Guantanamo Bay (GTMO), Cuba, has played a major role in my Navy career. I finally found some photos of GTMO (pronounced Git-Mo) that were taken around 1985 or so. Here they are to share with you. During Ronald Reagan's presidency, the base received a huge influx of money. The barracks were completely refurbished, new chief's quarters, accompanied housing and a shopping mall were built, and a McDonald's found it 's way there. If you saw the movie "A Few Good Men" with Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, you think you've seen GTMO. You didn't. The scenes in the movie that were supposed to be GTMO were actually Camp Pendleton, CA. But it was a close resemblance.

The Haitian refugee crisis basically shut the base down for anything other than support for the refugees. All dependents were sent home and non-critical facilities were closed (including the McDonald's). Fleet Training Group (FTG GTMO) permanently moved from it's nearly brand-new headquarters there to Mayport, FL. as a result.

This is a shot of the "Gold Hill" barracks. It was the only non-accompanied (single) enlisted housing available. The top floor on the left was the off-limits women's section.

The barracks sits atop a hill, facing south, and has a spectacular view of the bay. Behind it in a valley, is a huge sports complex with baseball diamonds, basketball and handball courts, a bowling alley, gym, pool, etc.

Free movies were shown every night in this stadium-like complex. It was all open air and great fun. I remember one year, Aerosmith played here live. This was about the only entertainment available, aside from the TV lounge in the barracks and the Officer's club.

This, I believe, is either an Acacia or Mimosa tree in bloom. GTMO is actually pretty barren. The most prevalent plants are the cactus and sagebrush.

Here's a shot of Windmill beach. The beaches of GTMO are not spectacular, but the diving is. The reefs are virtually untouched and there are some magnificent formations. Huge iguana live on the cliffs to the left of this beach and are almost tame. Some are nearly 4 feet long and have distinctive names given to them by the residents.

This is a panoramic view of the main part of the base. On the left are the Gold Hill barracks. Center foreground is the shopping mall complex and McDonald's. Behind that is the marina. The old Chief's club is on the far right.

Here's the "guts" of GTMO, the piers of Fleet Training Group (FTG). There are a couple of destroyers, an LPH (a helicopter carrier), an LPD and a "Gator Freighter" tied alongside. Right center is the ship repair facility and supply warehouses.

To the right but not visible is a huge desalinization plant. It makes all the fresh water for the base from the sea. Castro shut off the fresh water supply to the base from inland at the end of his revolution.