etc. -Cleaned everything by hand and with a toothbrush -Made sure everything was polished -Found the process to be trivial at the time -Learned that it was about being disciplined and following orders without question -Two men got sent to the brig during technical school because they refused to follow orders -Completed technical school in late March or early April 1966 (00:22:48) Stationed at Forbes Air Force Base Pt. 1 -At the end of technical school he received 15 days of leave -Reported to Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas -Had C-130s -Dennis worked on those -Had RB-47s (reconnaissance variant of the B-47 Stratojet) -Progressed to 5 Level Maintenance in October (or November) 1967 while at Forbes (00:24:21) Progress of Vietnam War -Remembers men discussing the Vietnam War at his technical school -Remembers one man training to be a lineman -Told Dennis that he (the prospective lineman) would only survive 3 months in Vietnam -Came as a reality check after feeling invincible and almost immortal -Never knew what happened to that man -Didn't fear getting sent to Vietnam -Still had plenty of training to do (00:27:46) Evacuations in the Dominican Republic -Helped at San Isidro Air Base during political unrest in the Dominican Republic -Evacuating people and cargo �-Stationed there for three weeks -One week before he got there, two motorcyclists drove through the base -Gunned down four or five people -Worst living conditions he ever experienced -Had to lock up planes at night -Had to deal with massive, tropical spiders -Loaded aircraft with personnel and cargo and continued to work while planes made runs -Remembers evacuating out of the base with a mix of civilians and soldiers (00:31:42) Stationed at Forbes Air Force Base Pt. 2 -Got involved with the motorcycle club at Forbes Air Force Base -Became the president of the club -Received a safety commendation for improving safety conditions in his area on base (00:31:57) Stationed in England -Did temporary duty (TDY) in England -Felt it was a good experience to be in a country so far removed from the United States -Exposure to an older culture -Flew there in a C-130 -Noisy, but it didn't bother him -Flying across the Atlantic Ocean in a transport plane was interesting -Looked everywhere on the plane to see if it had been taken care of well -Flew from Kansas to Goose Bay, Labrador to Greenland to the Azores to England -Stationed at RAF Mildenhall, England -Helped with paratrooper training exercises in West Germany -Stationed in England from December 1966 to January 1967 -The English people liked American servicemen spending their money -Got to visit London and see #10 Downing Street -Not aware of any anti-war or anti-American sentiments (00:37:02) Stationed in Taiwan -Returned to Forbes Air Force Base and received orders for Taiwan -Realized Taiwan wasn't very far from Vietnam -Given 20 days of leave -Went home and his parents threw him a big party -In retrospect, he believes they didn't think they would ever see him again -Flew from Benton Harbor to Chicago then to Seattle -Given a ticket in Seattle to fly to Tokyo then to Taipei, Taiwan then to Taichung, Taiwan -Stationed at Ching Chuan Kang (CCK) Air Base near Taichung -He was assigned to the tire shop -Disappointing assignment, but worked with good men -He was part of the field maintenance squadron at the base -Had an electronics shop, avionics shop, hydraulics shop -Did general maintenance for aircraft on the base -70% of the personnel and aircraft was American, the other 30% was Nationalist Chinese -Had hospitals -Supply personnel -C-130s -Nationalist Chinese fighter planes -Planes at CCK supported operations in Vietnam -Bringing troops and cargo to bases and outposts in Vietnam -His duty was to repair aircraft tires, or put new tires on the aircraft at the base �(00:44:30) Stationed in Vietnam Pt. 1 -Assigned to Tuy Hoa Air Base in Vietnam -Worked on aircraft sent from bases in the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, etc. -Worked in the tire shop there as well -Stationed in Tuy Hoa in the summer of 1968 for 30 days -Stationed in Tuy Hoa in the fall and winter of 1968 and going into January 1969 -Total days for that stint was 60 days -Assigned to Cam Ranh Bay for 90 days -Tuy Hoa was 75-100 miles north of Cam Ranh Bay -Flew to the Americans bases in Vietnam -Saw some primitive bases essentially in the middle of enemy territory -C-130s couldn't stay on the ground long because they drew too much enemy fire -Remembers being shot at while in a C-130 unloading cargo -Flew to Da Nang, Nha Trang, An Khe, and Pleiku -Took fire on those supply runs -Mostly mortars and small arms fire -On one supply run a mortar hit an engine -Came as a rude awakening -Took fire at Tuy Hoa on a regular basis -Had bunkers close to their living quarters -On his first night there the North Vietnamese mortared the base -Everybody got out of their bunks and ran for the nearest bunker -At Cam Ranh Bay he and a few other men watched as gunships bombarded a nearby hill -Watched as tracer rounds from the guns raked the North Vietnamese emplacements -While at Cam Ranh Bay he was on the recovery crew -Not a bad job -Helped unload planes -Sobering to handle the body bags -Realized that body bags took priority for transport -Learned to view the body bags as cargo, not dead soldiers -Helped maintain an emotional distance -Usually, body bags weighed around 150 pounds -Sometimes they only weighed 25 pounds -Knew that it was only an arm, or a leg that was recovered -Learned to be suspicious of all Vietnamese people, especially ones that worked on the base -Told to watch Vietnamese civilians for any sabotage or intelligence gathering activities -Remembers watching an old man counting his steps to measure the runway (00:59:56) Downtime in Taiwan Pt. 1 -After every temporary duty in Vietnam he received time off -Went to bars in Taichung -Bought a motorcycle in Taiwan and shipped back to the United States in parts (01:00:50) Stationed in Vietnam Pt. 2 -The first time he went to Vietnam he was selected to go -Wrote his parents telling them he was being sent to Vietnam for a little bit -His mother had the local newspaper run an article on his service in Vietnam -Volunteered to go back to Vietnam, twice -Got paid “hazardous duty pay” and didn't have any taxes taken out of his paycheck -Out of his fifteen months at Taiwan, nine of those months were spent in Vietnam �(01:02:46) Downtime in Taiwan Pt. 2 -Didn't leave the island for leave or R&R -Did visit Sun Moon Lake -Scenic resort area in Taiwan (01:03:25) End of Service & Coming Home -Received an early discharge -89 days earlier than expected -Boarded a plane in Taipei and flew to Japan then on to McChord Air Force Base, Washington -Discharged from the Air Force at McChord -Remembers seeing protestors outside of McChord Air Force Base -Didn't know what they were protesting -Learned that younger sister was part of the anti-war movement -Told his parents he was in the United States -Caught a flight from Washington to Chicago -Took off at 10 PM and landed in Chicago around 3 or 4 AM -Stewardess sat next to him for part of the flight and talked to him -Told him that there were hostile anti-war protestors and to expect confrontations -When he landed at Chicago's O'Hare Airport there were anti-war protestors -Possibly Hare Krishna followers -Saying anti-war slogans at him -Ignored their insults and protests -Parents picked him up at the airport and brought him back to Benton Harbor (01:11:16) Life after the War -Tried to blend in with society -Friends talked about the war in a negative light -He agreed that too many people were dying because of the war -Wasn't sure how he felt about the war's mission -Always felt that his friends seemed displeased that he had served in Vietnam -Went to work for the Whirlpool Corporation near Benton Harbor in September 1969 -Coworker made negative remarks to him about Vietnam and his service in Vietnam -Gravitated toward