Blue Book Listing # 1
Chronology of Listings - 1951 to 1973
Bob Widner A1C - Radio Mechanic - Tour of Duty TDY from Clark AFB 1951 - 52
You asked for a rundown on my experiences at an Early Warning Radar Site that later became Wallace Air Station. Here's what I remember, but keep in mind memory can be a terrible liar.
After China sent a million volunteers into Korea in 1951, the decision was made at Clark AFB to set up an early warning radar site facing China on the South China Sea at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. I was stationed at Clark from July, 1950 to June, 1952, arriving as an 18-year old kid with not much smarts. In early 1952, I was assigned to the EWS (Wallace AS) to take care of the radio equipment in the trucks. Everything was mobile, except the power house.
The aerial shot of the station shows the entire operation. A few radio trucks for DF and spares and one radar truck and antenna. It was the easiest going, most enjoyable post of my time in the AF. My workday took all of an hour in the morning. As a short timer, I became an incorrigible goof off.
The only stressful, fulfilling job I did there involved a power failure to the radar guys. Our CO asked me and my partner if we could run an emergency backup line from the power house to the radar truck, about a hundred feet. We worked for 12-hours, stopping only for a snack and latrine break. The reason it took so long is that we had nothing at the station except a mish-mash of leftover WW II equipment. We had two 50-ft rolls of a wire big enough to power a city. It took both of us to carry the lines and place them in a ditch we had dug. To make a connection in the middle we used a blowtorch and ingots of lead. What a cockamamie, unprofessional job we did. But it worked and everyone was happy. The CO, (the only officer there, a first lieutenant) gave us each three days off, staggered so one of us would be on the job. I used my time off to go spear fishing on the reef below the station.
There were always a dozen Filipinos, each on a small bamboo raft, that would leave early in the morning and come back early afternoon. They would paddle out over the reef, skindiving and shooting fish. The reef was very shallow, not more than 10-ft deep out for a few hundred yards and then sloped sharply down to a deep blue haze. Sharks stayed beyond the reef. Each man had two rubber-band powered rifles and two-pistols, all hand made. They made crude goggles that would almost punch your eyes in. Spears were welding rods. I would pay one man to equip me and let me go on his raft. I gave him a peso (50-cents then) and my catch for the day. When we came up on a school of fish I would fire both rifles quickly, turn them loose and keep chasing firing the pistols. When the school was gone, we would go back and collect any speared fish and recover our rifles and spent rods. The rifles would be standing on end on the bottom, like growing things waving in the current. They were visible for a couple hundred yards.
My last day there I asked the CO if I could borrow the Jeep to see some friends I had made in San Fernando. He was a hell of a good officer and a nice guy, even though he had our monkey shot. He told me to take the station's 4x4. That night I took off for San Fernando, picked up a girl friend and some San Miguel and partied on the beach for awhile. In the wee hours I took Purita, or "Pring" back to show her the station. I went sailing past the guard shack with a smile and a wave. One of my duties was to make up the duty roster for the Filipino guards, and I knew all of them well. We went quietly to the mess tent where Pring fixed us bacon and eggs while I made toast and coffee. Toward sunrise I took her back to town and 3-hours later I was back at Clark, ready to start clearing base for my return to the ZI.
Without qualification, my duty at what later became Wallace Air Station was the highlight of my service time. The Filipinos I met in San Fernando and in Baguio, where we went for supplies were the friendliest, most open people I have met anywhere. I hope you enjoyed your stay as much as I did. mail to: bwidner1@tampabay.rr.com
Mr. Jose M. Garcia - Civilian 1951 - 1974 Served the Civil Engineering function at both Wallace and Camp John Hay with pride and dedication. Mr. Garcia's service was from 1951 to 1974 approximately 23 years. After his retirement Mr. Garcia immigrated to the United States in 1977 where he lived happily to the ripe old age of 89 years. Mr. Garcia passed away January 23, 2002.
J. J O'Malley MSGT. (ret) I was stationed at Wallace Air Station - 1952 (then Camp Wallace)
In 1952 not too long after it opened. At that time it was an Operating Location of the 854th AC&W Sq (formerly 622nd AC&W) whose main site was Lily Hill back at Clark. During the time I was there the USAF military complement was 3 officers and 18 enlisted. A PAF detachment was also there training with the USAF personnel. Living conditions at the time were rather primitive but it was a good time to be stationed there. The enlisted people lived in army-style field tents. As a matter of fact the entire camp consisted of tents...radar ops, maintenance, mess hall, everything.
