Security Police at Howard '86 to '89. It used to be such a beautiful place and that pool was a great place to hang out on a day off. The video brought back a lot of memories.
WOW!! Lived across the street from the pool (spent my childhood in that pool) on Loyd Avenue 68-70 ... HOWARD AFB was the best ... THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!! Anyone remember the sloths that used to slink through the neighborhood?? Or the shark "net" over at Ft. Kobbe???
That house that you said was your old one, was also ours. We lived in it from 1960-1963; we were there during the Cuban Missile Crises. We always said this was the best posting we ever had. There was the stables on the right when driving into Ft. Kobbe, later Howard AFB. My sister and I went to Elementary School there and later my sister went across the Canal to Jr. High. The Commanding Colonel at the time lived in the House at the top of the hill. I used to climb a mango tree halfway up the hill and right across the street from our house was a red clay hill, which we used to climb. We had a few trails in the jungle there too. I really miss that place and want to thank you very much for posting this. Wonderful childhood memories!!! Betsy Scharth Ingersoll
Wow! I was stationed here 1984-1987. It was a wonderful assignment. I am saddened by how it is closed and run down. I loved the housing units. Too bad this was not converted to a housing area. I would love to have owned one of those units. I lived in Albrook. Thanks for the vid.
can't contain my joy! You drove past my old house! It was the last one before the grassy hill. I believe you lived in the same house my friends lived in when we were there in the 70's.
Thank you. I have been wondering for years what happened to Howard. I was in the 24th CES.I was an airman,masonry specialist. We also took care of Albrook.I was 17 when I arrived from Iowa.I was there sept.'75-feb' 77. Really to young to appreciate it.Still, it was probably the highlight of my life. Thank you so much for the footage,I think you even caught my barracks,south of the bowling alley. So sad about the condition.
Wow! So nice to go down memory lane. We were stationed nearby at Ft Clayton in 1991-92 & enjoyed the best times of my life. I had many friends on Ft Howard. Sad to see the pool so unkept; I use to go to water arobics there each week. I’ve been back to Panama twice & am glad to see most of the bases now being restored & kept well. One was more of a college area now, but o can’t recall which one. Thank you for the memories.
We lived on Albrook AFB in 1966 to 1968. 103 King Street if I remember right. we lived near the back gate on a road that led up a hill and dead ended at the weather station It's been over 50 years. My brothers and I lived at the pool and competed on the swim team and played little league baseball. We bowled every Saturday morning and my parents sponsored and ran the league. We would play out in the jungle every day and build forts using the foliage as cover. My dad was a pilot at the Aero Club on base so he would take us up in a J-3 Cub and fly around over the jungle , the bases and along the coastal areas.We would fly with the doors open and have the best view and felt the wind in our face. It rained very day in the winter which was called rainy season.Best memories of my childhood and to top off the tour after 4 yrs stationed down there, in June of 1968 better know as the "Summer of 68" we drove from the isthmus of Panama all the way to Texas where my Dad was PCS at Randolph AFB then on up to Michigan and back down to Texas. We were 30 days on the road in a 1963 VW Microbus 1100 CC engine. Made it the entire trip ( only 25 mph up the mountain roads of Costa Rica) with no mechanical issues. Only a slow leak flat. Never forget those days. What an adventure at 12 yrs old. This plays to the addage that: " Life is Truly a Journey, Not a Destination!" Thank you for bringing back those wonderful memories.
SP4 Michael Bryant Co. A 4/20th Mech 73-74 I salute each of you that served in the Southern Command in Panama. What we did changed the world forever. Are you not amazed that even today so much of this is in use? And the Canal? Though modified for larger ships, an epic achievement. God bless you and keep you always. Thank you! I love PANAMA!
@Michael Bryant Welcome to Panama if you still live here, or if you visit once in a while, per year os so. If you come to visit friends, for tourism, etc. And in general, thank you for loving my country. Greetings from this country that also love you.
Thank you so much for posting this video. I lived in Panama between 1972-4. I really miss the place. Seeing the decay shown in much of your video makes me very sad (as you). I think I'm going to see about going back and maybe restoring some of those great old buildings. Thanks again.
Thank you SO much for posting this video. I was stationed here from '94-'97. I lived on Kobbe. Worked in the first hangar, which is now a Dell support center, as a CH-47D Chinook mechanic/crew chief. This certainly brought back some old memories...I hope to be able to visit soon. I miss everything about Panama. Look forward to your other videos.
Thanks for posting this video. It is the most complete video of the Howard area of the base I have seen online. Even more notable, over a quarter of the buildings you show (housing and barracks) no longer exist, and nearly all are slated for eventual demolition. I am glad a video record exists in public domain.
@RCartagena1 Yeah, growing up there definitely made up one of the best parts of my life. I'm glad you liked it. I have more footy, but I don't have the equipment to do anything with it right now.
