Fort Ord: Eroded by the sea, what's left of a military legacy? | Bartell's Backroads 

That was my childhood home when my father was in the military. I have great memories growing up there.

I enjoyed my 1978 experience at fort ord- salines- Carmel- a beautiful place!!! James- 571st mp -

Served there from 1987 to 1990, 1/9 Manchu, Op just “Just cause” Panama, combat vet.

❤ God Bless all the souls that passed through there and helped us. 🇺🇲

AIT Ft Ord 1974. Stillwell hall. Seaside, Monterey.

BCT. C-5-1. November 1959 in the old wooden barracks.

The basic barracks were pumped solid cinder blocks 1970

Basic Training starting on October 11, 1972.

Did eight weeks of OJT in the Fall of 1969 stuffing trainee records into 201 files. Lived in barracks directly behind the Class 6 (liquor) store. Stilwell Hall was alive and busy, The ice plants were healthy and not to be trod upon. KP was once a week. The atmosphere of fog, ocean, etc. created a love for the place. Many of the old buildings of Cannery Row were still there. I left the day before Halloween with leave going to the medical training center at Ft Sam. I visited in 1990 to a rather shabby post and found my barracks and the office when I worked. The office, through a window, looked the same. Many of the barracks were being demolished. I can still feel that long-ago time when I hear the songs that were popular that Fall. God Bless.

I was stationed at Ft. Ord from Nov. 78 to Jun. 80 after 1 year in Korea (Camp Ames Daejeon), At Ord I was a armorer with Co. C 6/31 (Bearcats who in Vietnam to the most casualties of the war) being supply I was Hq platoon but still in a straight leg Inf. unit. Duty was ok to not desirable ( Inf.) . What I loved was being in mid Cali. on the coast and driving a 260Z. Seaside, Monterey, Salinas, Marina and Carmel and so much more. Plus the Presidio of Monterey ( DOD Language Inst. and Navy Weather Station had some fine smart women that hung out with. So being a young thundercat It was almost as good as my Seven Years in Karlsruhe and Mannheim Germany ( which I was by then an NCO and in Flight Operations). I had all great assignments!

The old WWII era buildings in the NW part of Fort Ord, just south of Marina, were torn down only a few years ago. A new housing development is going up there soon. A large shopping center, new homes, a hotel, movie multiplex, health club, doctor's offices, and very modern V.A. clinic have replaced old barracks in that general area. Cal State University Monterey Bay occupies many new and renovated buildings. Some of the "newer" post-WWII barracks just north of the Silas Hayes Hospital along Gigling Rd fell into disrepair and were gradually vandalized. They had to undergo major asbestos removal for a few years before being demolished. I saw all this as it was happening because I worked at the former hospital (since converted to govt office space) for many years, with a great view of Ft Ord and Monterey Bay from the sixth floor. I understand and sympathize with the whole nostalgia thing, but the oldest builldings near Highway One, closest to the dunes, were getting hammered from the combination of salt-laden sea air and lack of maintenance. The area here needs more housing, so that's the prioriity.

My first duty station after basic training at Fort Dix NJ 1980. Being from LA I remember taking a small plane from LAX to Monterey Airport. The ride was only 45 minutes. My biggest fear was thinking my reception at Ord would be just like my reception at Dix. That goodness it wasn't. I treated fairly because my behavior was good. I Excell at Ord. It was a great place to start my Army career/ my first 3 years anyway.

My first duty station 2/8 FA, we wore the Manchu hair

Basic and AIT 1971. Came back in 1991 to retired in 1992. For my family and myself, there were many fond memories. For those that served and lived there, Fort Ord will never fade away. Company A 5th Battalion 3rd Brigade (1991 Basic Training) 2nd Brigade, Brigade S-4 (1992) MSG E-8, Quartermaster.

IT just brings tears to my eyes

When I was in 7th and 8th grade (91-93) I was a part of the Cadet Corps program. We got to live in the barracks and was lucky to have the same schedule as the adults. It changed my life in so many ways, I need to go see those buildings before they're torn down.

Started Basic Training in Sept 1968 and when my bus left downtown LA for Fort Ord, my girlfriend ran as the bus pulled away. Got my "Dear John" letter in week 5. Beautiful and haunting October days with mist, fog, and beautiful days only made our breakup even worse.

I trained there form May to Aug. of 1963, our AIT was there also. To bad it had to be abandoned like it was. Seems it could have been made into a tourist attraction of such, so the public could see what it was like and carry on the memories of those that trained there and to show respect to those that never returned. We as a nation can never show enough respect to our brothers in service.

My first duty station was Fort Ord….. a bunch of memories from there. 1984-1990. I lived on Monterey Rd just downhill from the NCO Club.

A couple of those barracks must be restored and preserved Thanks to all who have served and are serving

Basic and AIT in 1970. Went back 5 years ago, sad to see it falling apart.

Drafted in 71. Was there from the end of May until the end of September 71. B31 for basic and A22 for AIT.

