Naval Support Activity, New Orleans

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The Naval Support Activity, New Orleans is the largest military installation in greater New Orleans. It hosts activities for other branches of service and federal agencies.

The installation meets the needs of military personnel, both in and behind the battle. Home to nearly 3900 active-duty and 2,700 civilian personnel, the facility spreads over both banks of the Mississippi River.

The base is home to:

Commander, Naval Reserve Force
Commander, Naval Air Reserve Force
Commander, Naval Surface Reserve Force
Marine Forces Reserve
4th Marine Aircraft Wing
4th Marine Division

Established in the early 1900s, but inactive for long periods, the facility was reborn in 1939. Between 1944 and 1966, the base progressed from a U.S. Naval Station to the Headquarters, Support Activity, New Orleans. In 1966, the Army, which owned the property on the river's east bank, transferred ownership to the Navy, thus establishing the New Orleans Naval Support Activity command.

Base housing is limited to 300 units. Other amenities include a 22-unit Navy lodge, family service center, childcare center for 42, a medium-sized commissary and exchange^{[disambiguation needed]}, and a healthcare clinic. Recreational activities include arts and crafts, auto hobby center, and a library.

[edit] Early history

The land underlying the Naval Support Activity is part of an immense West Bank concession given to Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, founder of New Orleans, in 1719 by the Compagnie des Indes. The land changed hands numerous times before being purchased by the United States government on 1849-02-14 for the site of a proposed Navy yard. The Navy yard was not built, however, and the land was leased off for farming. In May of that year, additional ground was purchased by the Navy to enlarge the original site.

In November 1901, the Naval Dry Dock (YFD#2) arrived and the US Naval Station was formally established. In 1902, the Commandant, Eighth Naval District received almost $4 million for the new buildings and improvements to the station. Additional property was obtained in 1903 giving the Navy almost three-fourths of a mile of valuable river frontage.

The original buildings, some of which still stand, were completed on the site in 1903. Also located on the grounds is the LeBeuf-Ott Country Retreat, built in 1840. Today, that home is known simply as Quarters "A" and is occupied by the area's senior Naval flag officer.

The Naval Station remained open until September 1911. Following four years of inactivity, it was reopened in 1915 as an industrial Navy yard for repair of vessels. The station continued in full operation until June 1933, when it was placed in a maintenance status. In December 1939, the station was reactivated and eventually became a base to handle transient naval personnel.

In September 1944, the station was designated the US Naval repair base. However, just three years later, it was designated the US Naval Station, a name it held until January 1962, when it became the Headquarters, Support Activity, New Orleans. The latter name came about to reflect the fact that the Headquarters, Eighth Naval District was aboard the station as a regular tenant.

[edit] World War I and World War II

Located on the East Bank of the Mississippi River are the three largest buildings of the Naval Support Activity. The three giant buildings that tower six floors above the river each contain over one half million square feet of floor space and house a major part of NSA tenants.

The 30 acres of land and three buildings have a history that began in June 1919, when the buildings were constructed for the US Army Quartermaster Corps for use as a general logistical depot during World War I.

These buildings were partially used by the QM Corps after completion until February 1931, when buildings 601 and 602 were leased to the Board of Commissioners, Port of New Orleans.

With the advent of World War II, the lease was canceled and the installation reverted to complete use by the military. After the QM Corps gave up the buildings, the official title became the New Orleans Port of Embarkation. In 1955, the tract of land was known as the New Orleans Army Terminal. In 1965 the name was changed to the New Orleans Army Base.

[edit] In modern times

There was an expanding naval presence in the lower Mississippi Delta in the mid-1960s. In June 1966, the New Orleans Army Base transferred to the Navy. July 1966 saw the disestablishment of the Headquarters, Support Activity and the establishment of the Naval Support Activity to reflect the changing mission of the station. With this change in mission and designation, both sides of the river began serving as the Naval Support Activity for the first time.

Today, the Naval Support Activity is the host for the Headquarters of the nation's Naval and Marine Corps Reserve forces, along with approximately 40 other command serving all aspects of military life.