tonight the former alameda naval air station. the navy just handed it over to the city.fowler brings this story. >> reporter: many call it the gateway to the pacific. for 67 years it has served the country in the heat of war and in times of peace. but now it has the look of a ghost town. after a three year decommissioning process most of the buildings are empty and tomorrow the 1,700 acres base will officially close. a far different scene from the days of world war ii when this base was maintaining thousands of war planes. war raged on two fronts and 20,000 people worked on this bay 24 hours a day. gusmusio was one of the thousands working here. >> a total of 39 years. >> you worked in this building? >> yes. >> reporter: he worked here in the supply building from 1940 the year the base opened to 1979. >> looks kind of deserted. usually there's a lot of activity. >> reporter: there are weeds growing on the tarmac and deserted buildings everywhere you look. >> this has to be the best base in the country no doubt about it. this is the best base in the country. >> reporter: