Naval History of the FEC Slip in Downtown Miami. By Suzette Rice

Historic Naval Document about the FEC Slip, unfortunately Page 2 is missing.

I have been watching with disappointment, the very public discussion about filling the Naval Headquarters slip located on downtown Miami’s water front.  My late husband, Charles W. Rice spent much time researching not only locally, but at the military archives in Georgia and in Washington DC. I am distressed that those Navy veterans which my husband interviewed are so unimportant to us who benefited from their contribution to our country, that we as a “World Class” community cannot acknowledge their sacrifices and determination, by respectfully maintaining the very symbol of their commitment to our nation.

Miami was central to the coastal war on the German submarines and U-boats. The Germans sank over 400 ships off the coast of the United States from the north all the way around into the Gulf of Mexico.

These attacks gravely affected the free flow of supplies traveling around the point of Florida to our troops, Allies and northern ports. Millions of gallons of crude oil, gasoline, and other petroleum products desperately needed in the Allied war effort were being shipped along the Florida coast in tankers from the south of Miami; places such as Texas, Venezuela, and the islands to New Jersey and New York ports.  Between February and May 1942, twenty-four ships were sank off the Florida coast, oftentimes with tourists watching from beach-side hotels while sipping cocktails. There were even rumors of German crew members snapping photos of the burning ships destroyed by their attacks.

World War II came home to Miami on May 14, 1942, with the sinking of the Mexican oil tanker Portero del Llano which occurred close enough to the Miami coastline that the flames could be viewed throughout the night. As the ship drifted, Miamians were dumbfounded to see it floating just beyond their shores. Survivors were brought to Miami and sadly, thirteen crewmen did not live to make it ashore. Following del Llano's sinking and that of another boat, Mexico joined in the war.

The motto of the sub chaser school on Miami's waterfront: "The difficult things we will do at once, the impossible things will take a few moments longer."

The military presence was so strong along Biscayne Boulevard and Flagler Street that each time an old hotel comes down and a condo goes up, a memorial to Miami’s historical contribution during WWII goes down in a puff of concrete dust.

Miami Beach hosted soldiers on leave on its sandy beaches and ritzy hotels. Coral Gables and the Biltmore Hotel were home to the Army Air Forces Regional Hospital (that's where my husband was born in '46). The Naval Blimp Base was located on what is now known as ZooMiami.

Downtown Miami was the heart of the naval response to the German sub and U-boat attacks. Our good weather coupled with the abundance of hotels available to be commandeered for barracks and offices allowed for the year-round training of Naval Sub-chaser crews. Military boats could be outfitted up the Miami River at the boat yards. Miami city commissioners had to approve zoning changes to accommodate the boat building.

That precious slip by the arena which everyone seems to be so determined to give away, was one of three slips that the sub-chasers were tied to during training. There were classrooms housed in the hangar-like buildings on the edge of the docks. Two of those boat slips now lie filled-in and part of the museum park coastline.

Submarine Chaser in slip. School to right?

Even as early as June 10, 1943, the city of Miami was involved in the care-taking of those slips while maintaining a great interest in the piers on Bay Front Park. In a letter from the commandant of the 7th Naval District, the officials were speaking of the congestion at the slips and that even with the commandeering of the Piers 2 and 3 at Bay Front Park, it was not relieving the congestion. The navy wanted Pier 1 as well. In response to the military request, the city manager, A. B. Curry told newspaper reporters on June 20, 1943 that the Navy’s acquisition of Pier 1, the last non-military facility on Bay Front, would not interfere with commerce thru Cuba and the Bahamas. And indeed, the sub-chaser school was important to maintaining shipping into those areas.

I could go on and on with stories of the historical importance of Miami and Downtown Miami during WWII. The stories are endless and not very well known by county residents.

What puzzles me is: why is it that the endeavor which spurred the after-war growth of our great community, as well played an incredibly important role in saving lives of American and Allied troops, cannot be memorialized by a simple park and waterfront venue. It is freshly updated, clearly historically important and simply needs it's story told via appropriate signage.

Where is the memorial to the greatness of Miami’s wartime contribution to the people of our country, and perhaps, the world?

David Beckham, YOU of all people, should recognize that the very slip that you seek to acquire helped save your homeland. Do the right thing: Find less sacred digs for your concrete monster.

The Historic FEC Slip today (thank you Golden Dusk). This is exactly where Beckham wants his soccer stadium.

More pictures On Save the WW II Sub Chaser Slip (FEC SLIP).
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the second page is missing of the attachment - I would guess that it was missing from the file when charlie pulled it.  I am still looking for other stuff that would be raw notes.