coworkers that were veterans -Had trouble adjusting to the flexibility of civilian life -Still wants things to be in order -Had been offered $7,000 to reenlist in the Air Force, but declined -Wanted to get back to Michigan and his family -Met his wife in October, or November 1969 -Got married in 1970 -Considered reenlisting for the money and the benefits -Wife supported his decision if he decided to reenlist (01:17:46) Reflections on Service -More disciplined -Wants things to be orderly -Respects and views military personnel and veterans in a different way -Know what they went through, and go through being in the military -Part of a long family tradition of military service -Son served in the Air Force for 20 years -Relatives served in the Civil War, World War I, and his father in World War II -Believes there is more respect now for veterans and is happy about that � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ChurchillD1026V Title A name given to the resource Churchill, Dennis Ray (Interview outline and video), 2015 Description An account of the resource Dennis Churchill was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan in 1946. He enlisted in the Air Force in late September, or early October 1965 after graduating from high school in that same year. He received basic training in November 1965 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas and mechanical training at the Technical School at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. He was stationed at Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas and did temporary duty assignments at San Isidro Air Base, Dominican Republic and at RAF Mildenhall, England. He was reassigned to Ching Chuan Kang Air Base near Taichung, Taiwan and while there served multiple temporary duties in Vietnam. While in Vietnam he was stationed at Tuy Hoa Air Base and Cam Ranh Bay and made supply runs to the major American bases in the country. After his time in Vietnam and being stationed in Taiwan he received an early discharge from the Air Force, and was discharged at McChord Air Force Base, Washington in 1969. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Churchill, Dennis Ray Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American United States. Air Force Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Language A language of the resource eng Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2015-12-08 Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5752a0125b812e8ce999b065608493ea.m4v f158fd332a1df13fd393b25e25800d9a https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/d8abc97da500f74b820aa52075355b3a.pdf 12163b5a7930c412c229649813d6257b PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University All American Girls Professional Baseball League Veterans History Project Interviewee’s Name: Jean Cione Interviewed by: Gordon Olson September 27, 2009 Milwaukee, WI at the annual alumni reunion of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League Transcribed by: Joan Raymer March 4, 2010 Interviewer: Give me a little bit of background if you will. When and where were you born, your parents names and a little of that sort of information.” I was born in Rockford, Illinois in 1928 and my parents were Vi and John and I went to school at a county school for eight grades in Rockford, Illinois. :53 Interviewer: Were all eight grades together at county?” Yes, oh no, no. Interviewer: “Then it wasn’t a small country school?” It wasn’t that small. And I was, as everybody was in those days, an outdoor “tomboy”. Interviewer: “Which means that you started playing ball as a little kid?” I started playing ball as a little kid. I played catch with the guy next door who turned out to be a neurourgeon and my mother thought that that thing that was hanging from my right hand was part of my anatomy because that’s how often it was there. 1:39 Interviewer: “That was your glove?” That was my glove. Interviewer: “And it went everywhere with you?” It did Interviewer: “You’re a natural left hander and they didn’t try to change you? A lot of people our age, young people if they were left handed, and they would try to make them switch to right handed writing and that sort of thing.” Well, I’m kind of ambidextrous. I batted right, I threw left, I write right, I iron both ways, whatever’s handy really. 2:13 Interviewer: “If you’re going to throw, it’s better to throw left handed because there’s more demand for left handed pitchers.” There are fewer of us; I guess that’s probably why. Interviewer: “what are your recollections, before there was a league, of playing ball? Where did you play and how did you develop as a ball player?” 1 �Well, I played neighborhood ball with the boys. When I was in the eighth grade I played first base on the boys softball team and since it was a county school we competed with other county schools and I earned a letter at that county school. I of course went to junior high school in the city and there was no opportunity for women back then and so I played in an industrial team league and on industrial league teams. Now, Rockford, Illinois was the largest machine tool center in the world and the town was full of factories of all kinds. 3:33 They made huge machines and sent them overseas and so forth. Well, each of those industrial corporations had a men’s baseball team and a women’s softball team. This was a large city. The second largest city in Illinois at that time and so I played then in the industrial teams. 4:03 Interviewer: “So there were sports opportunities for women in Rockford?” There were, definitely. Rockford had a wonderfully developed park system, the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana came up and set it up and Rockford was half Swede and half Canadian with a few Polish and Irish thrown in there, but they put their money in their city, so there were really opportunities for children. 4:34 Interviewer: “You said that you got a letter for playing on the eighth grade team at the county school. How unusual was it for girls to be on the school team like that?” Well, at the luncheon today, they talked about the first and I was the first. Interviewer: “That makes it unusual. In high school were there any sports you could play in high school?” They called it GAA, girls athletic association and we played among ourselves and if we did have opportunities to play with girls from other schools, with mitts. 5:24 Interviewer: “That’s right, there was a sense that girls shouldn’t be—not only that girls weren’t so competitive, but they shouldn’t be so competitive.” Absolutely, and in those days girls were short and supposed to be short as opposed to now, they step out and they are tall. 5:50 Interviewer: “They’ve been feeding them real well lately. You were playing in the industrial league when you learned about the opportunity to play women’s baseball?” Well, I was born and went to public school in Rockford, Illinois and the “Rockford Peaches” came into Rockford, Illinois and established Rockford as their home team in 1943 and I was fifteen at the time. 6:19 Interviewer: “Still in high school?” Yes, still in high school and my dad of course, who was my very best friend, took me to the ball games and I would say, “Dad, I’m going to play some day”. 