Navy
Schools Command Electronics
Technician Class "B" School
Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA October
1969 - July 1973
Upon
graduation from ET-B School, I received orders to remain at NAVSCOLCOM
Treasure Island and become an instructor at the same school I just
graduated from. I first had to attend a 4 week Instructor Training
Course in San Diego, which I graduated second. I then spent the next
4 years teaching advanced electronics theory at ET "B" School.
It was probably the most rewarding tour of my 22 years in the Navy.
IT
School Graduation Class - Dec. 1969. I'm in the third row, second from
the left.
We
moved from an apartment in Oakland into Navy quarters on Treasure
Island. We got into a brand new two-story three bedroom townhouse-style
(end unit) home. Later, we bought a 20-ft motor home and a 21-ft boat
and did a lot of camping and fishing those next 6 years. We would
launch the boat right there on the island and troll for striped bass
in the bay.
In
1972, I made Chief Petty Officer (my second attempt). After taking
that rating exam, I knew I had made it, I just didn't know where I
would be on the list. The questions they had selected for this exam
were right out of our test bank at ET "B" School! And I
had written many of them!
These
pictures (below) were taken at my CPO initiation. You may be wondering
why I am holding a car bumper. One of the trumped up charges against
me was that I had prematurely placed an E7 sticker on my car bumper.
When appearing before the judge, and after hearing the charge, I
denied the charge. Well, they walked in with the front bumper of
my car with the sticker on it! Some of the other charges against
me was that I had propped open the door to the restroom while my
division head and another chief were using the urinals. Also, I
disassembled one of the chief's hats, throwing some parts in the
trash and hiding the others. I figured that I might as well get
my digs in prior to the initiation. I ended up paying for it though!
Also, notice that I am wearing a wading hip boot on one leg. The
spectators used this to dispense their stale beer or other liquid
refreshments in. When it was fairly full, I had to go out on the
stage and do a somersault and therefore drenching myself. It was
a lot of fun.
My
Chief Initiation At The TI CPO Club
CPO
Initiation. Behind Me Is My Boss (And Defense Council) ETC Curtis.
During
my CPO initiation, my defense counsel was my boss, ETC R. Curtis.
I still remember a funny incident that occurred with Curtis, while
I was working for him on the curriculum development & improvement
team. We had an old mustang Lt. LDO (Lt. Leggitt, I believe his
name was) as the Officer-In-Charge who could talk for long periods
of time (and not really say anything) and you couldn't get a word
in edgewise. On one particular morning, Curtis arrived to work with
a terrible hang-over. You guessed it, the LT decided to telephone
Curtis for a status report or something. Curtis answered the phone,
and sat there with the phone about a foot from his throbbing head,
stopping on occasion to say "yes sir" into the phone.
The LT kept rattling' on, as usual, and Curtis was fidgeting' around
in his chair in real pain with his hang-over. He would hold the
phone out, a couple feet from his body, so we could hear the rambling'.
He would lay the phone on his desk and lean back in his chair, all
the while the LT was continually rambling along. Then, Curtis opened
a desk drawer and put the phone in the drawer and closed it, got
up from his chair and gingerly walked over to the coffee machine
and poured himself a cup of coffee, slowly adding his usual condiments.
Then, he gingerly walked back over to his desk, sat down, took a
few sips of coffee, and then opened the drawer. Then, I swear to
God, that he timed it just perfectly as he picked up the phone,
the LT had just concluded the conversation and Curtis said "yes
sir" and hung up! It was a wonder that the LT never heard us
in the background because we were rolling on the floor laughing
our guts out! Later on, while a new CWO2 on the USS Chicago, I heard
Curtis was now a ETCM and the ET Detailer in Washington D.C.. So,
I decided to call him up one day to just shoot the breeze. Sometime
during the conversation, I complained that I only had one ET1 in
my division and billets for four. Well, you might know it, a few
weeks later I had ET1's coming out of my ears! I think I ended up
with five or six ET1's in total.
Curtis,
myself, another ETB Chief used to work part-time as Bingo Callers
at the CPO Club each week. We would have drinks lined up, 6-8 deep,
on our table provided free from many of the little old ladies playing
Bingo. I had trouble driving home on many of those nights, it's
a wonder I never hit anything. I did park the car in a few weird
places though. I usually wasn't in very good shape the next day
either.