We had to draw our water from the VOA station there and truck to our water tower and off load it (over and over again, day in and day out). Ration runs to John Hay had to be made three times a week. We used a good old sixbysix from WWII days for the run. Up and down that mountain three times a week could get hairy some times. We always were in danger of being hijacked and we had to notify APs at John Hay whenever we left either John Hay or Wallace so they could know when to expect us or know when we arrived back at Wallace. We really enjoyed the beach at Miramonte (I think that was the name of the former resort there where the PAF was also billeted. Mail to: JJPOM@aol.com
Patrick R Delaney - Tour of Duty July 1954 until December 1954 - Radio Operator
I was stationed at Camp Wallace as a radio operator and worked at the DF station which was located south of the main site about 200 yards. We had about 30 men total stationed there at that time and one officer. Our call sign was Poro Point Dog Fox and we gave "fixes" and "steers" to aircraft, strictly navigational aid. The main mission of the site was of course was air defense and our radar operations were quite important. There was a small air strip a couple miles away and occasional one of the Squadron Officers stationed at Clark would fly up for lunch, get his flight time for the month and get to visit us a what we called then site R 71. My crew chief was a sergeant named Carroll Thurlow, he was from Maine and a great guy, another buddy was Pete De kam from Edgerton Minnesota. The picture on the web site certainly is different from the way it looked in 1954, but nothing stays the same. My name and e mail address is as follows: Patrick R Delaney 1621 Sally Ln Placerville, Ca 95667 Mailto:psdelaney@comcast.net
Pete De Kam A1C - Radio Operator 1954 - 1955
As I recall, we were part of the 6207th AC&W Squadron on Clark Field which was HQ, I believe for the 13th Air Force. I was a radio operator and worked at Camp Wallace's direction finding station. As I recall, we walked 100 yards or so out to a little wooden shack in which our equipment was located and in which we worked around the clock - 24/7. We had eight hour shifts, I believe, with one man on duty at a time. I remember giving a few steers and fixes to pilots who were getting in their flight time . We also gave cloud cover estimates to the pilots who asked. We relayed lots of messages to Manila Control from pilots whose equipment could not reach Manila Control as they entered Philippine air space north and east of us. I recall lots of Navy planes - who were patrolling the coastal waters, I presume.
Our radar antenna in those days was rectangular and open to the elements. During the term of service I spent there, we were warned of a serious hurricane threateneing that part of the P. I. so we dismanteled much of the site and went to live in a Voice of America building for a couple of days while the hurricane raged. I remember being in the eye of the storm. I remember the Enlisted Men's club and playing pinochle there. I remember cleaning out the water tower once with other guys; from my present perspective, we considered it a fun job. I know we went swimming on the beach at Poro Point on most of our days off ; a weapons carrier had a regular run out there. I recall Miramar - the Philippine resort nearby. We attended a celebration of some sort in San Fernando once and worshipped in a Roman Catholic church there.
I can see still see the Coca Cola signs throughout the P. I. That was a curiosity then, but now it shows me the strong international presence of Coca Cola even then. I think we drank Coke then out of glass bottles!!!!! I recall good times with Pat Delaney, Wally Powers, John Gentleman, and Carrol R Thurlow from Maine. I believe they were all radio operators with me. I believe Wally was from New York and John Gentleman from Boston. Our barracks had woven bamboo walls, but steel roofs. I believe, by 1954-1955 when we were there. We put up steel posts, anchored in concrete, to which we tied a volley ball net; we put our initials in the concrete.
With the exception of two - three months, I spent all of an 18 month tour in the P.I. at Camp Wallace. I remember an R&R at Camp John Hay near Bagio . I left Camp Wallace in May of 1955 and was assigned to Warner Robbins AFB near Macon, GA. Once we rode a Filipino bus back to Clark Field from Camp Wallace. We were assigned to the back of seat of the bus - wooden seats. Quite a ride! A burlap sack containing 2-3 piglets was placed under our seat!!!!!! I took many color pictures of Camp Wallace and surroundings and still enjoy them- the beach, the barracks, the flag and water town, the "Camp Wallace" sign the cliff and water below, waves crashing on rocks, the antenna, the rice fields, the fishing boats at Poro Point, the mountains, the coast line were all in purview. I was an A/1C then. Pete De Kam, 11909 112th St., PO Box 263, Leota, Mn 56153 pwd@myclearwave.net.
Dick Kelley A2C Radar Operator Wallace in 1954 - 1955
Don't know what possessed me to Google for Wallace and then discover Pete DeKam and Pat Delaney. Some of our buddies I certainly recall, Thurlow, Powers, Dallas Meachem, Marty Knudsen, Stormy Weathers, ad infinitum. I was a Scope Dope and wanted to learn CW. John Gentleman and Wally Powers gave me a speed key and an oscillatator to practice with, ultimately to no avail. I believe Wally Powers had a stint in the Navy before joining USAF and he he called himself a Lit wag (Lithuanian). We had a Staff Sergeant who was our First Shirt and chewed tobacco, constantly. Great guy though!
I was there during the typhoon at VOA and remember John Gentleman or Wally stayed in the DF Shack tracking wind speed ( 168 knots) and then he was told to get the hell out of there. The radar was an SCR - 270 and as Pete mentioned, it had a huge antenna array. Took us 3-4 hours to dismantle with the approaching typhoon and 4 days to erect it after the storm passed over.