2 �Interviewer: “Had he supported you as a ball player? Did you learn any baseball from him?” No. Interviewer: “He was just a fan?” Yes, he was just a fan. I didn’t learn it from him, but yes, he supported me and my mother supported me too because it was two against one, my dad and I. Interviewer: “She might as well go along with it.” Yes, she might as well go along with it. Interviewer: “Are there other brothers and sisters in your family?” I do have a sister, but she’s fourteen years younger. After they had me they had to wait a long time before having another one. 7:14 Interviewer: “Even if she had been a ball player there wouldn’t have been an opportunity like you had for her would there?” No there wasn’t, and we were very, very fortunate. We were just lucky. Interviewer: “So, the Rockford Peaches come to town and you see some games and you decide, “I’m going to do that”. How did you go about accomplishing that?” 7:37 Well, they held a tryout a couple of years later and I was seventeen at that time and Max Carey came into town and he held a tryout and I was invited to spring training. I could throw, I could hit, I could run. The finer points of the game probably weren’t very evident, but he saw something there that might be developed. Interviewer: “At that point did you have a sense of yourself as a pitcher at all yet?” No. Interviewer: “That’s coming yet. When you first learned of it—Max Carey comes to town—did you have an understanding of why they were doing it? You knew there was a war going on, but did you connect the women of the baseball with the war or anything like that?” 8:36 No. Interviewer: “That’s going to come, along with other things. So the tryout is complete and he likes what he sees, then what happens?” I went to spring training, it was held in Chicago, we stayed at the Allerton Hotel and worked out in one of the big Chicago parks and I made the cut. Probably I made the cut and went with the Rockford team because I was a Rockford girl and there’s some draw in terms of people coming to the ball game to see me. I was very, very fortunate to play under the manager who I consider the best manager who ever managed in the league, Bill Allington from Van Nuys, California and he loved the game you could tell and he was a 3 �good manager. 9:43 All of us bench sitters and rookies had the opportunity to work out every day we were home. The regulars didn’t because we played every day on a ten game schedule. From him I learned how to fly, the finer points of the strategy of the game. He sat us next to him on the bench and made sure we understood the game, all the cutoff plays, all the finer points of the game so, I was able to survive. 10:28 Interviewer: “You had time to do hitting every day?” Yes. Interviewer: “At what point does pitching become part of baseball?” Well, the league was managed more as a league opposed to individual teams and they realized that they had to keep competition close in order to make it interesting for the public so, they had what they called an allocation system and each team could protect x number of players and the rest of us were put into a pool and I went to Peoria and was their regular first baseman for a year. They didn’t protect me; they threw me into the pool “Pop Murphy” from Racine picked me up. 11:43 We had spring training in Havana Cuba that year and he picked me up and we toured up through Florida along the Atlantic coast with those particular teams all the way up and he worked with me because he thought maybe I could pitch—he saw something. Interviewer: “He saw a fastball I bet.” I don’t know what he saw, but I appreciated him very much. Those were exhibition game with two teams would travel up together. Interviewer: “Do you remember what the other team was?” No I don’t. I remember going into my first exhibition ball game and striking out Jo Leonard, who became a very good friend of mine and who I played with much later on, but I pitched, he threw me in the games, all the way up to Racine and the season started. 12:56 Rockford had some injuries as they came up through their particular area where they toured and Bill—Racine had won the championship the year before and Bill Allington asked the league if he could get some help until his pitching crew got back into physical shape and could play again, so Murphy thought that was a good idea and they could make mistakes on Bill’s team, so I went to Rockford and I didn’t make too many mistakes and Murphy wanted me back and I guess there was quite a discussion over a period of time and in order to keep both managers happy they gave me to Kenosha. 13:52 I was with Kenosha for the rest of my career. Interviewer: “You stayed in the same general vicinity, but you didn’t get to go home again.” No. Interviewer: “I’ve got a couple questions I want to ask you and it suddenly occurred to me, I haven’t asked this of other. The make-up of the team that you 4 �play on—you said he needed pitching, how many, do you remember how many were on the team? There were some bench sitters.” Yes there were. They carried at least four or five pitchers and nine and five is fourteen and I think the rosters were seventeen or eighteen players. 14:36 Interviewer: “That’s not many players, particularly if you’re playing every day and somebody is going to be a little “gimpy” once in a while. That’s not a “deep bench” as they say.” That’s probably why Bill took the rookies and those that sat on the bench and worked with them because we had to go in at times. Interviewer: “You had to be ready or about as ready as he could get you. The other thing I wanted to back up to—you said you went to Cuba and came back; do you have recollection of that time in Cuba and spring training in Cuba?” 15:13 I certainly do. Interviewer: “Share them with me please.” There was music twenty-four hours a day in Cuba and it was just wonderful. Music is something that’s very important to me and I loved it. We were taken to eat at one of the hotels all the time and the food was terrible, so most of us ate at “Sloppy Joe’s”, the bar between our hotel and the hotel where they fed us. Interviewer: “We shouldn’t assume you were in Havana, rather than assuming, the people listening later will know that the spring training took place in Havana. All the teams were there?” 15:59 All the teams were there, yes they were. We trained at the University of Havana’s facilities, huge facilities. Interviewer: “The Cubans love their baseball.” Yes they do and they came out in great numbers for the exhibition games and they were around to watch us train also. Interviewer: “Did they seem to appreciate the level of the baseball that you played?” Yes they did, we heard nothing negative and so you assumed that they accepted you. Interviewer: “I have also been told that the Cuban men were particularly impressed by the fact that these were young women out there playing. Is there any truth to that?” 16:44 Yes they were. Of course the Cuban men are very sexy, very sexy, you would have to just really be careful. 5 �Interviewer: “I’ve seen a couple of great pictures of a group watching practice. A group of young men up in the stands watching practice and waiting, I think, for the first moment that practice was over, so they could get better acquainted.” They were and after practice we generally showered—we went back to the hotel and showered and changed clothes and we hired a taxi and he would come and pick us up and take us all over Havana and make sure if we got thirsty we would have a “cervesa” (for the non Spanish speakers, “a beer”) and we saw a tremendous amount of the poor and the rich in Cuba. 17:56 Interviewer: “This is out of context with the story of your baseball career, but it’s an interesting topic. Your horizons were significantly broadened by the travel opportunities that came with being a baseball player.” Absolutely. Interviewer: “Not only just in terms of seeing places, but seeing other people and other culture and maybe parts of –the poor as well as those better off and just a better understanding of humanity in a sense.” That’s right and appreciated it. Interviewer: “It carried over later in your life?” It did, I think it did. Interviewer: “We may get back to that later and think about that a little bit more, so this is 1947 and you could throw hard, but the world is full of people who can throw hard, but they can’t hit what they’re throwing at.” 19:02 I have a funny story to tell you about that. Inez Voyce, she was a left-handed first baseman. Interviewer: “For the Grand Rapids “Chicks” among others.” And South Bend, the South Bend “Blue Sox” and somehow or other she trained, she was trained with us at our particular area of the ball park and Bill Allington came over to us, the two of us, and he said, “you two, I want you to go out there in left field and play catch until you can throw the ball where you’re aiming, you just get out there and work on it”, and I never ever forgot that. Inez and I share that story together. 