[SMCARA] NSS Annapolis and Imperial Beach

[Grant Graessle]

My memory of NSS Annapolis is much more practical.
And then that brought back memories of the Comms station at Imperial Beach
too.

My reserve unit from Lewes, DE was preparing to go overseas for an exercise
that could easily turn into a long-term stay (Desert Storm.)  One of the
other officers figured out that the easiest way to get our shots was to bus
over to the Naval Academy and see the doc there.  When we got done, the
sailors needed lunch. I first checked in with the cafeteria, and they said
they weren't able to serve us ( I think we were too early).  So I called
over to the security det and asked if I could bring 50 sailors over for
lunch.  "Sure. I've got some leftovers that need to be eaten or I burn the
money.  Win-win."  So we bussed over across the bridge and had lunch with
the Security Det.  My memory says that the towers were still up, but one of
the officers s boss over there said they were going to come down sometime
in the next year.  But my memory has been known to be faulty.

As a kid, I attended the YMCA Camp Surf in Imperial Beach. Still in
operation today!  The first time campers got to stay in the old
Quonset huts that the YMCA took over.  I don't remember what the
Quonset huts were for, but they were damn close to the Mexican border.  The
return campers got to walk up the beach about a mile towards the comms
station.  We wold camp for a week in the shadows of the antenna array and
go surfing.   What fun and good memories.
I remember climbing one of the old telephone poles, sitting on top to watch
the 4th of July fireworks further up the beach.

73
N4PGG


-- 
Grant Graessle
Watch your thoughts, they become words;
watch your words, they become actions;
watch your actions, they become habits;
watch your habits, they become character;
watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.