The Naval Support Activity located in Agnano was shaken by a sizable earthquake in August 1982. Damage resulted to the infrastructure of the base and despite the large amount of money spent on repairs, it was decided that the Navy community in Naples was in desperate need of new facilities. Project Pronto was planned to move all operational and support facilities out of Agnano to a 250 acre site near Capua, Italy. The project ended in 1988 when the US Congress concluded it was too expensive and when the Italian Ministry of Defense Purchase of site fell through. In 1990 the decision was made to locate and build the operational aspect of the community in Capodichino, site of the civilian airport which has shared its' runways with the US Navy for many years. Additionally, a support site which would consist of housing, schools and all aspects of community support would be built in the town of Gricignano, about 15 miles north of Capodichino.
Former NSA Naples
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By kjfitz @ 2005-06-27 14:51:05
My grandfather asked me about Humpty in the 1980s from when he visited Naples in the 1950s.
Another one of the campfire girls was called commisary Mary. The Campfire girls were on Viale Kennedy (down from NATO Base at Bagnoli, and along via Agnano agli Astroni which via scarfoglio ran into. Humpty's preferred site was along the wall on Via agnano agli astroni.
I'd love to see a copy of that photo posted!
on the hill overlooking Possillipo on one side, and the Bay of Naples on the other (both were visible from the roof of the hospital). I served in the Naval Hospital there 1962-1964. The NavSuppAct was located on Via Michaelangelo da Caravaggio. The compound, made up of about five high-rise buildings, was down the hill from the hospital. All of the buildings have reverted to what they were before the Navy took them over: apartment houses. This is the former former NavSuppAct 510 -
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&t=k&ll=40.83402491472504,14.20967012643814&z=20 .
The Hospital was on Via Manzoni, just a few switch-backs up the hill, and it can be seen at this location:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&t=k&ll=40.83253533467,14.211612045764923&z=20
Note the soccer fields across the street from the old hospital building. These are called the "Campi Americani" or
American Fields. When I went looking for the building when google maps first came out, I put a marker on the
NavSuppAct spot, and got several respsonses, mostly from Italians who lived there. One said that these were'nt Navy
buildings, but he did some investigating and indeed, these are they. He now knows why the soccer fields are called "the
Americal fields."
It was the summer of 2005 and a group of us from security at NSA Capodichino were sent over to Agnano for about two weeks to sanitize the base and close up the last building that was occupied on the base - the old multistory security building.
I still remember how amazing it was to walk around the the base when everyone was gone, knowing that this base was now being shut down forever. Some good times were had on that base before it was closed and it was one of the best bases to work out of. In the matter of 2 years it went from being the base that held the commissary, NEX, stores, etc. to absolutely nothing when Gricignano got finished.
I wonder what happened to it since, last time I drove by in 2007 it was still unoccupied and run down.
just looked at goole street views of the entrance to AFSOUTH, front of ushaped building, apartment where i lived in pisciarelli(behind old commisary) bars right off post where we used to hang (and buy chit books). Even found the front of Pizzacato in naples. Amazing. whas ther from jan 69 to sept 70. worked in proto mostly comm center, was in the army
What a great time.
I'm surprised to see the theater is now a club. I saw lots of movies there. There was a restaurant in the basement of the admin building and I remember a restaurant down by the exchange.
Did anyone eat at Bagnoli Joes? I loved it. That was where I had my first open fire Italian pizza and fried calamari. I loved both. My favorite think (spaghetti carbonara) I don't even see in stateside Italian restaurants. I would love to have that again. After so many years I can almost remember what it tastes like.
And what about the tange? Remember paying 500 lira toll? I drove it every day back and forth to work. I shared a hose in Lago Patria I think is how it's spelled with some guys at work. I was just a seaman at my first duty station but I will NEVER forget Naples and where I worked in the MMSRC CTF 67. I can still remember a lot of the names of people I worked with it left such an impression.
And dont forget gitoni's for the phones. I hear they use the Euro for everything now and no more lira. Very sad.
Is there still a base at AFSOUTH? They had a movie theater too and an international type exchange and a chow hall too. I'm sure after 32 years it would all look different to me now but I would love to go back some day. I want to ride one of those electric buses again if they still have them. I hope they do!
And one of the most fun places was Edenlandia, any of you ever go to that amusement park? There was so much to do with no tv/internet/cells phones way back then. A simple time and place that probably doesnt exist anymore.
A friend of mine live at those apartments behind NSA in 1978. We would walk a path between NSA and the school to get there, everyone called it Ho Chi Min trail. It was dark and kinda scary at night.
Do they still sell gas coupons to the military there? We needed those for cheap gas.