I bunked in AQ 2 and still have photos of the water tower, mess hall, volleyball court, guard shack, Airman's Quarters, maybe even the DF shack. I was probably the youngest at Poro Pt. Got to the PI 10/1/53 (USNS Barrett) and turned 18 on 1/28/54 and like Pete came back stateside in '54 (Super Connie G) and reassigned to Warner Robbins. I only spent 6 months at Wallace, previous year at Clark. We used to get a weekly whiskey ration, 2 fifths, cigarette ration every eight days, 2 cartons and San Miguel was .15 a bottle. Had a great rapport with the Philippine Navy. The Philippine president's summer palace was at Mira Mar and they were there for security purposes. (HUKS). There was a little resort there and we sometimes went there after swimming to watch the elephants cry. They served beer in elephant mugs and and the resulting condensation made it appear they were crying. (Things you remember!) I can scan some photos and send them to anyone that wants them. I was originally from Chicago. 4/14/2005 Richard W. Kelley, 4641 Fieldcrest Dr. Lansing, MI 48917 kubidayo@core.com
See Dick Kelley's photos taken at Wallace 1953-54
Thomas N. Featheringill, assigned to Clark 3/14/1955 through 7/15/1956. A/2C Radar Operator
Hi Jerry, thanks for getting back to me as quickly as you did. I have some very fond memories from Clark and Camp Wallace. Lets start with the full name and info that you had requested on the web site. I am Thomas N. Featheringill, reside at 6939 Cottonwood Drive, Plainfield, Indiana 46168-8178, telephone number is 317.837.8850 I was assigned to Clark Field from 3/14/1955 through 7/15/1956. While there I was an A/2C and my job was a Radar Operator (commonly referred to a scope dope). I moved between Clark Field and Camp Wallace several times.
When I arrived at Clark Field I was quite stunned to say the least. I had never been out of the US and this was a very new experience for me. I was very lucky to have been able to fly over rather than being on a troop ship. I was assigned to the 6207th AC&W Sqd. I remember we were just north of the 1961st AACS Sqd and the training ground for sentry dogs was right behind our barracks. We used to sit out back and watch the AP's train the dogs every day. Learning to like the Filipino was not hard at all for me. We had some very good "house boys" who did a very good job keeping our clothes clean, beds made and taking care of us in many ways. I had temporary duty assignments at Camp Wallace but my normal assignment was at Clark Field.
I worked normally up on Lilly Hill where the radar site was and our Director was Capt. Winstanley, Crew Chief was Charles Comstock, S/Sgt. One of my best friends was Charlie Komjenovich. He was a career man and had held so many ranks and also lost many ranks as well. Charlie was also my room mate in the barracks. He was without a doubt one of the nicest guys I had the pleasure of meeting in the Air Force. We got to be very good friends and after I got out and Charlie had retired to Las Vegas, NV, I flew out many times to see him and relive some old but fond memories. I never could keep up with him drinking beer but I was always with him. One of the things I remember the most that was also one the most exciting things.
Capt. Winstanley was a B-26 pilot and we had several of the aircraft at Clark Field for pilot proficiency. I was on Capt. Winstanley's crew as his Nose Gunner. Our Crew Chief on the Hill was also the Crew Chief on the B-26, Charlie Comstock. We would fly all over the Islands but the most popular place we would fly to was Camp Wallace. The Capt. had a thing about the SCR-270 Radar Antenna that only turned one RPM.
It was close to the water tower but yet far enough away that the Capt had always had the idea he could stand the B-26 up on the wing tip and fly between the water tower and the antenna when it was turned directly north to south. He would fly many times over it to judge the timing and the point on the ground where he had to be and the timing had to be just right. I don't remember the day we did it but it was quite a thrill and it worked perfectly. The Capt could fly the B-26 like a fighter, he was truly a great pilot.
Another time we had been out flying and when we arrived over the field and got our landing instructions, the Capt put the gear down and the nose wheel would show a green light, indicating the gear was locked in place. The main gear was responding in the green but not the nose gear. We tried several things with the aircraft to see if we could get it to lock and show green but no luck. We flew past the tower cab and they looked at it while extended and the tower guy said all looked ok. Finally the Capt asked me if I would jump as he flew over the field because if the nose gear does not hold, I am sitting in the glass dome and it could get nasty if the gear collapses. The problem with that was the exit from the nose was a trap door that one had to get into a fetal position and roll out head first. And I had never jumped before, that was also of great concern to me. So I decided to hang on to the metal structs in the dome and fly it down. The Capt made a beautiful landing keeping the nose up as long as possible and then gently easing it down to the runway. It held and I was very happy at that point.
We were able to
take several side trips by boat. I can remember we went to the Island of
Corregidor, a very hard fought Island that cost the lives of a lot of American
Soliders to take back from the Japs during World War II. To see all of the gun
moynts all along the coast of the Island and the caves were the most
interesting. These caves went back underground for a long way. The Filipino
soldiers that took us down there told us that it was not impossible for there to
be some scattered Jap soldiers that never gave up and maybe did not even know
the war was over. He sais they had seen traces of what could have been Jap
soldiers that would come out after night to find food and other things and go
back into the caves. I asked if any soldiers had ever went into the caves and he
said they did not want to go in because of the possibility of explosives that
could be stored in them and they could be rigged with trip wires and such to set
them off. They also thought there was Huks, a form of a renigade Filipino
soldier that could also be hiding in the caves. Seeing the place where the Batan
Death March took place was also something to ponder and all the American lives
lost there. It sure made all of us stop and think how fortunate all of us were
to be where we were and what we had as a result of the sacrifices made by the
soldiers of WW II.
