Town Gives Up Quiet for Peace : Arms Reduction Brings Soviets to Texas

A couple of times a day, the ground around here quivers. The explosions roar on for minutes and clouds of smoke rise above the trees. It feels like the world is coming to an end, but the effect may be quite the opposite.

The destruction of Pershing 2 missiles at the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant, in accordance with a U. S.-Soviet treaty, has been giving a literal twist to Karnack’s reputation as a peaceful little town.

“It will sound like a bunch of damn wind blowing, then a big ball of smoke will rise up from beyond those pines,” said Greg Gary, who owns one of the two white frame service stations on the town square. “It’ll boil up in the sky just like the entire world is on fire!”

The commotion is practically nothing, though, compared to the hubbub on Sept. 8, 1988--the day the missile-destroying started. Hordes of officials, reporters and photographers descended on Karnack (pop. 600) to see the first results of the Intermediate Nuclear Force treaty signed in December, 1987.

Step Toward Peace

“This is a modest first step toward world peace,” said Dorothy Grant at the ammunition plant, “but I don’t think anyone has recognized the magnitude of it, except for a few of us who work here.”

The World War II-vintage compound, owned by contractor Morton Thiokol Inc., is one of 11 missile sites, training facilities and industrial plants in the continental United States that is open to Soviet inspection during the three-year period in which medium-range and shorter-range nuclear missiles are to be destroyed. As many as 20 Soviet inspectors are required to watch each time a 9-foot-long missile motor is rendered harmless by firing it, then cutting and crushing its components.

Grant said she expects the eliminations to continue without much fanfare until the last of 847 missile motors is destroyed. Just when that will happen is uncertain, because the two countries are destroying missiles alternately, and weather conditions could alter the schedule.

Aside from the noise and an occasional Soviet inspector coming to town for supplies or a bag of The Karnack Cafe’s pan-sized hamburgers, the process has had little effect on Karnack residents, and they don’t give it much thought.

“I just hope they don’t let one get away,” said Ann Brazzel, a clerk at Hayner Grocery and Supplies. “I used to work (at Longhorn) and I know what that stuff can do. If one gets away, that’s the end of all of us.”

Home of Patriots

This has long been known as both a peaceful town and a patriotic one. A year ago, the schoolchildren had their photos taken in front of an American flag and an oversized copy of the U.S. Constitution. On the town square--actually a tiny triangle--a marker notes that Karnack is the home town of Lady Bird Johnson.

The widow of President Lyndon B. Johnson attended the dedication of a recreation center near the railroad tracks that slice through the center of town.

Only occasionally does a Karnack resident have contact with any of the Soviet observers, who stay 30 days and then are replaced by a fresh team. Sometimes, one of the Soviets’ vans will pull up at one of the stores.

“Some guy will get out, and he’ll buy 12 to 15 packs of cigarettes,” Gary said. “They’re always reds--Marlboro reds.”

People in Karnack say they see no problem with having the Soviets in their midst. In fact, said one, he had always wondered what they looked like.

One elderly Texan who didn’t want to give his name said he was surprised that all the Soviet inspectors were blond. He had figured they would have dark skin and hair.

Gary shook his head when asked if he was wary of the Soviet presence.

“Nah,” he said. “They seem like a bunch of good ol’ boys.”