The State - News from Sept. 5, 1988

All but two of 119 Navy recruits who were sent to 10 San Diego hospitals with complaints of breathing difficulties have been released after being treated with oxygen, officials said. The recruits, nearing the end of their second week of training at the Naval Training Center, were in three barracks after a day of sports and barbecues when several began wheezing despite open windows, a spokesman said. The Navy evacuated 600 men from the barracks and alerted emergency medical authorities, who dispatched more than 50 ambulances to the barracks. Hazardous materials crews found no evidence of toxic fumes, food poisoning or any other cause, the spokesman said. “We still don’t know what caused it,” said Navy Lt Kenneth Luchka.