Such good times it almost brings a tear to my eye when I think of it.
sign me as just a former seaman that misses the NSA of the late 70's/early 80's
When I returned (Med Cruise on USS D.D. Eisenhower) in 1990, all had changed so much. I could not find our neighbors and Pozzuoli was scarred to the point of tears for those wonderful people who had taken us in as "famiglia". Our "bucket list" includes a return together to our first home as a married couple.
VIVA ITALIA!
Richard (Riccardo) / Kathy (Katia) Mondak
http://www.dacoleman.com/images/Italy/slides/Humpty%20Dumpty,%20Naples%20Italy,%201985-1987,%2001.html#picttop
If you go "up a level" at the above link you can see the other photos from the Naples area & Italy......
David A. Coleman
Retired MSgt, USAF 1982-2002
BTW, if you are on Facebook, there is a Group for folks who went to and loved the Flamingo Club in AFSOUTH. Easy search to find it.
Dianne (Cosner)
USN - Afsouth 87-89
I was with the Navy at AFSouth from '84 to '89. Lived in Castelvolturno, out past the Pinetamare Towers and wish I was still there. I used to get pizza from Bagnoli Joes, had propane delivered to my villa from a guy named "Bombola Eddie" and would always bitch about getting stuck in "Squeeze Alley" off the Tange.
Some good memories.
Later stationed at NAVSUPPACT Naples from 1985-1988. The big mud-slide blocked via Scarfoglio for two days when the side of the hill came down. Squeeze alley was opened up enlarging it to prevent the massive back-ups that occurred.
Morgan S. "Mike" Bragg (msbvb@aol.com)
Downtown: The Lori Bar, El Morocco club*[corner via Medina and via san Bartelomeo], Cactus Bar, San Francisco Bar*, Mery Bar (Mary) [via Umberto Giordano], The Rose bar [via Umberto Giordano] (became Trattoria pizza place), Snake Pit [Via Cristofero Columbo 45?] , No 1 Piano Bar* [Front door: via Medina, back door downstairs towards USO]( back bottom door location became a porn store), Bar California* [Via Santa Brigida?, Santa Lucia area], Seaman’s Service Center [beneath Royal Palace], USO [Calata San Marco, bombed April 1988 and Rebuilt in Port], Boston Blackie's, Strip Club beneath Galleria Umberto* V [Via Giuseppe Verdi - Via Roma - Via St. Brigida], There was an EM Club Bluebird Club (next to USO but was closed much earlier), and then the infamous Mamacitas or Mama Sita's [in the then official COMNAVEUR off-limits area, next to two other studios on/around Vico Tofa off Via Roma – about 2 blocks in from via Roma (now Via Toledo) ], and Mama Rosa's [Vico Tofa], both were places where the fleet sailors went to ladies of the night.
Behind Agnano was apartment affectionately called Garbage Gardens, and at AFSOUTH was the Flamingo Club Afsouth, on Agnano the EM Club Agnano, Afsouth Officer’s club, Afsouth,NATO Beach (Licola mare), and on CAPO was another EM club.
Irish girls, French girls worked most of the bars. Italian girls you could meet on the beach.
I ORGANIZED EVENING DANCES, TRIPS TO ROME FOR SAILORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. I LIVED ON VIA PETRACA WITH WIFE AND 8 MONTH BAMBINO. I MADE ACQUAINTENCE AND FRIENDSHIPS WITH ORDINARY FOLK AS WELL AS NAVY BRASS. WE LIVED A NEOPOLITAN LIFE STYLE AT HOME, AND AT WORK THE STAFF WERE FAMILY. I LIVED IN NAPLES 1962-1965. WHAT FUN TO BE IN A CITY OF LOVELY, SPIRITED AND FESTIVE PEOPLE.
I remember waving to my dad from the playground of the elementary school when he was in the hospital for 3 months with hepatitis. It was the only time I could see him. I remember 4th of July out at the NSA field, and one of the apartments we lived in had an elevator in the hill to get you up to the apartment buildings on the hill.
The Bar was located just below the barracks. Many a night was spent here. Its where I first learn to appreciate Country Music. We'd grab the trains in Pozzouli and head to Piazza Girarabaldi to head to Gaetas nude beaches or the Vatican. Was fortunate enough to see Pope John Paul II first speech after the attempt on his life.
Or we would take the Pozzouli to head to Pompei, the Almafi Coast, or the Isles of Capri/Annacapri, or Ischia. An yes many days were spent passing by the Campfire Girls and Humpty Dumpty on our way to the Flamingo Club at NATO HQ Souther Europe. Just outside those NATO Gates was Sophia Lorens Childhood Home. Man I lived more in those 2 years, than I have the other 54 combined. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!