Hits and Near Misses : El Toro: Even though Marines and civilian workers had an inkling that the base would be on the Pentagon closure list, the news still sent them into a tailspin.

The sleek F-18s took off and landed as usual Friday, and much of the other base activity appeared to be standard operating procedure.

But beneath the facade of normalcy, emotions among military and civilian personnel were turbulent after Defense Secretary Les Aspin’s official recommendation to close El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

“Everybody has been coming to me all day and saying: ‘Charlie, it can’t be true,’ ” said Charles Walker, 70, a civilian worker at the Base Exchange.

On the other side of the sprawling base, pilots on the flight line said they hoped that the closure recommendation would never become reality.

“Even though we’ve been hearing a lot about this, it’s still somewhat of a surprise,” said Lt. Col. Don Borje, 40.

Solemn and glum moods reigned over most of the base. Terri Wooton, a Base Exchange civilian worker married to a Marine sergeant, said she had grown up with El Toro.

“I was raised in this area, and I’ve known this base all my life,” Wooton said. “It’s going to be like history disappearing. There’s so much history connected to this base.”

Ironically, the closure recommendation comes as El Toro prepares for its 50th birthday. The base is holding its golden anniversary celebration, open to the public, at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

El Toro is by no means officially shuttered. Capt. Betsy Sweatt, the base’s public affairs officer, noted that the closure recommendation is just that--a recommendation. She said the decision-makers in Washington must ratify the proposal. And even if the closure is approved, Sweatt said, the phase-out could take up to six years.

But those technical points did not bring much hope to military and civilian workers on the base. Most personnel said they believe that El Toro’s days are numbered.

F-18 pilot Borje, who has been in the Marines 18 years, shook his head and said he seldom understands the reasons bases are picked for closure.

“Most of the guys think this is a great base, one of the best places to be stationed in the Marine Corps,” he said. “Great weather. The surrounding area is really good. And target ranges (for practice flights) are nearby.”

Two other pilots, Lts. Anthony Slick, 25, and Keith Cutler, 30, said they were disappointed by the closure recommendation.

“As far as the local community goes, this is going to have an impact,” Cutler said. “First the loss of Tustin, now the loss of El Toro.”

Slick said: “I’m curious to see what they’re going to do with the land. I like this base. I hate to see it go down.”

In addition to serving the active-duty Marines, El Toro also has a busy role in serving retirees and visitors from other branches of the military.

Air Force Academy Cadet Jason Rishel, 21, was one such visitor Friday. He said he would feel a personal loss if the base closes.

“I grew up in El Toro and graduated from El Toro High School in 1990,” said Rishel, a sophomore at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. “So, yeah, this base has meant a lot to me. . . . I’m kind of bummed at the announcement. Too many things are being cut.”