Compiled by Nick Sestanovich

75 years ago

Observation Post Changes Command (July 1, 1943)

After two years, A.W. Stapleton, who was appointed chief observer by the Fourth Fighter Command Aircraft Warning Service, has resigned that office and recommended that Mrs. Ivy Nance be appointed to succeed him.
In summing up two years, Stapleton stated that it was quite a task at the time he was requested to establish such a post, because it was believed that war was far away and a disbelief existed that such an organization could be of little use, and then on that never-to-be-forgotten day of December 7, 1941, orders came to him to man the post 24 hours a dya.
Due to the short time he had off duty from his work at the Arsenal, Mrs. Stapleton took over and put in many hours contacting people in an effort to convince them the importance of the post in the chain of posts that are nationwide. The response was very gratifying at the time, and with constant contact she was able to man the post most of the time, some observers doubling back to fill in where someone else forgot to go out.

50 years ago

Humble Will Open Branch in Benicia (June 27, 1968)

The Marine department of Humble Oil & Refining Company announced recently that it will establish a San Francisco branch office at the company’s new Benicia refinery on September 1. John M. Sachs has been appointed manager of the office which will be responsible for Humble’s marine transportation activities for the entire west coast.
Sachs, who previously served as operations manager in the marine department’s New York branch office, was born in Baltimore. He graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1943.
After joining Humble as an inland waterways pilot in 1946, Sachs served in various marine assignments in Norfolk, Virginia; Baltimore, Houston and Bayonne, N.J. He was named operations manager in New York in 1964.
The company’s new Benicia refinery is presently under construction and is scheduled to begin operations early next year.

25 years ago

Base closure panel recommends scuttling Mare Island (June 27, 1993)

By David Hagerty

The future of Mare Island Naval Shipyard all but capsized Friday after a federal advisory commission unanimously recommended that the 139-year-old base be shut down permanently.
The recommendation by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission was a major blow to Mare Island’s chances for survival. Although the list of bases recommended for closure still needs the endorsement of both President Clinton and Congress, the base commission was considered the most likely forum for additions or deletions to the list.
Bay Area politicians spoke of an ongoing campaign to preserve their base, but did so with an air of resignation.*  “We all knew in our heart of hearts that this was an uphill fight,” Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, said.
Miller was one of several officials attending a press conference Friday outside the shipyard’s main gate, called after the announcement by the base commission.
Other leaders, including union representatives and Vallejo Mayor Tony Intintoli, promised they would attempt to lobby the president to remove Mare Island from the base closure list, but they acknowledged that the chances were not good.
President Clinton must either accept or reject the base commissions list of recommendations by July 15, which will leave Mare Island supporters little time for lobbying. After that, Congress will have 45 working days in which to approve the list. .

The full articles of these and other stories are available on microfilm at the Benicia Public Library.

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