Help please - ID of North Island NAS unit 1953?

[Bluehawk]

Trying to help my father-in-law pinpoint the unit he was in, as a dental assistant, in 1952-53 at North Island Naval Air Station, California.

 

We do know that the dental clinic was NOT housed in the base hospital, but have no clue what bearing that may have had on the name of his unit.

 

I've done my due diligence searching online, but don't understand enough about how our Navy designates its units to figure this out on my own.

 

 

Any guidance or direction would be appreciated.

[Bearmon]

http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcsd/pages/patients/nbhc-nasni-dental.aspx

 

try this site

[Bob Hudson]

I don't think North Island had a hospital: it's very close to the large Navy hospital on the edge of downtown San Diego.

 

I think the on-base medical facility would have been called the dispensary.

[Bluehawk]

Thanks...

 

I got this message re: the site - however, I've been getting that same message for a number of USN sites today for some reason, so will try later.

 

"Explanation: There is a problem with the page you are trying to reach and it cannot be displayed."

 

​I'll do some new searching using the word "dispensary" though, maybe there's an angle in that direction. North Island does have a hospital these days, but father-in-law was very specific that he was not working in one in 1953, to boot. I am therefore guessing that a USN dental clinic would have been either called a "dispensary" or would have been housed in its own separate facility?

 

All help is appreciated...

[Bob Hudson]

Thanks...

 

I got this message re: the site - however, I've been getting that same message for a number of USN sites today for some reason, so will try later.

 

"Explanation: There is a problem with the page you are trying to reach and it cannot be displayed."

 

​I'll do some new searching using the word "dispensary" though, maybe there's an angle in that direction. North Island does have a hospital these days, but father-in-law was very specific that he was not working in one in 1953, to boot. I am therefore guessing that a USN dental clinic would have been either called a "dispensary" or would have been housed in its own separate facility?

 

All help is appreciated...

 

I grew up in a Navy family and we all went to the base dispensary for all care: today they call them clinics today and all medical/dental services would be in the same locale. I do believe North Island still has no hospital, just the North Island Branch Medical Clinic.

 

Oh, did he call it "sick bay?"

[Bluehawk]

"Oh, did he call it "sick bay?"

 

Interesting question, come to think of it! I will ask him!

 

> He and my mother-in-law are on the point of asking me why I care so much about this. I plead MSD (militaria compulsive disorder) and smartly reply, "No excuse, Sir!"

[Bluehawk]

His response was, "We called it the dental clinic."

 

How that helps or not, I have no idea.

[Bluehawk]

That web site is back up and running again, so I am going to phone them today during hours, and see where it leads my search. Thank you!

http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcsd/pages/patients/nbhc-nasni-dental.aspx

try this site

 

[Bluehawk]

Okay, I think (?) I am getting somewhere on this.

 

Questions:

- Would it be correct in US Navy terms, to describe his 1953 unit as Headquarters and Service Battalion ?

 

- If so, would the correct abbreviation for that be, HQSB ?

 

- His duty station, from what I can tell, was MCRD North Island NAS. Would that be the correct designation in US Navy terms ?

 

 

Our magnificent United States Navy is VERY confusing as to its unit and command and insignia designations!