February 2004
Bill, you bring tears to this soldiers eyes. I am one of the few hundred standing in that formation at the end of July, 1999 in the Building 95 Quad. I helped close out Ft Clayton as part of the 911th Maint Co. Your site brings back the FONDEST memories that I have ever experienced. I served there in 90-92 as part of 154th Sig Bn (Gunn/Dog Pound Hill) and again in 99. The photos of the early CZ stir up emotion in me that I basically cannot describe- How I wish I could have seen Panama back then! People frankly stare blankly at me when I slip into tales of adventures in Panama...guess you had to have been there to understand! Best wishes and thanks for the memories ("I'll be back!")
An extremely interesting and comprehensive set of web pages. Congratulations. I found the site whilst looking for WW2 images of the canal to illustrate my own web site; some of the units which I have researched passed through the Panama Canal in late 1944/early 1945 en route to Australia from the UK. I was particularly looking for images of Colon where the troop ships waited to enter the canal and short shore leaves were granted for concerts etc.
I was so excited when my sister in law email me your website. I grew up in Panama & I lived on the Canal Zone until I was about 20, then I came to the US. I first lived in Paraiso, then my family moved to Peder Miguel. My dad, now deceased, worked for the Canal Zone Gov. as a guard at the Gamboa penitentiary. I'm so amazed at all the pictures, especially the one with the Statue of Liberty because I use to go to that statue, touch her, & hope to come to the US one day to see the bigger one. I've been to NY but I did not get a chance to go the the island where the larger statue is. This website is a jewel. My sons (4) are able to see where I came from & how we lived. Thank you so much. Bye Mariela (Mary-ella)
Congratulations on a job well done!! My classmate from Paraiso High School shared this site with me. I am a graduate of Paraiso High School. Visited Panama three times last year. Ready to go again. Born in Red Tank. PCIAA INC. is an organization for Students and siblings who attented the non-US schools in the former Canal Zone communities. Membership Drive 2004 is on going. We will celebrate our 12th Ecumenical Memorial Service in Brooklyn, NY in June 2004...You are invited to be a member and or attend. Our Motto for PCIAA INC. "We are proud of our heritage and want to share it with future generations." Write us today. Laura P. Thomas James- President PCIAA, Inc.
I lived in Panama from 1979 to 1988, those were the best years of my life and my kids'. I will never forget Panama nor the wonderful people I met there. Your website is awesome and brought back a lot of beautiful memories, especially the Causeway. Regards, Doris C.
I was at Tank Company 33rd Infantry in Aug of 1954 till Nov of 1955. Would enjoy hearing from anyone who was there at that time.
I was in Panama in 1965, and I absolutely loved it. I have never forgotten the place or the people. I fell in love with a Canal Zonian and have never forgotten him. Twa, ¿donde estás corazón?
My husband and I received your web site today and are delighted with it. We will send it on to many of our friends abroad. I am sure they too will be happy to receive it.
Balboa High School, class of '58. "Cocoli Boys" forever!
My late Father's family spent many years in the Zone, my Grandfather being in the US Army Signal Corp. My Father and his two sisters all went to school in the Zone and in later years, my late Aunt, Shirley A. Moffett, taught school in the Zone for 30 years. I'm sure that she and her two siblings would have enjoyed this web site as much as I , if not more, since they experienced life and living in the Zone. This is a very interesting site and I am glad that the Zone now has the chance to be remembered as it should and not forgotten in the passing of time. Russmo.
Congratulations on this well done webpage.
I was happy to see the website with all the pictures of Panama. I was stationed in Coco Solo in 1967-1969. Thanks for the memories!!
Thanks for signing my guest book. It goes along with my fans that want to know when I am coming home. Anyway, I will send a email. Your site looks great and this is coming from a guy who has been building websites for a while.
One hell of a site!!! After 30 years in the Army, Panama was a huge part of it and the memories that stir up my mind through your pictures are most impressive indeed. Was stationed at Ft. Gulick 64-66, 67-70, then 72-74. Thanks for the memories.
