Page 125 - Historical Study of Yerba Buena Island, Treasure Island and Their Buildings

merchant vessel on December 20, 1941. Gear and, especially, men were extremely limited.
Many crews went to sea with a "Petty Officer" in charge, rather than an officer, due to shortages
of personnel. Even so, thirty-six vessels were equipped with gear and personnel within the ten
day period of January 26 through February 5, 1942. At the end of the first six months, not one
ship had been delayed in sailing while waiting for an Armed Guard crew or weapon.

In June of 1942, the Twelfth Naval District designated the Armed Guard Center as a Command.
By December, 1942, one year after being established, the Armed Guard consisted of over eight
thousand men and four hundred officers at sea. It was dangerous work since these vessels were
in fact prime targets for Japanese and German Axis submarines. This sort of danger resulted in
US military humor such as: "Sighted sub ... blub ... blub ... blub ... " and "Ready! Aim! ...
Abandon ship!". -

Despite these hazards and difficulties, the Armed Guard grew to be one of the largest commands
in the Navy. By the end of the war, it had grown to about fifteen timesits originally anticipated
size. At its largest size, it consisted of over forty five thousand enslisted men and over two
thousand officers.

Realistically, a war in the Pacific would mean a large-scale naval war. As a result, within days
the Treasure Island contingent was increased rapidly. Within a month, the conversion of the
Exposition palaces into barracks, offices, and mess halls was well underway. Suddenly, new
activities, new schools, and new commands arrived at TADCEN. Turning to "ship's company"
for working personnel, huge changes were made to the island with materials and supplies that
somehow were always delayed or followed far behind. To save time, World War I plans for
"H'' type barracks were broken out (Ref. P.) and used for building the new barracks to the east
and north of the palaces. See Figure 46. The magnificent center section of the Federal Building
was demolished and the two remaining wings were used for classrooms, a galley, and office
space. See Figures 47 and 48.

Due to the rapid expansion, the Command was reorganized in June of 1942. Twenty separate
divisions operated under three main command groups, Supply, Personnel, and Operations. Each
were charged with several specific responsibilities to ensure the proper operation of the Island.
All reported to the Chief Staff Officer, who in tum reported to TADCEN, still under the
command of Rear Admiral Osterhaus. Under this new arrangement, the continued conversion of
the palaces for military use was stressed. Most became barracks or training buildings, but some
were converted based upon their earlier use. Palace K, the Foods and Beverages building,
became the "mess hall", having a capacity to provide of over 7,000 meals per hour. Palace C-1,
the Billy Rose Aquacade, became the swimming pool; Palace C-2 became the gymnasium. Both
were used for recreation and combat training, such as "abandon ship" drills and "underway
replenishment" training. Palace F, the Hall of Science, became the theater as did the north half
of the Federal Building following the demolition of the Colonnade of States. The main
warehouse, located on the northeast comer of the Island, soon became the First Lieutenant's
Warehouse. The ferry landing and the athletic field, both located on the island's east side,
remained as such. However, the western ferry landing was demolished. New piers were
constructed on the eastern side of the island, as well as in the Port of the Trade Winds, which
faced Y erba Buena Island.

September 1, 199S Historical Study ofYerba Buena Island, 2-21
Treasure Island, and their Buildings