Morning
Muster In Front Of Electronics "B" School - From Two Angles
We
used to do a lot of crazy stuff during my tour at "B"
School. A couple of us instructors, while getting a cup of coffee
in the coffee mess, would make up some outlandish rumor and casually
discuss it out loud. Then, we would wait and see how fast it would
spread throughout the students in school, which amazed us at times
on how fast it would spread. We had a lot of fun with this until
the Master Chief caught on and told us to knock it off. Another
funny story (that I had completely forgot about) was just recently
passed onto me by ETCS E. Sedlacek: I
had you for an instructor while at ETB School 1971-72. Remember
right after you had your vasectomy, one class tried to nail you
with rolls of toilet paper! Well, shipmate, I was a part of that
fine class, and you know, we never ever meant to hit you in the
crotch!! The reason I forgot about it was probably because
that was a miserable time for me - physically anyway. I went through
a real sore rehab period after I had that vasectomy (from an almost-a-doctor
newbie at the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital). I had trouble walking up
the stairs to my classroom because it hurt so bad. Then, to add
insult to injury, when I went in for a test a month or two later,
I found out that it grew back! And, I had to have it done again!
From what I went through, another fellow instructor, who had been
contemplating having the operation, changed his mind!
For
our weekly physical fitness training, we would have beer softball
games - usually playing one of the classes. I remember Chief Jones,
playing second base, with a quart pitcher (as a beer mug) set down
near the second base bag, so he could take a swig whenever he needed.
During
GMT (General Military Training) periods, we were supposed to be
showing military training type movies in the classrooms. This one
Chief, on occasion, would walk by the classrooms and peer into the
classroom, via a small window in the door, to check that there was
a military training film showing on the movie screen (at the front
of the classroom). But, because it was very dark in the classroom,
he never did notice that the class was turned around and watching
a 8mm porno film on the back wall!
At
Christmas time, it was one Christmas Party after another. I remember
wearing out my father, who was visiting us over the Christmas holidays.
He was a pretty good partygoer in his own day, but he hadn't seen
anything like the slew of parties we had. Of course, one of the
parties had to be at our home.
Just
after Christmas, in 1969, I remember late at night racing across
the base, onto the bay bridge and down the Nimitz freeway on our
way to the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital because my wife was going into
labor. I must have been doing 60-70mph across the base and close
to 100 going down the freeway - it's a wonder I wasn't stopped.
I pulled up to the emergency entrance and they took my wife inside.
I quickly got her checked in, went up to the floor where she was
at, and the doctor came up to me and asked "do you want to
be in the delivery room and watch the delivery?" I said "no
thanks, that's what that waiting room was built for and I'll be
right in there." Then, I just barely got sat down, when the
doctor came into the waiting room and said "congratulations,
your wife just had a baby girl!" I almost passed out!
Family Photo - December 1972
During
my Instructor and ADCOP tours, I worked at three different part-time
jobs, to make some spending money. I worked as a movie projectionist
at the Basilone (base) theater, bingo caller at the CPO club, and
parking cars at a parking garage downtown San Francisco. From the
movie projectionist job, I still see those dots (which signals the
end of the reel and prompting to change-over projectors), in the
upper right hand corner, of a movie.
Myself
and a couple other shipmates, after obtaining a First Class FCC
License (with a radar endorsement) worked on the radar on the Special
Services charter fishing boat. For this, we were paid in free Salmon
fishing trips. One memorable fishing trip on this boat sticks in
my mind, mainly due to this one Chief. His name was Chief Jones
(his first name was Bob, I believe) and he was an unconsciously
lucky individual - if there was a contest, he usually won. On these
trips, we ran two pools - one for the first fish and one for the
biggest fish. Sure enough Chief Jones had the biggest fish and it
looked like he was going to win at least one of these pools. Well,
we couldn't let that happen! So, we took the next biggest fish,
which not only weighed about 3-pounds less, but even physically
looked smaller, and stuffed a couple 3-inch diameter 3-pound fishing
sinkers down it's throat. When Chief Jones went to collect his pool,
we said "not so fast, Chief!" We stated that an official
weighing was necessary before paying off. He raised quite a ruckus,
because physically there was no contest, but relented. When we weighed
the two fish, of course our fish weighed a pound or so more. Chief
Jones was incredulous and couldn't believe it! After awhile, upon
a close inspection he finally discovered the sinkers and we had
to pay him. We all got a good laugh out of it, including Chief Jones.
