Page 121 - Historical Study of Yerba Buena Island, Treasure Island and Their Buildings

2.3 Military Use and Occupation, 1940-Present (1995)

The World War II (WW II) Era and the Cold War Era are the two primary eras which divide the
history of Treasure Island's military use and occupation. The WW II Era spans six years, 1940
through 1946. The Cold War Era began with the end of WW II and continued to 1989. With the
"end" of the Cold War, military bases, such as Treasure Island, are being closed. For the
purposes of this report, the post-Cold War Era (1990 and later) is considered to be the Cold War
"demobilization" period.

2.3.1 World War II, 1940-1946

Even before the Golden Gate International Exposition had ended, the US Navy had realized the
potential for a naval base at Treasure Island. Three months prior to the end of the Exposition,
Admiral Greenslade sent a letter to the Navy Department in Washington DC requesting funds to
lease the Island from the City of San Francisco. Since the military was concentrating on Hitler
(the war in Europe), Admiral Greenslade's request was denied. However, Admiral Greenslade
was undeterred in his quest. Convinced of the necessity, he sent a letter to the San Francisco
City Council requesting the use of Treasure Island "for the duration of the National Emergency"
(strong words, when there was no war on the West Coast). Fortunately for him, the City had
already recognized the difficulties of making Treasure Island into an international airport. The
City seized the opportunity of mutual aid and offered Admiral Greenslade the lease for Treasure
Island in exchange for the Navy's assistance in obtaining bayshore land south of San Francisco
for use as an international airport. This was agreeable to the Admiral. The Navy was granted a
temporary lease to Treasure Island. Three months later, the Secretary of the Navy directed the
Navy to negotiate with the City of San Francisco to "take over at the earliest possible moment
and for the duration of the emergency as much or all of Treasure Island with suitable buildings as
required for a Navy Section Base with barracks for four thousand and to serve as a combined
Receiving Station, Distribution, and Training Center." On February 28, 1941, the City of San
Francisco officially leased Treasure Island to the Navy. Negotiations for the airport land were
completed in 1943; the City had its airport and the Navy gained title to Treasure Island.

2.3.1.1 Conversion Process

At first, the conversion from the Exposition to the Naval Training and Distribution Center,
Treasure Island (TADCEN,TI) was fairly casual. Very little money was allocated by the Navy
for the conversion process. Although the United States recognized Japan as a possible future
problem, the US did not feel particularly threatened by the nation of the Rising Sun because
Japan had been confining its actions to the Far East. Any US military development or "build-up"
on the West Coast was more for general principles than because of any real sense of urgency.
Obviously, the emphasis was still on the war in Europe. Hitler was already in control of most of
the European countries and was starting to threaten England. The United States, heavily
involved in the war there for at least a year, was devoting most of the available men and money
to that war effort. Therefore, for most of 1941, the progress in the conversion of Treasure Island
to a military installation was slow and, at times, haphazard. In fact, the only obvious hint of
"progress" was the destruction of the Pacifica statue, who during the Exposition had proudly
stood at the northern end of the Palaces as the centerpiece of the Court of Pacifica. Both Pacifica
and the Tower of the Sun were demolished early in 1941. Eventually, the Tower of the Sun was
replaced by a large, covered bandstand used for drill and muster. See Figures 43 and 44.

September I, I 995 Historical Study ofYerba Buena Island, 2-17
Treasure Island, and their Buildings