The thing I remember most about Camp Wallace was the view from the cliffs looking out over the China Sea. What a site. The food was excellent at the Camp as well the amounts you got. It was a good place to put on several pounds by eating as well as drinking the San Miguel Beer. That had to be the best beer I have ever tasted. Even warm it was good.
The toughest thing I can remember was one night we were on the hill and Charlie got a phone call up on the Dias. Charlie then called me and said it was for me and I had better take it in the office. I knew then it had to be bad. My Dad had a massive heart attack and had passed away. My Brother was wondering if I was going to be able to make it home. I was completely beside myself and couldn't talk. Charlie took the phone and told my Brother he would do everything in his power to get me home right away on an Emergency Leave Status. Charlie came over and collected me up and put me in the jeep to go back to the barracks where he packed all my clothes and then went out asking everyone he could find for money so "moonbeam" could get home and attend the funeral of his father. Moonbeam was a nick name Charlie had given to me and was the name I was known throughout the Sqd as.
We ended up down at the Orderly Room where M/SGT Blakenship had been called down to. The First Sgt immediately informed us that there was no way this would fit under an Emergency Leave. The death had already taken place and therefore Emergency Leave could not be granted. Charlie about lost another stripe over that and was asking what we could do. The First Sgt informed us to contact the Red Cross and see if they could help us. We did and they contacted my Mother and the family and got it arranged for me to fly home for the funeral and I was to be granted a 30 day leave. That was a long trip on that R7V back to Travis AFB and then finding a ride going east.
I finally got on a C-45 to Alabama and after a couple of fuel stops got there and then one of the guys at the base took me to the bus station and I caught a Grey Hound bus home. My Dad's brother tried to get me re-assigned to stateside duty to no avil. I was going back to the Philippines to finish my tour of duty which was only four more months. At the time I thought the wisdom of that decision was as good as the one that sent me to Keesler AFB for Tower School when I had just completed four years of Aircraft Engine & Airfram School before joining the Air Force. The guy in my Flight who had been a truck Driver got the Mechanic School at Sheppard AFB in TX instead of me. I guess the last laugh was mine because of my AF experience I spent thirty years as an Air Traffic Controller at the Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Center and retired with a good pension.
Leaving the Phillipines for the final time was a sad day. I knew I would miss the guys and the people. Especially when I found out I was going to a Navy Base at Fallon, NV where they were still building a new Radar Site for the Air Defense Command. That turned out very well anyway. Serving in the Air Force was the most interesting experience I have had in my life. I would never take anything for the friends I met and the things I learned about myself as well as others. I recomment a four year enlistment to any young man who wants to learn what life is all about at such a young age. Truly I turned from a brash young punk kid into a man after twelve weeks of basic training and embelished on that at every stop I made during my career, especially in the Philippines. I sure hope many others had the same experience. I would enjoy hearing from many others about their Camp Wallace experience. The best to you all.
"Kit" S. A. Carson - A2C - Radar Operator - assigned 1956
I was an A/2C and assigned there from Clark (Lilly Hill) Site R-70, AN/CPS-1 (Snowplow) and sent to Wallace Air Station (R-71) Wallace Air Station. We had an SCR 270(That is Signal Core Radar) and had an AN/TPS-1C as back-up. Our site had close to 27 to 30 men and no officers, the Commander was a MSGT (The highest enlisted rank at that time). Our 1st SGT was a Tsgt and our NCOIC of Operations was a Sgt Owen "Shorty" Hughes. Some of the others as I remember were: Richard Duvall(Supply), George Matheny and George Van Deusen, (Radio Operators (DF Shack and Morse Code Receiver/ Senders) James Ratcliff, Freddie Lutterman, Don Harl, and Tom Featheringill (Radar Operators).
We were housed in open bay, three bamboo Quonset huts for barracks, A bamboo shower house/latriene(Salt Water) and the best place of all, Our club, also bamboo. At least the floors were concrete pads, the windows were screens, and our roofs were tin, at least our operations building was concrete blocks with the two scopes to operate the SCR 270 (an A-Scope for range and a PPI to guess the azimuth. Our back-up was an, old never operational, AN/TPS-1C (TPSY-1C and the PPI, for operators, with the extra duty of switchboard operator. The equipment operating the radar were attached in another Bamboo building.
Adjacent to the Ops Bldg, was a large concrete pad that had two basketball hoops that maybe gave us entertainment two or three times in my short 7 months (It was nice, I wish I had been there longer?). My bunk and gear was in what we called, at that time AQ 1, but I lived most of the time in AQ3, that was a short 4 or so miles off the site. I was a young 18-19 year old kid, out of the hills of WV. Did not know any better, and had a ball. Loved the empty beaches, the people I was stationed with, the job and would never give up the experience for anything. Many trips to Baggio for supplies and R&Rs, a lot of golf, etc. The town of Poro was really swinging, especially when a merchant ship arrived. We had Mommy's Bar on one side of the gravel alley and Papa's Bar on the other, plus a few more. Every Morning we had a run to San Fernando to pick up the cooks and all the guys that lived in AQ3 and AQ4. We had movies at the club three times a week and that was a big time, We got to bring our "escorts" house keepers, from AQ3 and AQ4 and what ever other AQ was available to the men.
