Life at TADCEN - US Naval Training & Distribution Center - 1945

Front Cover, Life at TADCEN - US Naval Training & Distribution Center - Shoemaker, California, Volume XXVII 1945. GGA Image ID # 16dd16d8aa

Sailors wait for their next orders at the Naval Receiving Station and are considered transient personnel. The US Naval Training and Distribution Center at Shoemaker, California, is one such station on the west coast.

Life in the Naval Receiving Station of the U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center at Shoemaker, California in 1945. GGA Image ID # 16bec17346

Letters from home are the highlights of the day.

Commodore Otto M. Forster, USN, Commander, U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center, Shoemaker, California. GGA Image ID # 16bfd1a3e4

OTTO M. FORSTER
Commodore, USN Commander
U. S. Naval Training and Distribution Center
SHOEMAKER, CALIFORNIA

Graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy, Class of 1912.

During his naval career, he has served on board the following ships: For ten years aboard battleships, the  U. S. S. Utah, Ohio, Kansas, Connecticut, and Delaware.

Executive officer of the transport, U. S. S. Kittery. Commanding officer of four destroyers—the U. S. S. Kane, Biddle, Simpson, and Parrott. Was navigator of the U. S. S. Black Hawk. Served on heavy cruisers, as Navigator of the U. S. S. Houston and executive officer of the U. S. S. Pensacola.

He served at various shore stations throughout the United States. When war was declared, he was commanding officer of the attack transport, U. S. S. Harris, partaking in landing operations in the Pacific Islands and in North Africa.

From the Harris he was ordered to duty in the Twelfth Naval District to place the U. S. Naval Receiving Barracks in commission and as Commanding Officer after commissioning.

Cmdr. John M. Bloom, USNR, Executive Officer, U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center, Shoemaker, California. GGA Image ID # 16c006b684

JOHN M. BLOOM
COMMANDER, USNR - Executive Officer

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 21, 1893. Home is in Detroit, Michigan.

Graduated from the Naval Academy Class of 1916. Had service for about a year aboard the USS Arkansas. Was graduated from Submarine School in New London, Conn., in the fall of 1917. Had submarine service in command of the USSL-7, O-16, R-21.

Resigned from the Navy in December 1920. Was engaged in business in Detroit from
that time until January, 1942, when he came back to active duty. Was acting Commanding Officer and Executive Officer at the U.S. Naval Pre-Flight School at the University of Iowa. Iowa City. Had duty outside the continental limits from April 1943 until May 1944. Had several special assignments before coming to the Receiving Barracks, Shoemaker, as the Executive Officer.

LTJG William A. Chaw, Administrative Assistant, and LTJG Bernard L. McCall U-U(S) USNR, Aide to Commodore Forster. GGA Image ID # 16c01b1a53

History of the Receiving Station, U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center. GGA Image ID # 16c066c735

History of the Receiving Station, U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center, Part 2. GGA Image ID # 16d07161f6

On 15 May, 1943, the activity which is now the Receiving Barracks component of the U. S. Naval Training and Distribution Center was commissioned as the U. S. Navy Personnel Distribution Center, Pleasanton, California. After several months, the Personnel Distribution Center was renamed the U. S. Naval Receiving Barracks.

On 13 April, 1944, all the naval activities in Amador Valley, namely the Construction and Replacement Depot, Camp Parks, the U. S. Naval Hospital, the U. S. Naval Disciplinary Barracks, and the Receiving Station were organized under a single administrative command, the U. S. Naval Training and Distribution Center, Shoemaker, California.

On date of commissioning as Receiving Barracks, about 50 officers and 400 enlisted men moved into many uncompleted buildings sprawled over 689 acres which a few short weeks before had been a cow pasture. Many of the buildings, recreation facilities, and roads were uncompleted, causing considerable inconvenience to all hands. The first draft finally arrived, and we were launched on our mission of being a "Way Station” for Navy men on the way to the Fleet.

The "Turnover” of General Detail Personnel during the first month and a half was 2,531 received and 910 transferred. The turnover grew by leaps and bounds and that number is not even a day’s work at present. On 30 September, 1944 one single days turnover was 2,223 received and 2,495 transferred: and the monthly turnover being in the vicinity of 50,000. This was the first receiving ship activity the Navy had of this size and de- scription and many ''Trial Runs” were necessary before the organization began to run smoothly and efficiently.

It was soon apparent that the work load far exceeded the capacity of the ship’s company complement originally authorized and the complement has been continually increased and now stands at 250 officers and 2,430 enlisted men, some departments working a three-shift day to get all the work done and drafts out in good order.

The disbursing officers pay out in the vicinity of a cool million dollars a month on pay days to the sailors in addition to making out thousands of allotments and receiving and transferring pay accounts of all transient personnel.

When a new unit now rapidly nearing completion is in operation, the Receiving Station will provide facilities for approximately 30,000 transient personnel. Activities include: three mess halls each with capacity of 10,000 per meal; two theaters with seating capacity of 2,000 each and two with seating capacity of 1,000 each; forty- four bowling alleys; forty pool tables; four swimming pools; a drill hall large enough to play five basketball games at one time; sixteen outdoor basketball courts; ten tennis courts; one regulation baseball diamond and two football fields; nine softball diamonds; and five indoor recreation buildings.