20:00 Interviewer: “And it worked.” It worked, yes. Interviewer: “Before we move on from Bill Allington, if someone were to say to you, “I want a short capsule description of him and his personality, behavior--why was he so good?” 6 �I can only give you from my perspective. He was so good number one, because he really cared for the game. He instituted many plays that often other teams didn’t use, for instance, just hitting the ball on the ground and the runner on first base going from first to third, you know, those kinds of things. That’s what made him good and he cared and I just really liked him. 21:10 Interviewer: “Big man, small man?” Very wiry and medium height. Interviewer: “Loud, quiet, soft spoken?” It depended on whom he was talking to and what he was saying. I can’t say he was loud or gregarious, he wasn’t, he tended to business and I liked that because that’s the way I was brought up. Probably brought up too much that way, really focused on what I was doing and he was really focused on what he was doing and he expected you to function that way and that’s why I think he was good. 21:59 Interviewer: “Now, do you have a recollection of the first league game you pitched in? You were pitching in these exhibition games up north.” That’s very interesting--you know I don’t, I do not, I don’t remember the first league game I pitched in. Interviewer: “Are there other games that stand out over time? Some play off games?” My no hit no run games stand out in my mind. Interviewer: “Gee, I wonder why that is?” A twelve inning duel with Ziggy, Alma Zeigler from Grand Rapids. I don’t know why they stand out that way. Interviewer: “Let’s talk about those no hitters. You had two no hitters in a very short period of time.” That must have been a good year. 22:50 Interviewer: “Yes, I guess, so there’s a superstition in baseball that you don’t talk to the pitcher until they give up a hit. If they get deep into a game you leave them alone and no one mentions the fact that there are no hits. Did the women follow that same kind of superstition?” I think so because I don’t remember discussing it or anybody saying anything about it. Interviewer: “Did you have a notion what you were doing?” 23:15 Yes. 7 �Interviewer: “Any moments in that game that stand out where they came close to getting a hit?” No moments stand out, sorry. Interviewer: “Ok, that’s ok, sometimes you’re so lost in the next batter you’re not thinking about anything else. There was two of them up, roughly that and you have to feel pretty good about yourself at that point, you’ve got this pitching thing figured out. I think it was. Well, I’ll tell you something, if you didn’t feel good about yourself, you didn’t last in that league. Interviewer: “Do you want to expand on that a little bit?” 23:57 Well, you had to have confidence, you had to think that every time you walked out on that mound, you walked out on that mound for one purpose and it was to win that ball game, and if you didn’t have that confidence—athletes cannot perform unless they have that confidence and some people call it cockiness and whatever it is, if somebody asks you, “are you good”, you say, “you betch ya”. Interviewer: “I can strike you out. Describe yourself as a pitcher would you? What did you throw? What were your strengths and if there was a weakness, what was it?” 24:46 I was primarily a power pitcher. I developed a cross fire where I stepped to first base and brought it in right under your ribs. I was not afraid to work the inside of the plate. I had a changeup and later in years, I developed a two fingered knuckle curve and obviously that’s a ball that’s thrown with a spin on it and when it loses enough momentum, it falls off and I was left handed and that was good for pitching against some of the very, very good left handed hitters. 25:41 Interviewer: “A cross fire’s a pretty effective pitch against some of them too.” We had –I do remember this—In one of the games I pitched in Kenosha, an Umpire, his name was Remo, his last name, was behind the plate and he caught every one of those cross fires and called them strikes and sometimes that’s hard for an Umpire because it catches the front of the plate and by the time it reaches the back of the plate it’s in the sand and that probably was very important to my further development as a pitcher. 26:26 Interviewer: “It gave you confidence to keep throwing. It’s a pitch—you say it starts out from the first base side and if it’s a left handed hitter their tendency is to lean back or away from it and a right handed hitter, their tendency is to think it’s coming inside at them and you’re right, if you throw it right it comes right across the front left hand corner of the plate and it’s still a strike, but the catcher is reaching beyond the strike zone to pick it up and they will miss it.” 26:47 8 �They will because it’s very easy to miss. I had some Umpires that did miss them and I didn’t like it. Interviewer: “Did you ever get in an argument with an Umpire?” Oh sure. Interviewer: “Ever get thrown out?” No, not that big of an argument. 27:16 Interviewer: “What was the quality of the umpiring in your mind? Your standing up—pitchers have a particular perspective on umpiring, that’s for sure, how would you assess the umpiring in the games you played in the league as you saw it?” I think it was very good. I think it was very high quality. They’re going to miss some stuff, but we didn’t let them know that we thought that they were going to miss some stuff, they were going to, but I think the quality of the umpiring was excellent. 27:54 Interviewer: “Which is probably not a bad idea—attitude for a pitcher to have going out there. Think of the Umpire as your friend and if they sensed that at all, they just might become your friend. As a hitter I always felt that way. Any teams that you felt a special rivalry with at all?” Well of course I always felt the rivalry of Rockford. I welcomed going into Rockford and beating them and they were very, very good, very good. I played with Rockford my last year in the league and many of them became very close friends, but that was the team that I welcomed pitching and playing against. 28:53 Interviewer: “It makes sense, if you can’t play with them then the best thing you can do is to go in and beat them.” That’s right, that’s right. Interviewer: “Talk to me, if you will, a little bit about travel. How you go t around, the teams were fairly close together, but you still had to get from one town to another on short notice sometimes.” In 1945, when I played with Rockford, we traveled by train, the Illinois Central out of Rockford into Chicago and then changed trains to other locations; New York Central up into Michigan and that was wonderful. Travel by train was just super. Well, the league figured out that if they had their own buses it would be cheaper and more efficient. If we had a trip from Kenosha, Wisconsin to Grand Rapids, that’s a long trip and we would leave after the ball game and stop somewhere and have dinner before we left Kenosha and then you traveled all night. 30:12 It was much more efficient for the league to go by bus travel. Big buses and they were comfortable. Interviewer: “No sleeping berths though on a bus.” No sleeping berths. 9 �Interviewer: “You had to figure out your own way to get comfortable.” You just had to kick back and do what you could. Interviewer: “Now, when you got into—as a visitor coming into a town, you’re in that town for three or four games, something like that, did you stay in hotels, did you stay in homes?” 