On March 21, 1997, the Navy hauled down the flag at the Naval Training Center at Point Loma during ceremonies marking the base's closure after nearly 75 years of training sailors.
On March 21, 1997, the Navy hauled down the flag at the Naval Training Center at Point Loma during ceremonies marking the base’s closure after nearly 75 years of training sailors. The Navy officially closed NTC on April 30,By Patricia Dibsie, Staff writerHundreds of sailors and civilians parked their cars on the drill fields and gathered near the parade grounds at the Naval Training Center at 2 p.m. yesterday for a final salute.
“There for a minute I didn’t know how I was going to press on with what I was supposed to say,” admitted Capt. Stephen Drake, who has presided over the training center’s demise since taking command in October 1995. “In this final moment of honor, we know that this place lives on in the faces of thousand of sailors who trained here and are now serving this country. Also, in the faces of millions of men and women who have served or trained here and are civilians.illiam Cassidy Jr., deputy assistant secretary of the Navy, said he found it difficult to close this “valuable asset” but added that the world has changed and so must the Navy and its infrastructure.
“I was the one who had the dubious honor of announcing that this base would close,” said Capt. John C. Ensch, base commander from 1993 to 1995. Although he never trained in San Diego, Ensch remembers the stories his father, Norman, told him about boot camp in 1923. “I have a special attachment to this training center,” he told the crowd. “My father was serving aboard the carrier Lexington in World War II when it was sunk at the Battle of Coral Sea. He found himself swimming in oil-covered waters when an unknown sailor on a destroyer tossed him a line.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Top Russian naval chief born in Kyiv reportedly killed in battleAndrey Paliy, 51, a Black Sea fleet commander, was shot dead by Ukrainian forces near the embattled city of Mariupol.
Read more »
Murder, hate crime charges filed in killing of Black Navy veteranTwo suspects were charged with murder and hate crimes in the killing of a Black Navy veteran and youth pastor at a California gas station last week, authorities said Friday.
Read more »
Murder, hate crime charges filed in killing of Black Navy veteranTwo suspects have been charged with murder and hate crimes in the killing of a Black Navy veteran and youth pastor at a California gas station last week, authorities say.
Read more »
Top Russian Navy Commander Killed in Battle for MariupolAndrey Paliy, a 51-year-old fleet commander born in Kyiv, is the sixth high-ranking Russian military leader to die since the invasion began nearly a month ago.
Read more »
Retired Navy photographer aims to captures World War II vets' images before they're lost to historySince 2017, Spring Valley resident Mickey Strand has shot 106 of these portraits. Since then, more than 100 of these men and women have died.
Read more »