We shot fish with our burp-guns and M-1 carbines from the cliff beside the Salt Water Tower. Our air strip was between the VOA and the beach, nothing but an open pasture, goats and caribou, the C-47s that brought us our pay and other morale items (BX etc) had to first make an animal run, (SCARE THEM OFF THE LANDING STRIP), than bring in the aircraft). It was a real good time, I would do it again in a New York minute. Hope you enjoy this narrative. (Dora this is Liveoak) I think R-70 was Dora and we were Liveoak "Kit" S. A. Carson, 70 yrs young USAF MSG Ret
mailto:kitcarjr@aol.com
G.O Smith 1st.Lt. Tour of duty 1957-1959 assigned to the 6207th AC&W Sq. Lily Hill, Clark AB.
What memories this site brings back thanks for all your hard work. Yes, I believe at some point during this time we were converted to the 848th AC& W. Wallace AS was our early warning site. Among my extra duties as a weapons controller at Lily Hill--I also monthly flew up to Poro Point at their pay officer. My commander at the time was a L/C Steward, the silver fox-I remember there was a Sari-Sari store on the beach by the airport where we could buy bananas that tasted very much like strawberries. Use to fly in a L-20, and had to buzz the strip to drive the goats off, then land. Course, the same was true up at Baguio. Then 1st Lt. GO Smith. Great people, great tour. Mailto: gaylons@centurytel.net
Homer Felknor A2C, 1958
I was stationed at Poro Point for a few months in 1958. I was 20 years old and Clark was my first assignment after Tech school. 30452. As a member of the 1961st AACS (Control Tower Maint), I had been sent to Camp O'donnell From Clark Field in 57. Then one of the two guys who was stationed at Poro Point (we never referred to it as "Wallace"), was electrocuted while working on the Beacon that AACS operated there. So I was sent to take his place. I brought my Girl Friend (Mila Gonzales) and rented a stilt hut downtown. I worked 3 on and 3 off. As an A2c I was living large! Everything was going well when I got word that my father had suffered a massive heart attack. They flew a plane in (I haven't a clue where he came down) and less tham 72 hours later I was in Mt Holly NJ after hopping multiple planes, including a chopper ride from Texas to Floyd Bennet Field in NY. I made it, but Dad died the day after I got home. The old bird had spent 37+ years in the Army and had been stationed at Clark before the war. I returned to Clark, but they had filled my spot at the Point, so I finished my tour (Plus a few months at the "convenience of the Government") and shipped out to Myrtle Beach. Not a lot of memories. I remember bringing my girl to the club. It looked somewhat like the pix by JJ O'Malley. A LITTLE bit more "refined" but not much. Certainly in 1958 , the site wasn't as large as it is in the later pictures. The main Bar downtown was owned by a retired American. I could buy my cigarettes in the club and sell them to a Filipino right there in the club. Never was the black market so efficient! Had a lot of fun reading the stories! hfelknor@comcast.net
Gerald Manley SGT - Jan 1960 until June 1961 - OPS
After arriving at Clark AFB I rode up to Wallace on a 6x6 with some of the guys stationed there. We bought a couple of casses of San Miguel and took the champagne flight. The back of the truck was filled with office equipment [chairs, cabinets, etc]. Base Commander was Captain Herbert E. Ray [from L.A.]. My boss was 1st Lt. Robert F. Travis and under him was Sgt Bouchard from Presque Isle, Maine. The height finder radar was just in the construction stage and was operational shortly after I arrived. We were paid in scrip so that we could not exchange greebacks on the Black market. We were fed very well there and had movies in the mess hall, but not new ones though.
Dan Wilson A2C (ret LTC) Radar Operator June 1960 to March 62
I was a A2c radar operator at Wallace (Poro Point) from approx June 60 until March 62. CO was Cpt Tom Collins? (we called him Tomcat). He wore his wings upside down when the USAF took him off of flying status. He was replaced by Maj. Dean? Plarmale?. I remember Lt. Travis--supposed to be the son of officer Travis AFB was named after. For a while 1Sgt was SSgt Lane Blankenship. Many stories-most of which I can't tell my wife, though single then. Anybody remember Gary Tweedie? Or A1c Ed ?, radar maint. Got drunk once, picked up a snake which bit him and got medivaced to Baguio. And on and on (and on). Then A2c Dan Wilson, now LTC(R) Dan Wilson. ltcmustang1@bellsouth.net
Robert Thompson TSGT Tour of duty 1961-1962 Radar Operator
I always felt that being stationed there was like being in a James Mitchner novel. Lots of good memories. Was back Clark in1968 going through theTsTs combat air crew survial course but didnt have the time to go back up to Wallace. mail to: CARLDLEE@AOL.COM
Norm Olsen A/3C I was assigned from December 1961 til the early part of December 1962.
