Military in Key West

I was sitting here in our RV the other day and noticed these parachutists falling from the sky. It’s not the first time I have witnessed this here in Key West. The RV park that we stay in here is part of the family housing area for Naval Air Station – Key West, so we witness a lot of military exercises. In this particular case it is actually divers from the Army Underwater Demolition School which is right across the bay from where we are parked. 

This activity got me thinking about the military history here in Key West. Most folks see Key West as a tourist location, a big party town with great food, drinks and fun times. Although it does all of that very well, there has been a military presence here from back in 1822 when the United States acquired the area.

Fighting pirates

Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1821. The citizens of Key West immediately lobbied the American government to establish a military presence in Key West to help with law and order, and to fight off pirates that still sailed the area. In 1822 naval officer Matthew Perry sailed in and a base was established. Soon after, a fleet of small shallow draft boats known as the “Mosquito Fleet” was formed to chase the pirates into the shallow waters all along the keys. They did succeed in running the pirates out, but the pirate spirit still remains today.

The Civil War

During the period between 1845 and 1866, the US Army built Ft. Zachary Taylor. It was a formidable structure with several modern conveniences of the time. It was built to protect the Key West harbor. During the American Civil War all bases in Key West remained in Union hands. Because of its strategic location between the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico waters dozens of ships were used to form a blockade squadron that would inhibit the resupply of Confederate troops through the South’s ports along the Gulf of Mexico. It is said that this blockade shortened the war by several years.

The Spanish-American War

In February of 1898 the USS Maine sailed from Key West to Havana, Cuba where it exploded and sank, killing more than 260 sailors on board at that time. It was never definitively determined what the cause of the explosion was, some think it was an accidental contact with an underwater mine, but since tensions were already high between Spain and the US, war was declared with Spain. The entire US Atlantic Fleet was moved to Key West for the duration of this war. There are memorials to this event in both Key West and Havana.

World War I & II

 During WWI the  Navy’s role in Key West was expanded to include a submarine base and airfields for the fledgling Naval aviation force. The seaplanes from here flew missions in search of German submarines along the coast. By the end of the war the base was well established as a training area. 

During WWII the military role was expanded again, and by the end of the war Key West was home to several submarines, destroyers, and aircraft squadrons. After the war most of the naval vessels were moved to other ports.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Due to it’s location just 90 miles from Havana, Cuba, the bases here played a large role during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Many reconnaissance flights were flown from here, and the Navy also worked with the US Coast Guard on it’s embargo mission. Several anti-missile batteries were set up on the beaches of Key West. 

The mission continues

Today, because of the ideal weather conditions that allow for year round training, the bases are primarily used as training facilities. The Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, and the Army all have a presence on bases throughout the Florida Keys. The mission today is mainly drug traffic interdiction, immigration enforcement, and training, but their presence here is still greatly appreciated.