March 2000
I was stationed with Tank Company, 33rd Infantry, at Fort Kobbe back in 1950-52. Spent many enjoyable weekends at the Balboa Gun Club with Archie Turner. Also remember the Balboa Clubhouse, the YMCA, and riding the PRR to the Atlantic side just for fun. In June 1999 Davis Stevenson and I organized a return tour for members of the 33rd Infantry RCT Association. Had a great time visiting all the places we remember while our flag was still flying. How sad that it is no longer there. Glad I discovered your web sight. It is great! The photos bring back so many memories. Keep up the good work!
I was only in the 4th grade when my Dad was transferred to Fort Sherman. And though we only stayed 4 years. It felt like my entire Childhood. To this day no place has felt more like "home" then Panama. If anyone sees Mr. Carter......SLAP HIM!!
Delightful for someone who hasn't been there in 27 years.
I like it.
Bill, Was just surfing around and remembered I never signed your book. I sure miss home, but thanks to people like you memories still go on. Keep up the excellent work bud, and send love to Margy and Ali for me. Miss you all. Zoidman.
Thanks for all your work.
Am enjoying your website. Keep up the good work.
Bea
I thank you for maintaining the memories of this special place we all Zonians keep in our hearts. I have found the next best place here in Alaska. Come visit and look me up. signed,Paul BHS76 Son of Dante and Cynthia Fiori
Have always wanted to visit the area but have not made it yet. There is still time, I hope. Enjoyed the pictures, Thanks
The first web page of its kind that I've seen. Beautiful job; GREAT photos. Mementos for posterity!
Great site Bill. Did you ever spend any time in Gatun, or know Don Baker? The *pic of the week* caught my attention since I read "Tailor of Panama" a while back. Keep up the great work...Ed CHS '70
Like to hear from fellow classmates 1980!
Bill, the sight is great! Excellent work. I'm still down here in Panama working as an operator of the Dredge Mindi. We are still doing the widening project in the cut. I will see if every so often I can send you some pictures of the project and the happenings.
Thank you for creating a spot on the web where we can go and experience a little of HOME.
You have done a terrific job on the web site and along with that brought back wonderful memories of living in the Zone. I ran around looking for bottles too.....unfortunately never hit a site as productive as yours. Probably lucky I didn't as I would have gone wildly nuts for finding so many.
great site after I browsed it a bit I new I had plenty of info. to do my 15 minute presentation for school.
Spent the best years of our lives in the former Canal Zone. We were residents of Curundu, Cardenas and Coco Solo. Ken was, and still is, a ham radio operator with call of KZ5KR. Ginger is active with rehabilitating wild birds, being a licensed rehabilitator. Karen lives in South Carolina and Kenny is in Indiana.
Your site is a great asset to those who have ever lived or been stationed in the C.Z., and for any world historian. One doesn't know and appreciate a way of life that has come and gone, until one reflects and compares to other living situations of the world. How LUCKY we were to have experienced that life. - My grandfather, Morris M. Seeley, was a Roosevelt Medal recipient and started our family in the Canal Zone in 1907. He met my grandmother, whose family was of French and German decent, but were living in Quito, Ecuador, and had to flee during a coup (her father was a French army Col. and an aide to the president of Ecuador). In the course of fighting the yellow fever and malaria, since Morris was a male RN, he managed to have six children, and delivered my mother, Mildred, where was later to be the Gamboa penitentiary. - My sister Barbara and I learned Spanish when we were 3 & 4 yrs old from a Panamanian maid we had who couldn't speak English, so in high school, she and I were invited to the homes of our Panamanian peers for social events just because we could speak their language, and could "fit-in". So, Barbara and I were able to enjoy both cultures in one country. My father was "Buddy" Hammond, former civilian mgr. of the Ft. Amador Golf Club and One of the CZ's best pro golfers. So we enjoyed the privileges of the PX's and the Olympic pools on some of the military bases. I can go on, but I just wanted to share with you the fact that i didn't know I had the best of everything, until we left the Zone, and I finished my high school education in N. Miami, Fl. Over the years, I've only have appreciated my life in the Zone more and more. - How Blessed we were !!
Your site has given me a moment to think about all the photos my father, Thomas J. Dorgan, (deceased 1993) had from his childhood and work in the Canal Zone. My grandfather, Frank A. Dorgan worked on the Locks, and my father went to work for the Oil refineries when he came back from the Merchant Marines. We last lived in Margarita in 1963. My dad moved us out to the States after being involved in a riot in Colon that year or year before.
134th Ordnance Det., Ft. Clayton 1962-65 HAWK Missile Support Our main shop was in Corozal with a secondary facility at the Battery Howard site at FT. Sherman.
I was a member of the Isthmian Autosport Association.
I miss the weather, Taboga's pineapples and meat empanadas (with hot sauce) for breakfast. But GAWD, I don't miss Ron Carta Vieja! Best Wishes to all!
I really enjoyed browsing through your web site. I always love to look at stuff about the Zone. The memories are great as that is all we have left. Keep up the good work.