I was in Millington in 1979-1980. I can't remember much--I lived in the WM barracks, it had MARINES across it in huge letters--maybe 430? Dated a really cute guy who lived in one of the tall barracks--the squadron gunnys office was right next to it--Those were great days, although I don't think I thought so at the time. I would love to know what's happened to some of my old friends.

Millington had some really great horse riding stables and some pretty country to ride in. I also remember there were a lot of invites to bible camp parties with the local ladies. There was a real pain in the *** sergeant that used to wake us up on Sunday morning to try and get us to go to church with him, finnally went with the condition that he never wake me up again.
I also remember being in the old barracks that were already condemed at the time and having **** roach races. They sure grew em big there. Used to say you didnt want to kill one cause his buddies would carry your rack off in the middle of the night. I loved it when we finally got to move into the newer navy barracks. really luxuriuos after quonset huts and those old battacks. Anyone remember Vampire liberty??? Get the afternoon off for donating blood??? The thing that really was unfair though was that the Navy guys had beer machines in their barracks and we didnt. Great food in that chow hall too. Too bad its not still there, one of the better duty stations for a marine. They havee torn down El Toro now too and its in the planning stages to become what they call a great park, very little of the military stuff will be left though just a small memorial museum.

I had lunch up there last Friday at a place called Ryans ,a simple buffet.On hywy 51
Went down Navy rd ,whoa!place looked deader than hail .
Stopped by Top Brass on the way out to check a few prices ,it really was kinda sad.
There is hardly any civilian use of the air field ,or maint facilities there.
The ole Marine recieving barracks were still there I beleive,by then I was not even payin attn to any thing.

quote:

Originally posted by 9986195:
I was there originally in 68 when MLK was killed.
A bunch of us were upstairs in the Hotel King Cotton with some "Local Talent" when someone ran up and down the hall pounding on the doors yelling that he'd been killed.
Looked out the windows and saw the human wave of destruction coming down the main drag.
We lit outta there ASAP. Didn't even wait for the elevator, RAN down those stairs.

Went back in 2000, and it was Heart-Breaking.
Not that I particularly loved or even liked the place.
But to see ANY base in such neglected shape. They'd have been merciful if they'd just bull-dozed the whole thing.

But you could still smoke in the McDonald's.... LOL

I was also there when King was killed...Things were a little insane for a while....the rumour was that they were going to issue us M-14s and take us into town to aid the cops....lucky for everyone concerned that cooler heads prevailed and we were restricted to base for some time...

I was at Millington from 9/56 to spring of '57 going to AQ (6614 in those days) school. Remember the barracks being the pits, chow ok and school really outstanding. We went thru Super Hets with the AT guys and then skipped to radar circuits and finally to the "compound" for sure nuff fire control. Got lucky finishing first in my class and going to Opa Locka to join VMF-251. Nooow, Miami was the liberty town.

Later,
ole Buck Sgt Ed

Posted Fri 13 April 2007 03:27 PM
ALL HANDS: This US Navy training film from the 1970's was pulled from Navy service for being proclaimed degrading to women. It was one of the best military Safety Training films of all time. It also gave some joy to the sailors of that time who seldom saw a female. See it on Shock & Awe.

http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos.do?displayContent=129603&page=10

quote:

Originally posted by sgtter:
I found this old Photo I took back sometime around 1974. I was stationed North side on I+I duty. Any of you remember these?

I saw a plane like this dropping water on the fires in kali fornia last week..

9986195
I was also there when MLK got killed,had arrived a day or two before was on liberty first time in Memphis. SP's swooped down and threw us in the back of their van,didnt have a clue why or what we did wrong,turned out the navy was getting all military personnel off the streets anticpating the riots to follow. Welcome to Memphis! Anyway as the summer progressed we had a great time,we were underage to drink but a black buddy would take us to the bars on beale street and we got served no problem. Does anybody remember Mr. Charcoal in the Jetway shopping center right outside the Main gate?

