32nd Street Naval Station
celebrated their 80th Anniversary 22 February 2002. The publication
reproduced below was published for this special occasion. It has been
reformatted for the web.
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When you consider the significant history of San Diego's historic
landmarks, it's easy to dismiss the few miles of tidelands south of San
Diego that is Naval Station San Diego today. After all, Naval Air
Station North Island claims its fame as the birthplace of Naval
aviation. The Submarine Base at Point Loma is the arrival point for Juan Cabrillo, the explorer who
discovered San Diego, the birthplace of the State of California.
Naval Station had
no such history; just a few miles of marshland. But time has a way of
endowing even the most humble with greatness.
It was a partly cloudy dawn, February 23, 1922. With a stroke of a pen,
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. signed General Order 78 and U.S. Destroyer Base San
Diego was created. The year before, Commander H. N. Jenson, the commanding
officer of USS Prairie, a destroyer tender, was ordered to the area and
directed to prepare the site for receipt of World War I destroyers scheduled
for decommissioning. Since Commander Jenson, 37 commanding officers have
served at the helm of Naval Station. Perhaps the most notable was the fifth.
He served from 1931 to 1933 and went on to command Pacific Fleet Forces
during World War 11. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz went on to become one
of our great Naval heroes of the War in the Pacific.
In 1933, then Captain Nimitz contemplated recommending closure of the base.
Having further thoughts on the subject and thinking future needs of the
Navy, he decided not to forward his recommendation. This has to rank near
the top among the many momentous decisions this great leader made during his
unprecedented Naval career. |
When the base was commissioned, it consisted of 77 acres. Over the years we
have expanded to more than 1,400 acres and l4 piers that provide 12 miles
of berthing for more than 50 ships. The total plant value now exceeds $1.2
billion. Our roadways stretch out to 25 miles. More than 30,000 people call
Naval Station their home or report to work here each day.
Today we are the
principle homeport for the U.S. Pacific Fleet. More than two thirds of the
Navy's Pacific Fleet call San Diego home and most of those ships moor right
here at the Naval Station. We were once the retirement home for aged "tin
can" destroyers. Now we are a West Coast Navy mega port, essentially
providing the life-energy for our most modern amphibious ships, guided
missile cruisers and destroyers. But all of it would amount to little more
than cold iron if it weren't for the Sailors who occupy and drive our ships.
And if we provide life-energy, it is the Sailors who provide the life-blood
for these modern, sea-going, warfare platforms. And it is these Sailors to
whom we dedicate our mission: to ensure they receive the best support we can
provide so that they can perform the kinds of mission miracles we see in
Afghanistan, Kosovo, Somalia and dozens of other high-intensity locations
throughout the globe.
And, finally our community: We have been an important part of San Diego
since a city council deeded us the land which became the Naval Station 80
years ago. Our neighbors have been our greatest local supporters. And, so,
we can look back on the last 80 years - and the history which brought us to
this point - and marvel at the ships which called Naval Station San Diego
home. But it is our community, and the Sailors here who are members of that
community, to whom we share our greatest thanks for this special occasion:
the 80th birthday of Naval Station San Diego.
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L. R.
Hering, Sr.
Captain, United States Navy
36th Commanding Officer, Naval Station San Diego
23 February 2002
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CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OF COMMANDING OFFICERS
NAVAL STATION SAN DIEGO
| COMMANDER
H. N. JENSON |
...........................23 FEB 22 - 02 JAN 23 |
|
CAPTAIN H. L. BRINSER |
...........................03 JAN 23 - 17 JUN 25 |
|
CAPTAIN J. G. CHURCH |
...........................18 JUN 25 - 11 JUN 28 |
|
CAPTAIN R. MORRIS. |
.......................... 12 JUN 28 - 02 FEB 31 |
|
CAPTAIN C. W. NIMITZ |
...........................17 JUN 31 - 30 SEPT 33 |
|
CAPTAIN M. M. FRUCHT |
............................01 NOV 33 - 12 JAN 37 |
|
COMMODORE BYRON MCCANDLESS |
............................12 JAN 37 - 06 OCT 43 |
|
COMMODORE JAMES E. BOAK |
............................08 SEPT 45 - 23 APR 47 |
|
CAPTAIN JOHN P. WOMBLE |
............................23 APR 47 - 20 JAN 48 |
|
CAPTAIN THOMAS T. BEATTIE |
............................20 JAN 48 - 25 JUL 49 |
|
CAPTAIN WILLIAM B. MCHUGH |
............................31 AUG 49 - 30 JUN 51 |
|
CAPTAIN WILLIAM P. BURFORD |
........................... 30 JUN 51 - 30 JUN 53 |
|
CAPTAIN A. M. HURST |
........................... 30 JUN 53 - 30 JUN 54 |
|
CAPTAIN MARTIN J. WEST |
........................... 30 JUN 54 - 29 JUN 56 |
|
CAPTAIN GEORGE W. WILCOX |
........................... 29 JUN 56 - 28 JUN 57 |
|
CAPTAIN DANIEL J. WAGNER |
........................... 28 JUN 57 - 24 MAR 58 |
|
CAPTAIN BERNHART A. FUETSCH |
........................... 24 MAR 58 - 28 JUN 60 |
|
CAPTAIN M. FERRARA |
........................... 28 JUN 60 - 12 OCT 60 |
|
CAPTAIN JAMES M.
