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Marine Barracks at Key West
December 7, 2017 Grunt.com Admin

Marine Barracks at Key West

I pulled a 13 month tour of duty with the Marine Barracks at Key West 1974-75. Now I can’t find a single thing about it on Google. I don’t even know if it is still active (probably not) or if there are any old Jarheads I served with there on the internet or not.

We were responsible for the security of the entire Florida Keys, technically, although there was nothing worth worrying about north of the Boca Chica Naval Air Station (now NAS Key West). We had to practice defending the military bases and other things (such as the electronic monitoring stations), and also the local radio and television station in case terrorists or should try to seize either one for propaganda reasons. Back then we were armed with the M14 and of course the M1911A1 .45 ACP. We also had military 12 ga shotguns. We Marines were often sent out with the Coast Guard cutter. I believe its name was the Diligence. We manned the .30 and .50 machine guns when the cutter was expecting trouble, which we occasionally got from Cuban gunboats and drug runners.

Can you find out if there are any guys from the time I served there on the internet? I’ve tried USMC.mil and got nowhere fast. I’ve read on the internet that they shut down the naval station where the Barracks was located in 1974 (Truman Annex I think it was called) but that is NOT true, as I did not leave until late September of 1975 and they were still going strong then. Most of the duty we pulled was as gate guards for the various military annexes and as roving guards on the NAS and also at the ammo dump off the Trumbo annex. My elder daughter was born at the Naval hospital in Key West, by the way.

Any help would be appreciated. OBTW, at the Marine Corps Ball in 1974, the Assistant Commandant (General Earl E. Anderson) was our guest.

Don Herman
Corporal, USMC (at the time)

Filed in: Marine Corps Stories
Previous article Lineage of the USMC Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Comments

cpl brian manis - March 30, 2022

I was mail orderly 1975-76 ssgt brady,gunny Newman 1st sgt sandifer Maj Gregory former drill inst, gunny mallete? gunner switick? 1975 200 marine corps ball cpl hordick from air wing . fleming key ,gate bar ,boat bar, brig arcoss from barracks. 1st Lt. miller had a240 z 1st sgt MG car I l lived at 330 duval upstairs .I miss all . Bill bailey,A,K. Kent I remeber the faces. thanks gunny Newman’s kid 10 27 75

Mark Brooks - January 27, 2022

My dad, Major G. Walter Brooks III, was CO of the Marine Barracks in Key West from 1969-71. Our family had a great time there and I just returned from a trip to Key West last week. The house we lived in, Qtrs M-2 at 330 Caroline Street on the Truman annex is now up for sale for $5 million dollars! Great memories and probably my dad’s favorite tour. I was 10 years old at the time and remember getting into trouble with a buddy by letting the air out of the MP truck tires! None of the Marines on duty wanted to be the one to call my father! Man he was pissed!

Kenan Gregory - September 22, 2021

My dad, then major David Gregory CO marine barracks key west hosted the assistant commandant at quarters m-2 in 1974 for the marine corps ball. Was a lovely party. I was 8

Mike Williams - August 16, 2021

Mike Williams here.Hey I was a Marine at marine barracks from August of 1975 to January of 1976 When I was discharged Major Gregory was my CO and Capt. Hover was the XO and at that time Lt. Miller was there and Gunny Mallet was there also a First Sgt. Sandifer was there.Lt. Miller like to run that 3 miles all the time .It was a great tour of duty and a lot of fun. l also spent a lot of time on gate duty and Fleming Key and Boca Chica Naval Air Station

Kenan Gregory - July 31, 2021

Hello. My dad major David Gregory was CO while you were there. And I too have issues finding out info as well. Good luck!

Israel Johnson - July 17, 2021

Yes,I was there 1972 1973,and I had a wonderful time too. I was a corporal but standing s o g because of my outstanding leadership. I will always remember that

William Tapley - February 11, 2021

I was there from 1976 till the closing. Maj. Gregory and Capt Miller was the C.O. and X.O. I was aLCPL that worked the gates there. Great times!

Bob Mosakowski - October 11, 2020

I was a young E-4 at Marine Barracks Key West 1976-1977 and was a member of the last detachment that was deactivated in September 1977. The current Truman Annex entrance has a commemorative plate recognizing all Marines who served in Key West.

Donald Miller - July 8, 2020

I was the last officer left when the Marine Barracks was deactivated October, 1977. I was basically the XO but things were rather chaotic at the end. You see, the barracks itself burned down, probably in September of that year. I suspect the SOG was depositing spent cigarettes in a hole in the wall behind his desk. One probably wasn’t properly extinguished, smoldered all night, and by the next afternoon, smoke started rising through the floors. Fire department dropped lines in the Gulf and pumped water on the building but it was a waste of time. That old barracks had well aged and dried timbers and nothing could stop it. So sorry to see it go. But the NWC on Boca Chica was no longer operational and rent-a-cops took over gate duty. Had a good time there from June ’75 to October ’77. Have pictures of the fire.

L/cpl R%aqymond Yanushonis - May 29, 2020

I was at the Key West Marine barracks from 58 to 62. Played football on a team made up of Marines, Navy and civilians. Stood guard Duty at the Truman annex when Pres. Kennedy met with Mr. Mac Millan from Britain shortly after his election. Had the priviage to shake his hand.

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