I lived on Adak as a youngster from 1954-58 with my family of five while my dad was a contractor dockhand for the US Navy which I understand then used Adak as a radar station and fuel / repairs depot. My mom was church pianist during that time for the Bering Hill church shown in this video and now in ruins. She told us the story that one evening after dark she went to the church alone, was walking from the car and was chased by a pack of abandoned starving dogs. She just made it inside the door. The Navy sent out sailors with rifles who killed those dogs and all abandoned dogs from then on. I have distant but enjoyable memories from Adak where I learned to swim at the public school pool (indoors of course), and my parents took us kids to the Adak bowling alley, movie theater and hamburger joint. As remote as it was in the 1950s, my parents liked living there and made lifelong friends of homesick sailors they had over for holiday dinners. The housing (poured concrete I assume) built in the 50s was torn down and replaced I think in the 1980s when the Navy greatly expanded the military mission and the population grew from 200-300 in the 50s to a peak of 6,000 in the 90s. To this day I remember my dad brought us our first TV -- black and white that got Adak's sole TV station which was on a few hours a day. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for sharing your family's experiences - it's fascinating to hear about what Adak was like back then, compared to what it's become today. I'm sure you and your family have so many incredible memories of your time there. And I'm definitely glad that this video has connected so many people that once called Adak their home. Thansk for watching, and for sharing your memories 🙏
Thank you Dave. That was a great video. I was stationed there from June 1974-June1975 as a Seabee. Lived in the Bering Hill barracks. The Rec building was open to all who lived there. I saw many movies in the theatre, swam many laps in the pool & had many snacks in the "Snack Cafe" opposite the theatre. So many memories. Thank you 😊
You're more than welcome! Thank you for sharing your memories of Bering Hill. If you're interested in checking out my full 68 minute video of Adak, watch it here: ruclips.net/video/ONXvpPaTLXw/видео.html
Miss this place. 94-95. That one room by Bering theater was a small gym. It only had gym equipment and mirrors on the wall but no restrooms or shower. Between small gym and theater was a liquor store. It was operated for only 2-3 years I think. Thanks for this video. Brings back the memories.
You're more than welcome! Thank you for watching, and for your service back in the days before the base closed. This video is just a small excerpt of a much larger full-length short film - you can find the full 68 minute video here: ruclips.net/video/ONXvpPaTLXw/видео.html
One of the fondest memories of the barricks on Bering Hill was how we would decorate the rooms with weathered wood from various structures left from the ghosts of WW2 personnel. bookshelves beds and furniture I was an OT in 78-79.
Amazing memories - thank you for sharing, and thanks for your service. PS - check out my full length (68 minute) documentary about Adak on my channel - this video is just a quick excerpt!
Definitely not in its ideal state anymore, eh? I bet you have some great memories from your time out there. Have you seen the full-length film? If not, find it here: ruclips.net/video/ONXvpPaTLXw/видео.html
I definitely would love to get out to Mare Island someday! It's on my to-do list in terms of abandoned places. I think Saint Marie (Montana) is next because it's relatively near to where I live & would be a cool road trip!
Awesome! I'd pay anything to transport back to that time to see what the island was like before it was utterly destroyed. It's amazing what 25 years can do to a place.
Awesome! My mom was the church pianist there from 1954-58. I recall the church being jammed with people and the young men singing their hearts out to the hymns. Different times.
@DrifterDave you get used to the cold,if it let it get to you it could depressed you.i was there 4 two years,then I got orders to meet my next command at Somalia, the lst,Fredericksburg, was already over there,quite an adventure,,enjoy adak it brought great memories,a lot od the places you sowed they were so familiar to me,,tnx,and bless you...!
I lived up in Canada's Arctic for three years and for me, I hated the cold! But I couldn't imagine both cold and wind. Glad you were able to get used to it!