...I was a wee lass, but those pool memories are lasting ... in 68 we had to have a "swim badge" to swim on our own - still have it! It was a "B" American Red Cross badge! LOL. I was lousy. Never forget taps every day at 5 and us kids making a fuss about stopping mid swing in the playground to salute the nearest flags and cars stopping with drivers getting out! What a life!!! Thank you for sharing!
My father was stationed there from 1992-1994. He was a CW3 on the Blackhawk. He has been gone for 3 years now. Had blood cancer. We lived halfway up this huge hill that had a park at the bottom. Used to take stairs down to the elementary school. Had a large mango tree in our yard. When it rained we would play in the huge puddles because they were super warm. We had kudamondes in our trash, and we spent so much time at the pool. It was awesome to have the courage to dive off of the high dive. It’s shocking to see how run down everything is.
What a beautiful recollection of your time there, Helen. I was there with my husband just before you (1991-92) & I remember that hill & park. There was a lovely tree there that had the most magnificent red blossoms on it & stood so proudly at the bottom of that hill. I had some I’d the best times of my life in Panama. I have been back twice now seeking to recapture my memories & the deep sense of peace I had there, while still maintaining friendships with several of the Kuna & seeing their villages on Ustupu.
Nice! I was stationed unforked Kobe 87 thru 89. Used to spend a lot of time on Howard at the bowling alley, movie theatre and the nco club. Anyone else remember the Big C burger?
Thank you so much for posting this! I lived on Fort Gulick from 70-73 my dad Wa CO ( commanding officer) of Fort Gulick. Because our housing is so similar when I saw those homes my heart started to race. And as you said this is my house I felt like I could open the door and everything would be the way that it was then. Kind of like time-traveling :-) Thanks again friend
I would just like to say what a blast from the past. in the early 70's i lived in this house. i was 12, 13, 14. my dad was commander for Det 2 air rescue and recovery wing. he flew H-3's. had a paper route that went from hospital hill to the hill above the pool and commissary(i forget the name), including the hill in front of the house. when we lived there they had not yet replaced the windows. I attended curundu Jr high school. man the memories. i think it is still the favorite place i ever lived.
Wow, thanks for that. The pool. The bowling alley. The baseball field. We were there from 69-75. For some reason, I want to say our house number was 642-A. We were near the tower. We also had a bohio off of dump 13 in the Panama Canal. Yes, we took our 16 foot boat through the Panama Canal almost every weekend. We launched at Gamboa Yatch Club (Maybe that's not the name, but Gamboa something or other). Peacock bass, tarpon - a fisherman's paradise. Had a Cuna Indian named Aubel hand make a cayuka for me. Still keep in touch with a few of the people from there. Anyway, thanks a bunch for that!
Good morning. I am also from Panama and and my father worked at Howard Air Force Base. At the same time it was also sad in July 1999 that they decided to close down the base and having all the families who were in the military to leave. The one thing I will always remember is all the fun times and great times I had over in Panama forever🇵🇦🇺🇸
@@BriMarieI No I had went to Curundu elementary, and Curundu middidle between 1995 and 1996, but me and my family would always go to Howard Air Force Base when we were stationed down their in Albrook. My father used to work at Howard Air Force Base when we were still living in Panama at the time.
I loved watching this :) thank you. I lived here in the 60's, on Hunter Street, I have pictures of me and my sister with our legs hanging inside that swimming pool, been to the bowling alley, and saw the old Thrift Store. The one thing I did not see was the old theatre, for 25 cents we watched the old cartoons on Saturdays. Loved this ! ! !
At 3-minutes 29-seconds into the video you show a house on top of what we used to call, Kemper's Hill. Named of course after the Colonel who lived in it. I dated his daughter and spent many an afternoon up on that hill. Thanks for sharing. I lived there from 1969-1971. We lived beside the church.
Hey, I know you. Yo dated Tanya Kemper. My names Billy and lived at the bottom of dispensary hill. I remember the Fiat that we rollled at the beach doing "donuts" ...I also remember hot wiring the base commanders VW bug and going for rides in it? Thrown any mangos lately???
Thanks for posting!!! I was there 1982 threw 1984. Was working the Freedom Bird, DC-8, when a swarm of kill bees buzzzzed threw!! Many JOTC missions came there, my first time seeing C-141's in Combat Formation. When I view it on Google Earth, I'm amazed at what's changed. Panama has developed a lot since then.
We have a bunch of pics and videos from the 70's there. My dad was stationed there in the early 70's. I was born there at Gorgas hospital in 73. Dad was a aircraft mechanic. Nieves Rodriguez. They called him Rod. I have videos of them blowing up planes on the runway. He passed away in 2010. I'm gonna show this to my mom. My dad went on to open the first recruiting station in Rosenberg Texas. Then retired in 84 as the head recruiter of Meps in downtown Houston.
What a beautiful memory you shared& your Dad sounds like he really made his mark in life & did well. What a great thing. My husband & I were stationed at Ft Clayton & I have wonderful memories of that year there (cut short of 3 year tour). I’ve been back to Panama twice, chasing a dream to recapture my brief time there in paradise.
