During the last two years the Thirteenth Naval District has maintained camps for the enlisted personnel of seven of our battleships and two aircraft carriers, giving over 3,000 men the chance to breathe the fragrance pine forests, to fish, swim, eat camp poking—and get a 48-hour respite from dipping hammers and navy yard confusion.
The camp idea is an old one in Bremerton, dating back some 20 years, when the Commander Battle Force obtained 20 acres on Kitsap Lake, 4 miles from the Yard, and theoretically established Camp McKean. Commands changed, however, and the camp was forgotten.
But “the camp idea” persisted and two years ago the Commandant, Rear Admiral T. T. Craven, started to improve the abandoned camp site. An open-air fireplace and cook-shack were provided and a road and swimming dock were constructed. Visiting commanding officers were invited to inspect.
The response was immediate. Within a week after the arrival of the Ranger an encampment of 15 tents sprang up, a canteen was established, and boats provided. Trails outlined in white rocks bore the names of ship’s officers and the National Ensign was hoisted. Men who could be spared from overhaul duties were permitted to spend their leave in camp, and large weekend parties arrived to sleep in the woods undisturbed by reveille, and to swim, sail, pitch horseshoes, and play soft ball. When the unexpectedly large attendance was supplemented by the commanding officer’s letter of appreciation, it was apparent that the camp idea was worthy of even more serious thought.
Across an arm of the Sound, and some 4 miles from the Navy Yard, lay an even larger reservation with the shell of the abandoned mine depot facing the beach. As the Colorado and California had enjoyed its use, in spite of poor landing and road facilities, its development was started. Water was piped in from a clear stream a mile distant. A heating apparatus was provided and a dozen showers installed. Working parties from the ships demolished steel and concrete cable chain pits with crowbar and pick, and a bulldozer tore away mounds to provide an athletic field for soft ball and volley ball. The building was entirely renovated, providing a fully equipped galley, a mess hall, and a lounge with a large fireplace and rustic furniture. Two dormitories were built for 60 men, together with an indoor athletic court, all in the style of a hunting lodge, with pine timber from the reservation—and the Tennessee and Pennsylvania moved in!
The West Virginia and Oklahoma became camp conscious, but the only available camp sites were already booked by five other ships. The Army, however, made available for the Navy’s use the abandoned Fort Ward, located one-half mile across the narrows from our second camp, allowing additional hundreds to leave the noise of the Yard for the cool freedom of the woods.
But any officer interested in problems of the personnel would naturally ask, “Are these camps of any real value or are they simply a mild stimulus to ship’s spirit, such as the traditional dance or beach party?” It is believed that their effect is far more positive.
The effect of these camps on morale is of positive value because sailor men are primitive men. They ship in the Navy because they prefer to spend their lives facing the elements of nature rather than in offices or factories. These men, loving the primitive things of nature, go to our camps and drink in the odor of the pines and sleep as they haven’t slept for years. They swim and sun themselves on the beaches and laugh like boys over their games. They gather round the camp fires at night and feel a deep contentment in the hushed silence of the woods. Once again they are clean and at peace with themselves and God and man. There is something in the woods that strengthens their bodies and minds. Both officers and men have felt this. One commanding officer restricted his men to the camp reservation because he felt that they should settle down to “the feel of camp life” and forget civilization, and (although we would not recommend this in every case) we feel that his camp was the happiest one we have seen. A group of men asked to remain in camp after the rainy season had set in because “it was good to get away from the ship and into the woods.” Individual men have put it in various ways. Ordinarily it is expressed by such a simple phrase as “it makes you feel good to get into the woods.” Sometimes they say, “it feels fine to get away from ‘reveille’ and ‘taps’ and the loudspeaker and the rest of the noise.” Once a man spoke the truth when he said, “it’s better to make a “forty-eight’ ’ in camp, and come back on Monday feeling fine, than to go to Seattle and spend all your money and maybe get in trouble.” There have been various descriptions of the value of this camp life but they all express the single idea that nature is good and gives cleanness and strength and contentment to our men.
The comments of various commanding officers also demonstrate the value of camp recreation. One who had seen that each department was represented in these week-end parties was conscious that) through this intermingling, a stronger ship’s spirit had supplanted a “divisional or “force” spirit. The opinion is practically unanimous that the men enter into their overhaul duties with greater enthusiast) and that on leaving the yard, they turn south in better physical and mental condition. Since the establishment of our camps, a marked decline has been noticed in the number of venereal cases sent to the Naval Hospital and at present the Receiving Station Brig (which traditionally cares for ship’s cases) has only one inmate. The police of Bremerton state that the number of civil cases is less than ever before. Summarizing the practical value of such camps it is apparent that they perform the following functions:
- They substitute healthful and satisfying recreation for dissipation.
- They encourage a unified ship’s spirit.
- They decrease the number of offenses'' military, civil, and medical.
