Memorandum from General Robert Landry to President Harry S. Truman, with Related Material

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C THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON 28 December 1950 the P Y MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT SUBJECT: Statehood for Alaska and Hawaii Briefly, this is the Air Force position regarding the above subject. Insofar as the Air Force part of the Military Establishment is concerned, statehood for Alaska and Hawaii at this time would have no effect on Air Force commitments and responsibilities in those two areas. The Air Force is on record in statements made by General Nathan Twining, presently Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and formerly Commanding General of the Alaskan Air Command, as believing statehood desirabée for Alaska. I am sure the Air Force position is the same for Hawaii for the reason that both places occupy a prominent part in our strategic plans for the defense of the United States. Former Secretafy of Defense Johnson testified before Congress some time ago that the Department of Defense was firmly behind statehood for both Alaska and Hawaii. From a long-range viewpoint, statehood for Alaska would certainly pay dividends from the standpoint of National security. It would make possible the social and economic development of this country to a much greater extent, it would seem, than as a territory. /s/ R. B. Landry = ARCHIVES "NATIONAL SERVICE* AND RECORDS R. B. LANDRY Brigadier General, U.S.A.F.