Visiting Adak, Alaska with ol’ Marines. Our Barracks, Our Home.

[@johnblackie314]

Very nice history. Me and 4 other retired Army buddies were there in October 2024. We were Caribou hunting and did some Ptarmigan and Duck hunting. Also walked through some of the old barracks and buildings. We stayed in old military housing. Very interesting place. Thanks for sharing your video.

[@ChuckAbles]

Appreciate the comment. Thank you.

[@billmulkins3217]

My stepdad (Ebel) was stationed there between Korea and Nam timeframe as a weatherman mate for the navy. Lots of stories about that place.

[@ChuckAbles]

Thank you for sharing.

[@karlieorwig8776]

I love it! It is a shame our history has been allowed to fall apart. What a great walk down memory lane!

[@ChuckAbles]

Thanks' so much. It is sad; however, all a part of life.

[@deanvanbrocklin5985]

I was on Adak Alaska during 1979 - 1980...the barracks you show on this video are the the improved barracks...we lived in a slum before the improvements...I left the island in October 1980 we were moved by the airport in nice navy barracks so I never got to see the improvement of the marine barracks...I went to camp lejune joined the FMF and saw what civil war does to a country in Beruit Lebanon...Adam was way more peaceful.

[@ChuckAbles]

Semper Fi, thanks for the time frame on the barracks. What section were you in?

[@raymileur5729]

Adak, by far, my favorite duty station, serving with some of the finest people I have ever known.

[@ChuckAbles]

Thank you! You couldn't ask to meet a great bunch of Marines, and it was my favorite duty station for sure.

[@mikeA2010]

Please forgive me...I was USN,😅 at Comsta, then Bering Hill barracks 1976-78. Loved every minute of it and actually extended on The Rock! Probably saw some of you guys in the mess hall. Im going back in July 2025 with my dog, Lord willing for 10 days. With the present day threats from China, Russia and N Korea, hopefully Dept of Defense will reopen the base! All the best, my Marine brothers!

[@ChuckAbles]

Probably did bump into each other at the chow hall. Or the Bering Building for sure.

[@ianspingle8865]

Every retired service person should be able to visit their old barracks so many memories that changed our lives for ever,shame how everything was left to decay so much work,time and money put in these basses.

[@ChuckAbles]

@@ianspingle8865 for sure. Thank you.

[@damorgman]

Great footage. Kept waiting for someone to sound an alarm and you all to run down to the car and drive out to the MAUW compound.

[@ChuckAbles]

@@damorgman appreciate it. Thanks.

[@rgock01]

Thank you Chuck! This brings back many great memories. It was my first duty station after the School of Infantry, Camp San Onofre, CA. I was a PFC there from 1985-1986. It’s a little sad to see the way it is now. We kept that barracks spit n polish.

[@ChuckAbles]

You're welcome, thank you.

[@jakeshepard9931]

After SOI, I was also sent to Adak in 85-86. I recall that I was asleep in my rack at the compound when that big earthquake hit and shook the shit outta things and set off all the alarms on the perimeter fencing. I remember thinking WTF is going on! Half-asleep, I scrambled up onto the roof, rifle in hand. 😄

[@ChuckAbles]

@@jakeshepard9931 thanks for sharing. I can relate, though not an earthquake, I remember one late evening in the compound calling a react because I thought we had an explosion. Turned out it was lightning and thunder. Scared the crap outta me at first.

[@LensForgotten]

Very interesting stories!

[@ChuckAbles]

@@LensForgotten thanks Gary.

[@jfisher215]

Love these videos, great to hear the history!

[@ChuckAbles]

@@jfisher215 thank you.

[@kevinclancy4532]

I was stationed there 80-81. The barracks were still new then. Sad to see the condition it's in now. I think I was in room 212.

[@ChuckAbles]

Thanks for sharing. Semper Fi.

[@kevinclancy4532]

Thanks for posting this!

[@Lesyet]

Lester Betts, 1st Dty station 82/83, hurts to see the condition . . grew up in Anchorage and this was my first DTY station.

[@ChuckAbles]

@@Lesyet thanks for sharing.

[@JoSeymour-h2x]

Hope this isn't an intrusion. My Dad was stationed on Adak in 1944 during WWII. He was in the Navy and assigned to the base Post Office. I have a lot of old photos of the base and surrounding area. Most of the men are identified by name. I would like some group to have them, but can't find any Navy groups. Probably don't know where to look. Can anyone point me in the right direction? thanks.

[@ChuckAbles]

Hi JoSeymour, No, it is not an intrusion and thank you so much for the comment. Below is a couple of links that may be able to help you out. Since the four of us had come back from Adak, we have been working on a documentary of our visit in telling a bit of history, the story of Marines serving at the Marine Barracks during the cold war, and our thoughts. I know when researching and looking for archival photographs I visited the below sites often. I do appreciate your efforts wishing to share your father's photographs and story of his experiences in the Aleutian Campaigns during WWII. I do hope the links below help. lam.alaska.gov/sled/military-in-alaska/wwii www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/wwii/wwii-pacific/aleutian-islands-campaign/us-armed-forces-support-alaskan-islands/adak-alaska.html

[@JoSeymour-h2x]

@@ChuckAbles Thank you for your very prompt reply. I will check the sites you suggested.