Hey folks I happened to find a picture isn't that amazing. It seems someone has
been in the business of pulling down photos of these historical areas.. I have
never called on this station in my MSC years. This was like the KILAUEA'S home
port when I was in the Navy. We spent a lot of time here either loading or
unloading. The piers are designed in an oval configuration for the access of
rail cars. After my 1st year in the Navy and aboard the KILAUEA when ever the
ship was berthed in Concord (actually Port Chicago) I would attend His Way
Church. The church was founded by a Navy Chaplain and started out in a Bob's Big
Boy restaurant. I really liked that crowd. They had been meeting in a South
Western Bell Telephone maintenance barn when I first attended. They had like a
co-op of shops around it. There was Jacob's Well where folks could get a meal
listening to Gospel Music. The Chili was excellent and so was the coffee. When
ever I wasn't off goofing around and not on duty I would volunteer my time to
wash pots and help clean the place. It was a nice place to relax and read. We
had some very talented singers in the church and even some talented musicians. A
guy by the name of Bill Woods was the music minister. One year they produced a
vinyl record album called HIS WAY SINGS. I have not been able to find a copy of
this anywhere so if you are aware of anyone who might have a copy of it I would
pay for a CD. One thing important about Concord NWS, no one was allowed to walk
anywhere past the pier parking lot. The Marines guarding the base had orders to
shoot anyone on sight. Rumor was that a guy from the USS SHASTA lost his life
this way. The base was posted with signs warning folks that trespassing was
prohibited and violators would be shot on site. The government just could not
take the chance of some malcontent coming on the base and setting off an
explosion. The only residents of the town after 1970 were cows.