30:52 We stayed in hotels and we stayed in the best hotel in that town, yes we did. Interviewer: “At that point the league took care of you in that regard.” They absolutely did. We stayed in the VanOrmin in Fort Wayne and the Pere Marquette in Peoria, good hotels. Interviewer: “They probably put you in the Pantlind in Grand Rapids or I would have to think about where else in Grand Rapids you might have stayed at, there were a couple big hotels. I know it was right downtown. 31:26 Interviewer: “Probably the Pantlind. Did the teams you played on get to the playoffs?” Once, and it was against Rockford and it was two out of three I believe. Interviewer: “And this was Racine against Rockford?” Kenosha, Kenosha against Rockford and they beat us and we were done. Interviewer: “Did you get to pitch in the playoffs?” I played first base in that playoff, you know I could hit a little bit and I often played first base or one of the outfield positions. I took my turn every third or fourth day. 32:20 Interviewer: “Yeah, with the short roster you had, a lot of them played as position players as well. Ziggy for example, was both a pitcher and a—second baseman, right and you and a lot of others the same way, if you could hit a little bit.” You had to be able to hit. Interviewer: “What was the quality of the hitting in the league? Was it more of a pitcher’s league or a hitter’s league?” I think it’s very, very similar to major league baseball now, I really do. It’s not like softball, which is a pitcher’s game; it was probably pretty well balanced. Interviewer: ”You saw some scoring.” 33:16 Right, we saw some scoring and our batting champions were hitting up into the mid three hundreds, so it was probably a pretty balanced game. 10 �Interviewer: “You played through some rules and equipment changes. The base length changed didn’t it at some point? The ball changed in size, did you like the changes as they occurred?” Yes, I did. Interviewer: “Let’s talk a little more, you tell me what kinds of changes occurred.” 33:58 Of course the pitching distance changed. The change when we went away from strictly softball pitching and it went to pitching where the hand had to be below the wrist, then it had to be below the elbow and then it had to be below the shoulder and right over the top. As that pitching changed and structure changed, the ball got smaller and smaller and of course as pitchers, we liked that. The bases got longer, the game got more like baseball and less like softball. 35:00 Much more in the way of double plays, relays from the outfield to nail them at home and that kind of thing. As the ball got smaller, the game got faster; I guess that’s what happened. Interviewer: “The skill level adjusted?” Yes, it did. Interviewer: “And there was some training and teaching going on? Bill Allington wasn’t the only one, or Allington I should say, wasn’t the only one teaching?” There were many that didn’t. Interviewer: “True” 35:29 There were many that didn’t, yes. Interviewer: “ I think Woody English comes to mind, who a lot of the players liked, as someone who paid attention and took his job seriously is maybe the fair way to put it.” Yes he did. The game, I think, was more interesting for the spectators as the bases lengthened and as the ball got smaller. Interviewer: “You played then from your first year, which was 1945, until 1954, basically the end of the league. What are your perspectives on that period when it went into decline and at some point you could see it coming. What happened? Tell me about it.” 36:21 You could see it coming. Many of the teams board of directors did what they could to cut expenses, as tight as they could, we traveled in cars, which was very poor, that was in the last year, next to the last year. Interviewer: “Packed tightly in cars or a group of cars?” It was not a good thing. Not a good thing for the players and for the league in particular. You could see the decline, your salaries didn’t go down, your meal money didn’t go 11 �down, but you could see it particularly in the travel. The fields were still kept up and they were beautiful fields. 37:19 Interviewer: “The fields were the responsibility of the local communities, at least in some cases the parks department had some role in maintaining the fields.” Well, any team I played on, we had a—I’m thinking golf, a greens keeper. Interviewer: “Groundskeeper?” Yes, a groundskeeper who took care of the field and we knew him. Interviewer: “He was with the team?” Yes, and the teams were tailored, just like the major league fields now, the fields were tailored to the team. For instance, Jean Fout, whom I consider to be the best overhand pitcher in the league, she came from tight from over the top and they built the mound up for her. 38:14 Interviewer: “So she was even taller out there. Of course, if you were an overhand pitcher and pitching there, you at least had that same mound to pitch from.” Oh yes you did, that’s true. Interviewer: “Did some of the teams water down the area in front of home plate a little bit?” Yes Interviewer: “Let the grass grow a little longer in the infield?” Yes they did. Interviewer: “That’s been going on for a long time hasn’t it?” Yes it has and we took advantage of that. The grounds keeper would work with the manager and the fields were tailored to the home teams strengths and weaknesses. 38:52 Interviewer: “I said earlier that one of the people I talked to about pitching suggested that there were things done to the baseball. What she talked about was an accusation of one team put the balls in the refrigerator before that game just to make them a little deader. Did you ever hear of such a thing?” No, (laughingly), never heard of it. Interviewer: “Did you ever hear of any pitchers that would doctor the ball a little bit?” No. 39:28 Interviewer: “Certainly men were accused of such things.” I know. A friend of mine, who is an athletic director at one of the universities in the west, said that in one of their publications there was an article by an Umpire and his name 12 �was Petrangeli, and he said that he threw me out of a game for throwing a spit ball and I said, “that’s ridiculous, he must not have had too much to say and he had to pull on something”, but he was a Kenosha Umpire and he umpired a lot of my games, but I was never thrown out. 40:16 Not even for arguing. Interviewer: “It’s a fine line sometimes to how far you can go and what you can say and what they’ll listen to and tolerate and what they won’t.” That’s right. There was not a whole lot of foul language in the girls league. Interviewer: “I hope not. There were some women who did get tossed, had pretty fiery tempers.” Oh yeah. Interviewer: “I can’t think of her name all of a sudden, she played for Grand Rapids and all I can think of her is the blonde from Arizona.” California and she’s gone now—it will come to me. 41:06 Interviewer: “It won’t come to me right now either.” She was from California and she’s gone now, she died of cancer. She was very good, but she was fiery and so was Faye Dancer, from California. Interviewer: “Not afraid of any Umpire.” Interviewer: “The league is coming to an end and travel is pretty miserable, pay didn’t go up—to what do you contribute that decline in revenue that they were grappling with? That means fewer fans, what was happening to cause that?” I think it was a combination of things. The war was over, the entertainment was available and the entertainment dollar was spread around. You could now go into Chicago and see the Sox or Cubs play and the pros that played were retiring and they were bringing in top-notch softball players and they couldn’t adapt fast enough to the game. And there were mental errors and people don’t pay to see that. It was really a combination of things. 42:35 Interviewer: “If it’s sloppy they don’t like it. Did television play any role?” It was barely started because I remember—I was going to undergraduate school in the off season and I remember grappling with either working on what I should be working on or watching the television, but I remember a little tiny screen. I don’t think television was a factor. 