Left Coast Guy and I were at the NEX- I found an aloha shirt to wear to the retirement this afternoon much better than the one I brought: this one has the USS Midway CV-41 unit patch as the unifying theme.
Then we went down to the Naval Station. I had no idea where the 14th Naval District HQ had been, since I never spent much time at the Shipyard, but we were determined to find it. We used our targeting skills to identify and sort industrial buildings from administrative ones- obviously there were no signs directing us to commands and activities that no longer exist. We found a likely structure with a block-long two story portico and decided that must be it.
I parked the rental Mazda2 and we walked up. Along the portico were an astonishing number of rest rooms that opened not to the interior corridor but to the air. We found the old main entrance, now clearly not so, with a steel reception window dogged down tight and a button below saying “press three times.” We didn’t. There was a display case that outlined the history of Building 1, and that of Buildings 1A-C, but no mention of what we were looking for. There was a bizarre historical montage composed of little plastic army guys and a couple airplane models.
We went back out into the gentle warmth and continued to walk down the portico. We were looking for a clue. We got most of the block without seeing anything except plaques near the former entrance to the Naval District HQ- since that is what we clearly thought we had identified- marking time capsules, the nearest one to being eligible for opening being in 2033 or something.
Two local guys with shipyard badges were idling on the railing. Good No Ka Oi Shipyard workers- doubtless on double time for Saturday, and doing nothing except standing and shooting the shit. There being no alternative, we did the anathema of any red blooded male. We asked for directions.
“Hi,” we said in unison. “We are looking for the place a friend of ours worked during the war. They did codebreaking.” It was a long shot, but these guys had been here most of their working lives, and the older of the two stood up from the rail.
“Sure Bra, dere are two plaques. Follow me.” My spirits rose, and we tailed along to the end of the building where the portico wrapped around. I thought I could see it. something that Mac had described. Our guide pointed to a bronze plaque mounted on the wall, and went on with a languid wave of his hand.
We had found the holy grail.
The stair well down had been enclosed in concrete. I asked Guy to lean against it. These were the decks that Mac and Joe Rochefort and Eddie Layton and Jasper Homes and all the others had trod. This was holy ground.
Goosebumps. I turned the handle on the door and it turned and my pulse raced. It did not engage, and it was locked tight. Crap.
We walked on, uncertain where the next plaque would be. We found it next to the matching armored staircase:
And get this: the door to the stairwell was open!
Of course we went down. On the other side of this door is where they worked, where they broke the codes, and where the Empire of Japan met the beginning of its end. It is, my friend, the Holy Grail.
I know as well as you do that Mac and Jasper and Joe and the rest are not on the other side of that door. I know that. I think.
Vic
Copyright 2015 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com
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