Here
are some later photos of Treasure Island.
Treasure
Island - Our on base housing quarters, 1214 Bayside Drive, (red
arrow)
The old ET"A" School classrooms.
Building One - Treasure Island, Inside Main Gate
Aerial view of east side of Treasure Island and navy Pier.
Aerial view of Treasure Island Naval Base with San Francisco in
the background.
A Blimp view of Treasure Island Naval Base. The two spoke buildings
are the Enlisted barracks.
I believe the old ET"B" School buildings were located
just left of where the baseball
diamond and large grassy area is now located.
Another blimp view of Treasure Island Naval base
Treasure Island Marina - I used to work on the radar of the Special
Services Charter Fishing Boat moored here, which I was paid in free
Salmon fishing trips.
I believe this is the old Buttercup & DC Schools
Navy Exchange Complex
Bowling Alley
View of Bay Bridge & San Francisco out the window of the CPO
Club.
More photos of Treasure Island - taken after base closure
Photo courtesy of EW1 Rich Cunningham
Photo courtesy of EW1 Rich Cunningham
Photo courtesy of EW1 Rich Cunningham
Photo courtesy of EW1 Rich Cunningham
Photo courtesy of EW1 Rich Cunningham
Photo courtesy of EW1 Rich Cunningham
Photo courtesy of EW1 Rich Cunningham
Photo courtesy of EW1 Rich Cunningham
Photo courtesy of EW1 Rich Cunningham
Thanks Rich - great photos!
More photos of Treasure Island. These photos are provided courtesy of Danny Farrow, who took these photos while attending ET "A" School from Jan to Oct 1966.
ET "A" School. Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
Navy Exchange complex. Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
ET "A" School Radar Section. Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
Basilone Theater. Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
ET "A" School. Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
ET "A" School and Navy Exchange. Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
RD "A" School. Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
BOQ. Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
Bank of America branch. Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
Laundry and Dry Cleaning. Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
Mess Hall. Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
Photo courtesy of Danny Farrow
Thanks Danny - excellent photos of TI in the mid-60s!
Treasure Island 1950-51 Photos taken by George R. Larson USN Ret., instructor at TINS EMS School 1950-1951. Photos are provided courtesy of his son, Kevin Larson.
Company Street
Company Street
Building 28
Barracks 20 - EMS
Brig (1951)
Map of the World - From 1938-1940 World Expo
Map of the World (1938-1940 World Expo) with RDA School in Background
Looking Down Avenue H
LST (foreground) and old MSTS ship moored
USS Colahan DD-658
USS Thomas F. Nickel DE-587
Sunset over Building 28 and Golden Gate
Barracks Life (Barracks 24)
Thanks Kevin - for sharing your father's great photos of TI in 1950-51!
TREASURE ISLAND TODAY
Slide Show of photos that I took on Treaure Island Aug. 3, 2007.
If you lived on Treasure Island, or were stationed on Treasure Island, you may want to read this article.
Photo courtesy of Sabahattin Sertcetin, Turkish Navy (Front Row: Second from left)
History
Of Treasure Island
Yerba
Buena Island, in contrast with Treasure Island, is a natural island.
In 1775, the Spanish entered San Francisco Bay. They gave the Island
the name Yerba Buena. Yerba Buena is Spanish for "Good Herb"
and was reportedly given to the Island for the wild mint that grew
there in abundance and was used by Spaniards to flavor their tea.
Yerba Buena Island was also known as Wood Island, Bird Island, and
most popularly, Goat Island, its official name from 1895 to 1931.
The name came from the herds of goats raised there for food from about
1850 to 1931, when the name was officially changed back to Yerba Buena
Island.
Golden
Gate International Exposition. In 1935, the residents of the City
of San Francisco decided that the City should hold a "Fair"
to celebrate the engineering of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San
Francisco and Oakland Bay Bridge, as well as to celebrate the ascendancy
of California and San Francisco as an economic, political and cultural
force in the increasingly important Pacific region. There was also
the thought that the City should create an international airport.