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I lived on Adak as a youngster from 1954-58 with my family of five while my dad was a contractor dockhand for the US Navy which I understand then used Adak as a radar station and fuel / repairs depot. My mom was church pianist during that time for the Bering Hill church shown in this video and now in ruins. She told us the story that one evening after dark she went to the church alone, was walking from the car and was chased by a pack of abandoned starving dogs. She just made it inside the door. The Navy sent out sailors with rifles who killed those dogs and all abandoned dogs from then on. I have distant but enjoyable memories from Adak where I learned to swim at the public school pool (indoors of course), and my parents took us kids to the Adak bowling alley, movie theater and hamburger joint. As remote as it was in the 1950s, my parents liked living there and made lifelong friends of homesick sailors they had over for holiday dinners. The housing (poured concrete I assume) built in the 50s was torn down and replaced I think in the 1980s when the Navy greatly expanded the military mission and the population grew from 200-300 in the 50s to a peak of 6,000 in the 90s. To this day I remember my dad brought us our first TV -- black and white that got Adak's sole TV station which was on a few hours a day. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for sharing your family's experiences - it's fascinating to hear about what Adak was like back then, compared to what it's become today. I'm sure you and your family have so many incredible memories of your time there. And I'm definitely glad that this video has connected so many people that once called Adak their home. Thansk for watching, and for sharing your memories 🙏
Thank you Dave. That was a great video. I was stationed there from June 1974-June1975 as a Seabee. Lived in the Bering Hill barracks. The Rec building was open to all who lived there. I saw many movies in the theatre, swam many laps in the pool & had many snacks in the "Snack Cafe" opposite the theatre. So many memories. Thank you 😊
You're more than welcome! Thank you for sharing your memories of Bering Hill. If you're interested in checking out my full 68 minute video of Adak, watch it here: ruclips.net/video/ONXvpPaTLXw/видео.html
Miss this place. 94-95. That one room by Bering theater was a small gym. It only had gym equipment and mirrors on the wall but no restrooms or shower. Between small gym and theater was a liquor store. It was operated for only 2-3 years I think. Thanks for this video. Brings back the memories.
You're more than welcome! Thank you for watching, and for your service back in the days before the base closed. This video is just a small excerpt of a much larger full-length short film - you can find the full 68 minute video here: ruclips.net/video/ONXvpPaTLXw/видео.html
One of the fondest memories of the barricks on Bering Hill was how we would decorate the rooms with weathered wood from various structures left from the ghosts of WW2 personnel. bookshelves beds and furniture I was an OT in 78-79.
Amazing memories - thank you for sharing, and thanks for your service. PS - check out my full length (68 minute) documentary about Adak on my channel - this video is just a quick excerpt!
AWESOME place to be a kid!!! We were stationed there twice. Hate seeing it like this but dream to go back!!!
Definitely not in its ideal state anymore, eh? I bet you have some great memories from your time out there. Have you seen the full-length film? If not, find it here: ruclips.net/video/ONXvpPaTLXw/видео.html
You should check out Mare Island in the Bay Area. It was another Navy base that closed in 1997 and has been left to decay.
I definitely would love to get out to Mare Island someday! It's on my to-do list in terms of abandoned places. I think Saint Marie (Montana) is next because it's relatively near to where I live & would be a cool road trip!
Fantastic work !!! Drifter Dave Thanks. WW2 Chapel 💒 Really in Bad Shape 🌬️🌬️💦🌨️💨💨💨💨💨❄️❄️🔜🔜🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Definitely in very bad shape!
The Willy Wa restaurant !!! Was like a A&W connected to the Marine Barracks.
Nice! Was the food any good? PS - check out my full-length video of Adak if you want the full tour! 😀
@@DrifterDave The food was great ! We were young, that was our local hang out ! Double Cheeseburger, Fries and a Sundae !👍🏽
Awesome! I'd pay anything to transport back to that time to see what the island was like before it was utterly destroyed. It's amazing what 25 years can do to a place.
Married in the old Bering Chapel January 1978. I was stationed at NavFac along with my husband.🥰
Amazing! Such a beautiful old church. I hope I brought back some good memories for you! 😎
Awesome! My mom was the church pianist there from 1954-58. I recall the church being jammed with people and the young men singing their hearts out to the hymns. Different times.
Definitely! Thank you for sharing your memories - I wish I could have seen what Adak was like during its heyday!
My dad was stationed there in the army during World War II
That is incredible!
I was born here!
That's incredible! Do you have any memories of your time there? Check out my full video of Adak, AK here: ruclips.net/video/ONXvpPaTLXw/видео.html
One ☝️ Thing about U ole buddy U will Reply Back !!!! 😁😄😃😃
I try my best! Depends how busy I am! 😂
I was station there in 1992....it was beautiful, alot of great memories,,it was so isolated, you would get hazardous pay,while station there😊😂
I bet! I couldn't imagine living there in the dead of winter - it must have been quite the experience!
@DrifterDave you get used to the cold,if it let it get to you it could depressed you.i was there 4 two years,then I got orders to meet my next command at Somalia, the lst,Fredericksburg, was already over there,quite an adventure,,enjoy adak it brought great memories,a lot od the places you sowed they were so familiar to me,,tnx,and bless you...!
I lived up in Canada's Arctic for three years and for me, I hated the cold! But I couldn't imagine both cold and wind. Glad you were able to get used to it!