I think maybe i got my smallpox innoc at Howard Clinic. I was born in Lubbock but my first memories are of the coconut bamboo sugarcane coatimundi AND Paratroopers dropping into the jungle as i watched and dreamed on our community swingset. I also got my noggin stuck in the stair railing not once, but twice! True story. We left for Houston in '69 while Daddy went to Da Nang B-52 crew chief! Also, the NCO club had an unicorn on the wall. I was enthralled with it!
Very cool video! We lived at 158 Rencher as well from 1968 until 1971. I remember the playground across the street and I used to ride my bike down Commander's hill and skid in the carport! There was a nice Avocado tree up there near the playground. At the top of the stairs my sisters wrote their name (and date) when they did a concrete repair. I wonder if you ever noticed it?
Wonderful, I serve on the Atlantic side 76-78 and Pacific side 96, great work sad to see, had great times on both sides..Thank you, hope to return 2014
Thanks for posting, enjoyed it. Spent a few TDYs with the AFRES there in the 80s. One night we got drunk and climbed the fence at the Pool and swam in our scivies. The Air Police kicked us out and when asked who our First Sargent was one guy answered, I am.
Air Force Security Forces here. I was stationed there for 3 great years! 93-96. I know every inch of Howard and Albrook. Great memories!!! I don't remember my house number, but it was the first left thru the main gate of Albrook, next to the fence and a big gate. I think there was a church on the other side. Great video!
Watching this made me sad. I was there '92-95. Last I'd heard, all the houses on our old street had been torn down. It was such a beautiful base. I remember how bats would fly across the screen during a movie at the base theater 🤣.
It was wonderful we lived on Radio Farfan in 1990 till 1993 my oldest son was born at Gorgas thanks for sharing the video so sad to see how they did nothing good there... :(
@truth032003 My pleasure, man. I think that all of us that grew up there as kids are some of the luckiest people in the world. Wait until I post my NEW video! I have to get a better computer first, though.
Thanks for this video, it was great! I lived on Howard from 94-98. I have the best memories from Panama and it was great being able to see the base again :)
Thanks for the video. I lived on Howard from 91 to 95 and hung out at the pool alot. I lived right down the hill from the clinic. It would have been funny if you had gone further down the road to Ft. Kobbe and the Burger King stand woud have still been out there. LOL!
I was stationed at Howard AFB in the 24th CES from 83-86. We lived in base housing for the last year of the assignment. This was three of the best years of our lives! I played rugby so we had a great group of military and civilian guys from all over Panama that we formed a really good bond with and had the times of our lives! I really miss that place.
Before, I did not know about that base of Howard in Panama, I knew about him through a true story that from there left on November 3, 1965 an Argentine plane registration TC-48 that disappeared en route to San Salvador, it was said that it fell into the sea but the relatives believe that it fell in the jungle of Costa Rica, many of them paid for their expenses in going to investigate personally and even at this point since 1965 they have not found it, and it has just been 57 years since it disappeared with its 68 people who were on board . Very good video and thanks for uploading it.
BigBro wanted to post that we lived across the street from the pool in the video 68 -71 ...sez he wishes he could remember more and never missed an opportunity to run behind the spray truck! Crazy and lucky kids of hard working Air Force ...
We lived in the first house on the left at the bottom of the Howard clinic hill, good times. Absolutely loved it there. Napoli's pizza was the best. I think I was the only kid on Howard who brought his go kart over from the States .
Awsome video, brought back a lot of memories. I was there from '96-'99. At 1:09 I actually caught a glimpse of the dorms I was living in at the time. We had some crazy dorm parties back then. Man I miss those days!
I was there from 71-75. I lived across from the motorpool at Ft. Kobbe. I remember the shark net at Ft. Kobbe beach also. I was only 10, but remember that beach very well. Had a friend named Raphael who was older and we hung at the beach together.
I spent my first 2 yrs in the Army at Kobbe/Howard. Was with the Chinook unit. TONS of memories. My buddies and I are even thinking of planning a reunion down there. Did anyone (besides us) ever go jump off the cliffs at the French Cut up the road from Cocoli?
Just watched the videos. I lived at Howard from '46-'50 and I went swimming in that pool the day it opened in '47. Went to grammar school in Cocoli and graduated from Balboa HS in ;57.
I ws stationed there in 80 - 82. no way i'd ever go back. Seeing all those houses empty is very strange. at last you didnt have to live in the dorms like i did.
I lived on ft. Clayton in 93-94, & off base in the el dorado area. I love these videos, like a walk down memory lane! Does anyone remember the Colon City tshirts??
My dad was finishing up a game in the bowling alley the hour of invasion in 89. He was told to finish and then report for duty. Spent several hours in kevlar, armed with an M-16 under a dumptruck on the Runway watching the AC-130's wreak havoc on targets near Panama city. 24th Civil Engineering Squadron I think. I wish Howard never closed down!!
