September 2002
PANAMA HAS BEEN IN MY HEART AND MIND SINCE I MOVED TO SAN DIEGO. IT HAS TRULY BEEN THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME. I WAS BORN THERE IN 1951 AND DEPARTED IN 1968.MY FATHER WAS DOCK FORMAN OF THE DOCKS IN BALBOA. (WILLIAM T OCONNOR) I REMEMBER ALL THE CAREFREE DAYS OF LIVING THERE AS A CHILD. VISITING MY FATHER AT WORK ON THE DOCKS AND GOING ON ALL THE SHIP THAT DOCKED THERE ON THE BALBOA SIDE. MY FATHER SEEMED TO KNOW ALL THE CAPTAINS ON THE SHIPS THAT CAME THROUGH THERE TO DOCK .I REMEMBER MOST OF ALL, ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FRUIT THAT GREW THERE. I HOPE TO GO BACK IN A COUPLE YEARS. TRULY THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE. I HOPE TO TAKE MY WIFE THERE TO SHOW HER ALL THAT I TALK ABOUT. I THINK SHE GETS MAD WHEN I TALK ABOUT IT SO MUCH. IT WAS TRULY THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFETIME. I BELIEVE MY HEART IS STILL THERE, IN PANAMA. WITH MY BEST FRIEND MARTY KRUEGER....
Was in the Zone from 1962 Aug 1967. Went to CHS Lived at Ft Davis and Gulick. I like the site. A link to the past Thanks
I THINK IS A FANTASTIC YOUR JOB IN THIS WEB PAGE AND VERY INTERESTING. GOOD LUCK,
Thomas L. Pearcy
http://www.sru.edu/depts/artsci/hist/pearcy/
I want to write and thank you for your excellent web site on Panama. I cannot believe that I have been researching and writing on Panama for so many years and had not come across your site. It is excellent indeed--and affects me as it must all who had the privilege of living in that great place. I enjoyed the 'defense of the canal' links particularly. My first book, "We Answer Only to God: The Military and Politics in Panama 1903-1947,' focuses on the Filós-Hines treaty and the defense of the canal during the war. I found at your site far better images than I'd ever seen in any archive! Thanks again so much for your labor of love. Someday my dream is to write a history of those Americans who lived in the zone. Vamos a ver! Appreciatively, Thomas L. Pearcy Professor of History
My son just forwarded this site to me and I was moved by all the stories and images of the Canal Zone. I am BHS56 my name is Alba Martinez. I married a local boy named Don Coffey (died in 1990), yes, son of Elden, former owner of the Atlas Club (a true Bogartian figure!). I have kept in touch through the years with Frank Azcarraga and Angela Lee (married in 58 -three grown children), both BHS graduates and still living in Panama. I now live in Costa Rica and would LOVE to hear from anyone who cares to write! I also have very fond memories of the old Zone where my three older children were born and lived very happily until 1970 when me moved to Costa Rica. Thank you for your time in creating such a wonderful site, hope to hear from someone!
Cristobal High School Class of 1974. Returned in 1991 for a year in Building 95, Ft. Clayton. Those were enchanted years.
Bill I didn't get past your introduction before tears started. I was born in Gorgas Hosp. 1940 and lived in Balboa on Barnaby St. the first 4 family house across from the Union church. My father was USN and then U.S. Customs. We left in 1954. The best and most memorable 14 years of my life. Thank you and hope to hear from anybody that could possibly remember me from that long ago.
Congratulations on your election as President of the PanCanal Society. Great picture on the cover of the new Record.
Really enjoyed the website!!!!!!
Fantastic, We are more or less novices in this computer world. I haven't gone through completely and I'm savorily and slowly looking at the pictures, we may even have some that would interest you. We owned a couple houses up in Santa Clara, I'm sure we have some of the most beautiful beach in the world. You are to be congratulated for this fantastic work. Thanks for this.
The moment I set foot on Panama soil was an experience for me. I served with the US Marine Corps from 1986-1989 at Rodman and loved everything in and about Panama, If I could come back I'd be there in a moment, keep up the good work with the pictures and history