A once-remote auxiliary air station that sprung from the mud flats of
old Princess Anne County near the whistle stop of Oceana, from which it
gets its name, Naval Air Station Oceana has advanced in the decades
since World War II to become the navy's East Coast master jet base and
one of the largest and most advanced air stations in the world. Through
interviews, exhaustive research and rare and often never-before-seen
photographs, author and historian Yarsinske tells the story of vision,
courage and commitment that reinforce what Admiral Michael G. Mullen,
then chief of naval operations, said of Oceana when he testified before
the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission regional hearings on
August 4, 2005, his words just as relevant today as they were then. We
know how important it is to our training. We know how important it is to
our preparation for warfighting. We know how important it is to be good
neighbors, and we will continue to be. Our sailors and their families -
and I include my own family on that list - enjoy living in the wonderful
communities of the great state of Virginia, he continued. Mr. Chairman
[Anthony Principi], I need now - your navy needs now - Naval Air
Station Oceana.