Wow, I was stationed there in the 24th Comm Sq. from 94-96. I had a girlfriend from David, Chiriqui which was about 250 miles away near Costa Rica. I lived downtown near the El Panama Hotel. Unfortunately one of co-workers died in a car accident in the entrance to Panama City RIP my friend I have tears in my eyes as I type this.
Remember I used to go there at the base,can't believed how abandoned looks now,those nice big building the US left and Panama government never keep them up.
es una verdadera lastima como a quedado abandonada unas fabulosas instalaciones mis paisanos no tienen la menor idea de el valor de esas casa junto atoda su area que dolor ver como a quedado todo It is a real shame how fabulous facilities have been abandoned, my countrymen have no idea of the value of those houses together with their entire area, what a sadness to see how everything has been
I was there many times doing the two week weekend warrior thing with the C130's from 83 to once or twice after the invasion. They put us up in barracks called the zoo. Holy hell, it was so hot I could knock down a 750 of that cheap local rum along with a half case of beer per day and hardly feel it. It was a good break to get on a C130 embassy run for a couple days. Just before the invasion a few of us took a van into Panama City to my favorite restaurant ever, La Casicota or something. We were weaving through the back streets because most if not all of the area was off limits to US military. Luck would have it we drive up a narrow alley right into a large white shirt demonstration. The guy driving freaks out and we're hauling down this alley in reverse , part Jason Bourn and part Three Stooges. Good times.
it's a shame the old barracks are being demolished, so much history! I live here now and love the new development but it would be such a waste to get rid of perfectly good buildings :/
+Hugo Oyarzun indeed they are starting to take down barracks 713-717 now, plus more housing across andrews blvd. have seen speculation that the neglect of maintenance has gone on so long (16 years?) that roofs have termites, etc. It is true some atlantic side barracks turned over with original treaty implementation (late 70s I assume) were left to rot and did have the center of roofs eventually cave in.
Yeah, we did - I put up a (grainy) video of some of us jumping off those cliffs. You might be interested to know that it was not really excavated by the French in the 1880s - it was a third locks project that the U.S. abandoned to focus on WW II. I don't know how it got misnamed - everyone called it the French Cut! Just search you tube for "third locks excavation" and ... voilà!
Security Police at Howard '86 to '89. It used to be such a beautiful place and that pool was a great place to hang out on a day off. The video brought back a lot of memories.
WOW!! Lived across the street from the pool (spent my childhood in that pool) on Loyd Avenue 68-70 ... HOWARD AFB was the best ... THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!! Anyone remember the sloths that used to slink through the neighborhood?? Or the shark "net" over at Ft. Kobbe???
That house that you said was your old one, was also ours. We lived in it from 1960-1963; we were there during the Cuban Missile Crises. We always said this was the best posting we ever had. There was the stables on the right when driving into Ft. Kobbe, later Howard AFB. My sister and I went to Elementary School there and later my sister went across the Canal to Jr. High. The Commanding Colonel at the time lived in the House at the top of the hill. I used to climb a mango tree halfway up the hill and right across the street from our house was a red clay hill, which we used to climb. We had a few trails in the jungle there too. I really miss that place and want to thank you very much for posting this.
Wonderful childhood memories!!! Betsy Scharth Ingersoll
It was totally awesome living there. I miss it all the time.
I had horses at the stables on Howard 68/70
Wow! I was stationed here 1984-1987. It was a wonderful assignment. I am saddened by how it is closed and run down. I loved the housing units. Too bad this was not converted to a housing area. I would love to have owned one of those units. I lived in Albrook. Thanks for the vid.
US left them nice but Panama government never took care of this buildings was there last July,it looks like a ghost town
can't contain my joy! You drove past my old house! It was the last one before the grassy hill. I believe you lived in the same house my friends lived in when we were there in the 70's.
Thank you. I have been wondering for years what happened to Howard. I was in the 24th CES.I was an airman,masonry specialist. We also took care of Albrook.I was 17 when I arrived from Iowa.I was there sept.'75-feb' 77. Really to young to appreciate it.Still, it was probably the highlight of my life. Thank you so much for the footage,I think you even caught my barracks,south of the bowling alley. So sad about the condition.
Wow! So nice to go down memory lane. We were stationed nearby at Ft Clayton in 1991-92 & enjoyed the best times of my life. I had many friends on Ft Howard. Sad to see the pool so unkept; I use to go to water arobics there each week. I’ve been back to Panama twice & am glad to see most of the bases now being restored & kept well. One was more of a college area now, but o can’t recall which one. Thank you for the memories.
lived there 72 -77 when you were at the pool that was my house across the street. On the swim team there WEST BANK FLIPPERS, best years of my life.
Thanks! You actually got video of the house I used to live in back from 1991-1997. And you are right, it was bittersweet.
