By Colonel Thomas H. Magness Los Angeles
Please allow me to clarify a few facts in response to John W. Whitehead’s commentary on Aug. 20 — “Tyranny’s instruments seem to be everywhere.”
As Commanding Officer of the Los Angeles District, US Army Corps of Engineers, you can be sure that there are no “agents carrying deadly weapons” as Mr. Whitehead asserts. In fact, there are no “agents” in the Army Corps at all. Our employees are part of a team of teams dedicated to providing the American people the nation’s premier public engineering outfit. They serve with pride and put themselves in harm’s way, both at home and abroad. They are involved in a diversity of projects throughout Southern California designed to safeguard property and, even more importantly, the lives of those whom we serve. But they do it all unarmed!
The only “weapons” we bring to any of our projects are the blades of the engineer’s shovels, the lasers of the surveyor, various instruments and tools that move steel and dirt, and the willingness to use them to help people.
I recognize Mr. Whitehead’s right to his opinion and I respect his right to give it voice in a public forum. I would only request he check his facts before publishing erroneous information. Hooah!
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 25, 2007. Read the original PDF.