From mid-December of 1981 until early July of 1982, I attended training at the Naval NPTU in Arco, Idaho. During that time I shared a rented house with two other trainees in Idaho Falls.
In the early spring of 1982, the Navy community in the region held a quasi-formal dinner dance in the ballroom of a local hotel. The future kaylasmom flew out to Idaho Falls a few days in advance of the event to spend some time with me, and we attended the Ball together.
This morning, I was attempting to recall the actual date of the event, which my memory was telling me was the annual Navy Birthday Ball. However, a visit to Wikipedia reveals that the US Navy celebrates its birthday in October. I’ve never been in Idaho in October, so I’m pretty sure that wasn’t it.
So, what was this event all about? Somebody help an old man out. TIA.
If that school & facility still exist, they have a PR office. In USAF we called it “Public Affairs”, not “Public Relations”. I don’t know the Navy term. Whatever their name is, if you call them they will know what celebratory events they do every year. 35 years on there’s no guarantee things are the same, but it’s a place to start. Anniversaries of the Navy, the Navy League, the unit or facility opening, etc., don’t tend to change over time.
The facility may also have a historian, or someone who has unit history as a side job / additional duty. If that job exists, the PA person will know who they are so you can connect with them next.
Last of all, if the facility has a library, call them. They are often repositories of base newspapers, old press announcements, and the kind of people who learn and remember that kind of trivia.
Good luck & tell us what you find. Gosh that was a long time ago. I was finishing USAF pilot training those very same months. Much water has flowed over many dams since. Thanks for triggering a bunch of GI nostalgia. Including a couple formal events with cute women and wildly excessive drinking.