Heslar Naval Armory

Heslar Naval Armory (formerly Indianapolis Naval Reserve Armory) was constructed in 1936 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, on the shore of White River as a Works Progress Administration construction project. It was designed by architect Ben H. Bacon and reflects an Art-Moderne style. Heslar Naval Armory is currently the home of Naval Operations Support Center Indianapolis, Marine Corps Reserve Center Indianapolis, and Naval Recruiting Station Indianapolis, as well as the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps Cruiser Indianapolis (CA 35) Division.

The building and property are legally owned by the State of Indiana and managed by the Indiana State Armory Board (an entity of the Indiana National Guard), but is leased to the federal government for use by the United States Navy Reserve and the United States Marine Corps Reserve.

History

Construction began on the US$550,000 project in February 1936, and the building was officially dedicated as the Indianapolis Naval Reserve Armory at a ceremony on October 29 1938. John K. Jennings, Indiana State WPA administrator, presented the building to Elmer F. Streub, adjutant-general, who then presented it to Captain O.F. Heslar, commandant of the Indiana State Naval Reserve. Louis J. Bornstein, representing the citizen's dedication committee, served as toastmaster. Guests included Lieutenant-Governor Henry F. Schricker; Indianapolis Mayor Walter C. Boetcher; Admiral Hayne Ellis, commander of the Ninth Naval District; and representatives of the Navy Department and the Navy Reserves of several states.

The structure was built of reinforced architectural concrete with steel roof trusses. Upon completion, the four-story building included a navigation bridge, signal hoist, magazine, battle telephones, boiler room, radio communication, watertight bulkheads, ship's ladders, galley, 50-foot swimming pool, gymnasium, rifle range, classrooms, and mess and quarters for Officers and Enlisted staff. The mess hall and gymnasium were decorated with 12'x15' murals depicting famous Naval battles and events.

Inscribed around the rotunda and on the walls of the exterior are the surnames of several significant figures in Naval History including George H. Preble, George Dewey, Oliver Hazard Perry, John Paul Jones, and David Glasgow Farragut.

On November 20 1939, Captain O. F. Heslar (1891-1970) took command of the armory and the USS "Sacramento", the gunboat aboard which the Naval Reserve force trained on Lake Michigan each summer. Captain Heslar remained in this capacity through November 1940, when he was ordered to take his ship and her crew to Boston, Massachusetts, for refitting. It was here that the vessel was transferred to the active U.S. Navy and was docked at Pearl Harbor when that base was attacked by Japanese forces on December 7 1941. She survived the attack while shooting down at least two enemy fighters, and participated in rescue and salvage operations immediately afterward.

During World War II, the inland location was ideal when generals and admirals, seeking to avoid the constant surveillance on the coasts, gathered regularly at the Heslar Naval Armory in Indianapolis to plan their Atlantic and Pacific campaigns, including elements of the pivotal Battle of Normandy that began June 6 1944. Throughout World War II, the Indianapolis Naval Reserve Armory remained a vital facility where radioman and yeoman recruits trained for sea duty. Following that conflict it returned to a peacetime reserve function. In 1946, the United States Marine Corps reactivated Headquarters Co. 16th Infantry Battalion for training and ordered them to Heslar. This unit was called for duty in Korea in 1950.

On December 12 1964, the Indianapolis Naval Armory was renamed the Heslar Naval Armory in honor of its first and longest-serving commanding officer in a dinner ceremony emceed by Harry T. Ice. Mrs. Heslar was ill and unable to attend, but a tape recording was played for her later in their home in New Augusta. In attendance were Heslar's son, Lieutenant Fred G. Heslar USNR, and his wife, as well as former Indiana Governor Ralph Gates; Rear Admiral Howard A. Yeager, Commandant of the Ninth Naval District, Great Lakes Illinois; Colonel George P. Hill Jr, Commanding Officer of Fort Harrison; Commander Joseph W. Tilford, commanding officer of the Indianapolis Naval Reserve; Brigadier General John D. Friday of the Indiana National Guard; Brigadier General G. Wray DePrez Indiana National Guard (ret.), president of the Indiana State Armory Board; Brigadier General Kenneth E. Keene, assistant chief, Indiana Air National Guard; Captain James C. Wootton, commanding officer of Naval Avionics Facility; Captain Firman F. Knachel; and Captain Robert O. Jackson, commander of Indiana Naval Forces.

Unveiled at the ceremony was a plaque that is now mounted on the exterior of the rotunda and reads:

Heslar Naval Armory
in honor of
Captain Ola Fred Heslar, USNR (Ret.)
Commanding Officer of the Naval Reserve
State of Indiana 1921-1940

A dedicated Naval officer and true hoosier, Captain Heslar has given unselfishly of his time, knowledge, and efforts to further the Naval Reserve and the Indiana Naval Forces.

Held in the highest esteem by his fellow officers and fellow hoosiers, it is altogether fitting that this armory be dedicated and so named.

Matthew E. Welsh
Governor, State of Indiana
1964

In 1978, after the nearby Marine Reserve facility in Riverside Municipal Park was damaged, a decision was made to renovate the Armory and accommodate local Marine Reserve Components. Renovation began in 1977 with the removal of nearly all non-support internal structure and replacing them with a more modern floorplan. Also, a large parking lot was created on the former site of the Riverside Amusement Park. On November 1 1978, the facility was re-designated as a Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center.

Since 2002, Heslar Naval Armory has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a historic element of the Indianapolis Park and Boulevard System, along with several other sites and buildings.

