I wonder how many young men stayed in these barracks, as they began their Navy journey. On September 9th, 1980 I arrived in San Diego and began my 23 year "adventure". After flying from Seattle, we were bused here to RTC and this is the building where I spent the first 4 of 9 weeks of my Navy basic training. We called it "Worm Island". Most recruits spent the first half of training here, and then moved over to the main side of the NTC/RTC complex for the final phase.
This afternoon as I walked the grounds memories came flooding back, memories of the friends I made, many never seen again after those 9 weeks. Memories of the training we received, training I've used throughout my adult life. I was part of Company 939 of 1980. I remember our commissioning ceremony, when we received our Company Pennant and officially started training. I remember feeling quite proud of my decision to serve. We were quartered on the second floor of this building so we had a bit of a view of San Diego bay, just across Harbor Drive.