DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  NAVY 
NAVAL  RADIO  STATION  SUGAR  GROVE 
SUGAR  GROVE,  WEST  VIRGINIA  26815  in  reply  refer  to 
80/TMC/jmw 
5750- 
8  March  1976 
From:  Commanding  Officer,  Naval  Radio  Station  (R),  Sugar  Grove 
West  Virginia 
To:    Director  of  Naval  History  (0P-09B9)  Washington  Navy  Yard, 
Washington  D.C.  20390 
Subj:  Command  History 
Ref:   (a)  OPNAVINST  5750. 12B  of  20  May  1971 
(b)  NAVC0MMSTA  Norfolk  Inst  5750. 1A  of  15  June  1975 
End:  (1)  Annex  I  -  Copies  of  Area  Data,  Summary  of  History  and  Mission 
(2)  Annex  II  -  Copies  of  Newspaper  Articles  on  Opening  of  Station. 
1.  In  accordance  with  references  (a)  and  (b),  the  following  information 
is  forwarded  for  inclusion  in  the  Command  History  for  the  period 
of  1  January  1975  to  31  December  1975. 
(1)  Command  Organization 
(a)  LCDR  Donald  Justice  was  Officer-in-Charge  from  1  January 
1975  to  1  July  1975  when  he  became  Commanding  Officer.  He  was  Commanding 
Officer  from  1  July  1975  until  29  August  1975,  at  which  time  he  retired 
from  active  service.  LCDR  Thomas  M.  Coleman  relieved  LCDR  Donald 
Justice  as  Commanding  Officer  on  29  August  1975. 
(b)  The  mission  of  the  station  underwent  a  change  from  the 
secondary  receiver  facility  for  NAVCOMMSTA  Norfolk  to  the  primary 
receiver  facility  beginning  on  10  November  1975. 
(c)  Command  structure  was  changed  on  1  July  1975  when  Naval 
Radio  Station  (R),  Sugar  Grove  administratively  changed  from  a  fifth 
echelon  command  to  a  fourth  echelon  command. 
(d)  There  has  been  no  changes  in  location  of  headquarters, 
(2)  Summary  of  Operations 
19  February     KOI-16  (Card  Reader)  was  installed  in  the  Ship/ 
shore  facility  at  the  operations  site  for  test 
and  evaluation.  The  test  and  evaluation  was 
completed  on  1  July  1975  with  excellent  results. 
08  April        Naval  Radio  Station  (R) ,  Suqar  Grove  received 
its  I.G.  Inspection  held  by  COyNAVTELCOM. 
This  inspection  v/as  completed  on  9  April  1975. 
The  overall  results  of  the  inspection  were 
satisfactory.
10  May        At  1558,  during  a  severe  electrical  storm, 
lightning  struck  the  commercial  power  lines 
feeding  the  operations  site.  As  a  result,  43 
multi couplers  in  Wullenwebers  #1  and  #2  sustained 
major  damage,  the  air  conditioning  plant  main 
ventilation  system  was  disabled,  and  damage  was 
done  to  the  C02  fire  fighting  system.  Vital 
communications  were  restored  in  twenty  minutes. 
The  station  was  fully  operational  at  2335. 
27  May        Approval  v/as  received  from  COMNAVTELC0M  to  remove 
the  4  RLPA  antennas.  They  were  dismantled  on 
24  and  25  June  and  shipped  to  project  Clarinet 
Betty. 
02  June        The  Auto/Hobby  Shop  was  officially  opened,  but 
the  overall  project  had  not  been  completed  and  addi 
tional  construction  would  extend  into  1976. 
18  June        The  RLPA  site  north  of  the  operations  building  was 
designated  as  a  helicopter  landing  pad  and  will  be 
used  for  helicopters  to  convey  supplies  and 
personnel  to  both  the  Naval  Radio  Station  and  the 
Security  Group  Detachment. 
01  July        Naval  Radio  Station  (R) ,  Sugar  Grove  was  changed 
from  a  fifth  echelon  command  as  a  department  of 
NAVCOMMSTA  NORFOLK  to  a  fourth  echelon  command. 
The  official  title  of  the  senior  officer  at  the 
station  was  changed  from  Officer-In  Charge  to 
Commanding  Officer. 
01  July        The  Naval  Research  Laboratory  facility  officially 
closed  down  its  operations  at  Sugar  Grove  and 
turned  all  of  its  assets  over  to  the  Security 
Group  Detachment  at  Sugar  Grove,  West  Virginia. 
08  July        An  inspection  of  the  Bachelor  Enlisted  Quarters 
was  conducted  in  connection  with  the  Admiral 
Zumwalt  Award  for  BEQ's.  The  areas  covered  by 
the  inspection  team  included  administration, 
habitability,  management  and  custodial.  The 
station  received  a  74.25%  overall  rating. 
18  August       Rear  Admiral  R.E.  Rumble,  Coranandant  of  the  Fifth 
Naval  District,  toured  the  station  for  orientation 
and  familiarization  with  the  facilities  and 
capabilities  of  the  station.
29  August 
18  September 
11  October 
10  November 
03  December 
10  December 
15  December 
Copy  to:  NAVCOMMSTA  MORVA 
A  joint  change  of  command  and  retirement  ceremony 
was  conducted  by  Captain  Harry  C.  Rockefeller,  Com- 
manding Officer,  NAVCOMMSTA  Norfolk.  LCDR  Thomas 
M.  Coleman  relieved  LCDR  Donald  Justice  as  com- 
manding officer  of  Sugar  Grove,  Naval  Radio  Station. 
LCDR  Donald  Justice  retired  after  twenty-seven 
years  of  active  Naval  service  and  received  a  letter 
of  appreciation. 
The  three  conical  monopoles  located  at  the  operations 
site  were  removed  and  surveyed. 
Naval  Radio  Station  Sugar  Grove  held  a  Navy  Day 
Open  House  for  the  civilian  community.  Approx- 
imately 100  persons  toured  the  operations  and 
support  sites.   __ 
Under  the  coordination  of  the  Tech-Control 
Facilities,  NAVCOMMSTA  Norfolk,  Naval  Radio  Station 
Sugar  Grove  assumed  the  communications  requirements 
formerly  under  the  control  of  the  receiver  facility 
at  Northwest  Virginia. 
Twenty  volunteers  lead  by  LT  (jg)  Stout  departed  the 
station  at  1315  in  the  firetruck  to  aid  local  fire 
authorities  in  controlling  a  forest  fire  in 
Brandywine,  West  Virginia.  The  fire  was  brought 
under  control  and  the  fire  party  returned  to  the 
station  at  1930. 
Fifteen  AN/FRR-60  (V)  receivers  were  excessed  and 
removed  from  operations  to  be  used  as  spare  parts 
for  future  operations. 