Captain Ola F. Heslar (1891-1970)

Ola Fred Heslar was born October 5 1891, in Brazil, Indiana, to Walter and Minnie (née Rhodes) Heslar. He attended grade school in Brazil and Crawfordsville, and high school in Indianapolis. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1907 and, after basic training, was assigned to a submarine in the Philippine Islands. Later, he was stationed at Norfolk Navy Yard as a radioman.

In April 1913, Heslar married Alice Marie Young of Rockland, Maine. He earned a commission in 1916 and served aboard the USS "Vulcan" in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Next, and no doubt in reflection of his experience as a radioman, Heslar was assigned as Officer-in-Charge of the Transatlantic Radio Station in Tuckerton, New Jersey.

From 1919 until 1920, Heslar served as a staff officer under Admiral Henry Braid Wilson, Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1919-1921. He continued that duty under Admiral Hilary P. Jones when Admiral Jones accepted the post of Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet in 1922.

In 1922, Capt. Heslar retired from active Navy service and entered the U.S. Navy Reserve. He was assigned to active duty as Area Commander of Indiana, and later Chief of Naval Affairs for the State of Indiana. It was in these posts that he founded and organized the Indiana Naval Forces by initiating the Indiana Naval Militia Act, which was passed into law on March 1, 1927. Also in this capacity, Capt. Heslar oversaw the construction of the Naval Armories at Indianapolis and Michigan City. Capt. Heslar set a standard that was to be followed nationwide by naval reserve training and operational facilities when he established the first naval training activities at Heslar Naval Armory. During this time, Captain Heslar was also a member of the Great Lakes Commission of Indiana, and the Indiana Board of Public Harbors.

Heslar's first wife died in August 1930, having borne no children. In 1934, Heslar remarried to Mabel Kathleen Gasaway of Indianapolis. In July 1938, Fred Gasaway Heslar, Capt. Heslar's only child, was born.

With the beginning of World War II Capt. Heslar returned to staff and combat duties serving as Director of Training, 9th Naval District, Great Lakes, Illinois and, later, on the staff of Admiral William Halsey. On May 17 1943 Capt. Heslar was awarded an honorary doctorate of law from DePauw University. He then went on to perform postgraduate work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Columbia University.

In 1944, it was announced that Captain Heslar would be promoted to Rear Admiral. However, due to his health, he was sent to the Mayo Clinic and forced to permanently retire from Naval Service. In 1959, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service.

Upon returning home to Indianapolis, newly elected Republican Governor Ralph M. Gates appointed Captain Heslar to the position of Indiana State Purchasing Director, which the Captain assumed on February 1 1945. As of January 12 1946, he was a member of the Republican Party, the Blue Lodge Free and Accepted Masons, the Columbia Club, the Woodstock Club, and the Methodist Church.

Commanding Officers

Artifacts

Heslar Naval Armory is home to several artifacts of Naval history including:

* a bell from the USS "Indiana" cast in 1942 with the commissioning of that ship.
* a bell from the USS "Indianapolis" cast in 1932 with the commissioning of that ship, and removed to conserve weight prior to her final cruise.
* a damaged flag recovered from the USS "Indianapolis" presented to the city of Indianapolis on February 2, 1960 by the Indianapolis Council of the Navy League of the United States.
* a memorial to the USS "Grayback" established by the Submarine Veterans of W.W.II, Hoosier Squadron.
* a flag recovered from the USS "Fechteler", hung in the wardroom.

NOSC Indianapolis logo

The logo for NOSC Indianapolis (then NMCRC Indianapolis) was created by QM1 Jerome Bennet and approved by CDR Lee Shafer in 1980. The eagle represents the USA, the Hoosier homeland is represented by the state’s outline. The unique nature of the WPA constructed building represents the peacetime home of the reservist. The ship’s wheel is for guidance, and the anchor for stability - both values central to Navy Reserve Training.

Recent events

*On May 6 2004, the Indiana National Guard received the Continued Use Award from the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana for "its stellar maintenance of Heslar Naval Armory". CMDR. Jeffrey Steinbronn and Col. Noble Beck, Vice President of the State Armory Board, accepted the award on behalf of the Indiana National Guard.
*On May 2 2007, Daron K. Johnson, 29, was killed while fleeing from police when he lost control of his Dodge Durango and slammed into the concrete wall surrounding the armory. He was ejected from the vehicle, which then rolled on top of him, crushing him to death. He had been arrested the previous year for alleged drug and driving offenses.
*On July 21 2007, an honor guard from NOSC Indianapolis laid to rest the remains of Fireman 3rd Class Alfred Eugene Livingston in his home town of Worthington, Indiana. F3/c Livingston was killed in the December 7 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor while aboard the USS "Oklahoma". His remains were buried twice before in Hawaii, but remained unidentified until April 2007.
*On August 20 2007, Rear Admiral Gerald R. Beaman, Commander Strike Force Training Pacific, toured NOSC Indianapolis with Commanding Officer CMDR. J.T. Garry and staff prior to speaking at the opening ceremony of Indy Navy Week 2007.

External links

* [http://navyreserve.navy.mil/Public/Staff/Centers/Forces+Command/Centers/REDCOM+Midwest/Centers/NOSC+Indianapolis/WelcomeAboard/default.htm NOSC Indianapolis website]
* [http://www.navyreserve.com/ United State Navy Reserve website]
* [http://www.historiclandmarks.org/noted/LOM/lom06archive.html Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana- Landmark of the Month 2006 Archive]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=bg13QcMSsq8C&pg=PA672&lpg=PA672&dq=heslar+naval+armory&source=web&ots=aeUTLeNViq&sig=jdUuyxib3deu92MpDVyArh5RjQI Google Books- The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis- Heslar Naval Armory listing]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?um=1&tab=wl&hl=en&q=heslar%20naval%20armory Google Earth display for Heslar Naval Armory]