I was in Millington Jan 1969 - May 1969. Our ADJ 909 had a party in the park in the mud flats, everyone was arrested, the millington police kept all 35 cases of our beer. Anyone out there who remembers contact georgesmonaghan@aol.com.
Went to New River N.C. crew chief on 53's HMH461.

i used to love going to memphis and hitting silky sullivans, i still have a diver paint can from 1984.

wow! this thread brought back memories as well. i was in AE school from Aug 90-Mar 91.i think i stayed in bldg 412 or 428. (hell, i can't remember -i was lit half the time!) i frequented the Brass Rail but never made it to Silky's. Anyone else remember 'Danny's'? i think it's gone now

Hi guys , I went through NATTC Millington AMS school in 1965 . My question is this , how does NATTC Memphis differ from NATTC Millington . They were both at NAS Memphis in Millington were they not ? Why have 2 NATTC's with different names ? There must be a reason , but I can't find one . I think it was explained while I was there , but I have forgotten over the years . Anybody know ?

Same place, just a differrent way to call it. Millington is the correct way.

Thanks Tom

Richie Dost

Thanks for the info on the video. I remember that one, gave me great ideas for the 4th of July
Reading all these posts about Millington brings back some great memories. I was there from 06/90 to 02/91 for AV A school. It was really a change from all the units I had been to previously. I had forgotten what it was like to be around newbies. I hope I didn't ruin things for any of them

Whilst I was not a member of the military while in Millington, I did spend 4 years at NATTC until my dad retired in 1976. I would enjoy hearing from any that know what became of the ATC school at NATTC. I assume it was relocated to Pensacola and I'm curious if the name of the school was relocated with the schoolas the school was named after my father. My dad was NATTC XO the last couple of years before retirement and prior to this headed the ATC school, CDR. Kirby. I hope to get back to Memphis next year to see just how much it has changed. I spent many a summer day fishing at Navy Lakes. I remember when they first built the "new" movie cinema on the northside, probably gone now. From looking at Google Earth it looks as if the O Club and pool are gone as well

Thanks

wow i really liked it at millington! i was there 2 times, feb 0f 83 to aug of 83 for aviation electricians mate school, basic e&e, corrosion control. then was sent back in early 88 for ava and afta. i was really fortunate on my 1st time that my great aunt knew the co, col clapp(i know but it is his name) and he had me stayin with my great aunt except on duty section nights n weekends. the last trip i was a nco, in charge of several floors of barracks, but being an nco it was pretty skate duty, excepta explaining to irate fathers why my 18 yp marine was out with his 17 yo daughter. lol for all you col north haters out there i got my worst *** chewing cus some of my guys wore there dress blues to see col north at a speech he was giving in memphis, late summer of 88, but it was worth it! lol

almost forgot, for all you aviation buffs, the b-17 memphis belle is up on northside being refurbished. they have tu;rned northside into a civilian airstrip now that the aviation stuff moved to pcola

NAS Millington has a special nitch in the cockles of my heart......I began my aviation career there immediately after BC ('64), I returned for my induction physical for OCS and Flt Schl ('72) and found myself there for my separation physical ('78).

As some of you have noted, the place is a mere shadow of its previous glory. At one time it was the largest inland Naval Air Station in the world.

I live about 20 miles from there. The actual air station (Northside) was sold to the city of Millington and is now the city Municipal Airport. There is still a small Naval Reserve Center and a few warehouses but its slowly being revamped as a civilian field. Southside is now just a small Admin Center for Navy Logistics... So the school command of our memories has been relegated to a bone yard... a few yeomen of various ranks and flocks of O-5s and above. So Sad!

hey drm, do they still have the vigilante out in front of the chowhall there? as i recall you can see it from the road if ya know to look for it. since its just a personel command now i wonder what they are doing with all the old barraks? fill me in if ya know any of this, thanks