We lived on Albrook AFB in 1966 to 1968. 103 King Street if I remember right. we lived near the back gate on a road that led up a hill and dead ended at the weather station It's been over 50 years. My brothers and I lived at the pool and competed on the swim team and played little league baseball. We bowled every Saturday morning and my parents sponsored and ran the league. We would play out in the jungle every day and build forts using the foliage as cover. My dad was a pilot at the Aero Club on base so he would take us up in a J-3 Cub and fly around over the jungle , the bases and along the coastal areas.We would fly with the doors open and have the best view and felt the wind in our face. It rained very day in the winter which was called rainy season.Best memories of my childhood and to top off the tour after 4 yrs stationed down there, in June of 1968 better know as the "Summer of 68" we drove from the isthmus of Panama all the way to Texas where my Dad was PCS at Randolph AFB then on up to Michigan and back down to Texas. We were 30 days on the road in a 1963 VW Microbus 1100 CC engine. Made it the entire trip ( only 25 mph up the mountain roads of Costa Rica) with no mechanical issues. Only a slow leak flat. Never forget those days. What an adventure at 12 yrs old. This plays to the addage that:
" Life is Truly a Journey, Not a Destination!" Thank you for bringing back those wonderful memories.
SP4 Michael Bryant Co. A 4/20th Mech 73-74 I salute each of you that served in the Southern Command in Panama. What we did changed the world forever. Are you not amazed that even today so much of this is in use? And the Canal? Though modified for larger ships, an epic achievement. God bless you and keep you always. Thank you! I love PANAMA!
Im Panamenian!
@Michael Bryant Welcome to Panama if you still live here, or if you visit once in a while, per year os so. If you come to visit friends, for tourism, etc. And in general, thank you for loving my country. Greetings from this country that also love you.
Thank you for posting this video. It brings back great memories.
Wow, so freaking cool to see my favorite place we ever lived! Left in ‘73
I was there in 1962-64 my father was stationed there he was an electrician for CES had so much fun when we were there
We lived in 152B Rencher from 79-82. Thank you for posting this video! Brought back amazing memories.
Was stationed at Howard AFB from 1990-1991. Remote tour at the time. Thanks for posting.
When I lived there cool
Thank you so much for posting this video. I lived in Panama between 1972-4. I really miss the place. Seeing the decay shown in much of your video makes me very sad (as you). I think I'm going to see about going back and maybe restoring some of those great old buildings. Thanks again.
Thank you SO much for posting this video. I was stationed here from '94-'97. I lived on Kobbe. Worked in the first hangar, which is now a Dell support center, as a CH-47D Chinook mechanic/crew chief. This certainly brought back some old memories...I hope to be able to visit soon. I miss everything about Panama. Look forward to your other videos.
Thank you for posting. We lost all of our pictures of Panama ..when a maid at a hotel thought they were trash.. SIGH! THANKS!
Thanks for posting this video. It is the most complete video of the Howard area of the base I have seen online. Even more notable, over a quarter of the buildings you show (housing and barracks) no longer exist, and nearly all are slated for eventual demolition. I am glad a video record exists in public domain.
@RCartagena1 Yeah, growing up there definitely made up one of the best parts of my life. I'm glad you liked it. I have more footy, but I don't have the equipment to do anything with it right now.
...I was a wee lass, but those pool memories are lasting ... in 68 we had to have a "swim badge" to swim on our own - still have it! It was a "B" American Red Cross badge! LOL. I was lousy.
Never forget taps every day at 5 and us kids making a fuss about stopping mid swing in the playground to salute the nearest flags and cars stopping with drivers getting out!
What a life!!! Thank you for sharing!
Enjoyed watching these. I lived on Ft. Kobbe as a child in 1978 to 1982
My father was stationed there from 1992-1994. He was a CW3 on the Blackhawk. He has been gone for 3 years now. Had blood cancer. We lived halfway up this huge hill that had a park at the bottom. Used to take stairs down to the elementary school. Had a large mango tree in our yard. When it rained we would play in the huge puddles because they were super warm. We had kudamondes in our trash, and we spent so much time at the pool. It was awesome to have the courage to dive off of the high dive. It’s shocking to see how run down everything is.
What a beautiful recollection of your time there, Helen. I was there with my husband just before you (1991-92) & I remember that hill & park. There was a lovely tree there that had the most magnificent red blossoms on it & stood so proudly at the bottom of that hill. I had some I’d the best times of my life in Panama. I have been back twice now seeking to recapture my memories & the deep sense of peace I had there, while still maintaining friendships with several of the Kuna & seeing their villages on Ustupu.
Nice! I was stationed unforked Kobe 87 thru 89. Used to spend a lot of time on Howard at the bowling alley, movie theatre and the nco club. Anyone else remember the Big C burger?
This really brought back some memories. I was in the 605th ACS at Howard 1965 to 1967.