Was a Training Officer B-2-3 for 3 years ending ‘71. Lived on Remagen Circle

I was in the California National Guard on May 1963 to April 1969. I was at Fort Ord for my basic training. I remember my Graduation after boot camp and was there until November 1963. I was back to an Ordinance Company at the Armory on Mission Street in San Francisco for the rest of my six years. They should have kept Ft. Ord open.

Commandig officer of D-3-1, 1963-4

Thank you for making this video. Brought back a lot of memories. I went through Basic Training there from September-November 1974. Still remember those ancient barracks, the firing ranges, throwing (badly) a live hand grenade, and company marches. My wife and I were later married at Lovers' Point in Pacific Grove. Really enjoyed the photography and your stories of Fort Ord and Monterey Bay. Hope to visit Fort Ord Dunes Park in the near future...

I was talking to this man, he said that he had a son in military (us army ), that he’s son located to Poland and I said that there was no base in Poland ! He said he had orders to Poland ! So I checked and there is a military base, Here the Government are closing Military bases ! I took my Basic Training at FORT ORD , 1974

Station 1984 to 1987 go light fighters

When I was a teenage passenger in a stolen Volkswagen in the mud seventies, we wound up by San Simeon and picked up a hitchhiking awol with his army bag taking off from Fort Ord. We went down the coast hill on two wheels on a turn, and he wanted out. Said he was going back to Fort Ord.

Sad to see that whole base wasted.

I’m the maintenance manager for some apartments down the road from the old military site…apparently they were all rented out to soliders back in the day…very very cool, however they are not wrong, with the mist coming in pretty much everyday, anything that is out in the open will be a victim to the salty air

My dad and 2 brothers trained there. Such a shame it got closed down

Basic, Company C-4-1, October to December 1963. I was on K-P duty the day President Kennedy was assassinated. I drove around the post about 2000 and located (I think) my old wooden barracks. Abandoned, but not yet demolished. From there it was 5 months at Fort Hood (569 Engrs), and 16 months in Kornwestheim, Germany (320 Engrs).

A42 Nov.71-Jan.72

Sad to see it go down. I was there from June 71 to August 72

My dad and our family were stationed there in the mid 80’s from 85’ to 87’ I believe.

Had basic there at bravo 2 3 in 73

Sad to see what has become of Fort Ord. My dad trained there and fought in WWII in mostly in Okinawa. Sad to see it’s been overrun as a homeless encampment now.

It’s sad to see that right now, only about 8 barracks are now left, there used to be many…

😢😢homeless no orders ft harrison ocs 1992 not avaiable

Fort Old should be kept as a training base, it worked out great for the Vietnam war, plus the U.S. politicians will never learn how to keep us out of foreign wars.

i was in the 707th support unit motor pool.then they sent me & another guy to 1st of 51st A.D.A. 1977 & 78.glad i got to be part of it's history.remember guarding those bunkers on the beach.

Oh the memories, most of them shaky. As an 18 year old draftee I spent 10 weeks there learning how to be a proper soldier, learn how to hold your breath as long as possible before a Drill Sgt hit you in the stomach to make you take a deep breath, all in the tear gas chamber. Oh, what fun....

Sad to see fort ord abandoned, and destroyed by neglect and vandalism by local scumbags.

Same barracks at Ft Jackson...still coal fired in '71'...hillbillies liked to get out on second story wildows & play guitar on Sundays

Fort Ord, just met its doomed destiny. Sad!

There are no runways for aircraft on Ord, correct?

Fort clayton ...panama

I went through boot camp there in 1960. We stayed in the old barracks for three days for processing and were then sent on to the new barracks. I remember in the old barracks there was no privacy if you wanted to defecate. So, my thinking at the time was the Army brass had no class. Anyway, I'm glad I got the military out of the way before we were involved in Vietnam because I would have never fought for something I did not believe in. I would have headed up to Canada or gone to Sweden.

And sad how history going to be dostroyed

Um actually I marched threw there last month in a army base

B-2-2 1966

Eroded by the sea but a lot ndue to vandalism and malishes mischief

lamenting the loss of a 100 yr old military base? Pathetic

Where my parents met In 1984 they both were in aviation and assisted task force grizzly

Along with the places I served in Vietnam, Ft Old makes the list of historical places disappearing from my life. I suppose I will make that list myself someday.

Was with the MPs there in 76/77. Edited a newsletter. Did art work. Left for Berlin. Remember friends and hope life turned out well for them! Am 72 now.

Just for your information. Former NFL HC Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commander's was a dependent at Ft Ord. He also stared in football at Seaside High School and graduated from their.

Basic and AIT 1971

i trained there in July and august 1965

Myself and several guys I grew up with all went through Basic Training at Ft Ord in 1972.

Aco 5/21 INF(L) 90-91

Basic. C-4-1, 73 Jan-Mar

I was part of the encampment part of the Army JROTC for me in 1982. It was fun. Food was good. Difficult to wake up at 05:00 hrs. Water obstacle I fell in & nearly drowned. 3 G.I's pulled me out! Great fun tho..

I was there 91 to 94

Many that trained here never made it back to the USA that's the sad part.

D-4-3 1966

89 - 92 there my duty station