America Town Fact Sheet

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America Town Fact Sheet

Book Information

$24.95 paper
ISBN: 0-8166-4953-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-8166-4953-2

$75.00 cloth
ISBN: 0-8166-4952-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-8166-4952-5

Did You Know That…

After the 1996 bombing of Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 U.S. airmen, the U.S. military relocated its 6,000 soldiers from Khobar to a vacant airfield in the desert. In six weeks, U.S. engineers turned the unused airbase into a major military compound the size of metropolitan Chicago.

In South Korea in 2006, there were ninety-five U.S. military sites, including forty-seven major outposts, in a nation half the size of the state of Washington.

From large air stations to small intelligence sites, as of 2006 the United States had its soldiers stationed in over 140 countries. And in countries with a substantial U.S. presence, the military operate out of permanent buildings rather than tents.

In the “war against terrorism” the U.S. has substantially increased its presence around the globe. In Iraq, the U.S. Army maintained a force of roughly150,000 troops over four years after the “fall” of Baghdad.

Shopping malls and grocery stores on U.S. military bases have doubled and tripled in size, eliminating the need for trips beyond the main gate. Franchised restaurants have replaced local establishments on-base and reduced the demand for off-base dining.

New hotels have been built on-base, thus eliminating the need to send visiting soldiers to hotels off-base. Osan Airbase in South Korea recently built a 350-room, $26 million hotel just for this purpose.

In South Korea alone, the United States is spending more than $100 million on fitness centers, ball fields, and clubs designed to keeps Americans occupied on-base.

Military authorities monitor lawn care of soldier’s homes and award “prizes” to the lawn that best conforms to the military’s standards.

As of 2002, the United States air force had more than double the number of golf courses per capita that the United States as a whole, offering 1 golf course per 8,842 people versus 1 per 15,827 people.

The United States pays no rent to the nations hosting its military forces.

A major concern surrounding military bases is noise spillover. One study done by the Asahikawa medical College in Okinawa found that 38% of residents lived in areas with noise levels exceeding a healthy amount due to military activity. This is an underlying factor in lower than average birth weights, higher stress levels, diminished productivity. Situations like this resulted in massive class-action lawsuits costing upwards of $10.32 million dollars in settlements.

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America Town Fact Sheet Book Information		$24.95 paper ISBN: 0-8166-4953-2 ISBN-13: 978-0-8166-4953-2 $75.00 cloth ISBN: 0-8166-4952-9 ISBN-13: 978-0-8166-4952-5
Did You Know That… After the 1996 bombing of Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 U.S. airmen, the U.S. military relocated its 6,000 soldiers from Khobar to a vacant airfield in the desert. In six weeks, U.S. engineers turned the unused airbase into a major military compound the size of metropolitan Chicago. In South Korea in 2006, there were ninety-five U.S. military sites, including forty-seven major outposts, in a nation half the size of the state of Washington. From large air stations to small intelligence sites, as of 2006 the United States had its soldiers stationed in over 140 countries. And in countries with a substantial U.S. presence, the military operate out of permanent buildings rather than tents. In the “war against terrorism” the U.S. has substantially increased its presence around the globe. In Iraq, the U.S. Army maintained a force of roughly150,000 troops over four years after the “fall” of Baghdad. Shopping malls and grocery stores on U.S. military bases have doubled and tripled in size, eliminating the need for trips beyond the main gate. Franchised restaurants have replaced local establishments on-base and reduced the demand for off-base dining. New hotels have been built on-base, thus eliminating the need to send visiting soldiers to hotels off-base. Osan Airbase in South Korea recently built a 350-room, $26 million hotel just for this purpose. In South Korea alone, the United States is spending more than $100 million on fitness centers, ball fields, and clubs designed to keeps Americans occupied on-base. Military authorities monitor lawn care of soldier’s homes and award “prizes” to the lawn that best conforms to the military’s standards. As of 2002, the United States air force had more than double the number of golf courses per capita that the United States as a whole, offering 1 golf course per 8,842 people versus 1 per 15,827 people. The United States pays no rent to the nations hosting its military forces. A major concern surrounding military bases is noise spillover. One study done by the Asahikawa medical College in Okinawa found that 38% of residents lived in areas with noise levels exceeding a healthy amount due to military activity. This is an underlying factor in lower than average birth weights, higher stress levels, diminished productivity. Situations like this resulted in massive class-action lawsuits costing upwards of $10.32 million dollars in settlements.