So sad to see the base run down, so many good memories from years past
Thank you so much for posting this! I lived on Fort Gulick from 70-73 my dad Wa CO ( commanding officer) of Fort Gulick. Because our housing is so similar when I saw those homes my heart started to race. And as you said this is my house I felt like I could open the door and everything would be the way that it was then. Kind of like time-traveling :-) Thanks again friend
Glad you liked it! I made a music video, too: th-cam.com/video/bE4Iui4agYM/w-d-xo.html
Great video... I spent 4 years on Howard 1968-1972. The houses were only a year or 2 old.
Great Video. I was there 76 - 83 lived in the tropical housing up from base supply where I worked. Sad to see it now.
I would just like to say what a blast from the past. in the early 70's i lived in this house. i was 12, 13, 14. my dad was commander for Det 2 air rescue and recovery wing. he flew H-3's. had a paper route that went from hospital hill to the hill above the pool and commissary(i forget the name), including the hill in front of the house. when we lived there they had not yet replaced the windows. I attended curundu Jr high school. man the memories. i think it is still the favorite place i ever lived.
Thanks A LOT for posting this! Brings back a lot of memories!
Wow, thanks for that. The pool. The bowling alley. The baseball field. We were there from 69-75. For some reason, I want to say our house number was 642-A. We were near the tower. We also had a bohio off of dump 13 in the Panama Canal. Yes, we took our 16 foot boat through the Panama Canal almost every weekend. We launched at Gamboa Yatch Club (Maybe that's not the name, but Gamboa something or other). Peacock bass, tarpon - a fisherman's paradise. Had a Cuna Indian named Aubel hand make a cayuka for me. Still keep in touch with a few of the people from there. Anyway, thanks a bunch for that!
Thank you for uploading this video... My family was stationed there for three years... I can not tell you what this means to me!
Good morning. I am also from Panama and and my father worked at Howard Air Force Base. At the same time it was also sad in July 1999 that they decided to close down the base and having all the families who were in the military to leave. The one thing I will always remember is all the fun times and great times I had over in Panama forever🇵🇦🇺🇸
@@anthonysoley7121 Did you go to school on the base?
@@BriMarieI No I had went to Curundu elementary, and Curundu middidle between 1995 and 1996, but me and my family would always go to Howard Air Force Base when we were stationed down their in Albrook. My father used to work at Howard Air Force Base when we were still living in Panama at the time.
I loved watching this :) thank you.
I lived here in the 60's, on Hunter Street, I have pictures of me and my sister with our legs hanging inside that swimming pool, been to the bowling alley, and saw the old Thrift Store.
The one thing I did not see was the old theatre, for 25 cents we watched the old cartoons on Saturdays.
Loved this ! ! !
At 3-minutes 29-seconds into the video you show a house on top of what we used to call, Kemper's Hill. Named of course after the Colonel who lived in it. I dated his daughter and spent many an afternoon up on that hill. Thanks for sharing. I lived there from 1969-1971. We lived beside the church.
Hey, I know you. Yo dated Tanya Kemper. My names Billy and lived at the bottom of dispensary hill. I remember the Fiat that we rollled at the beach doing "donuts" ...I also remember hot wiring the base commanders VW bug and going for rides in it? Thrown any mangos lately???
So many memories! Thank you for uploading. 1988-1992
Thanks for posting!!! I was there 1982 threw 1984. Was working the Freedom Bird, DC-8, when a swarm of kill bees buzzzzed threw!! Many JOTC missions came there, my first time seeing C-141's in Combat Formation. When I view it on Google Earth, I'm amazed at what's changed. Panama has developed a lot since then.
We have a bunch of pics and videos from the 70's there. My dad was stationed there in the early 70's. I was born there at Gorgas hospital in 73. Dad was a aircraft mechanic. Nieves Rodriguez. They called him Rod. I have videos of them blowing up planes on the runway. He passed away in 2010. I'm gonna show this to my mom. My dad went on to open the first recruiting station in Rosenberg Texas. Then retired in 84 as the head recruiter of Meps in downtown Houston.
What a beautiful memory you shared& your Dad sounds like he really made his mark in life & did well. What a great thing. My husband & I were stationed at Ft Clayton & I have wonderful memories of that year there (cut short of 3 year tour). I’ve been back to Panama twice, chasing a dream to recapture my brief time there in paradise.
@@helenequinn we want to return also. I haven’t been back yet. I’d like to see where I was born. I know it’s all changed. It’s been 49 years.
@KathyLak1 That was Rodman Naval Station. I was stationed at Howard from 80-84, best years of my life and best base in the Air Force!
Ft Kobbe - '70 - '71, How wonderful and exotic it was!
I think maybe i got my smallpox innoc at Howard Clinic. I was born in Lubbock but my first memories are of the coconut bamboo sugarcane coatimundi AND Paratroopers dropping into the jungle as i watched and dreamed on our community swingset.
I also got my noggin stuck in the stair railing not once, but twice!
True story. We left for Houston in '69 while Daddy went to Da Nang B-52 crew chief!
Also, the NCO club had an unicorn on the wall. I was enthralled with it!