43:10 Interviewer: “Ultimately television played a role in the decline of the minor leagues in men’s professional baseball, but it was a little later. Unless you’ve got something more you’d like to say about your career that I haven’t thought to ask you about, I’d like to move over and talk about your post baseball career a little bit. What did you do after baseball?” 43:37 13 �Well, during the off-season I went to undergraduate school at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, and seven miles from Ann Arbor, that big school. Interviewer: “How did you pick Eastern Michigan, you’re over here in Wisconsin?” Well, Eastern Michigan was ranked the third best women’s physical education school in the country and that was my field of study. I went to Eastern Michigan and got my Bachelors degree and began teaching in the off-season in the public schools. I taught ten years in the public schools. I taught in Trenton, Michigan for four years, that was my first job. I taught for four years in Rockford, Illinois schools, West Rockford, Illinois. Then I decided after eight years that I better get my Masters, so I went down to the University of Illinois on a graduate assistantship and got my Masters degree and came back and was a department head in a new school in Rockford and then I got a cal from my Alma Mater, Eastern Michigan University, to please join them on their staff and there is no greater thrill than being asked to join the staff of your undergraduate school. 45:33 Interviewer: “Those who taught you, and you stayed there.” I stayed there twenty-nine years. I started out teaching theory of team sports, individual sports, all of those and then I did some further work at the University of Michigan, which was only seven miles from me and I did some further work in Scientific Foundations of Physical Education and ended up teaching Scientific Foundations to sports medicine people. Anatomy, Physiology, Biology Etc. and that’s where I finished my career. 46:18 I loved every bit of it. I loved the public schools, the team sports and the major courses that I taught in the Scientific Foundations. I kept me from being bored. Interviewer: “Did someone particularly encourage you to go college? Was that your own decision?” It was my own decision, my mother, like all good mothers, wanted me to stay home and get married so she could have some grand kids and she said, “Well, if you want to go to school, you can go to Rockford to college”. There was no physical education curriculum offered there, but she didn’t understand that, so I had to go to school against their wishes. 47:09 When they found out that I was serious, then they accepted the fact that I was away from home going to school. Interviewer: “You had been away from home already.” That was different. Interviewer: “Did you continue in team sports as a player for a time or involved in team sports after pro baseball?” 14 �I played one year of slow pitch and it was on a lark. Some of the professors at my university and some of them at the University of Michigan decided we would get a team together and we would do some slow pitch and it was fun. Interviewer: “The strength of it is that it’s a team sport, the weakness is that it’s not like baseball or even softball, it’s a different game. Let me now move to the final portion of all this and I’d like you to reflect on it. It has to do in a sense, the rediscovery of the All American Girls Baseball League, because I suspect you too went through that period—your friends, you may have told them your baseball experiences, but few people knew you were a professional baseball player, I’m guessing. 48:44 Been there, done that and never talked about it. Who would have understood anyhow? Interviewer: “A few, but not a whole lot, you’re right. All of a sudden though come this movie and a national awareness that there was this unique group of women and that they played baseball professionally for several years and they’re still around. They discovered you at some point again and I bet you remember when that occurred?” 49:19 Well yes, the Ann Arbor paper wanted to run an article on you and the professors at the men’s club wanted you to come and talk to them about your baseball career etc., so the opportunities were many, yes. Interviewer: “Did the young women that were in your classes want to talk about it too and get to know you a little more because of that?” No, I can’t say they did. I can’t say that they did, I’m sure that they respected it. I can remember them coming to that one year when we played slow pitch, coming to the games and watching and it always tickled me that I was able to do something that I had taught them how to do in the team sports class like catch the runner off second base and run at him and freeze him and then make the throw and I liked that because it helped me to realize that they understood that I do know what I’m talking about. 50:49 Interviewer: “Darn tootin’ you did. Reflect a little on the role that you perhaps didn’t see yourself playing at all, but as a pioneer really in women in sports and in some ways even in the larger movement toward feminism and more roles for women in our society, you are part of that. Do you think about that, you must?” I didn’t think about it at the time. Didn’t think about it at all. I supported and still support the feminist movement. When Billie Jean King played Bobby Riggs, we all got together and watched it together and the fact that P.K Wrigley insisted that the spectators knew that those were women out there playing the game by the way they acted, by the uniforms, how they dressed off the field, made me realize that that was a very important part of women in sports. 52:30 15 �Interviewer: “That’s an interesting perspective I hadn’t thought of. I always judged him more harshly for that because I thought he was, you know, because I thought he was trying to feminize, or overly feminize and take advantage of the fact and your argument would be quite the contrary. He wanted to make sure—he was making sure that people knew that these were women. He was very insightful. He was very, very perceptive—that he was and I think it was important. There was a professional softball league in Chicago at that time and they dressed in I don’t know what they dressed in—shorts or whatever. 53:20 Interviewer: “Some of them dressed in trousers almost or long pants.” They didn’t draw the way we drew. We were entertainment for the industrial workers. It was a family kind of audience—kids, women and men. Interviewer: “Do you still hear from fans?” No. Interviewer: “You get requests for autographs though?” Yes, many, many. Interviewer: “Do you ever get tired of people asking for your autograph or wanting to talk about what you did?” Yes. Interviewer: “Do you feel an obligation to keep doing it regardless?” 54:07 Sure, absolutely, I don’t have any more baseball cards, they’re all gone and I had hundreds and I have to say to them, “I’m sorry I don’t have anymore”, and you can’t get them either. Interviewer: “Somebody has got to do a reprint.” Well they did one some time ago. Interviewer: “Those of you watching, what have I left out, anything? That was an easy interview. All we had to do was sit and have a conversation. You saw the movie when it came out and you have probably seen it more than once since. What’s your reaction?” 55:03 It was fun and it was a fun movie. I can see why people would enjoy seeing it. The baseball portion of it was pretty accurate and of course they had to do some Hollywood tinkering a bit. We did not live all together in our home city. The manager did not come into the women’s dressing room under any circumstances, but those two things made the movie very, very entertaining for the average person that would go to a movie. 