Fort Terry

Training exercise Ft. H.G. Wright pre-WW II

Or as most people know it, Plum Island.

During World War II the islands off of the end of Long Island and off of New London protected the New London submarine base from Germany U-Boats which were very active in the area. To counter the U-Boat threat the army built a series of coastal defense fortification at the end of Long Island Sound. They were Ft. H. G. Wright on Fishers Island, Fort Michie on Great Gull Island, Camp Hero at the end of Montauk Point, and Fort Terry on Plum Island.

My father during the early part of WW II when the U-Boat threat was the highest was stationed at Fort H. G. Wright and traveled to all of the forts under his unit command (242^nd Coastal Artillery).

After the war the bases were deactivated and abandoned. Fishers Island became a playground for the rich and they basically made it into their own private island. Fort Michie became a bird sanctuary and Fort Terry became an animal disease research center.

Now they are moving the research center to Kansas and selling the island. If the sale goes through it will probably become another private island playground for the rich. The Connecticut congressional delegation is trying to block the sale.

Legislators Call On Congress To Reverse Plum Island Mandate
By Matthew Q. Clarida
The Hartford Courant
July 2, 2014

A group of Connecticut and New York lawmakers is calling on Congress to reverse a mandate requiring the sale of the federally controlled Plum Island in Long Island Sound.

The island, which rests to the east of Long Island's Orient Point within the New York state boundary, is home to a federal animal disease research facility. But most of it is undeveloped or vacant—a military base on the island was deserted years ago—and hosts a variety of migratory birds and unobstructed plant life.
[…]
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in a press release that the unique habitat on Plum Island should be protected.

"Plum Island is a priceless natural habitat that must be preserved and protected from development. Congress must repeal its short-sighted decision to sell this environmental treasure to the highest bidder," he said.

I agree, the island should be protected. It can become a park like the coastal defense fortification that defended Portland Maine. They took their fort and made it into a beautiful historic park. This is a tremendous opportunity to save a bit of our history and at the same time preserve the wildlife on the island.