Gettysburg, Pa. - Gettysburg is an important historical midstate destination - but there's a new skirmish being waged after the battlefield's superintendent was reassigned for viewing porn on a work computer. The fight centers on how much government agencies have to tell you about how they're spending your money.

Those who love Gettysburg are still smarting from news that longtime superintendent John Latschar was reassigned to a desk job in Maryland after more than 3,400 pornographic images were found on his work computer.

In an interview with the York Daily Record, Latschar expressed frustration that the Interior Department's investigation was leaked to the press. But he did not deny that he misappropriated a government computer. He said he was going through personal and professional struggles and did view pornography.

Latschar, who ran Gettysburg for 15 years, has been on his new job for a week. But he's keeping his old salary of $145,000. The National Park Service is saying little else.

"Transparency right now in Washington, D.C. is a nonexistent word," said Representative Dan Moul, who represents Gettysburg. He says taxpayers deserve answers.

"If someone else would've done it at a lower level they would probably have been canned on the spot," he said. "This is one of those situations where they're protecting their own."

To hardcore Civil War buffs, Latschar's reassignment was a bombshell - but not enough to disturb the steady stream of more casual visitors, like Stan and Judy Barnes of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

"We've had people in our area have the same thing happen, and you go, 'You've got to be kidding me, what were you thinking?'" said Stan.

"Anyway, he needs help, and hopefully he's getting it along with movement of job," said Judy.

"But not the $145,000 continuation," Stan said. "That, I don't understand."

There's a lot that's difficult to comprehend about Latschar's situation. Perhaps the lesson: We all battle human frailties. Being surrounded by statues doesn't make us one.

 

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