Even though I think that the work you are doing is wonderful, I wish that you would show more of Panama's diversity. I am a Panamanian of color born in Gorgas hospital in 1966. I looked through your photo gallery and no where did I see any pictures of people of color. This page makes it seem as though only whites populated Panama. It's no wonder that when I tell people that I am originally from Panama they are completely surprised and their response to me is always I didn't know that they have blacks in Panama. I only wish that when people decide to do things like this that they would show everything, the whole story. With all that said, I still commend you on your page.
Deloise,
I was going to write you personally, but thought it be best to do so publicly here on my guest book. The immediate focus of my web site is of the Canal Zone during the American era. I do not target any ethnic group on purpose. I post what I have. I do venture off with side trips now and then covering worthy historical or current affairs within the Republic. Although it may seem and probably do have more coverage of the American era (which once again is the purpose of my web site), but there are many photos of my Panamanian friends. Take for instance just a couple of weeks ago, I featured the Gamboa Gas Station with my good friend Obispo. There are others on the site if you would look further.
With that, I would like to say, that I have received notes like yours before, and have asked, as I will ask you, please send me photos and stories that may be of interest to my viewers. Those I have asked in the past, have never come through with anything. I am willing to cover all angles, but I cannot post information or images that I do not have.
I ask anyone that has an interest to post images and information regardless ethnicity on my web site, to please contact me.
Thanks for signing my guest book and I would really like anyone that lived within the Canal Zone to submit their images and stories. This is what my website is all about. Zonians of all color.
Bill McLaughlin Web Master
Thank you for extending the memories. My 13 years in Panama were some of life's best.
This is a great site! I really enjoyed it.
Thank you for the web site. I served with the 4th Bn, (Mech) 20th Inf. from 1976-1978 at Ft. Clayton. It was one of my best assignments while in the Army. I returned to Panama in 1999. It has changed a great deal, but the sites are still there. A wonderful and beautiful country indeed. I plan on another trip some day soon. I would like to look-up a Panamanian girl friend I had at the time. Do you have any recommendations on how to go about this?
Enjoyed your site! I was stationed at Ft. Amador at the 15th Naval District from Sept 1970 through Aug of 1972. I had so many good times there. (anyone remember the earthquake?) would love to hear from anybody from that period and share memories of places. spent many hours at the causeway beach at Amador. Bob.
The site brings back fond memories. Lived in Margarita and then Far Fan. I miss the clubhouse, the 'Red Barn', and the skating ring. Growing wine grapes in Virginia.
I am truly impressed about your web page and the work involved doing such a wonderful tribute to Panama. My congratulations! I was born in Panama it is nice to view its past and present all over again. I am now working in Korea, but hope to retire in Panama where my memories are, the good ones and the bad ones. Thank you for taking the time to honor Panama in such a beautiful way.
My late Mom's father and grandfather worked on the Panama Canal.. My mom and her brothers lived in the Canal Zone when they were small.... My mom passed away 7 years ago and my dad passed away 2 months ago.. My mom used to tell me about how her dad and granddad worked on the canal and how when mom was 4 years old she could speak Spanish. A few days ago I came across an old photo of my mom and her brothers who have all passed away... The photo made me want to learn more about the Canal.. I just found your site and find it very interesting...
I can not tell you how much I enjoyed this photos and captions, I a menber of the class of 67 at Balboa and just found everyone a couple of years ago. I went to my first Reunion last July and had a ball, so they tell me. Randy
What a wonderful website! I could spend hours here looking at the pictures and reading. Thanks for all the work and love you've put into this site! Rose
This past January, my 2 sons, who attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy, transited the Panama Canal during their sea term on the training ship, T.S. Enterprise. My Grade 2 students and I followed the Sea Term 2004 at http://www.maritime.edu/ We all became very interested in Panama and the canal. We have been researching the canal using online sources, encyclopedias and the few books written for school kids. I just found your photos and I can't wait to give the site address to my students. They will love it. Your explanations of the photos are great! Thanks so much. Claudia