Five of us came to the site direct from Air Police Tech School at Lackland. Our orders were for Clark, but when we signed in the personnel clerk couldn't find anything on us at Clark. He then looked around and told us " Your not supposed to be here" When we asked where we were supposed to be he said "Wallace, Camp Wallace". Well, we were trying to figure out just what kind of a mess we had gotten into. In a few days we were there, and it became the best tour of duty in my 21 year career.
We were a close bunch that worked well together, something you don't always have in a bigger outfit. Our movie theater was the mess hall. The present buildings were being built while I was there. Our site was at the cliff. The library and barracks were right on the cliff. The door to the library, which was really just the rear portion of the orderly room and Commander's Office, led out directly onto an overlook. You climbed over the side on a rope and climbed down to the beach. Safety folks today would cringe at that, but that was the normal way back then. Major Parmeley was the Squadron Commander and we were Det1, 824th AC&W Squadron then. Later we became the the 824the AC&W Squadron when Lilly Hill closed at Clark. Norm Olsen, MSgt, Retired. Email: nsolsen@hotmail.com
William (Bill) Scadin 1961 - 1963 - Radio Maintenance
I've never heard a person say a bad word about their tour at Wallace Air Station. It was an experience like no other. When I was there,as mentioned in some other stories, we lived in Quonset Huts. Our little BX was just one half of a small building, the other half was a barracks. I worked in Radio Maintenace for CWO Goldsmith and MSgt Walter Floyd. One of my friends downtown was Jack Macon from Manistee Michigan. He lived in Baguio where I eventually lived after my wife came over.
Maj Dean S Parmelee was the Commander. As most of the other Comanders, he was a great guy.There was a Naval Lt in charge of laying out the construction of the later to be barracks,dining hall etc. Boy, if you were'nt there at the beginning you missed some great times, but then,I guess we all had good times. Does anyone remember TSgt Buford (Butch) Neeley. I'm sorry to say he was killed by falling ice at a place he worked after he retired. MSgt Walt Floyd is also gone and I suppose manyothers.
When I was injured in Vietnam in 1966, I was sent to the hospital at Clark AFB. I got a couple of passes on weekends and rode the Dangwa bus to Baguio to see my neighbors the Lloyd Shuchmans. Lloyd was a manager at VOA while I was there. I got back to Wallace one weekend but the place had really built up because of the war. I hope all of you remember Wallace as your best assignment. mailto: Scadin@peoplepc.com
David Jones A/2C Radar Operator - tour of duty June 1962 to June 63
I was stationed at Clark from June 1962 until June 1963. They transferred me to Wallace in June where I stayed until I left the Island in December of 63. I had a blast at Wallace playing basketball for the base team as well as other sports. Of course I did a lot of drinking at the base club and down at the beach. I was best friends with the notorious Roger Bronzine, who I haven't heard from in over 35 years. I knew all the names on your message board that were their with me. I e-mailed them and got no response. I'm currently teaching 7th grade outside of Philly in a town called Cheltenham. I also coach basketball. Our team just won the Pa. state girl championship. mailto: djones@cheltenham.org
Paul Nowell, Airman First Class/Sgt Tour of duty 1962 - 1963
Being stationed at Wallace is probably one of the fondest memories of my military life. I arrived at Clark 3 days before Christmas of 1962. I was 20 years old and eagerly looking forward to my new adventure. A couple of days later, I was put in the back of a ton and a half and shipped north to Wallace. We had quonset huts for barracks and most every other building. That first night I bought my first beer legally in the "Club." I remember that there was also an area which we called the "Patio." This was a covered area near the cliff side where we could relax and tell lies. If I remember correctly, there was a beer box there which operated on the honor system.
My first trip off base and my first visit to "Harbor Lights" was my introduction to San Miguel and the ladies of the town. I had a very young face and I was small of stature. The women looked upon me as someone who needed education and coaching in the finer things of life. This was also my introduction to a local delicacy called lumpia. To this day if I go to an international food festival I look for a Filipino food stand and buy lumpia. After a couple of weeks, I made my first trip to John Hay. Being an avid golfer I was in my element. It's the first time I could ever afford a caddy. Those caddies were amazing. No matter where you hit the ball, they would find it and it would always be sitting up on a piece of tufted grass. I remember that on the way up to John Hay the older guys would play a trick on the rookies by telling us that we would see a tank from WWII. Sure enough, we rounded a curve and there was a big oil tank sitting up on legs. The market in Baguio was fascinating with all the wood carvings and such. The "19th hole" also was an excellent place to party.
