What is a Quonset hut anyway? The younger generations, including my nephews who lived for years at Naval Station Sangley when it was already a Philippine Navy base, have no idea what a Quonset hut is.

Recently, I asked my nephews, who are now with the Navy, to snap photos of Quonset huts at Naval Base Cavite and the Naval Station in Zambales. Their first reaction was, "what is it?" They don't know what it is, and they found none.

Quonset huts are pre-fabricated elongated portable structures with semi-circular roof of corrugated metal that curves down to form its walls.

These were WWII creations that catered to the needs of the US Forces for warehousing facilities, field offices, personnel quarters, portable hospitals, and a lot of other uses.

After the war, Quonset huts were sold to the public by the military for $1,000 apiece. Some that were not used for living quarters were converted to restaurants, churches, barns, storage facilities, offices, or classrooms. [Refer to the photo in post "Quonset Huts At CNHS]

During the 50's, almost all buildings at the Cavite Naval Base were either Quonset huts or Quonset hut inspired or modified structures. Among them were the big warehouses, barracks, living quarters like the ones we occupied, base hospital, mess hall, bowling center, and theater. Concrete structures have now taken over their places.

Quonset huts got its name from its manufacturing site at Quonset Point in Davisville, in North Kingston, Rhode Island.