Around Christmas of 2004, Navy officers and real estate agents
knocked on doors in Washington County, carrying blank contracts for
owners to sign over their land. Some people described the Navy's
approach as arrogant.

Farmers battled in public hearings and federal courts. The Navy
bowed to public pressure and dropped Washington County from its
plans.

It now is focusing on five other sites for an outlying landing
field for fighter jets to practice. Two of the sites are in Gates
and Camden counties in North Carolina.

Navy officials say they have learned their lessons and that they
are on track to revamp their process for selecting and selling
communities on Navy projects, but one official acknowledges that
bitterness remains.