MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- Mokapu Peninsula, the area of land on which Marine Corps Base Hawaii rests, is an archeological gold mine where at any point relics can surface.
One of those relics is an anti-aircraft gun mount, which was discovered beneath the driveway of the Presidential Cottage on Jan. 13, 2015.
Mokapu Peninsula is host to a wide variety of historic findings, whether it’s ancient artifacts from early settlers on the peninsula, or vintage military equipment.
Due to the possibility of stumbling upon these souvenirs from the past, an archeologist oversees military projects requiring excavation. Artifacts such as the gun mount are not always found during excavations. However, in the chance that something is found, the precautions are put in place.
“Whenever we do any construction or repair that involves moving earth, we always have (an archeologist) on staff because you never know what you’re going to find,” said Raymond E. Rippel, director of the Unaccompanied Personnel Housing Division and a Detroit native. “This time, we were sure (there was) absolutely no reason (for an archeologist), but low and behold, within a couple hours of digging, we had discovered the gun emplacement.”
The find was a surprise for several on site, including Patrick M. O’Day, an archeologist who was monitoring during the discovery.
“(The) Battery No. 7 gun mount is very significant as it was thought to have been destroyed,” said the San Clemente, Calif., native. “There were numerous coastal defense batteries built on Oahu, however many have been destroyed or are undocumented.“
O’Day works with Garcia and Associates, a cultural and natural resources consulting firm.
According to Garcia and Associates, the gun mount is 14 feet in diameter, and contains a 32-inch hole that is surrounded by 16 bolts. Bordering the northwest side of the bolts is a rectangular conduit hatch that measures three feet long and two feet wide. Based on all of the specifications of the emplacement, the feature is an M3 fixed mount for an M1 90mm gun.
During the outbreak of World War II, about 225 of these weapon systems were installed between 1943 and 1946, and were a part of anti-motor torpedo boat batteries. The M1 90mm had a range of up to 11 miles, and was capable of firing 30 rounds, each weighing 23 pounds, per minute. The system was used as an anti-aircraft and submarine defense system.
While at the site, O’Day mapped out the gun mount’s location and documented the discovery.
Since the preservation of the emplacement is critical for historical reasons, steps were taken to conserve and highlight its significance.
Base officials are working on plans to install an informational sign near the site at the cottage.
In the future, when people pass by the area, they will have the chance to read more about the history of the gun mounts on Oahu and their role in defense when the sites were built during the 1940s.
Rippel said the gun mount reminds people who were a part of MCB Hawaii’s history. He also added that the find is a historic feature to the Presidential Cottage, making it a unique stay for its visitors.
“It could have been a real obstacle repaving the cottage driveway, but instead what we have done is we’ve turned it into something that makes it kind of special, and different than any other cottage we have here,” Rippel said. “We’re very pleased that we were able to do something to honor some pre-World War II work, and its just something that points out the tremendous amount of history that has taken place on this peninsula.”