LIGONIER MAN APPOINTED TO COUNTY POST
“B.J. Baughman Made County Chairman Civilian Defense Organization”
Indianapolis, Dec. 23—The appointment of Bernard J. Baughman, Ligonier Banker and business man, and American Legion Post Commander, as Noble County Civilian Defense Director, was announced today by Governor Henry F. Schricker and the Indiana Defense Council.
Mr. Baughman has assured Governor Schricker, through Mr. C.A. Jackson, Indiana Civilian Defense Director, of his acceptance of the appointment. He will serve without pay.
Selection of Mr. Baughman was made upon the basis of recommendations received by the Indiana Defense Council from local persons and groups interested in various phases of activities that are to be coordinated on a county plan in the broad program of preparing for any possible eventuality and in harmony and cooperation with the state-wide and nation-wide civilian defense program.
In his work in Noble County, Mr. Baughman will utilize all available existing organizations and facilities and in keeping with the policy of the Indiana Defense Council, will endeavor to avoid the creation of new local groups or organizations for defense purposes.
To facilitate the orderly organization of the local program, it has been suggested by Mr. Jackson, State Civilian Defense Director, that there is no need for any one volunteering for any of this work now. Through duly authorized local municipal and other civil offices and officials and through existing civic organizations, the basic structure is being created. As soon as the local councils are in readiness to accept volunteer enrollments, the local directors will issue a call for them. In this manner, it is hoped that much confusion can be prevented, and much needless effort will be avoided.
Mr. Jackson has stated that the civilian protection and civilian participation programs, the two major phases of the over-all activity, are carefully planned, and ready to be put into immediate operation as the needs arise in the present emergency.
Civilian protection is that part of defense dealing with protection of the life and property of citizens from sabotage, fire and explosions, poison and possibly air raids. Police, Sheriffs and firemen generally, carry on or supervise this work.
Civilian participation includes those phases of activity in fields of health, family, security, recreation, social protection, child welfare, education, and other local programs, such as information services, U.S.O. Programs, Red Cross programs and solicitations, consumer information programs, salvage programs, promotion of sale of defense stamps and bonds, etc. Volunteer workers are used for the most part in these activities.
In advising Mr. Baughman of his appointment Mr. Jackson said, “This highly important appointment is a call to patriotic duty made by the Indiana Defense Council and Governor Henry F. Schricker. You have been highly recommended by the people of your community as one who has demonstrated his leadership and has the unquestioned loyalty to the defense program of our country and the willingness to make the necessary personal sacrifices essential to organize and lead the civilian defense program in Noble County.
“It is our opinion that the offices of county, town and city defense directors during the critical days ahead will be the highest honor that will come to men and women in their particular communities. The responsibility in commensurate with the honor.”
One of the first duties of Mr. Baughman, as County Director of Civilian Defense will be the organization of the town and cities in County Organization plans and charts have been delivered to the new director.
For the purpose of clarifying views concerning the method of civilian defense operations the state council has announced that the County Director will name a county civilian defense council, to be composed of the sheriff, a member of the board of county commissioners, the county superintendent, of schools, a representative of the county medical society, the county agricultural agent, the county welfare director and the civil defense director of each incorporated city and town in the county.
Plans and announcements concerning the local civilian defense organizations in the cities and towns of the county will be made by Mr. Baughman at the time dictated by needs and changing conditions. Likewise all information concerning the activities to be undertaken, both on a county plane, and in the cities and towns, will be released through Mr. Baughman, who will function as coordinator of all civilian defense activity in this county. His reports will be made to the State Defense Council in Indianapolis.