CLEMENT |
........................... 12 OCT 60 - 22 JUN 62 |
|
CAPTAIN ALBERT G. PELLING |
........................... 22 JUN 62 - 20 JUN 64 |
|
CAPTAIN GEORGE H. WHITING |
........................... 30 JUN 64 - 24 JUN 66 |
|
CAPTAIN ALBERT R. OLSEN |
........................... 24 JUN 66 - 28 JUN 68 |
|
CAPTAIN ALLEN P. COOK, JR |
........................... 28 JUN 68 - 25 JUN 70 |
|
CAPTAIN RALPH DI CORI |
........................... 25 JUN 70 - 09 FEB 72 |
|
CAPTAIN WILLIAM T. MAWHINEY |
........................... 09 FEB 72 - 23 JAN 75 |
|
CAPTAIN WILLIAM T. MARIN |
........................... 23 JAN 75 - 31 MAR 78 |
|
CAPTAIN JIMMY PAPPAS |
........................... 31 MAR 78 - 06 AUG 80 |
|
CAPTAIN GEORGE W. HORSLEY, JR |
........................... 06 AUG 80 - 03 SEPT 82 |
|
CAPTAIN CLARENCE T. VAUGHT |
........................... 03 SEPT 82 - 26 JULY 85 |
|
CAPTAIN CHARLES D. EWING |
........................... 26 JUL 85 - 09 OCT 87 |
|
CAPTAIN DONALD F. BERKEBILE |
........................... 09 OCT 87 - 20 MAR 89 |
|
CAPTAIN JAMES G. PROUT III |
........................... 20 OCT 89 - 21 MAR 91 |
|
CAPTAIN SAMUEL K. ANDERSON |
........................... 28 MAR 91 - 26 FEB 93 |
|
CAPTAIN MARTIN K. COLLINS |
........................... 26 FEB 93 - 16 FEB 96 |
|
CAPTAIN VINSON E. SMITH |
........................... 16 FEB 96 - 07 MAY 99 |
|
CAPTAIN LEENDERT R. HERING, SR |
........................... 07 MAY 99 - PRESENT |
HISTORY OF THE
NAVAL STATION
The property where Naval Station San Diego is now located was deeded to
the U. S. government by the city of San Diego on Sept. 3, 1919, to build a
docking and fleet repair base. The property consisted of 21 water acres and
77.2 land acres, with the former being mostly tidelands and marsh flats.
On Feb. 15, 1921,
the U.S. Navy acquired the land, buildings and some machinery. Later that
year, on June 10, USS Prairie, commanded by CDR H. N. Jenson, was ordered to
the area to take over and prepare the site for receipt of destroyers which
would soon be decommissioned. A marine railway was also begun, and on Feb.
23, 1922, U. S. Destroyer Base San Diego was created, by General Order 78.
During World War
11, the Destroyer Base was renamed to reflect an expanding and changing
role, to U.S. Naval Repair Base San Diego. During the war, more than 43,000
Sailors - officer and enlisted - trained for repair duties and more than
5,000 ships were sent to the Station for conversion, overhaul and repair,
including the repair of battle damage.
After World War 11,
the name of the Repair Base was changed for the last time, to Naval Station
San Diego. The mission was expanded to support ships of the Pacific Fleet.
A major restructuring of the Navy's geographical regions took place
in 1998 to reduce shore infrastructure and focus more on the Navy's
operational units. Naval Station San Diego now falls under the
administration and management of Commander, Navy Region Southwest.
“SERVING
THE FLEET” it’s our business
Naval
Station is homeport for approximately 52 ships and home base to 52 separate
commands, each having specific and specialized fleet support purposes. It is
the workplace for approximately 30,000 military and civilian personnel.
Three thousand men and women are housed in modern, attractive bachelor
quarters.
Major shore
commands include Fleet Training Center; Naval Dental Center; Naval Legal
Service Office; Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity; Navy Public Works
Center; Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair; Navy College;
Fleet Industrial Supply Center; and Naval Criminal Investigative Service;
Afloat Training Group Pacific; Fleet Technical Support Center Pacific.