Construction  began  on  the  bowling  alley  and  gym- 
nasium for  use  by  all  station  personnel.  The 
bowling  alley  construction  will  be  completed 
by  March  1976. 
COLEMAN 
USM
SECTION  III  -  AREA  DATA 
Naval  Radio  Station  (R)  Sugar  Grove  is  situated  in  the 
South  Fork  Valley  in  Pendleton  County,  West  Virginia. 
The  area  is  sparsely  populated  and  a  mountainous  fanning 
area  with  no  other  industry  in  the  immediate  area.   The  population 
of  Pendleton  County  is  7,031  and  the  communities  located  near 
the  station  are  small.   These  communities  are  Sugar  Grove 
(pop.  42)  5  miles  south,  Brandywine  (pop.  138)  5  miles  north 
and  Franklin  (pop.  695)  17  miles  northwest.   The  nearest  large 
town  that  provides  adequate  shopping  and  recreational  facil- 
ities is  Harrisonburg  (pop.  14,  605)  which  is  35  miles  east 
over  the  mountain. 
There  are  no  zoning  laws  for  Pendleton  County  but  the 
area  is  designated  a  National  Radio  Quiet  Zone  which  protects 
the  station  from  harmful  interference.   The  "Zone",  Sugar 
Grove  is  approximately  in  the  center,  is  some  3500  square  miles 
which  the  State  of  West  Virginia  has  legislated  to  prohibit 
electrical  encroachment  (House  Bill  #2,  9  August  1956; 
Radio  Astronomy  Zoning  Act") . 
The  average  annual  temperature  of  the  area  is  52.8 
degrees.   The  maximum  temperature,  recorded  in  September, 
1953,  was  97  degrees  and  the  minimum  temperature,  recorded 
in  February  1963,  was  minus  22  degrees.   The  average  yearly 
rainfall  is  32.14  inches  and  the  average  yearly  snowfall  is 
71.9  inches.   The  prevailing  wind  is  northwest  at  6.3  miles 
per  hour-r 
The  installation  is  located  on  Pendleton  County  Road  21 
which  is  a  narrow  two  lane  winding  road.   The  nearest  major 
highway,  U.S.  33,  is  a  distance  of  5  miles  to  the  north. 
There  are  no  buses,  trains,  or  airfields  in  the  immediate 
vicinity.   The  nearest  bus  line  terminal  (Greyhound)  is 
located  in  Harrisonburg,  Virginia,  a  distance  of  35  miles 
to  the  east  over  the  Shenandoah  Mountains.   Shenandoah  Valley 
Airport  is  located* at  Weyers  Cave,  Virginia,  which  is  south- 
east of  the  station  a  distance  of  46  miles. 
The  Naval  Radio  Station  is  adjacent  to  the  west  side  of 
the  George  Washington  National  Forrest  and  camping  and  fishing 
are  available  at  the  Brandywine  Recreational  Area  in  the 
Forrest  0  miles  from  the  station.   The  Monongahela  National 
Forrest,  with  four  recreational  areas,  is  located  to  the  west 
of  the  station.   The  nearest  point  of  the  Forrest  is  approx- 
imately 25  miles  from  the  station.   The  following  state  parks 
and  forrests  are  located  within  65  miles  of  the  base;  Calvin 
Price,  Watoga,  Cannon  Valley,  Lost  River,  Seneca  and  Kombrabow.
Installation  Data 
Improvements 
• 
Base  Population 
Navy 
Allowance 
On Board 
NAVRADSTA 
NAVSECGRUDET 
Total 
119 
104 
Civilian 
» 
NAVRADSTA 
NRL 
Total 
2$ permanent 
permanent 
Dependents 
109  military  dependents  reside  on  station. 
Operating  Costs 
NAVRADSTA 
FY  72  FY- 73  FY  74 
.  O&M  49,000.00  66,800.00  70,100.00 
Utilities  78,860.00  84,700.00  91,000.00 
Civ.  Labor  179,600.00  181,500.00  184,000.00 
Mil.  Labor  345,600.00  348,000.00  350,000.00 
otal  $653,060.00  .  $681,000.00  $G95.100..00 
■  X. 
NAVSECGRUDET 
O&M  69,500.00     71,100.00    69,800.00 
The  work  at  NRL  Sugar  Grove  is  primarily  under  NRL  Problem 
79R06-30.   The  budget  for  NRL  Sugar  Grove  is  interrelated 
with  that  of  the  Space  Systems  Division,  NRL  Washington, 
D.C.  and  a  meaningful  breakdown  is  not  available.
SECT10U    IV  -  HISTORY 
,  In  1956  the  present 
Sugar  6rove  was  selected 
project  leading  to  moon 
o-her  research,  communic 
function.   In  1957  a  60 
errecned  for  a  prototype 
In  1962  a  review  indicat 
technology,  not  foreseen 
where  project  objectives 
other  means  so  construct 
halted. 
site  o'f  Maval  Radio  station  (R) 
for  a  Naval  Research  Laboratory 
relay  c  ommun  i  cat  ion  s  as  well^as 
and  q|  HtaHW^Mlii   PH|fe^ 
ft.  parabolic  antenna  had  been 
for  •-•  600  ft.  parabolic  reflector 
ed  that  advances  in  science  and 
earlier,  had  reached  the  stage 
could  be  achieved  at  less  cost  by 
ion  of  the  600  ft.  reflector  was 
The  inadequacies  of  the  Cheltenham,  Maryland  Radio  Receiving 
Facility  due  to  upcoming  urban  encroachment  v;ere  recognized 
officially  in  1950  by  the  Chief,  Bureau  of  Ships  who  recommended 
relocation  of  the  entire  facility.   Insufficient  funds  pre- 
vented CNO  action  at  the  time. 
In  September  1962,  SECNAV  proposed  to  SECOEF  that  Sugar 
Grove  Site  be  utilized  for  a  Naval  Radio  Receiving  Station 
in  lieu  of  like  facilities  at  Cheltenham,  Maryland,  Ln  order 
to  utilize  part  of  the  plant  investment  of  the  cancelled  NRL 
project  and  to  take  advantage  of  the  unique  potential  of  the 
site;  namely  the  National  Radio  Quiet  Zone. 
In  February  19C3  the  Naval  radio  Station  (R)  Sugar 
Grove,  was  established  in  a  development  status.   Or.  20 
December  1968  the  U.S.  -!avy  officially  occupied  the  new 
communications  site  and  the  station  was  formally  commissioned 
10  May  1969.
SECTION  V  -  MISSION  \ 
Naval  Radio  Station  (R)  Sugar  Grove.   As  an  activity 
•of  the  Naval  Communication  System,  to  manage,  operate  and 
maintain  those  facilities,  systems,  equipments,  and  devices 
necessary  to  provide  requisite  communications  for  the 
Command,  operational  control,  and  administration  of  the 
Naval  Establishment;  to  manage,  operate  and  maintain  those 
facilities  of  the  Defense  Communications  System  as  assigned; 
and  to  perform  such  other  functions  as  may  be  directed  by 
the  Chief  of  Naval  Operations. 