Very cool video! We lived at 158 Rencher as well from 1968 until 1971. I remember the playground across the street and I used to ride my bike down Commander's hill and skid in the carport! There was a nice Avocado tree up there near the playground. At the top of the stairs my sisters wrote their name (and date) when they did a concrete repair. I wonder if you ever noticed it?
Wonderful, I serve on the Atlantic side 76-78 and Pacific side 96, great work sad to see, had great times on both sides..Thank you, hope to return 2014
Great video ... Brings back lots of childhood memories :) lived there 4 years 72-76 the pool , the housing awesome thanks for posting
Thanks for posting, enjoyed it. Spent a few TDYs with the AFRES there in the 80s. One night we got drunk and climbed the fence at the Pool and swam in our scivies. The Air Police kicked us out and when asked who our First Sargent was one guy answered, I am.
Nice! We snuck in, too. I regret never climbing over the ropes and jumping off the platform, though.
Awesome video! Thank you. It looks much different now sadly.
Air Force Security Forces here. I was stationed there for 3 great years! 93-96.
I know every inch of Howard and Albrook. Great memories!!!
I don't remember my house number, but it was the first left thru the main gate of Albrook, next to the fence and a big gate. I think there was a church on the other side.
Great video!
We were there at the same time, then! I totally remember the church. Did it overlook the baseball and soccer fields?
Nice memories, worked in Base Ops from 1973-1976, miss the place...Thank You
I enjoyed this video! I was born in and lived in Farfan for 18 years! Brings back memories.
Watching this made me sad. I was there '92-95. Last I'd heard, all the houses on our old street had been torn down. It was such a beautiful base. I remember how bats would fly across the screen during a movie at the base theater 🤣.
It was wonderful we lived on Radio Farfan in 1990 till 1993 my oldest son was born at Gorgas thanks for sharing the video so sad to see how they did nothing good there... :(
Bring back memories 😢
Used to swim in that pool on Howard for the Howard "Flippers". 1973 or so. Sad to see the pool like that. It was state of the art at the time.
It was golden time for us.
@truth032003 My pleasure, man. I think that all of us that grew up there as kids are some of the luckiest people in the world. Wait until I post my NEW video! I have to get a better computer first, though.
Thanks for this video, it was great! I lived on Howard from 94-98. I have the best memories from Panama and it was great being able to see the base again :)
Thanks for the video. I lived on Howard from 91 to 95 and hung out at the pool alot. I lived right down the hill from the clinic. It would have been funny if you had gone further down the road to Ft. Kobbe and the Burger King stand woud have still been out there. LOL!
I'm going to be visiting very soon. Good to know you were able to get on base fairly easily.
Moved to Ft. Kobbe from Curundu while the Capart houses were being built then moved back to Curundu. Great memories while at Ft. Kobbe.
I was stationed at Howard AFB in the 24th CES from 83-86. We lived in base housing for the last year of the assignment. This was three of the best years of our lives! I played rugby so we had a great group of military and civilian guys from all over Panama that we formed a really good bond with and had the times of our lives! I really miss that place.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!!!!
Very cool video! I lived in the large house straight in front of the Howard Clinic from 1971 until 1975.
Before, I did not know about that base of Howard in Panama, I knew about him through a true story that from there left on November 3, 1965 an Argentine plane registration TC-48 that disappeared en route to San Salvador, it was said that it fell into the sea but the relatives believe that it fell in the jungle of Costa Rica, many of them paid for their expenses in going to investigate personally and even at this point since 1965 they have not found it, and it has just been 57 years since it disappeared with its 68 people who were on board . Very good video and thanks for uploading it.
BigBro wanted to post that we lived across the street from the pool in the video 68 -71 ...sez he wishes he could remember more and never missed an opportunity to run behind the spray truck! Crazy and lucky kids of hard working Air Force ...
We lived in the first house on the left at the bottom of the Howard clinic hill, good times. Absolutely loved it there. Napoli's pizza was the best. I think I was the only kid on Howard who brought his go kart over from the States .
Wow, that was nice, it took me back !! I was there from 1983-1985 . 24th CAMS
Awsome video, brought back a lot of memories. I was there from '96-'99. At 1:09 I actually caught a glimpse of the dorms I was living in at the time. We had some crazy dorm parties back then. Man I miss those days!
I was there from 71-75. I lived across from the motorpool at Ft. Kobbe. I remember the shark net at Ft. Kobbe beach also. I was only 10, but remember that beach very well. Had a friend named Raphael who was older and we hung at the beach together.
Lived in Summit barracks from 1991-1995 and was a Navy Security Officer at Rodman. Great duty station
Wow thanks for posting this. I lived on ft kobbe in the late 60s and attended Balboa High School. Great memories!
Dependent child 1962-65. Fond memories....very fond memories🥲
It was Rodman Naval Base, and the Marine Barracks were across the street on the road down to Cocoli.
