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If there is a problem, Commissioner Adams wanted him to let them know before the equipment is pulled out. Mr. Blankinship wanted the Board to keep in mind that the horned scullies project will be separate from the ordnance investigation, because of the difference in the type of work. Commissioner Adams stressed that from the Board's aspect both projects are very, very important, but, obviously, the ordnance would take a little more priority because of the severity involved, but she did not want them to leave until both have been done. She emphasized her willingness to help. Mr. Blankinship underscored that the more public involvement, the better the process works. He knew people are living here who have seen items on the beach, or people around who know what may have gone on back in the 1940's and 1950's. The more information they can get like that, the better they can isolate the problems and approach the project. Commissioner Tippin observed that many people do not realize that this part of Florida was almost like a war zone in World War II with the air base. He estimated they averaged more than one plane crash a day. He recalled that people were prohibited from the beach except they were allowed to go on Saturday or Sunday to what is now Humiston Park. Many of the Navy people leased homes in the old Rio Mar section. There were many German submarines off shore and on a regular basis ships were torpedoed and sunk right off our beaches. Then the submarines would surface and murder the life boat occupants. One Sunday, he and his brothers were privileged to go to the beach where they found the splintered remnants of a life boat, demolished-, full of large calibre bullet holes. He recalled that a German submarine sank right off the Ft. Pierce Inlet and it is still there. Commissioner Tippin continued that many of our local community leaders were volunteers. He did not know if it was called Coast Guard Auxiliary, but they had watch towers and they were out there at night to identify any lights they saw, airplanes and so forth. They would radio in. He admitted that people forget that right here, within a few miles, German military were killing primarily Merchant Marine people. There were always rumors about all the demolition and they were not allowed to go anywhere near that place. He recalled that at the Lutheran Church, they would get acquainted with the military people; they called them "demolition experts". Some of them came back and married local women. There was so much rumor then, it was very mysterious, hearing explosions at night, and they would not talk about it. They would say, we are 7 9�A,> January 21, 1997