Request for Proposal may be 'The Last Detail'

Today, we learn of the Navy's need for proposals to recycle their 100-year-old, 265,000-square-foot Portsmouth Navy prison, which closed in 1974. The Navy is expected to put out requests for proposals for the reuse of that property:

Thursday, February 21, 2008 - KITTERY, Maine — Captain Robert Mazzone, the 82nd Commander of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, said taking over command of the shipyard last July has 'really been a great opportunity' for him and operations at the base are going well.

In 2006, M.E. introduced readers to a concept beyond the bounds of modern political correctness: Updating Prison Ships: The Proposed Submarine USS Guantanamo.

This past January, M.E. brought readers Submarine Keelhauling Could Replace Waterboarding with a photo of a prison sub and an antique wood cut of keelhauling.

As the photo shows, prison ships are part of the navy's rich history. Commodore Edward Preble (1761-1807), for whom the United States Naval Academy's Preble Hall is named, was once held prisoner by the British as a young officer aboard the prison ship New Jersey.

What is the highest and best use of the former Naval prison at Portsmouth?

Movie TRIVIA: In the 1973 movie The Last Detail, Seaman Larry Meadows (Randy Quaid) is escorted by petty officers Billy "Badass" Buddusky (Jack Nicholson) and Mule Mulhall (Otis Young) to the Portsmouth Naval Prison. Meadows has been sentenced to 8 years confinement.