We swam at the beach protected by a shark fence. No pool for us!
Brings back memories. Worked at Howard 92-94 on SOUTHCOM staff.
I spent my first 2 yrs in the Army at Kobbe/Howard. Was with the Chinook unit. TONS of memories. My buddies and I are even thinking of planning a reunion down there. Did anyone (besides us) ever go jump off the cliffs at the French Cut up the road from Cocoli?
228th aviation Div?
Done that🆒👌✌️
I lived here in 1970 to 1973 best times of my life
I had the great opportunity to grow up down there on the bases!
Just watched the videos. I lived at Howard from '46-'50 and I went swimming in that pool the day it opened in '47. Went to grammar school in Cocoli and graduated from Balboa HS in ;57.
I went to Cocoli in 1972. Used to swim in that pool. Didn't realize it was that old. It looked new in the early 1970s.
Wow, I was like "OOH,the Commissary.oooh the shoppette!" I think I saw the NCO club where my father used to DJ at as well" Thanks for the video!
Looks just like the PI...
Man, the Air Force Bases are so nice, even abandoned ones, look better than active Navy Bases...
I ws stationed there in 80 - 82. no way i'd ever go back. Seeing all those houses empty is very strange. at last you didnt have to live in the dorms like i did.
Howard was a nice base. Good housing, quiet, near Kobbe Beach.
I lived on ft. Clayton in 93-94, & off base in the el dorado area. I love these videos, like a walk down memory lane! Does anyone remember the Colon City tshirts??
alexandra frank I think I know you
alexandra frank Of course I do! Remember "rules of the road?"
625A from around May 76 thru October 78. Loved Howard - one of our vest assignments.
i'm glad to see it that good. i wish u could show ft.kobbeit was at the end of the base
My dad was finishing up a game in the bowling alley the hour of invasion in 89. He was told to finish and then report for duty. Spent several hours in kevlar, armed with an M-16 under a dumptruck on the Runway watching the AC-130's wreak havoc on targets near Panama city. 24th Civil Engineering Squadron I think. I wish Howard never closed down!!
Wow, I was stationed there in the 24th Comm Sq. from 94-96. I had a girlfriend from David, Chiriqui which was about 250 miles away near Costa Rica. I lived downtown near the El Panama Hotel. Unfortunately one of co-workers died in a car accident in the entrance to Panama City RIP my friend I have tears in my eyes as I type this.
Remember I used to go there at the base,can't believed how abandoned looks now,those nice big building the US left and Panama government never keep them up.
too bad you didn't film inside the house I would have liked to see that
es una verdadera lastima como a quedado abandonada unas fabulosas instalaciones mis paisanos no tienen la menor idea de el valor de esas casa junto atoda su area que dolor ver como a quedado todo It is a real shame how fabulous facilities have been abandoned, my countrymen have no idea of the value of those houses together with their entire area, what a sadness to see how everything has been
Lived there from '81 to 90. Stauffer Street... went to kobbe elem then curundu... loved howard
I was there many times doing the two week weekend warrior thing with the C130's from 83 to once or twice after the invasion. They put us up in barracks called the zoo. Holy hell, it was so hot I could knock down a 750 of that cheap local rum along with a half case of beer per day and hardly feel it. It was a good break to get on a C130 embassy run for a couple days. Just before the invasion a few of us took a van into Panama City to my favorite restaurant ever, La Casicota or something. We were weaving through the back streets because most if not all of the area was off limits to US military. Luck would have it we drive up a narrow alley right into a large white shirt demonstration. The guy driving freaks out and we're hauling down this alley in reverse , part Jason Bourn and part Three Stooges. Good times.
it's a shame the old barracks are being demolished, so much history! I live here now and love the new development but it would be such a waste to get rid of perfectly good buildings :/
+Hugo Oyarzun indeed they are starting to take down barracks 713-717 now, plus more housing across andrews blvd.
have seen speculation that the neglect of maintenance has gone on so long (16 years?) that roofs have termites, etc. It is true some atlantic side barracks turned over with original treaty implementation (late 70s I assume) were left to rot and did have the center of roofs eventually cave in.
omg! This is my old house, too!!!!!! 158 Rencher at the foot of the drive up the hill to the post commanders's house. 1960-1963
As a Panamanian it embarrasses me to see how run down those places are. It is just terrible.
Same here
funny I was stationed there in 1976/7 and it still looks the same
To this year they’re still abandoned, it’s sad..
My dad was 536th engineers Ft.Kobbe, then Was S-3 at Southcom HQ FT.Clayton. But we lived in Ft.Kobbe Hill
1993-1995
What are they gonna see with the buildings?
Yeah, we did - I put up a (grainy) video of some of us jumping off those cliffs. You might be interested to know that it was not really excavated by the French in the 1880s - it was a third locks project that the U.S. abandoned to focus on WW II. I don't know how it got misnamed - everyone called it the French Cut! Just search you tube for "third locks excavation" and ... voilà!