Naval  Security  Group  Detachment,  Sugar  Grove.   As  an 
activity  of  the  Naval  Communications  System,  to  manage, 
.operate  and  maintain  those  facilities,  systems,  equipments, 
and  devices  necessary  to  provide  requisite  communications 
for  the  Command,  operational  control,  and  administration  of 
the  Naval  Establishment;  to  manage,  operate  and  maintain 
those  facilities  of  the  Defease  Communications  System  as 
assigned;  and  to  perform  such  other  functions  as  may  be 
directed  by  the  Chief  of  Naval  Operations  and  Commander 
Naval  Security  Group  Command. 
Naval  Research  Laboratory  Sugar  Grove.   As  an  activity 
of  ttye  Naval  Research  Laboratory  Washington,  to  conduct 
experimental  research  and-  development  concerning  operational 
utilization  of  information,  systems  and  techniques  in 
radio  physics  as  related  to  the  space  sciences.
A-24  Richmond  Times-Dispatch,  Sunday,  May  11,  1969 
Navy's  "Ear1 
Is  Activated  in 
West  Virgnia 
SCGAR  GROVE,  W.  VA. 
'.LTD  —  The  Navy's  $11  million 
radio  receiving  station  wab  offi- 
cially activated  yesterday  in 
cerraozies  at  this  remote,  moun- 
tainous section  of  eastern  West 
Virginia. 
The  facility  will  serve  as  the 
Navy's  "ear,"  gathering  com- 
munications from  Navy  planes, 
ships  and  stations  around  the 
wur.'d. 
Two  1,000-foot-diaineter, 
dish-shaped  antennas  are  locat- 
ed in  a  lGO-mile-long  national 
radio  quiet  zone. 
The "  facility  will  take  over 
much  of  the  work  that  had  been 
performed  at  the  Navy's  Chel-. 
tannam,  Md.,  communications' 
Elation.  ! 
The  facility  here  originally; 
*as  developed  in  the  early  1960s 
ss  a  i::e  tor  a  radio  telescope 
that  would  probe  cuter  space, 
but  was  obsolete  before  it  could 
bg  completed.  In  March  1&65, 
v*orfc  vas  begun  at  the  site  to 
ctr.yerr  it  for  use  by  the  Navy. 
The  receiving  equipment  is  in 
an  underground  operations 
-;.'.:L-.?. 
Ir.b  station,  with  108  Navy 
r.'-.i  i-C  2s  civilians.  i.>  ihe  im^- 
est  r:  '.nary  jnstaiJa.'ion  in  West 
Vir^-i. 
THE  SUNDAY  STAR 
Wsih.ngtcn,  0    C ,  Ma/  I?.  J969 
AP  Wirepftoi  j 
A  Victory  for  Navy,  This  Time  on  Land 
The_Navy  yesterday  activated  Its 
$32.5  million  global  radio  communi- 
cations cenicr  at  Sunar  Grove,  W.Va., 
with  a  victory  celebration  rivaling  the* 
commissioning  of  a  ship.  Sen.  Robert 
C.  Byrd,  D-W.Va.,  and  other  speakers 
recalled  the  tough  battle  tiny  ij„ri 
with   congressmen   who   sought    to 
scKtle  the  project.  It  is,  in  fad.  a 
kind  of  srepchild.  It  was  finally  ap- 
proved  after  opposition  in  Congress 
forced  the  abandonment  in  Wd  of  a 
.S200  million  radiotelescope  planned 
for  Sutjar  Grove.  In  phot*-  "i°  cen- 
ter's two  1, OQO-foot  wide  antennas 
are  at  tipper  right. 
Byrd  to  Speak  i 
1     At  Sugar  Grove         » 
SUGAR  GROVE  —  V.  S. 
Senator  Robert  C.  Byrd.  D. 
\V.  Va.,  will  be  the  main  j 
speaker  here  Saturday,  Ma*,  i 
10.  at  activation  ceremonies 
tor  the  Naval  liadio  Kecriv- 
in£  StJtion.  i 
t>\rd  was  instrumental  in 
getting  the  Sit  tnilliocdribr 
mmiary  facility  located  here.  ; 
'Ihe  station,  referred  to  as  • 
the  -ear"  of  ihe  Navy.  Rulhers  , 
commuuif  ;ui;»n-.     from    naval 
planes.    ship>.     and     station* 
around  the  iwld. 
4— The  rinrl.sburc  Exponent.    Sat .   Mav    10.    \%y
M3P&; 
r-'*£w  fill*!  Vs^  * 
I  
AllVf 
EXPLANATION  OF  OPERATIONS  at  the  Naval  Radio 
Station  (R)  Sugar  Grove  is  given  by  LCUR  Lee  E. 
Barrett,  Jr.,  left,  officer  in  charge  to  Admiral  Thomas 
H.  Moorer,  second  from  lcfit..  chief  of  naval  operations. 
and  Senator  Robert  C.   ByrJ  during  a  tour  of  the   in- 
'staliacion     following    ths     activation    ceremony. — Phvt«» 
courtesy  Daily  News  Record 
Pasr   1 
The   rendletua   Time* 
May    IS,    1969 
SUPPORT  SITE'  f..r  rlit-  Snurir  Ciov.-  Naval 
Sta:in:i.  u>  .ihwuii  in  tlii-  ai-rial  phulo..  in- 
rludcs  -0  l'ajui'y  housing  units.  upper  li^ht. 
u  in.s:nto:>nnr«'  buiidinir  ami  water  tanl:.  lower 
n^.- 
::»wl 
a     iiui.li-}-ai;>< 
w  li;<  .\    !;:u:-c  -    n 
and     ii'.i- 
moviv 
,ii-i- 
!•,'    fa<.i!:'iv< 
a:ui   nd:::r;it:-a:iv 
>.-«.•  i.:iiUliii--'  left. 
i>a:  i  .i-.ks  a  ^  alley 
a     Naw     rx^hjr.jri-. 
••.  4  .
_— M 
Officials,  Dignitaries 
At  Activation  Ceremony 
OFFICIAL    PARTY 
Admiral  Thomas  H.  Moorer,  USN,    Chief  of  Naval 
Operations 
Dr.  Robert  A.  Frosch,      Assistant  Secretary  of  the 
Navy  Research  ir  Development 
Honorable  Robert  C.  Byrd    V.  S.  Senator  from  West 
Virginia 
William  Loy  Representative  of  Coventor 
A.  Moore,  Jr.  of  West  Virginia 
Rear  Admiral  J.  C.  Dcmpsey,  USN,      Commandant, 
Fifth  Naval  District 
Rear  Admiral  F.  J.  Ficzpatrick,  USN,      Commander 
Naval  Communications  Command, 
ACNO  (Communications) 
Captain  M.  C.  Hartle,  USN      Commanding  Officer, 
Communication  Station  Washington 
lieutenant  J.  D.  Shannon,  USNR,      Chaplain,  Naval 
Communication  Station 
Washington 
DIGNITARIES 
Rear  Admiral  R.  H.  Weeks,  USN,  Vice-Director,  DC  A 
Rear  Admiral  J.  E.  Rice,  USN,      Commander,  Naval 
Electronics  System?  Command 
Rear  Admiral  R.  E.  Cook,  USN,    Commander,  Naval 
t  Security  Group  Command 
Lt.  General  H.  W.  Grant,  USAF  (Ret) 
Director,   Tele.   Communications 
Policy,  ASD 
Captain  J.  C.  Matheson,  USN,  Director,  Naval 
Research  Laboratory 
Dr.  Alan  Herman  Director  of  Research,  Naval 
Research  Laboratory 
Mr.  Fred  Korth  Former  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
Mr.  M.  C.  Baird  President  POM  Systems,  Inc. 
Mr.  B.  H.  Oliver,  Jr.  Vice  President,  AT6T 
Activation  Order 
Naval  Radio  Station  (R)  Sugar  Grove 
Tin  accordance  with  OPNAVNbTE  5450,  serial 
i       4064  P09B33  of  6  May  1969,  the  Secretary  of  the 
'  Navy  has  approved  the  change  in  status  of  Naval 
Radio  Station  (R)  Sugar  Grove,  West  Virginia,  from 
developmental  to  active  (fully  operational;  status  .is 
of  10  May  1969. 
The  mission  of  Naval  Radio  Station  (R)  Sugar 
Grove,  West  Virginia,  is: 
'As  an  activity  of   the   Naval  Communication 
System,  to   manage,   operate,   and   maintain   those 
facilities,  systems,  equipments,  and  devices,  neces- 
I      sary  to  jprovide.  requisite  communications   for   the 
command,   operational   control,   and   administration 
j      of  the  Naval  Establishment;  to  manage,  operate  and 
'«      maintain  those  facilities  of  the  Defense  Communi- 
!      cations  System  as  assigned;   and;  to.  perform  such 
I      other  functions  as  may  be  directed  by  the  Chief  of 
j      Naval  Operations.' 
j  The  Chief  of  Naval  Operations  delegates  autho- 
r     rity  and  rosponsujility  as  follows: 
!  Command  -and^Support:    Commander,    Naval 
*.      Communications  Command  to  be  exercised  through 
Commandtifg  Officer,. Naval  .Communication  Station 
*      Washington,  Cheltenham;*  Maryland.      ..*-„. 
J         '    'Area  Coordination:   Commandant,   Fifth   Nava' 
District  or  to  such  other  commander  as  may  be  desig- 
B*       nated  by  him. 
J*rtr?rr>jrr^rTS3P 
w.n  vtsvzxr&ssssrzr:  x*»&?£CS2r£r2z.-- :.-. .  t 
pate  *|    —    Tht  PendUtmi  Ttrne* 
.1 
P 
n 
May    IS,   l«5 
*«'-*•*..,£- V»  * 
.8 
.—-■■-*...>
When  Senator- Robert  C;  Byrd  said  last  Satur- 
day at  Sugar*  Grove  that  he  shared  with  others  a 
sense  of  pride  in  seeing  the  Naval  Radio  Receiving 
Station  successfully  completed,  he  surely  must  have  - 
been  speaking  from  the  heart  For  if  anyone  ever 
was  justified  in  taking  pride  in  the  completion  of 
a  task,  Senator  Byrd  certainly  is  justified  in  taking  j 
pride  in  the  completion  of  the  Sugar  Grove  project. 
Senator  Byrd  has  worked  tirelessly  for  this 
project  His  interest  dates  back  to  August,  1962, 
when  Secretary  of  Defense  Robert  McNemara 
cancelled  construction  of  the  "Big  Ear"  project  at 
Sugar  Grove.  Byrd  immediately  set  about  trying 
to  find  some  other  use  that  could  be  made  of  the 
site.  One  of  the  first  things  he  did  was  to  write 
to  Rresident  John  Kennedy  and  ask  him  to  appoint 
a  committee  of  government  engineers  and  scientists 
to  find  the  optimum  use  that  could  be  made  of 
the  Sugar  Grove  site. 
It  was  not  long  after  Senator  Byrd  wrote  to 
President  Kennedy  that  the.  Navy  hit  upon  tfie 
idea  of  moving  the  Naval  Radio  Receiving  Station 
from  Cheltenham,  Md.,  to  Sugar  Grove.  This  ap- 
peared to  be  an  ideal  use  for  the  site  because 
radio  interference  was  beginning  to  affect  the 
Cheltenham  site,  and  Sugar  Grove  was  in  a  "radio 
quiet"  zone. 
But  the  move  was  not  without  its  problems.* 
The  first  setback  occured  in  1963  when  the  House 
Armed  Services  Committee  deleted  from  the  Mili- 
tary Construction  Authorization  Bill  the  Navy's 
request  for  $3,480,000  to  relocate  the  station.  Sena- 
tor Byrd  immediately  went  to  bat  for  the  project 
He  happened  to  be  a  member  of  the  Senate  Armed 
Services  Committee,  and  after  preparing  a  con- 
vincing case  he  succeeded  in  getting  his  committee 
to  restore  the  funds  for  the  project  in  the  bill. 
*  *  • 
Still  later  when  the  relocation  of  the  station 
was  attacked  by  members  of  Congress,  Senator 
Byrd  answered  the  critics  and  defended  the  Navy's 
plans  to  move  the  station  to  Sugar  Grove.  He  has 
worked  closely  with  the  Navy  and  given  officers 
involved  in  the  project  strong  support. 
So,  when  Senator  Byrd  told  those  attending 
the  activation  ceremony  Saturday  that  he  has 
watched  over,  and  helped  to  guard,  and  protect 
this  undertaking  from  a  legislative  standpoint,  he 
was  not  engaging  in  idle  chatter  and  he  was  not 
boasting.  He  was  statincr  facts. 
Senator  Byrd,  perhaps  more  than  any  other 
single  individual,  deserves  the  credit  for  bringing 
to  West  Virginia  its  first  major  military  establish- 
ment. Certainly  he  is  justly  entitled  to  take  pride 
in  this  significant  achievement,  a  job  well  done.
en^'Byixl  Welcomes  Navy  to  W.Vi 
Editor's   Not*— Following   is   the 
complete    text    of    tho    address 
delivered    Saturday    by.    O.    8.     , 
Senator  Robert  C.   Byrd   at  tho     i 
rerrmooy    activating    the    Naval 
Radio  Station  (R)   Sugar  Grove. 