My best friend while I was there was Charles "Clint" Carter. An Elvis look alike from Bradenton Florida. His immense size coupled with his Elvis looks made him a particular favorite with the women. There was one Filipino I particularly remember. His name was "Rick" and he was sort of the lead guy among the civilians. He could regale you for hours with stories about what they did to the Japanese during the occupation of World War II. I was there when President Kennedy was shot. All of the alarms went off in the middle of the night and we all rushed to our duty stations. At first we thought it was a drill and pretty much were casual about it. It didn't take long for the real thing to set in and we all were pretty scared. They gave me a carbine and had me patrolling along the cliff side. I didn't have any ammo in the gun. I asked a sergeant who came along what good I was doing there with no ammo. He replied, "Son, the s.o.b. who can climb that cliff and get through that fence is not going to be hurt my no damn carbine." Hello real world. What I remember most about operations, other than learning how to write backwards, was a Captain Oliver who was a navigator and weapons controller. When we were working the midnight shifts and not much was flying, he would take us out and point out the stars and navigational points in the heavens.
After leaving Wallace in late 1963, I was discharged early at Travis. A couple of years later my personal life was in the pits and I rejoined the Air Force. A one year assignment at Perrin AFB in Texas and back to Wallace. I remember that not a lot had changed. Of course all the new buildings were operational and the operations side of the site was pretty much as I had remembered it. Because of my experience and training, I was assigned to work in the training office. The club was being run by an NCO that we called (either) "Chicken Man" or "Rooster Man." He had a great big mustache that he kept well waxed and trimmed quite well. He was the best of the scroungers I had ever met. He could get the club equipment and foods no one else could get.
I was assigned the same room on the second floor as my first assignment there. While sleeping one night, we were awakened and told that Senator Kennedy had been shot. It's odd that I was asleep in the same bed when his brother the president was shot. I don't think the Kennedy family wants me to go back to the PI. The civilian employee, Rick, that I mentioned in my memories of my earlier assignment at Wallace, was now running the liquor sales in "The Club." He remembered me the minute I walked in. There was an old Security Gate just across from the club that had been the entry point sometime in the past. Our commander wanted to tear it down as it was an eyesore. The powers that be at Clark wouldn't allow him to tear it down. Not long after expressing his disatisfaction with this decision, the damn thing caught on fire in the middle of the night and burned down in a matter of minutes. When the fire inspector from Clark came up to investgate, he said he thought it had been arson. Imagine that!
During this period, we had an earthquake. I remember waking up and my bed was doing a crab walk across the floor. The fire alarms went off and we all ran outside. I looked at a Filipino security officer and asked him, "What should we do?" He put the palms of his hands together and looked to the sky as if he were praying. The thing that really had us worried was the possibility of a tidal wave. Didn't happen, but, there was a lot of damage in Manila. Our First Sergeant, I think his name was Sweat, got into a terrible arguement with his girl downtown. She got him drunk and tied him to a tree and was pouring gasoline on him when the PC got there and stopped her. She had already cut his uniforms into shreds and he had to borrow some uniforms to participate in an inspection the next day. One of the things I remember, was when Naval Officers from a carrier would come to the site to participate in and observe us running a mission. They had a real big problem with eating and partying with enlisted men. It didn't take them long to get over it....... PaulN54960@aol.com
Fred Klingerman, A1C - Radar Operator November 1963
I was a Radar Operator, A/1C making Staff at Travis. I worked mostly movements ID. We spent alot of time at the beach where the Peace Corp girls hung out, also boating, volley ball, bars, NCO Club,Poro Point and Baguio, Manila, all good memories. Had real bad Typhoon, never saw it rain so hard, and haven't since. My room mate was Bob Fraiser, haven't heard from anyone since I left there in November 1963..... Mailto: fklinger1@charter.net
Bill ( Lank ) Zellman Radar Operator tour of duty 1962 - 1963
I was fresh from duty at danang air base in june 1962 , I started a memorable experiece at the 848th . My tour lasted from June 12, 1962 to June 14, 1963. I was there before the the new barracks were built. we lived in quonset huts along the cliff.We watched movies in the mess hall and hung out at the airman's club. The club was outside the fence which enabled some of the local women to socialize with us. It seemed like we visited the bars in poro point every night. We were lucky if we made it back in time for curfew. We also took the train or bus to manila for extended leaves. Talk about some experiences. If we felt like golf, it was off to john hay. I still remember some of the hills that had tow ropes to pull you up the fairways. I hate to brag,but, we had apretty good softball and basketball team. We use to go back and forth to clark air base as well as playing some of the filipino military units. I constantly surf the net looking for evidence of some of my old friends and comrades; namely , denny ayres, bill lees , butch sain and who could forget ole morty. I also have some photos that I will be emailing. Hope to hear from ' youse' guys in the near future. MAIL TO: Mysrose89@aol.com
Michael W. Spence, (A2C) I was stationed at Wallace Air Station 1962-1963. I was assigned to the 848th AC&W Squadron, as a Radar Operator. I initially arrived at Clark AFB approximately June of 1962. Worked as a Radar Operator on "Lilly Hill" at Clark Field for approximately 10 months before getting transferred to Wallace Air Station. The group I was with, were some of the first occupants to enjoy the "new barracks" at Camp Wallace. I met and became close friends with Richard Morse. In fact, Rich contacted me recently after over 35 years and this prompted my posting in this Blue Book. We had some great times at Camp Wallace and John Hay Air Base. I drove a truck once a week to make the "mail run" to John Hay from Camp Wallace. Got to know the locals down in San Fernando La Union . I would be interested in hearing from anyone that was stationed at Camp Wallace during l962 - 1963. mailto:mspencectc@aol.com
Ron Scheer - I was stationed at Wallace April 1963 through July 64. I worked in the Power Plant.
