Jesse Bowling, left, with a boa constrictor, and Jim Darlington, with "Spike" the alligator cool off in the Rain Room, Saturday, June 27, 1998, at Kings Bay Naval Base, Ga. The base was the scene of a carnival to celebrate it's 20th birthday and the public was invited. Rides, exhibits and music marked the festive event. Visiting from the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, the gator and snake, not to mention Jesse and Jim, needed periodic cooling off as sweltering temperatures kept the afternoon crowds to a minimum. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Georgia naval base celebrates 20 years

Web posted June 29, 1998

Associated Press

ST. MARYS, Ga. -- Thousands gathered at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base over the weekend to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the $1.3 billion base located off the Georgia coast.

Sizzling temperatures didn't deter John Malone of Orange Park, Fla., from taking part in the festivities, which included live entertainment and opening ceremonies featuring U.S. Sens. Max Cleland, D-Ga., and Paul Coverdell, R-Ga.

``This base is extremely important, crucial, to national security,'' Mr. Malone said.

The base is home port of the Atlantic Trident fleet, one of the largest arsenals of nuclear weapons in the country.

Mr. Cleland announced during the ceremonies that he will propose an alternative use for four Trident submarines scheduled to be decommissioned as part of nuclear weapons cutbacks negotiated with Russia.

The proposal calls for the $2 billion submarines to be refitted with conventional, non-nuclear missiles.

The submarines -- which would be manned with special operations troops -- could be transported for quick military strikes anywhere in the world, he said.

``The thinking has already begun to modify some of the Cold War craft, some of the technology. ... I think this thinking can be carried over to the Trident submarine,'' Mr. Cleland said.

If Mr. Cleland's proposal is approved, the Trident submarines would remain at Kings Bay, eliminating the impact it would have in Camden County.

Each submarine has two 160-man crews that rotate on three-month patrols. Navy officials estimate each submarine crew, with family members, added about 1,000 new residents to Camden County's population.

Mr. Coverdell told festival-goers that the base's future was bright, despite military cutbacks nationwide.

``I have to feel Kings Bay is positioned as well as any military installation can be,'' he said. ``Kings Bay is here to stay.''