55:43 It was fun. Interviewer: “They did have classes for some of the women to—“ The first year, only the first year. 16 �Interviewer: “There had to be some resistance in the—not everyone—how did they respond to the fact that they were going to charm school?” I don’t know, but I can imagine—it was a big joke, that’s how they responded. Interviewer: “That’s right, you weren’t there because you came two years later and that would be my guess. It was a man’s idea, I think. to have these classes anyway and that tells you something about it. 56:25 But that reinforces the idea that P.K Wrigley knew that the aura that the players had to give off, needed to be a feminine aura or it wasn’t going to go. Interviewer: “I do appreciate your perspective that it helped women in sports. That he drew attention to the fact that these were women playing that well and doing that well. That’s a good insight and I appreciate that.” 57:09 Sometimes I get, along with the request to sign cards etc., questions that they want answered and one of the is, ”did the men and boys laugh at you in the stands and did they make it hard for you?” For some reason or other, they thought that they might. Interviewer: “Did they?” No, not at all. Interviewer: “Thank you, thank you very much.” Thank you for asking me. 17 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Interviews Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was started by Philip Wrigley, owner of the Chicago Cubs, during World War II to fill the void left by the departure of most of the best male baseball players for military service. Players were recruited from across the country, and the league was successful enough to be able to continue on after the war. The league had teams based in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, and operated between 1943 and 1954. The 1954 season ended with only the Fort Wayne, South Bend, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Rockford teams remaining. The League gave over 600 women athletes the opportunity to play professional baseball. Many of the players went on to successful careers, and the league itself provided an important precedent for later efforts to promote women's sports. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/484">All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-58)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Sports for women World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives Oral history Baseball players--Minnesota Baseball players--Indiana Baseball players--Wisconsin Baseball players--Michigan Baseball players--Illinois Baseball for women--United States Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-58 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Language A language of the resource eng Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-10-02 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-58_JCione Title A name given to the resource Cione, Jean (Interview transcript and video), 2009 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Cione, Jean Description An account of the resource Jean Cione was born in Rockford, Illinois in 1928. She grew up in the Rockford area and played softball with the neighborhood boys and then also played with the local industrial teams. When the Rockford Peaches made Rockford their headquarters, Cione tried out for the team and at age 15 joined the ranks of the Rockford Peaches in 1945 as a reserve rookie first baseman. In 1946, she was traded to the Peoria Red Wings and played first baseman for them but was then traded to the Kenosha Comets in 1947. She remained with the Kenosha Comets from 1947 to 1953 and played sometimes as a left-handed pitcher, first baseman, or outfield. Consequently, the Comets franchise disbanded in 1954 and she was traded back to the Rockford Peaches where she finished out when the All American Girls Baseball League was disbanded. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Olson, Gordon (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) Video recordings All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives Baseball for women--United States Baseball Sports for women World War, 1939-1945 Baseball players--Illinois Baseball players--Wisconsin Baseball players--Michigan Women Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2009-09-26 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/484">All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/0fffd70b37a708c2081d38994f966f45.pdf c4233264a9a32b5e0af873b4cd5b55d5 PDF Text Text <)12> FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTAC'l's AMGELA LiltD ,n. 1540 SUNDAY, JANUAl\Y 5, 197S 549-9457 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JOSE CHA-CHA JIMENEZ RECEIVES 46th WARD t.P.o. ALDERMAMIC BNDORSEME'N'l' Jose Cha-Cha Jimenez, 46th Ward Aldersnanie candidate, was endoraed today by the 46th Ward I.P.o. (Independent Precinct ~anization}. Jimenez received all votes east., the two opposing candidates who also sought the endoremnent received none. Jimenez addreeeed a crowd of 200 at t.he open House 4520 N. Beacon Street. I.P.o. ffleeting held at Hull In hie presentation Jimenet: said, •.ey stabilizing this ccmmunity, we can give the people political pc,Miltr, stop the rise in crime and organiEe the youth -- our future here -- 110 that they beCOllle preductive citizens in our society.• Jimenez pledged to be a full-time Aldenaan with a full-ti.Me Aldermanic service office. -City services are a right no matter how you vote.• He stresa~d that since June his campaign service staff had taken action on over 4,000 Comlllllflity requests for assistance including public aid, social security, legal, emergency food, medical and housing problems. Other issues that Jimenez stressed and said he would fight for are: l. Monies available through the new Housing and Camnunity Developnent kt should be used, according to federal guidelines, primarily for low and moderate inc~ housing. 2. He outlined programs to protect existing low and moderate income housing including a Landlord Security Deposit ordinance to help assure a quick repair of - MORE - �- 2 - health and safety hazards in apartments. 3. by He emphasized the protection of neighborhoods against monopolization developers like Bill Thompson and Rubloff through such measures as Community Zoning Boards and all out efforts to stop redlining in the Ward. 4. Jimenez called for protection of small landlords, owners of moderate and low incane housing, who are often unduly harassed out of existance by city inspectors and courts while slumlords go virtually untouched, Jimenez• program included special assistance to these small landlor.ds with special assistance in taking advantage of rent subsidy and other programs. s. Jimenez called for a witness protection and immunity program to get to the bottcm of the arson in the area. 6. JimeneE emphasized the fight for programs to keep existing jobs!!!, the city and reattract lost industry. 7. On education: special concern for education in the Ward with stress on hiring more teachers' aides from the communityr closer unity between the Teachers' Union and the community; the establishment of a multi-cultural library in the Ward; and decentralization of the School Board providing more community control. a. Four 111ajor prografflS for senior citizens were outlined, including a Senior Citizens Protection program which is badly needed in the Ward. 9. Programs for police accountability to the camnunity to provide better relations and the develop!llent of programs of employment, community participation and job training for our ycuth were explained. Jimenez, analyzing the incumbent•s weak Mrgin in the last election, noted that he had lost the East side of the Ward (along Lake Shore Drive) and that "his strongholds are now our strongholds. In this COllling election I know for a faet that the machine will not win in the poor white, Black and Latino sections of tbe Ward. with your help - they will not win at all." - MOM! - And �This is a winning carapaign. we•ve registered .' 2, .-00 people to vote, and by January 28th we plan to reach our goal of registering 5,000 people.• described his extensive volunteer precinct structure: Jimenez "We have 951 of our precincts covered, and s01ne with as nia.ny as 10 t~ 12 workers.