‘The last hurrah’

Elia Powers

They gathered Saturday -- for presumably the last time -- under a

flagpole, around lunch tables and next to old war posters and models

of military aircraft.

They listened to stories, paid homage to friends and recounted

their memories of the 1,336-acre military training base that occupies

a significant chapter in Costa Mesa history.

About 200 former cadets, officers and civilians had signed up to

attend the 30th Annual Santa Ana Army Air Base Wing Reunion at Orange

Coast College, which sits on the plot of land once inhabited by the

base’s military personnel.

Art Lambert, master of ceremonies and chairman of the Santa Ana

Army Air Base Wing of the Costa Mesa Historical Society, said the

event has had its share of memorable moments. For him, it was the

playing of the song “Taps.”

“I always tear up at moments like this,” Lambert said. “It reminds

me of my friends who have passed away.”

Because of the aging population of attendees and the cumbersome

task of planning the events, Lambert said this would be the last

official reunion. The same was said last year, according to

Historical Society President Dave Gardner, but visitors requested one

final reunion in 2005.

“Today we stand on the ground where many of us once served,”

Gardner said. “It’s a day of memories and camaraderie.”

Sixty-three years ago, the Santa Ana Army Air Base opened, serving

as a pre-flight training center. The base consisted of 800 buildings,

28 hospital wards, 18 school buildings, four chapels and four

theaters, according to historical society data.

Military personnel came to the base to receive classification as

navigators or bombardiers and were trained before attending aviation

school. About 147,000 military personnel entered the training

facility during its four years of existence.

Former Army Sgt. Gerald Peebler was one of them. The 86-year-old

La Mirada resident took a stroll through a makeshift exhibition room

Saturday, looking at photos of old cadet barracks and military

membership cards.

During his service, he made two stops at the Santa Ana Army Air

Base. A tech sergeant, he was part of the 384th Bomb Group that he

said flew in the last European bombing mission of World War II.

Peebler said he wanted to come to this fifth and final

anniversary.

“I always like coming back to see friends,” he said.

And new friendships were also forged.

Lifetime Santa Ana Army Air Base members David Rowe and Lee Wilson

met for the first time at the event.

Rowe, 83, graduated from the base in May 1943 and was a B-38

pilot.

“I come back for the camaraderie and to catch up with old

buddies,” said Rowe, who lives in Paso Robles. “It’s always

interesting coming back. I hardly recognize the area because it has

grown so fast.”

Wilson, 79, from Texas, was a B-29 flight engineer who learned

tricks of the trade at the Santa Ana Army Air Base.

“I kind of figured this would be the last hurrah, and I should be

here,” Wilson said.

Peebler shared that sentiment.

“I hate to see this stop, but I guess everything must end at some

point,” he said.

* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

He may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by e-mail at elia.powers@

latimes.com.