NRS Florence

• Naval Reserve Station (NRS) Florence was established during World War II as part of the United States Navy’s effort to expand training and reserve facilities across the country. • The station was located in Florence, Oregon, strategically positioned near the Pacific coast for easy access to naval operations and exercises. • During WWII, NRS Florence served as a key training center for Navy reservists, playing a crucial role in preparing sailors for deployment in the Pacific theater. • The facility included classrooms, barracks, and a small harbor area where trainees learned seamanship, navigation, and gunnery skills. • Local legend suggests that German U-boats were occasionally spotted off the Oregon coast, heightening the importance and urgency of training at NRS Florence. • After the war, the station shifted its focus to peacetime reserve training and community engagement, hosting open houses and Navy Day celebrations for the local population. • In the early Cold War era, the station played a part in coastal defense exercises, simulating responses to possible Soviet incursions along the Pacific Northwest. • NRS Florence fostered strong relationships with the Florence community, with many local families hosting sailors and participating in station events. • The unit was eventually decommissioned as part of post-war military downsizing, but its legacy is preserved in local museums and through veterans’ organizations. • Today, the site of the former NRS Florence is remembered as a symbol of the town’s contribution to national defense, with occasional reunions and commemorations honoring those who served there.