FARRAGUT STATE PARK — Ninety-one-year-old Doug Coleman had driven more than 1,400 miles to arrive at the reunion for those who served at Farragut Naval Training Station from 1942 to 1946 when he reflected on reality.

"I'm glad to be here, but I wish my old group was here," the Belleville, Kan., man said softly during Saturday's 30th reunion. "I don't see any of them. I think this is the last one I'll make it to."

Fourteen veterans who served at Farragut in the 1940s made it to the reunion — two more than attended last year's event. There were about 150 total attendees at the event.

Coleman recalls arriving at Farragut in January 1944 at night with a foot of snow on the ground feeling as if he was in a whirlwind.

"When I woke up, the sun came up in the west," he said, reflecting on his confused state. "My directions were completely turned around. I don't know if the train backed us in from Coeur d'Alene or what."

Coleman said he remembers the bone-chilling conditions when he was in a boat on Lake Pend Oreille.

"The spray from rowing was really cold," he said. "I didn't get a cold, so I guess I lucked out."

Robert Adamson, of Tacoma, trained on the base in 1942 and admitted he found a way to overcome sub-zero temperatures.

"I was on guard duty and set an outside toilet on fire to keep warm," Adamson said.

Adamson's son-in-law Jack Loomis suggested that, for the record, it have may have been accidental.

"It was an accident all right — and I threw matches down it," Adamson said with a smile.

"I can't say there's pleasant memories of this place, but there's memories."

Adamson said he'll never forget Wednesday morning breakfasts.

"Baked beans, corn bread and Spam," he said. "I wouldn't miss it."

Adamson said he was often bewildered why he'd have to go to Bayview to guard training boats that were immobile in 2 feet of ice.

"I'd even guard damned sewer pipes," he said.

World War II veteran Verlin Peterson of Spokane said he missed the first reunion, but has attended every one since.

"The drill fields here had more deer than troops," he said. "It was really cold paddling on the lake. We'd march down there and we couldn't wait to get back to our barracks."

Clint Greene said his father Don has been making the trip to North Idaho from Boise for the reunion since 1992.

"He's only missed one since then," Clint said. "He has a couple guys he has known and neither of them are here, so he's a little broken up about that."

Verna Dandelski of Coeur d’Alene, a member of the Combat Vet Riders' auxiliary, called the reunion "emotional and meaningful."

"This hits home," she said while touring the museum. "We are the land of the free because of the brave."

The Navy transferred the training grounds to the state, and in 1965 the site became a state park.

The state's Parks Department has made multiple improvements to the Farragut's Museum at The Brig in recent years and more are on the way.

Randall Butt, the park's manager, said the museum site is slated to become the south entrance to the park in about three years to make the education center easier to access and more visible.

Butt estimates the move could increase the park's yearly visitor county from 25,000 to 75,000 when the museum opens year-round.

Park Ranger Errin Bair said her daughter joined the Navy in 2015 due to the historical influence Farragut has on the region.

"Those who served here are the heart of Farragut," she said. "We love them."