• After the I.P.o. endorsement was announced, the session ended with a standing ovation and the crowd broke into Jimenez• campaign song, The D!lwning of a - 30 - BACJCGROUNt> INPORMATI01' ATTACHBD New Day. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Young Lords in Lincoln Park Collection Subject The topic of the resource Young Lords (Organization) Puerto Ricans--United States Civil Rights--United States--History Lincoln Park (Chicago, Ill.) Personal narratives Social justice Community activists--Illinois--Chicago Description An account of the resource Collection of oral history interviews and digitized materials documenting the history of the Young Lords Organization in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Interviews were conducted by Young Lords' founder, José “Cha-Cha” Jiménez, and documents were digitized from Mr. Jiménez' archives. The Young Lords in Lincoln Park collection grows out of the ongoing struggle for fair housing, self-determination, and human rights that was launched by Mr. José “Cha-Cha” Jiménez, founder of the Young Lords Movement. This project is dedicated to documenting the history of the displacement of Puerto Ricans, Mejicanos, other Latinos, and the poor from Lincoln Park, as well as the history of the Young Lords nationwide. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jiménez, José, 1948- Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/491">Young Lords in Lincoln Park collection (RHC-65)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-04-25 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng spa Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-65 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 2012-2017 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-65_1975-01-05_aldermanic-press-release Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Citizens for Jose Cha-Cha Jimenez Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1975-01-05 Title A name given to the resource Press Release: Aldermanic Endorsment Description An account of the resource Press release from Citizens for Jose Cha-Cha Jimenez about his endorsement for alderman by the 46th Ward I.P.O. (Independent Precinct Organization). Subject The topic of the resource Young Lords (Organization) Young Lords (Organization) History Puerto Rican Civil rights Puerto Rican Social conditions Chicago (Ill.) Civil rights movements Community activists Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Young Lords in Lincoln Park collection (RHC-65) Relation A related resource Young Lords in Lincoln Park interviews Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1970s https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c3672f9c067170e533957d31a4cbbfe7.pdf f15d2489cc1f1ff6f14613fdd4e76f08 PDF Text Text Tuesday January 14, 1975 Dear Friends and Neighbors, Every four years, right around election time, politicians seem to produce a few services and more promises. We, who live around Wilton and Grace, know how long we have waited fo~ a stop sign on our corner. It is our children who have had to dodge cars, and our seniors who have had to hope some kind driver will stop and le~ them cross. It is unjust for us to only receive city services around election time. We have had to suffer due to this type of politician for too long. from a full-time Alderman. We need full-tJme service For this reason, we feel that we want to share with you some points of information regarding our neighborhood and the stop sign. We would first like to inform you about our organizational work. Since June our campaign staffs have assisted over 1,000 people with problems of public aid and social security; over 600 with legal assistance often providing lawyers at little or no cost; over 1,400 with emergency food orders; over 600 with transportation; advocacy and follow-up around medical problems; over 150 with various complaints to city agencies; over 400 with housing problems of which 100 have been relocated in this ward. In early June, before Jose Cha-Cha Jimenez announced his candidacy, we went to the Alderman's office to inquire about putting stop signs on the corner of Wilton and Grace. There had already been numerous accidents; and after our requisition was brushed aside, the accidents continued. �You may remember the lady who was hit while riding a bicycle, or the car that spun around and hit a pedestrian, or possibly you can remember other'incidents. Actually, obtaining a stop sign is not difficult, es- pecially if your Alderman happens to be on the Traf1ic Committee as our opponent is. the Traffic Committee. veying team. The process is one of contacting The committee then sends out a sur- After they report back, the Traffic Committee then decides if that corner needs a stop sign or not. The present Alderman did sign his name authorizing a stop sign, but it actually has been the community fighting for four years that gave us the stop sign on Wilton and Grace. Our opponent has always proven to us that only when it is in his interest does he pay any attention at all to our community. (Such as a kite flying ordinance he tried to pass, only because the kites had his name on it. ) And now the st.op sign finally arrives close to election time. We believe that the community will decide the future of our neighborhood on February 25th. If by chance you have not had the opportunity to get to know us yet or our candidate, perhaps we will be seeing you at one of the many coffees your neighbors are having for Cha-Cha. For Further Information Feel Free to Contact Us Citizens for 549-9457 Jose Cha-Cha Jimenez � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Young Lords in Lincoln Park Collection Subject The topic of the resource Young Lords (Organization) Puerto Ricans--United States Civil Rights--United States--History Lincoln Park (Chicago, Ill.) Personal narratives Social justice Community activists--Illinois--Chicago Description An account of the resource Collection of oral history interviews and digitized materials documenting the history of the Young Lords Organization in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Interviews were conducted by Young Lords' founder, José “Cha-Cha” Jiménez, and documents were digitized from Mr. Jiménez' archives. The Young Lords in Lincoln Park collection grows out of the ongoing struggle for fair housing, self-determination, and human rights that was launched by Mr. José “Cha-Cha” Jiménez, founder of the Young Lords Movement. This project is dedicated to documenting the history of the displacement of Puerto Ricans, Mejicanos, other Latinos, and the poor from Lincoln Park, as well as the history of the Young Lords nationwide. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jiménez, José, 1948- Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/491">Young Lords in Lincoln Park collection (RHC-65)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-04-25 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng spa Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-65 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 2012-2017 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-65_1975-01-14_en-aldermanic-campaign-ltr Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Citizens for Jose Cha-Cha Jimenez Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1975-01-14 Title A name given to the resource José Cha-Cha Jiménez Campaign Letter Description An account of the resource Letter to friends and neighbors about José Cha-Cha Jiménez's campaign for 46th Ward Alderman. Subject The topic of the resource Young Lords (Organization) Young Lords (Organization) History Puerto Rican Civil rights Puerto Rican Social conditions Chicago (Ill.) Civil rights movements Community activists Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Young Lords in Lincoln Park collection (RHC-65) Relation A related resource Young Lords in Lincoln Park interviews Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1970s