Real Top Gun

by | Jan 5, 2013 | Military | 2 comments

Did you know that in 1954, the Navy offered N.A.S. Miramar to San Diego for $1 and the city considered using the base to relocate its airport?

But it was deemed at the time to be too far away from most residents and the offer was declined!

This 1954 photo shows nothing around >>>

(click on image to enlarge)

The movie ‘Top Gun’ was filmed in San Diego when Miramar N.A.S. was ‘Fightertown, U.S.A.’.  The Top Gun school moved to Fallon, Nevada, when the Marines moved back to Miramar in the late 1990s.  They are phasing out all fighter-pilot training at Miramar by 2015 as the F-18’s are retired.

As a result, we might only see the real deal on video in the near future. I think this is Virginia-based:

Semper Fidelis

by | Dec 7, 2012 | Military

A Marine who survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was returned to the USS Arizona for eternity.  “He wanted to be with his friends”.

Divers took an urn holding the cremated remains of Frank Cabiness from the late Marine’s family, swam over to the sunken battleship and placed the container inside during a solemn ceremony in December 2011.

Hawaii-based Marines from the 3rd Marine Regiment performed a rifle salute during the ceremony. Cabiness died in Lewisville, Texas, at the age of 86.

His son, Jerry Cabiness, said his father always wanted to return to his ship.

“He said it was because that’s where he belonged. Because he lost all of his friends there and he wanted to be with them,” Jerry Cabiness said after the service.

The family took some time to fulfill his father’s wishes because they had some financial problems and it is expensive to travel to Hawaii, he said.  “But we finally got it done. And it was a beautiful ceremony. The Marines did him proud,” he said.

Dozens of Arizona crew members who lived through the December 7, 1941 attack have chosen to have their ashes interred on the battleship after death.

Many do it out of a desire to join those they left behind.

Quad-Amputee Smart Home

by | Jul 22, 2012 | Military | 1 comment

We have been following the incredible work being done by the Stephen Siller Tunnel-to-Towers Foundation, and the Gary Sinise Foundation to build homes for amputees coming home from the war.

Here is their latest project:

Memorial Day

by | May 28, 2012 | Military

A tribute to the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan in defense of our great country. And, to their family and friends who bear the pain and sorrow of their loss. We cannot forget them…

Gary Sinise Foundation

by | May 13, 2012 | Military | 1 comment

Mike B., a friend of the blog (and the guy who was cruising the Pt. Loma homes in the flight path a couple of months back) is one of the volunteers who is building homes for disabled veterans.  He had put me in contact with Juan Dominguez, and we thought we had a good opportunity for him in Vista – but he opted for Temecula instead.

Here is the story about Gary Sinise’s involvement with Juan and others:

Holiday Lights – Dec. 6th

by | Dec 5, 2011 | Military | 2 comments

 From sddt.com:

The general public is invited to Naval Base San Diego for the first-ever Surface Navy Holiday Lights Event on Dec. 6.

Visitors can drive on the base to view Navy ships decked out in holiday cheer and tour one of the Navy’s finest ships. Admission is free and families are welcome.

The Navy Band Southwest will also play while the public is treated to cocoa and cookies. Visitors should drive to Gate 2, located on Harbor Drive at Belt Street, between 6:30 and 9 p.m.

There will be a prescribed tour route for cars to drive to view ships moored along the piers. Guests can also park at the end of the route for a ship tour.

Visitors cannot bring potentially dangerous items on the base, according to Navy officials. Checkpoints will be established at all venue entrances and at the entrance to the pier for ship tours where all bags will be inspected. All individuals also are subject to search prior to entering the venue gates or onto the pier.

Spectators should minimize the number and size of permitted items to cut their inspection times, officials said.

All adults must also have a valid form of identification. To drive a vehicle onto the base, the driver must also have a valid driver’s license, current registration and physical proof of insurance. For rental cars, a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance and car rental agreement will be required.

Only cars, passenger vans and light trucks will be granted access to the base. Pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcycle riders will not be allowed to enter the gate.

Regardless of permit, weapons, including firearms, any kind of knife, replica or toy weapons, ammunition, fireworks, Molotov cocktails, pipe bombs, black jack, billy/sand club, baseball bats, batons, bows, arrows, crossbows, metal knuckles, razor blades, nunchakus, slingshots, pepper spray, stun guns and any other weapon prohibited by state law or any offensive or defensive weapon, including chemical agents and explosives, are not allowed.

Also prohibitted are illegal narcotics, drugs and synthetics, including “spice,” ice chests or coolers, pets other than service animals, glass containers, bicycles, roller skates, roller blades, scooters, skateboards, backpacks and bags or purses larger than 8.5 by 11 inches.

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