63d ARMY READINESS DIVISION | The Power To Defend

When military bases are decommissioned and buildings slated for demolition, a documentary record of the role they served is required under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. That mandate set up the challenge: tell a compelling story about two modest corrugated buildings at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. What began as a straightforward assignment unfolded like a mystery. Through archival research and firsthand accounts, I uncovered their true inciting incident: the attack on Pearl Harbor. That moment of national shock and mobilization reframed everything. These were not background structures, they were part of the industrial surge that powered America’s wartime naval dominance and reshaped the trajectory of the 20th century. Built in urgency, driven by purpose, Buildings 734 and 736 fulfilled their calling—The Power To Defend.

Story | Direction & Editing / Title Design