Admiral  Moorer,  Admiral  Dem- 
.aey,  Admiral  Fitzpatrick,  Cap- 
dn  Hartle,  Mr.  Loy,  distinguish- 
guests,  -Indies  sad  gentlemen: 
I  am  indeed  pleased  -to  parti- 
pate  in  this  activation  cere- 
.tony  for  the  Naval  Radio  Re- 
viving Station  Sugar  Grove. 
From  its  inception,  I  nave 
washed  over,  and.  helped  to 
guard,  end  protect  this  under- 
caking  from  a  -legislative  stand- 
point. I  share  with  each  of  yon 
a  collective  pride  in  'seeing  this 
important  national  defense  pro- 
ject so  successfully  concluded. 
As   long  ago  as   1963,  is  i' 
member  of  the.  Senate  Appro- 
priations    Committee    and    the. 
Senate  Armed  •Services.  Commit-  • 
tee,  I  vigorously  supported  the 
establishment  of  this  installation*. 
As   most   of   you   know,,   the 
authorization  far  this  stetson  was 
initially  denied,   and    the    item 
wan  stricken   from  the    Navy's 
military    construction     program 
io  1964.  Knowing  the  potential, 
value  of  a  high-frequency-  radio 
receiving  station  in  the  National 
TLa  lio  Quiet  2one — an  area  en- 
compassing  about    10    counties 
in  West  Virginia— 4  sought  the 
restoration  of  the  project  an  the . 
Armed  Services  Committee  and 
was  successful  in  having  it  re- 
stored for  the  Navy.  ••.  • 
Four   years   ago,   I   had    the. 
pleasure    of    turning'  the    first1 
shovel  of  earth  at  the  ground-' 
4  breaking  ceremony  here.    That. 
!  shovel  is  on  display -da  my  office 
!  in  Washington  as  a  memento  of  i 
!  the  occasion,  and   along-side   it 
j  
is  a  model   of   a   Wullenweber 
antenna  which' Admiral  Weeks, 
the    former    Director   of    Naval 
■  Communications,  kindly  present- 
.  ed  to  me. 
Two      full-scale      operational 
Wullenweber  antennas  are  now 
installed  just  6<>uth  of  here   at 
this  station's  operations  site.  It 
is  my  understanding  -that  these 
^ritcnnas,     together    with     their 
.sophisticated   switching  systems, 
provide    s    significant    new    ad- 
.  vancemer.: — the  ultimate  at  pre- 
sent— in    radio    reception    capa-. 
Liiity.  This  capability  is  unmatch- , 
<-d  elsewhere  in  the  Department 
of  the  Navy,  the  Department  of. 
Dt-fcnse,  or  indeed,  in  any  com- 
iu».Tcia3  or  industrial  complex. 
Early  reports  on  the  operation 
of  these  antennas  and  associated 
devices  verify  and  confirm  the 
high  expectations  that  were  held 
from  the  beginning  that  such  an 
installation  would  prove  to  be  an 
invaluable  asset  to  free-world 
communications. 
This  station — the  only  major 
military  installation  in  West  Vir- 
ginia— is  of  great  importance  to 
the  people  of  this  state, .  and 
particularly  to  the  people  of 
Pendleton  arm  surrounding  coun- 
ties. 
At  full  complement,  the  sta- 
tion will  have  permanently  as- 
signed four  officers  and  104 
enlisterf  personnel: 
On  a  continuing -'basis  it  wiH 
also  provide  civilian  jobs  for  at 
least  30  persons— almost  one- 
and-a-half  percent  of  the  Pend- 
leton County  work  force.  -. 
Beyond  this  direct  addition, 
the  requirements  for  goods  and 
I  services  generated  by  the  •naval 
.and  civilian   personnel  working 
at  this  station,  and  their  families, 
will  did  to.  the  .business  life  of 
the  area. 
As    the   scope   of   operations 
here  is  expanded,  this  figure  will 
increase,  and  it  is  difficult  now 
to  estimate  Uhc  total  benefit 
which  tins  station  will  bring  to 
tiie  economy  of  West  Virginia. 
I  predict  it  will  be  substantial 
And  so  I  share  with  all  of 
you  today  a  deep  sense  of  pride 
hi  welcoming  to  our  State  this 
valuable  addition  to  our  Nation's 
defense  facilities.  It  hardly 
seems  possible  that  this  installa- 
tion, in  such  a  peaceful  and 
beautiful  valley,  plays  a  .vital 
role  in  the  control  of  our  -naval 
forces  dispersed  around  the 
world. 
Because  of  the  tremendous 
political  consequences  of  naval 
actions,  it  has  become  necessary 
for  much  of  itJhe  command  and 
control  of  fleet  operations  to 
emanate  directly  from  W<nshing- 
tcn.  In  order  for  our  national 
and  military  leaders  to  nmke 
correct  and  timely  decisions,  they 
must  hikve  accurate  and  detailed 
information  on  which  to  base 
these    decisions, 
This  •information  will  flow 
from  our  ships  at  sea,  from  oar 
aircraft,  and  from  our  far-flung 
Naval  Communications  Stations 
around  the  world,  through  the 
radio  receivers  of  this  station, 
to  the  scat  of  government. 
Such  communications,  ,  sent' 
and  received  through  this  net- 
work of  Naval  Communication 
Stations,  provide  the  requisite 
command  and  control  of  our 
naval  forces,  thereby  assuring 
the  successful  defense  of  our 
nation.   .     ., 
My  fellow  West  Virg&nsans  and 
I  extend,  a  warm  and  sincere 
'•welcome  aboard"  to  this  new 
Naval  -Radio  Receiving  Station, 
and  our  State  is  honored  to  have 
this  distinguished  assemblage 
here  today.      •_  '< 
.  -  Among  the  Directors  of  Naval 
Communications,,  I  fully  support- 
ed Admiral  Boeder  in  his  efforts 
to  initiate  this  project;  I  con- 
tinued any  support  to  Admiral 
Weeks  as  the  project  progressed; 
and,  to  you,:Admiral  Fitzpatrick, 
I  pledge  my  continuing  support 
and  reaffirm  my  interest  in  this 
project.    .        N  N^ 
Finally.  I  note'wHh  pride  that 
not  only  is  West.Vlrginia  honor- 
ed to  have  been  selected. for  the 
I  location  of  this  Naval*  Badio  Re- 
ceiving" .'Station,  'but  also.. that 
its  first,  off icer-in-charge,  lieu- 
tenant •"■'•.  Commander'      Barrett, 
•United  States  Navy,  is  9.  native 
West  Virginian. 
