D Battery

Entrance to Former D Battery Launch Area,
now the South Florida INS Center

Click here for pictures Links Page

No, it was never an insane asylum. However, some may have thought so. Even though the myth has circulated for many years, it isn't true.

D Battery, along with A and C Battery, was dispatched to south Florida during October 1962 when President Kennedy ordered the units to defend the southern coast of Florida.

D Battery was originally located on SW 177th Avenue (Krome Avenue) about a mile south of SW 8th St (US 41, aka Tamiami Trail).

In 1965, the permanent site was built in 1965. D Battery was was decommissioned in the summer of 1979.

The former administration/IFC area was used as a target range by the correction officers who worked at the detention center. In addition, it was used by paint-ballers before it was finally dismantled.

The former launch area is now the INS Krome Service Processing Center

The Krome Service Processing Center, a federal facility used primarily to hold illegal immigrants awaiting immigration hearings, opened May 20, 1980 to detain Haitians.

A guard post is positioned between Krome Avenue and the former launch area Ready Building. The Section Barnes were converted into a mess hall, barracks, and training rooms. See photos and battery rosters  on Links Page

"What can I do to help?" you asked. You can help preserve the history of all the Nike Hercules sites in south Florida in the following ways:

1. Volunteer to work at a Nike site in south Florida -
Seasonal tours are conducted January through March. If you are interested in volunteering, see Links page.

2. Share Your Nike experiences for others to enjoy - Provide photographs, documents, and a written history of your experiences - See Links page

Charles D. Carter
3535 Peachtree Rd, NE
Suite 520-417
Atlanta, GA 30326

3. Conduct an oral interview over the phone - If you would agree to being interviewed over the telephone, see Links page.

4. Make comments or suggestions to: NikeHistorian@Nike252.Org.