Memories of MCAS El Toro

Comments

Cynthia Grayvold - January 22, 2024

My sister met her husband when he was stationed at Tustin in 1974. I was 12 years old. There were times when she would take me on board El Toro with her. I absolutely loved being around military, especially Marines. I always said I would never marry a Marine. As they say, never say never. Lo and behold on while hanging out at the E-Club on January 3, 1987, I met my husband John Grayvold. Fast forward to 2003. We were stationed in Iwakuni. I had come back to the states with our 3 young boys to visit family in Arizona and in California. As we were driving from Arizona to California, I stopped at El Toro to show my boys where their parents had met. I was so sad and disappointed to see it had become a facility to store RVs. Thanks, Clinton😡

leslie nelson - September 9, 2023

Served with VMFA-122, MAG-33, 3rdMAW in 1967. What is with the Agent Orange and the burn pits.

robert hahn - August 28, 2023

military police station at mcas el toro 1967 to 1968 i am sad to see it now. Best duty station ever.

Benjamin - April 15, 2023

All,

I’m trying to find someone that was stationed in El Toro around 78-80. His name was Lou Rossi or Luis Rossi. He was a Marine. I do not have much info about him. He’d probably be between 60-65 years old possibly. It is really important that I find him. If anyone has a lead please email me. Thank you all for your service. Many blessing. 💪🏽 Lovingtogive@gmail.com

Call Gary Leggitt - April 14, 2023

I was stationed at El Toro 1962-63, Iwakuni, Japan, MCAF Santa Ana 1965-66. I recall that there was an aircraft catapult and arresting gear at the northwest end of the main airstrip.
Great memories.
Semper Fidelis

Ledesma - March 31, 2022

The base is mostly weeds and spiders now but in the 1960’s and early 1970’s for thousands of us and El Toro became the shipping point to the Vietnam war. Thirteen months later we returned through El Toro but this time in the deadest hours of night. Almost as if the country was sneaking us back!

Ed Nowakowski - March 5, 2022

Stationed at El-Toro from 79-82. Assigned to Station Operational Maintenace Squadron (S.O.M.S.) Did boot camp at M.C.R.D. San Diego. Went to N.A.S. Millington Tennesse for my A school. 6114 Basic Helicopter Mechanic. Reported to N.A.S. Glenview Illinois as a reservist. Close to my home in Mount Prospect. After one year as a reservist went active duty and got orders to El-Toro. Lived off base in Irvine. Expensive but my wife had a well-paying position. My hanger was next to the old armory. Also located by the visiting aircraft line just down from the old tower. We had 3 UH1N’s,1 Rockwell Saber liner and 2 C-12 Super King Airs. Have many wonderful memories of my time at El-Toro and Southern California. Spend 2 weeks in Laguna Beach every year in September. Made solid relationships, one remains to this day. Have hundreds of photos that I took on the base (mostly air shows) and perhaps a few VHS tapes laying around. Hope to someday post them on YouTube. Semper Fi.

Robert Womack - January 25, 2022

I was stationed there 79to 81 2161 machinist .

Ed - March 26, 2021

Stationed at MCAS El Toro 71-75 as a married Marine I first found an Apt on red hill blvd in a Peter Max decorated development in Tustin Ca. Later o n moving to Namar Housing just off base.
I was an M.P. with the Provost Marshals Office. After re-enlisting I was assigned to VMGR 352 as its intel analyst and chief. I got along wonderfully with my CO and did a number of flights over the Pacific theater back then. Great people and fun times for me.

Ed - March 26, 2021

Stationed at MCAS El Toro 71-75 as a married Marine I first found an Apt on red hill blvd in a Peter Max decorated development in Tustin Ca. Later o n moving to Namar Housing just off base.
I was an M.P. with the Provost Marshals Office. After re-enlisting I was assigned to VMGR 352 as its intel analyst and chief. I got along wonderfully with my CO and did a number of flights over the Pacific theater back then. Great people and fun times for me.