-So,  to  Admiral  Moorer,  Admir- 
al Boeder,  Admiral  Weeks,  Ad- 
miral Fitzpatrick;  to  Commander 
'Barrett,  his  crew,  and  the  many, 
many  others  who  have  worked 
long  hours  over  a  long  period  of 
i  time  -  to    make    this    project    a 
reality,  I  say.  in  the  language! 
of   the   Navy,    "To    All   Hands, 
Well  Done!" 
To  all  of  you,  I  add  my  sincere 
good  wishes  for  the  future. 
.# 
May    IS,    1969 
The   Pendleton  Times 
Pa;e   5
•  ■  * 
NavyV  Voice  of  CompaainclP  Station  at 
Sugar  Grove  to  Ev%Pedicated  Satarday, 
The  newest  link  in  the  U.  S. 
Navy's  "voice  of  command", 
located  in  a  remote  West  Vir- 
ginia mountain  area  deep  in  the 
Allegheny  ranges,  will  be  acti- 
vated on  iMay  10  "with  formal 
dedication  ceremonies  at  Naval 
R.vJio  Station  (R)  Sugar  Grove, 
placing  this  Nuval  Commundca- 
tions  Command  activity  in  a  fully 
operational  stattrs. 
The  program  will  begin  at  2 
p.m.  It  will  be  open  to  the  pub- 
lic, and  guests  are  requested  to 
bo  seated  by  1:46  pjn. 
West  Virginia  dignitaries  scho- 
dulod  to  take  .part  include  U.  S. 
Senator  Robert  C.  Byrd  and  U.;S. 
Representative  Ilarley  0.  Stag- 
gers of  the  state's  2nd  Congres- 
sional District.  Senator  Byrd  will 
be  principal  speaker  for  the  oc- 
casion. Others  slated  to  attend 
hm  ini'mbiMTf  of  the  official  party 
arc  Admiral  Thomas  II.  Moorer, 
USN,  Chief  of  Naval  Operations; 
Rt  :ir  Admiral  J.  C.  Dcmpsey, 
USNf,  Commandant,  Fifth  Naval 
District;  Rear  Admiral  Francis 
J.  Fitzpatrick,  USN,  Command- 
*r.  Naval  Communications  Com- 
mand; arid  Captain  aTaurice  C. 
Hartle,   USN,   Commanding  Of- 
Station  Washington,  D.  C.      \      *£*   roral   mountainous  area 
The  Sugar  Grove  station  is  an\     ^".io  largo   cities  that  woubj 
operational  component  of  Naval 
Communication  Station  Wash- 
ington. Headquarters  at  Chelten- 
ham, Maryland,  the  parent  sta- 
tion functions  as  a  vital  link 
between  Navy  operating  forces 
and  the  hub  of  military  activity 
in  the  Nation's  Capital. 
Radio  receivers  presently  lo- 
cated at  Cheltenham  will  be  re- 
located/to Sugar  Grove,  which  is 
a  quiet  and  isolated  site,  ideal 
for  receiving  high  .  frequency 
radio  signals.  The  new  station 
y  located  in  an  officially  desig- 
nated National  Radio  Quiet 
Zone,  an  area  100  miles  square, 
relatively  free  from  outside  elec- 
tromagnetic interference.         t 
The  relocation  plan- also  per- 
mitted partial  use  jot]  Sugar 
Grove  facilities  originally  desig- 
ned for  establishment  of  ft  000- 
foot  radio  telescope.  '.Work/ on 
this  Naval  Research  Laboratory 
sponsored  project  was  terminat- 
ed in  1962  because  -of  advances 
and  refinements  m  related  fields 
of  science  and  technology.  Fol- 
lowing extensive  engineering 
surveys  conducted  from  1962  to 
c\.se  radio  frequency  interfer- 
ence from  industrial  equipment 
and  electrical  devices.  Harrison- 
burg, Va.,  with  a  population  of 
about  15,000,  is  only  37  miles 
distant,  but  mountain  ridges  be- 
tween tho  two  locations  provide 
natural  radio  interference  "shi- 
elding." The  area  has  no  high- 
powered   radio   or  TV  stations 
and  only  a  few  electric  power 
transmission    lines.    It    is    not 
crossed  •by.  commercial  airways, 
thus     eliminating     interference 
from    radar  sites   used   in   air 
traffic  control.  Heaviest  traffic 
from  trucks  and  buses  with  gaso- 
line   engines— ^major   offenders 
in  a  radio  quiet  zone— is  in  the 
Shenandoah  Vorlley,  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  mountain  range. 
Radio    quiet   zone   conditions 
at  Sugar  Grove  permit  the  un- 
precedented utilization  of  two 
huge,  circular  Wullenweber  an- 
tenna  arrays,   eaeh    1,000    feet 
in  diameter,  as  the  station's  main 
receiving  antennas.  Receiver  fa- 
cilities were  used  for  the  first 
time   on-  December    26,    1968, 
when   testing   began.   Receivers 
this  spring. 
Another  unique  feature  of  the . 
station -is  a  two-story  operations 
building,  completely  under- 
ground. An  existing  underground 
structure  was  redesigned  to  house 
about  100  radio  receivers  and 
numerous  ancillary  devices,  such 
as  muiticouplcrs,  converters  and 
switching  matrices.  The  structure 
also  includes  a  shop,  a  technical 
Kbrary  and  founge  areas,  plus 
emergency  messing  and  berthing 
facilities.  It  is  fully  equipped 
with  environmental  control  de- 
vices and  a  carbon  dioxide 
"flood"  system  fire  protection. 
The  planned  personnel  com- 
plement ot'the  station  totals  138, 
including  four  Naval  officers, 
104  enlisted  men  and  30  civilians. 
Liou  tenant  Commander  Lee  E. 
Barret,  Jr.,  USN,  of  Bccklcy, 
West  Virginia,  is  Offit«ar  in 
Charge  of  the  station.  He  will  be 
relieved  by  Lieutenant  Comman- 
der Clyde  M.  Conway,  USN, 
hrter  in  May. 
The  Naval  Jtadio  Station  at 
Sugar  Grove  is  assigned  to  the 
command  and  support  responsi- 
bility of  Commander,  Naval 
Communications    Command,    as 
ficer  of  thestation's  parent  com-   1965,  construction  of  the  radio  were   disconnected   si  Cholten?  delegated  to- him  by  the  Chief 
mazid,     Naval     Communications  I  station  began  in  March,  1965.     I  ham  and  moved  to  Sugar  Grovel  of  Naval  Operations. 
Franklin,  Pendleton  County/ West  Virginia,  Thursday,  May  8, 1969
Mew  Bladlh  Unk 
pene 
.  Va. 