This station is the home of the "Fleet City Bluejackets” football, baseball, and basketball teams.

History of the Receiving Station, U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center, Buildings. GGA Image ID # 16d0a319d8

Administration Building

BUILDINGS
At Left: WAVE Barracks.
Bottom Left: Fire House; Exterior, Main Dispensary.

Familiar Scenes at the Receiving Station, U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center, Part 1. GGA Image ID # 16d1219ebe

Familiar scenes are these of ringing the ship’s bell (right) and the auto check at the main gate (below).

Familiar Scenes at the Receiving Station, U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center, Part 2. GGA Image ID # 16d143c352

CHOW!! One of the best hours in any day at any Station, and especially at Shoemaker where the chow is mighty fine.

And again morale at home and at the Station gets a real lift.
What’s your brand, Sailor? Whatever it is, we’ve got it at Ship’s Service.

Familiar Scenes at the Receiving Station, U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center, Part 3. GGA Image ID # 16d1615adf

Familiar Scenes at the Receiving Station, U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center, Part 4. GGA Image ID # 16d1ade1d3

Medical Processing Center at the US Naval Training and Distribution Center, Part 1. GGA Image ID # 16d26db735

MEDICAL
Entering the Medical Processing Center, where data on the physical condition of all men checking into the Distribution Center is compiled.

Below: Men are examined for heart and lung action, and are prepared for blood pressure test.

The men are told to strip off their clothing and prepare for a thorough medical examination.

The tonsils and throat are given the "once-over” by specialists

Medical Processing Center at the US Naval Training and Distribution Center, Part 2. GGA Image ID # 16d322f45d

PROCESSING CENTER
Recording the blood pressure and samples of the blood are important phases of work performed by the Medical Processing Center.

The ears come in for thorough examination.
Doctors make sure no heart or lung ailments are developing in the patient.

Welfare and Recreation at the U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center, Part 1. GGA Image ID # 16d3350770

WELFARE AND RECREATION
Movie Projector
Many WAVES Daily enjoy the comfort and friendliness of the WAVE Lounge
1—2—3—4 . . . Calisthenics—body builder de luxe
They shall have music—Station Military Band

This is the way to combat the lack of bicycles built for two

Theater—packed as usual
Many like a little while each day or so just to sit quietly and read

Welfare and Recreation at the U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center, Part 2. GGA Image ID # 16d348d11d

Welfare and Recreation at the U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center, Part 3. GGA Image ID # 16d34b4675

THE SPORTS
Billy Smith Sp. ( A) 3c, World’s greatest swimmer.
Below: In the basket for another tally.

The basketball team brushes up for a coming engagement.

Below: The Fleet City Band and a typical game crowd.

Scenes pf Liberty taken in Shoemaker, California for Sailors Assigned to TADCEN. GGA Image ID # 16d38c56c1

LIBERTY
Examining Pass
Don’t get tired or discouraged—he’ll let you go in just a minute.

Barracks Activities at the Personnel Distribution Center, Part 1. GGA Image ID # 16d38f5125

BARRACKS ACTIVITIES
A little impromptu "get-together” for a game of blackjack sometimes livens up activities in the barracks, as shown above. A little less pleasant are the scenes depicted to the right.

The boys occasionally get together for a jitterbug session with music from a juke box.

Barracks Activities at the Personnel Distribution Center, Part 2. GGA Image ID # 16d39361f5

Sailors Prepare to Leave the Distribution Center for Their Next Tour of Duty, Part 1. GGA Image ID # 16d3983eec

READY TO GO
That last liberty leave finds them anxious to get to town.
Sailors sit on their seabags and swap scuttlebutt concerning their next destination.
Sailors load gear and luggage on trucks in preparation for departure.
Their next tour of duty may take them nearly half way round the world.

Sailors Prepare to Leave the Distribution Center for Their Next Tour of Duty, Part 2. GGA Image ID # 16d39fe44d

Tour of the Offices at the Naval Receiving Station at Shoemaker, California, Part 1. GGA Image ID # 16d40e4c5e

AROUND THE OFFICES
Lieutenant Commander T. E. Hammond, Transient Personnel Officer.
Personnel Building

Below Left  Directory Personnel Service Section.
Below Right: Orders and Transmittal Section.

Tour of the Offices at the Naval Receiving Station at Shoemaker, California, Part 2. GGA Image ID # 16d443967f

AROUND THE OFFICES
Lieutenant Commander T. E. Hammond, Transient Personnel Officer.
Personnel Building

Below Left  Directory Personnel Service Section.
Below Right: Orders and Transmittal Section.

Tour of the Offices at the Naval Receiving Station at Shoemaker, California, Part 3. GGA Image ID # 16d504bb1a

Draft Officer
Below Top: Directory Personnel Service
Bottom: Duplicating Room

Horiz Card Sorter
Below Top: Administrative Assistant
Bottom: Transient Record Vault