A question to the older grads

I'm at USNA right now and I wanted to know how long the area of red tile surrounding Bancroft Hall has been known as "Red Beach." I fairly certain it's a reference to the Marine Corps landing at Tarawa so I know the name is at least from around the late 1940's but I wanted to know if anyone can remember when it started specifically.



FREE19

In my day, it was called "Red Beach" b/c: (1) it is red and (2) it is where mids were allowed to sunbathe during the spring/summer months. We wore our swimsuits/shorts and took our beach towels and suntan lotion and pretended we were at the beach. Hence the name. It was a popular place during finals week, dead week, summer school, etc.

I'm guessing from the question that sunbathing is not allowed today . . . Never heard of the reference to WWII but maybe that predated me.

Your explanation make more sense.

The 3 landing beaches are Tarawa were designated Red 1 through Red 3 and I was thinking it was named after that considering that almost everything here has some historical connection to the Navy and/or Marine Corps.

so are mids still allowed to sunbathe on the red beach?

Just as an aside, it was fun. Women had to wear their (ugly) regulation one-piece bathing suits and guys their regulation PT shorts. And lying on towels on tile is really uncomfortable. However, it was also heavenly. One of the things I remember fondly about my days there.

In fact, we were at USNA last WE taking relatives on the tour and I pointed out Red Beach (viewable from the balcony of Mem Hall) and explaining why it had that nickname. Brought back memories.

usna1985 said:

In my day, it was called "Red Beach" b/c: (1) it is red and (2) it is where mids were allowed to sunbathe during the spring/summer months. We wore our swimsuits/shorts and took our beach towels and suntan lotion and pretended we were at the beach. Hence the name. It was a popular place during finals week, dead week, summer school, etc.

I'm guessing from the question that sunbathing is not allowed today . . . Never heard of the reference to WWII but maybe that predated me.

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That's what it was called in my day (not too long before your day), and for the same reason.

I'm guessing that it is not allowed today - but I'm not sure about that.

One thing I've noticed about today's Academy from my day is that the "No Visitors Past This Point" signs are largely ignored - nor enforced as vigorously as it was in our day. If we saw a "visitor" strolling around the Red Beach (as is common today), they would be challenged instantly. Those white lines in T-Court were not to be crossed by tourists. Any midshipmen on watch would certainly (and politely) inform such tourist that they were in an unauthorized area.

The confines of Bancroft were FIERCELY enforced. No CMOD (Company Mate of the Deck) would ever allow a civilian to stroll around the P-way without being challenged.

Back in the days when the Naval Academy was an all-male institution, you never knew what would happen in these areas. Consequently, nobody was allowed. It was like being in a men's locker room. Nobody was allowed!

Once women showed up, things became somewhat more sanitized within the hall. The first generation of women at the Naval Academy must have felt that they were in a men's locker room.

With the passage of time, I can readily see that there is not too much concern about what visitors see or where they go.

I see parents and tourists hanging out on the Red Beach area all the time. That is a restricted area but nobody seems to care anymore.

usna1985 said:

Just as an aside, it was fun. Women had to wear their (ugly) regulation one-piece bathing suits and guys their regulation PT shorts. And lying on towels on tile is really uncomfortable. However, it was also heavenly. One of the things I remember fondly about my days there.

In fact, we were at USNA last WE taking relatives on the tour and I pointed out Red Beach (viewable from the balcony of Mem Hall) and explaining why it had that nickname. Brought back memories.

Click to expand...

And I don't remember this at all...funny how selective our memories are!

LongAgoPlebe said:

And I don't remember this at all...funny how selective our memories are!

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Of course it was there. Fifty years ago. I am almost positive it was called Red Beach simply because it was red and mids used it as a beach. A proper disparaging term for a less than ideal compromise. I think it was used mostly by mids who lived closeby. We who lived on the top deck of the 8th wing,crawled out the window and sunbathed in the gutters. Betcha they don't do that now.

Sure, Mongo, I know it's there...I just have no recollection of visiting Red Beach, much less sunbathing (me or anyone else). I just don't have that set of memories.

Latest MIDN REGULATIONS (COMDTMIDNINST 5400.6L) signed by then CAPT Klunder:

Section 3.10

3. Sunbathing
a. Midshipmen may sunbathe during Yard liberty.
b. Midshipmen shall:
(1) Wear regulation swim gear.
(2) Use an appropriate bath towel.
(3) Sunbathe on Hospital Point or the terraces adjacent to third, fourth, fifth, and sixth wing.
c. Midshipmen shall not:
(1) Wear civilian bathing suits.
(2) Use mattresses, blankets, or pillows for sunbathing.


There is a policy for everything in the Navy....you also can't wear a Black N sweater.