WASHINGTON  —  The  newest 
link  in  tin?  Navy'*  "voice  of  com- 
mand** located  in  a  renvite  West 
V:i  4ina3  mountain  area  deep  in 
the  Allegheny  ranges,  was  to  ho 
activated  in  mid-May  with  formal 
dedication  ccremonie?  at  Naval 
Radio  Station  Suuar  ('rove,  placing 
l hit  Naval  Communication-  Com- 
mand activities  in  a  fiillv  opera 
i  ioit.il  status. 
W->t  Virginia  dignitaries  sched 
uled  to  lake  part  include  Sen.  Rob- 
ert C.  IJyrd  and  Rep.  liar  Icy  O. 
Slackers  of  the  state's  2d  Congres- 
sional District.  Byrd  will  be  prin- 
cipal  »peaker. 
Others  slated  to  attend  arc  Adm. 
Thoma*  H.  Moorcr.  Chief  of  Naval 
Operations:  Rear  Adm.  J.  C.  Demp. 
.*ev.  Commandant,  5lh  Naval-  Dis- 
trict: Rear  Adm.  Francis  J.  Fit* 
Patrick.  Commander,  Naval  Com- 
munications Command;  and  Capt. 
Maurice  C.  Hartlc,  commanding 
nfficer  of  the  station's  parent  com- 
mand. Naval  Communication  Sta- 
tion.   Washington,    D.C. 
Headquartered    at    Cheltenham. 
Md..  the  parent  station   function^ 
as  ■*  link  hetween  Navv  operating 
forces    and    the    huh    of    military 
.icMviiy   in    the   nation's  capital. 
•        •         * 
RADIO  KKf'KIVKKS  now  local 
t«il  at  Clifltciihani  will  he  re  I  oca  I 
•I    t..    S.i-!ar    ("rove.    wb'.T.     i-,    ;i 
NAVY    TIMES 
MAY  21.  1%9 
quiet  and  isolated  site,  i.letl  foi 
receiving  high  frequency  radio 
signals.  The  new  station  is  !iu'it'*d 
in  an  officially  designated  National 
Radio  Quiet  Zone,  an  area  100 
miles  .square,  relatively  free  from 
outside  electromagnetic  interfer- 
ence. 
The  relocation  plan  also  pr*;niil> 
led  partial  use  of  Sugar  fJrnve 
facilities  originally  designed  for 
csi.-iMi.thincnl  of  a  COO  I «« it  radio 
telescope.  Work  on  this  Naval 
Research  Laboratory  sponsored 
project  was  terminated  in  1962 
because  of  advances  and  refine- 
ments in  related  fields  of  science 
and  technology.  Following  exten- 
sive engineering  surveys  conducted 
from  1002  to  1965.  construction 
of  the  radio  station  began  in 
March    1965. 
Two  huge,  circular  Wuilenwebcr 
antenna  arrays,  each  1000  feet  in 
diameter,  will  he  the  station';,  main 
receiving  antennas.  Receiver  fa.  di- 
ties  were  used  for  the  first  time, 
on  Dec.  26.  1068  whet;  testing 
began!  Receivers  were  disconnect- 
ed  at  Cheltenham  and  moved  to 
Sugar  Grove  this  spring 
Another  unique  feature  of  the. 
slid  ion  is  a  two  story  operations 
building,  completely  underground. 
An  existing  underground  structure 
was  redesigned  to  bouse  about  100 
radio  receivers  and  other  devices. 
The  structure  also  includes  a  shop, 
a  technical  library  and  lounge 
ar»-as.  plus  emergency  messing  jiid 
berthing  facilities.  It  Is  fully 
equipped  with  environmental  con- 
l;ol  de-ices  and  a  carbon  dioxide 
•flood "  system  for  fire  protection 
vV.  Virginia 
Gets  Navy 
Radio  Site 
♦vi;ak   (iisovK.   \\    v... 
•  A  i '  -  -  -The  Nn  vy  act :  %  ami  i. 
&2..i  miiJio.n  global  radio 
conuvi:t  meat  ions  center  here 
Saturday  with  a  victory 
cclei:rai;nn  rivaling  the  cm-, 
n.i-.  inning  o|  a  ship. 
The  round  of  speeches  and 
,  fanfare  culminated  a  con- 
trmcrsy  involving  Congress 
r.nd  lop  Navy  echelons  wher. 
cor5:ne»r:on  of  a  S20<»  million 
radio:  cicscu'ic  here  w  a  .- 
anuuioned  in  106:.'. 
The  new  installation  — 
akv-'htid  of  the  h  ti  g  <' 
itJe.-cope  —  serves  as  (he 
cars  of  an  around-thc-»vor!d 
rad!»  communications  system. 
I.-  nimitors  high  frcquencv 
menage  signals  Irom  .ships  at 
?c«i  :»  well  as  from  other 
Navy  installations  in  t  !i  e 
Atlantic  Ocean  and  I  h  e 
'    Caribbean  Sea. 
The      signal:;      then      are 
relayed     ISO    miles    east    t(.% 
Chcitenharn,  Md.,  where  they 
aic  processed  for  dcli\ery. 
II  was  moved  here  from  the 
N'aw's  large  comminications 
facil.ty  a:  C  h  c  1 1  n  n  h  a  m 
bcca:i>c  this  region  — deep  ;:: 
;he  rugged  Allegheny  Mom- 
lama  of  eastern  West  Virginia 
—  is  relatively  free  Inn.i 
rrai.-ir.adc   intcrfercner 
Cm»  it  didn't  come  wis  hoc!  a 
s«ri:cglc 
"I  fought  like  the  dickens, 
both  to  get  it  and  keep  it." 
sr.:d  Sen.  Robert  C.  Byrd.  D- 
v.'.v.,..  at  the  ceremonies 
S-itirday   afternoon. 
V,y<\  was  among  sever? ' 
d  gn.taries  who  praised  the 
i  n  5  a  1  1  a  :  i  o  n  and  :».- 
('.'.•n.v'MliliCv  Adm.  Thomas  II 
*I-ii.:er.  chief  nf  nival  nys-.n- 
»  •  r, ...  ,u sn  ;i(i(jies«;r-d  the  ^»- 
ni-  :a-e  uf  ao.i:it  'Mi  person.. 
J.V<'.  11. 
"If-  ll 
•.!C.sd.*v.  :-:av 
-."551
/a 
CIRCULAR     ANT 
boi'c.  located  on  tt 
site  of  the  N'aval  U 
I  III    Suffer    Grove 
1,000-foot  uiametci 
er  antennas,  the  nt 
antennas  for  the 
two  radio  telescop 
diameter  and  00-fo 
barely  dbtinguisha! 
left,  are  being:  ope 
Kara!  Research  &ai 
are  not  component* 
Radio  Receiving  St
II        —    I 
p* 
ACTIVATION  CEREMONY  ,t 
Che  Naval  Radio  Station  (R) 
Sugar  'Ir»»ve  was  colorful  and 
informative.  Hold  at  Ui«r  sup- 
port site,  the  speaker's  p!at- 
form  faced  a  large  tent  -x'r.w\. 
sheltered  approximately  -JAu 
dignitaries,  guests  and  local 
residents  attending  *.\  ■  cere- 
mony. 