Six sites were considered. They included Golden Gate Park, Presidio
of San Francisco, China Basin, filled lands south of Hunters Point,
the Lake Merced area, and the shoals north of Yerba Buena Island.
The shoal area was ultimately chosen because it was accessible from
all parts of the San Francisco Bay Area. Thus, Treasure Island was
born.
The
construction of Treasure Island began in February 1936 and was completed
in January 1939. To build the 403 acre island 29 million cubic yards
of sand and gravel were transported to or dredged from the Bay and
the Sacramento River delta. The name "Treasure Island" refers
to the gold-laden fill dirt that washed down from the Sierras into
the Bay, from which fill was dredged to create the island. Approximately
259 thousand tons of rock were used to create a rock wall to contain
the Island.
Buildings
and structures for the Golden Gate International Exposition were going
up even before the Bay fill dried. Many San Franciscans at the time
simply referred to the exposition as the "Fair". The Fair
opened in February of 1939. It reopened in May of 1940, and eventually
closed in September of 1940. Records showed that over 200,000 people
attended the last day of the Fair on September 29, 1940. At a cost
of $50 million, the Island was adorned with exhibits, temples, pavilions,
pools, gardens, gigantic sculptures and monuments from or representing
the interests of foreign nations, American states, California cities
and counties, and national and local industries. The theme of this
international exposition was "Pageant of the Pacific."
One
of the most spectacular structures, and the centerpiece of the Fair,
was the Tower of the Sun. The Tower of the Sun was a slim, octagonal
needle with a statue of a phoenix at the top that extended majestically
400 feet into the air. The phoenix symbolized San Francisco's rise
from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake and fire. A 15-foot scale model
replica of the Tower of the Sun can be seen on the concourse level
in Building One on Treasure Island.
Big
bands and Hollywood stars appeared at the hundreds of free outdoor
shows. Judy Garland and Irving Berlin performed at a music festival
in September of 1940, less than a week before the Fair closed.
World
War II. As American involvement in World War II was becoming more
certain, on February 28, 1941, the Island was leased from the City
of San Francisco by the United States Government. On April 1st, 1941,
it became a military base known as Naval Station Treasure Island which
also included portions of Yerba Buena Island. It became the headquarters
of the 12th Naval District. The Islands served as the " Gateway
to the Pacific" in the battle of the Pacific.
The
conversion from the Fair to airport to Naval Station was fairly casual
in the beginning. Very little money was allocated by the Navy until
the attack at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, in December 1941.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor caused the nation's priorities to change.
As the war in the Pacific and Europe called for more and more Navy
men, many women put on uniforms and took the title of Women Accepted
for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). By 1945, more than 800 women
officers and enlisted women were stationed at Treasure Island.
During
World War II, the Islands served as a gateway to and from the Pacific.
After the War the Islands served as a major center for thousands of
Navy personnel returning for the War.
Today.
After the war, Treasure Island was primarily used as a naval training
and administrative center. Approximately 3000 military and 1000 civilian
personnel worked at the Naval Station. Some of the major functions
were the Fleet Training Center, Commander Naval Base San Francisco,
waterfront facilities, troop and family housing, personnel support
including the processing of Pacific-bound and homecoming personnel,
and a museum featuring Exposition, military and aviation exhibits.
In
1993, Congress and the President selected Naval Station Treasure Island
for closure and disposition by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission
(BRAC) acting under Public Law 101-510 and its subsequent amendments.
The Department of Defense subsequently designated the City and County
of San Francisco and, then, the Treasure Island Development Authority
as the Local Reuse Authority (LRA) responsible for the conversion
of Treasure Island under the federal disposition process.
The
US Coast Guard Installation at Yerba Buena Island occupies approximately
half the Island at the southern side. This facility will remain an
active Coast Guard Installation.
Ranks
Attained:
Chief
Petty Officer (Electronics Technician)
While
stationed on Treasure Island, my wife became very involved in volunteer
work and in the local chapter of the Navy Wives Clubs of America.
She was elected president in 1973. I used to joke that she had more
power on that island than I did. And, it was true!
She
continues to be active in the Navy Wives Clubs of America today.
My
Wife Taking The Gavel As The New President Of The
Navy Wives Club Local Chapter On Treasure Island.
