Fort Polk will lose 388 soldiers as part of the Army’s plan to cut its force over the next couple of years, The Shreveport Times reported on Wednesday.

The Army won’t officially announce its decision until today, and the number reported is much smaller than the worst-case scenario — a loss of 6,500 military and civilian personnel.

Still, state and federal political leaders on Wednesday condemned the decision, saying the military should rethink its plan and touting the base’s importance to the Leesville area.

“Our leaders in Washington, D.C., need to immediately reconsider this decision,” Gov. Bobby Jindal said in a statement.  

Earlier in the day, U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, on the House floor made his case for sparing Fort Polk, saying the installation is important to the surrounding area.

“The local community and state have invested money and donated land, demonstrating their commitment to this imperative post,” Boustany said, noting the recent acquisition of nearly 50,000 additional acres for training.

Michael Reese, head of Fort Polk Progress, echoed the point. “That is a level of commitment that no other base community can demonstrate presently,” Reese said.

(American Press Archives)