The commanding
officer, whose role is akin to that of a mayor of a medium-size city, has
several departments and commands reporting to him. Collectively, about 2,500
military and civilian personnel accomplish the multifaceted support mission.
Together, they provide a wide range of both direct and indirect fleet
support; waterfront operations, security, supply, Navy Exchange, Commissary,
bachelor quarters, food services, public affairs, administration,
transient personnel administration, fiscal management, equal opportunity,
civil engineering, family services, recreation on the Station and in
various military family housing areas, medical and dental care, religious
services, transportation, utilities, legal support, counseling and
assistance, facility maintenance, fire protection, educational services and
child care for more than 2,800 dependent children daily.
Fleet support has always been the mission of the Naval Station, and that
mission affects the more than 60 ships homeported in the San Diego area.
These
include aircraft carriers at Naval Station North Island across the bay, and
submarines at the Sub Base in the Point Loma area. Ship support functions
include such services as providing tugs and pilots. Pier space is also
provided for homeported ships, for all Pacific Fleet ships undergoing
refresher training, or shakedown, for four Military Sealift Command ships,
and for all foreign Navy ships visiting San Diego. More than 7,000 ship
movements are performed annually.
Special Project funds, for
maintenance and repair, average $10 million a year. New construction
projects in the last three years totaled approximately $38 million.
The Navy's largest installation is
also committed to preserving and protecting the environment, and several
innovative programs support that commitment. Recycling is a way of life,
with more than 18 tons of material diverted from landfills every week. Add
to that creative solutions to recycling problems, such as creating 2 X 4
beams out of recycled plastic bags and "sharing" resources through hazardous
materials reuse program, and it's easy to understand why other military
installations look to Naval Station San Diego for
ideas for their recycling
programs. Self-help at Naval Station is second to none - and the proof of
that is evident in the Station's status of having won the Navy-wide Bronze
Hammer Award for excellence. Naval Station personnel, assisted by crew
members from tenant commands and ships homeported at the Station, saved
taxpayers more than $12.5 million on approximately 50 self help projects.
Many other projects included small items such as the construction of a
gazebo at the Station chapel.
Serving the Fleet is
our business
WHAT HAPPENED IN 1922
U.S. Statistics
President:
Warren G. Harding
Vice President: Calvin Coolidge
Population:
110,049,000
Science
British Egyptologists George Carnarvon and Howard Carter
unearth King Tutankhamen's tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the only tomb
that remained unlooted through the centuries.
Insulin, which regulates the use of sugar, is isolated and
used for the treatment of diabetes by Frederick Banting and Herbert Best.
Herbert McLean Evans discovers the substance that promotes
human growth, a hormone from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
Events
Reacting to problems posed
by the Radio Act of 1912, the Commerce Department allows powerful stations
to use the 400m wavelength as long as they only broadcast live music. James
Joyce's Ulysses published. The U.S. Post Office destroys 500 copies of the
novel.
• Reader's Digest debuts
• Pulitzer Prizes: Fiction: Alice Adams, Booth Tarkington Drama: Anna
Christie, Eugene O'Neill
• Nobel Prize for Literature: Jacinto Benavente (Spain)
• Miss America: Mary Campbell (OH)
Sports
• World Series
NY Giants d. NY Yankees (4-0-1)
• Stanley Cup
Toronto St. Pats d. Vancouver (PCHA) (3-2)
• Wimbledon
Women: Suzanne Lenglen d. M. Mallory (6-2 6-0)
Men: Gerald Patterson d. R. Lycett (6-3 6-4 6-2)
• Kentucky Derby Champion Morvich
• NCAA Football Champions
Princeton (CFRA) (8-0-0)
California (NCF) (9-0-0) &
Cornell (HF) (8-0-0)
Economics
|
Federal spending |
$3.29
billion |
|
Consumer Price Index: |
16.8
|
|
Unemployment: |
6.7% |
| Cost
of a first-class stamp: |
$0.02 |
STATION FACTS
| Total
acreage: |
|
|
Land acres |
1,029.45 acres |
|
Water acres |
326
acres |
|
Mission Gorge Recreational Facilities |
448.16 acres |
| Number of piers |
14 |
| Amount
of berthing |
12
miles |
| Number
of ships homeported at Naval Station |
52 |
| Number
of tenant commands at Naval Station |
52 |
|
Population |
34,000-38,000 |
|
Military afloat and ashore |
28,000-30,000 |
|
Civilian |
6,000-8,000 |
| Value
of land and building |
$1.2
billion |
| Amount
of roads |
25
miles |
| Number
of meals served in galley annually |
638,750 |
| Annual
number of tug-assisted moves |
7,000-12,000 |
|
Economic impact of Naval Station on San Diego (military construction and
repair contracts) |
$140
million |
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Preserving San Diego's Naval Heritage