But a ship’s first duty in any navy yard is to complete her overhaul as thoroughly and expeditiously as possible—and this requires that all hands should be available to chip and paint as often as needed. If this is true do not these camps interfere with important ship's overhaul duties? This problem came up time and again last year but it is believed the question is now answered. The first camping parties were small—about 45 men—and reached camp Saturday afternoon, returning Sunday after dinner. This year’s parties range between 70 and 120 men and in many cases arrive on Friday evening. The feeling is gaining ground that only a minor amount of work may be accomplished on Saturdays and Sundays and that the relaxation of a full “forty-eight” is valuable. In other words, it is becoming evident that camps do not interfere with routine navy yard duties, but, on the other hand, produce more vigorous overhaul efforts.
If camps are of value to the Navy, what organization and material are necessary? From our experience in Bremerton it would seem that the following were necessary for successful operation:
- A suitable camp site to be furnished by the District.
- Co-operation between the navy yard and ships concerned in relation to camp necessities.
- Adequate organization of camping parties by ships concerned.
A Suitable Camp Site
- The most important consideration in the selection of a camp site is sufficient acreage to ensure privacy.
- The next most important feature is easy Water transportation for men and supplies. A site 30 minutes distant from the ship is ideal. Inland camps may be successful (as is our Camp McKean) but transportation becomes a real problem When trucks are necessary.
- Safe and convenient landings naturally become a problem of the shore organization, although rough floats and sliding gangways have been provided at times by ship’s working parties.
- A water supply is an essential and should receive the consideration of both Public Works and Medical officers before a camp site is approved.
- “Necessary facilities” include:
- Dock.
- Cook shack or out-of-door oven.
- Latrine.
- “Desirable facilities” include the above plus:
- One or more bunk houses for 50 men.
- Equipped galley.
- Equipped combination mess hall and recreation hall.
- Rough graded athletic field.
Co-operation between Navy Yard and Ships
The maintenance of our camps has called for small effort in comparison to the good they have accomplished and the favorable impression they have created in the minds of visiting commanding officers. It is not believed, however, that a successful camp may be maintained unless it becomes a recognized yard or district activity—not the hobby of an individual officer. Co-operation between ships and the yard will determine a camp’s success or failure.
The following example of the organization of a recreation camp is typical:
- The yard offers a camp site to the commanding officer of an incoming ship.
- The commanding officer inspects and sends his representative to the captain of the yard to learn how it may be put in operation:
- The chaplain furnishes information on camp organization formerly found practical.
- The Public Works Division repairs landings, and furnishes truck transportation, scrap material, etc., as desired.
- The captain of the yard co-ordinates with civilian authorities as desirable.
- Ship’s working parties are then sent to prepare the camp for occupancy; camping parties are organized and the camp is ready to function for a 3-month period.
From the above it is obvious that a successful camp is not created by any one individual’s interest but by the active cooperation between the ship and yard’s departments.
Organization of Camping Parties
The following memorandum published by the U.S.S. Pennsylvania is given as an example of effective camp organization:
U.S.S. Pennsylvania
Bremerton, Washington
11 June 1937.
Executive Officer’s Memorandum No. 17-37. Subject: Week-end Camping Parties.
- During the yard overhaul period a ship’s camp will be maintained at Camp Craven, for week-end camping parties. The camp will accommodate (60) sixty men. Prorated quotas will be assigned divisions each week. Parties will leave the ship at 1630 Friday and leave camp for return at 1630 Sunday.
- There will be an officer in charge of each party (J. O. engineer with week-end duty). He will be responsible for camp routine, cleanliness, and sanitation, and general supervision of the camp.
- A pharmacist’s mate with first-aid kit will accompany each party.
- The supply officer will detail a cook and provide necessary food supplies.
- Members of camping parties will confine themselves to the limits of the Government Reservation on which the camp is located. The officer in charge will require a muster at the evening meal. He will instruct the party in fire prevention. He will designate places where men may swim.
- Each camper must provide:
- Bedding and blankets
- Toilet articles
- Swimming suit (if desired)
- Such uniform or clothing as desired
- The following is provided at the camp:
- Soft-ball equipment
- Basketballs
- Fishing gear
- Clam digging gear
- Volleyball net
- Medicine balls
- Horseshoe-pitching equipment
- Books
- The following restrictions are placed on the camp and the activities of campers:
- Women shall not visit the camp
- Fires shall not be built except for cooking or burning trash
- Live trees shall not be cut
- Lighted matches or cigarettes not to be thrown on the ground
- Firearms are not permitted
- Bathing trunks may be worn but nudity is not permitted
- A boat trip will be made to the camp each day for communication, carrying of supplies, and return of campers.
R. M. Hinckley
Commander, U. S. Navy
Executive Officer
Forty years ago St. George’s Church, New York, provided free summer camps for men and boys. Since that time they have become an institution throughout the United States. Experience in Bremerton has demonstrated their popularity among Navy men and their value to ship’s morale. It is believed that our personnel, both ashore and afloat, will reach a higher point of health and contentment when these camps are more generally provided by our various yards and stations.