Commenting  on  the  •fffect  th* 
station  will  have  on  the  local 
area.  By  id  said  this  station — 
the  only  major  military  installa- 
tion in  West  Virginia— Is  of 
srreat  importance  to  the  people 
of  this  state,  and  particularly 
to  the  people  of  Pendleton  and 
surrounding    counties. 
-At.  full  complement,"  the 
S«?na:<»r  stated,  "Lho  station  will 
have  permanently  assigned  four 
i.ffir.-i-s  ind  104  enlisted  jwreori- 
n.-l.  (m  a  continuing  basis  it  will 
aUo  provide  civilian  jobs  for  a» 
U-.issL  ::(}  persons. 
Benefit  Difficult  to  E«tim*t« 
"As  the  scope  of  operation.", 
here  is  expanded,  this  figure  will 
increase,  and  it  is  difficult  now 
to  estimate  the  total  benefit 
which  this  station  will  bring  to 
the  economy  of  West  Virginia. 
I  predict  it  will  be  substantial." 
Senator  Byrd  was  introduced 
bv  Chief  of  Naval  Operation* 
Admiral  Thomas  H.  Moorer  who 
also  spoke  briefly  concerning  the 
importance  of  the  Sugar  Grove 
Admiral  Moorer  remarked  that 
while  shins  and  airplanes  have 
played  the  important  rol*s  in 
national  defense  in  the  past,  h<- 
predicted  that  electronics,  in 
which  category  the  new  Naval 
station  w  included,  would  \*  of 
chit'  important*-  in  tm?  next 
war. 
The  U.  S.  Navy  Hand  played 
u  number  ui*  s«.-leetioiis  pree->dir.>! 
the  program  which  be^n  prom- 
Captain  Maurice  C.  Hartlc. 
Commanding  Officer,  Naval 
Communications  Station,  "Wash- 
ington, gave  a  brief  address  *>f 
welcome,  and  Lt  J.  D.  Shannon. 
Chaplain,  Naval  Communication* 
Station,  Washington,  pronounced 
the  invocation  and  the  benedic- 
tion. 
The  Activation  Order,  which 
defines  the  function  of  the  Sugui 
Grove  sution  and  authorizes  its 
rhange  to  active  status,  was  tead 
by  Hear  Admiral  J.  C.  Dempsey. 
Commandant  Fifth  Naval  DLs- 
trirt,  ami  LCDR  I«e  E.  Barrett. 
Jr.,  officer  in  charge  of  the 
.station,  carried  the  order  into 
effect  by  raising  the  American 
flag  and  the  flag  of  the  Chief 
«»f  Naval  Operations. 
Tour   Station 
|  Following  the  program  ref  reali- 
j  ments  were  served  in  the  enlist- 
j  ed  men's  dining  hall,  and  tour* 
i  were  conducted  of  the  operations 
:  site. 
The    Naval    Radio    Receiving 
!  Station  is  located  1 9  miles  east  of 
i  Franklin,  county  seat  of  Pendle- 
ton County,  and  five  miles  north 
of  Sugar  Grove. 
The  station  Is  located  on  twu 
.separate  sites — a  400-acrc  opera- 
tions site,  and  a  125-acrc  support 
sit'-.  The-  two  sites  are  approxi- 
utately  seven  miles  apart. 
Operational  components  of  ilu- 
station  it'caii-il  on  the  op<-iation«- 
.-it*'    consist    primarily  of  a   i».»i- 
tery  of  approximately  100  radio : 
receivers  with  numerous  ancill- 
ary device*  and  10  antennas.! 
Two  of  the  antennas  are  hug*,  i 
circular  Wullenweber  antenna  i 
arrays    1,000    feet  in  diameter 
.which  are  the  very  latest  deve- 
lopment- in  antenna  design  and 
are  being  used  for  the  first  time 
at  Sugar  Grove.  Other  antennas 
include  four  conical  monopoles 
and  f»ur  rotatahle  log  periodic 
antenna*.  <    ' 
Incited  on  «the  support  site 
are  a  70-man  barracks,  messing 
facilities.  Navy  exchange,  movie 
!  area,  administrative  offices  and 
20  family  housing  units.  Another 
20  housing  units  are  now  under 
construction. 
LCDR  Lee  E.   Barrett,  USN, 
j  of  Beckley,  is  officer  in  charge 
'  of  the  station,  and  Lt.  Raymond 
DulYt..:..\  US.V,  is  assistant  of- 
ficer in  charge-  Barrett  will  be 
relieved  later  this  month  by 
LCDR  O'yde  W.  Conway,  USN. 
Pace  * 
Xh".    I'entfleton   Time* 
>Uy    IS,   iisr»
NAVY'S  *EAR*  ACTIVATED— Lieutenant  Commander  Lee 
E.  Barret  Jr.  (left).  officer-in-charge  of  the  Navy's  $11 
millioo  radio  receiving  station  at  Sugar  Grove,  W.  Va., 
explains  the  station's  operations  to  Admiral  Thomas  II. 
Mooter  (second  from  leClj,  chief  of  naval  operations,  and 
West  Virginia  Sen.  Robert  C  Byrd  (right)  following 
activation  ceremonies  Saturday  afternoon.  The  facility  will 
serve  as  the  Navy's  "car**  in  gathering  communications 
from  its  planes,  ships  and  stations  around  the  world. 
Mountain  Navy  Station 
Activated  At  Sugar  Grove,  W.Va. 
By  TOMMY  THOMPSON     j  County  residents,  turned  out  to 
9*w».Brr«r4  Matt  timer  \  
&£    (ne    J|ag    raised     OVer    the 
SUGAR  GROVE,  W.  Va.  —  Naval  Radio  Station  at  Sugar 
The  site  of  the  country's  "first 
mountaineer  navy"  was  formal- 
Grove  and  tour  the  facility  that 
will  serve  as  Ihe  Navy's  "ear." 
The  center  will  gather  communi- 
ed  fields  of  science  anil  techno- 
logy made  it  outdated  before 
it  was  even  completed. 
The  first  facility  was  to  have 
enabled  Naval  radio  scientists 
to  tune  in  on  radio  signals  emit- 
tn  welcoming  the  station  to 
'  Ihe  state,  the  Senator  pointed 
{out  that  the  108  enlisted  r.u*n< 
|  and  30  officers  stationed  at  Su- 
gar Giovc  arc  Vac  ' 'country 'a 
first  mountaineer  naw."