I remember a lot of Buddies from Wallace but not all their names. Some I remember Eddie Gorman, J Cheatam. R. Hamontree, Burns, Antoash, the Medic, an air policeman that was built like a tank and strong as a bull. Speaking of Bulls, the Bull fight in the middle of the base. The brown bull won. I had a great time snorkling in the L. Gulf, spent a lot of time in the poro point bars, before they closed. Loved the Mugunda Babayies, drank too much san magoo and tandy Y rum. O to be 18 years old in the P.I. A lot of people at Wallace called me Alabama. some called me Red. My e mail is ras1312@earthlink.net.
Reed Adell A1C - Tour of duty May 1963 to May 1964
Reed sent us the photo of Wallace that was taken in 1963. The photo was taken by someone that was stationed at Wallace and was coming back from Clark. I was stationed there from May 63 thru May 64. The barracks had only been completed in the spring of 63. No Air for the first couple months. The old operations is the little building at the cliffs edge directly in front of first bubble (left side of picture). Email: rmadell@minot.com
James L. Cheatham, A2C tour of duty Jan 1963 - April 1964
I was stationed at Wallace Air Station from Jan. 63 to April 64. About the time I arrived at Wallace, the new parts of the base was almost complete and ready to move into. This included the new airman's barracks, officer's quarters, new radar operations building, power plant, radio operations building, commander's office building, tropo building, chow hall, theater, new radar dome. Around March 63 the new parts of Wallace were ready to go online. My duties was Power Production Specialist and the start-up of the New Power Plant had to be accomplished to carry the load of all of the new buildings and operations. For nearly a month we ran both the old plant( which was located near the cliff and gun range) and the new power plant to check out the new equipment. This meant working 12/7 for this time until everything checked out. There were only four Power Production Specialist assigned to Wallace, and not to long after we moved into the new barracks, one of these slipped down on a wet floor and received a concussion and spent months at Clark, before being discharged.
Sometime during this tour of duty, one of the Radio Operators took a picture of Wallace from top of the radio tower which is located in the middle of the base. This picture clearly shows all of the base from a high angle. I have a copy of this picture somewhere, and will try to get it to you. The Commander of Wallace at that time was a Lt. Colonel Julius E.Smith, which was said to have been the pilot that sunk the sub in the bay East of Wallace, during W.W.II. There were always something going on at Wallace, Bagio, the beach or town. Wallace had good relations with the towns around the base and were invited to march in their Christmas parades during our tour of duty. The mail truck ran to Bagio daily, and carried those that were off duty up the mountain to R&R, which included golf. During our tour the payroll truck from Clark was robbed, which caused the exchange of military script to greenback dollars overnight, which upset local storekeepers. Some of those that served during my tour of duty that I remember: Robert Hammontree(Georgia), James Wilks(Ohio),Donald Muncy(Michigan),Ronald Scheer, James Burns, Robert Fryske, Ronald Kosh and Charles Carter. mail to: southern@sprhill.net
Richard Morse A/2C - I was stationed at Wallace Air Station from 1963-1964 as a AC&W Operator.
I was heavily involved in sports particularly basketball and softball. I remember traveling quite a bit playing sports. Some of the people that I remember at the air station are James Cheatham, Reed Adell, Mike Spence, Don Clarkson, Ron Koch, Jim Gincola, Sgt. Kithcart, Capt. Sheringo, Capt. Oliver, Clint Carter, James MacDaniels and Bob Frasier. E-Mail contact RCMCK@AOL.COM
Bill Miller - I was a young E/2 stationed there from Oct 63 to Jan 65
Spent a lot of my time at John Hay AB--or when at Wallace, climbing down the cliff over near the light house and onto the beach and rocks below. I'm retired now--and for the moment, living in Florida. I still have very fond memories of my tour at Wallace. I remember the C-47 that we use to fly down to Clark AB--it buzzed the field first to chase the goats off the field before landing. I also remember sitting in the radio operator's seat [we had a particularly full flight] and thinking it was all over as we almost cleared the trees at the end of the run way--followed the pilot as we got off at Clark as he pulled off some of the palm fronds that were still stuck in the landing gear. They made some drastic changes in what was considered a full load after that. mail to: bmiller64@austin.rr.com
Norma In 1965 - I was the manicurist for Curley while attending high school.
I was the manicurist for Curley while attending high school. My father also worked at Raytheon Co in Wallace at that time. I graduated high school and went on to Manila to attend college at the Far Eastern University. Dropped out of college and went back to Wallace to sell the Pacific Stars and Stripes. I met many good looking guys at Wallace such as Tom Jacobson aka AUGER77777 and of course my husband, Scott Angel who was stationed at Det 6. Unfortunately, we are now parted and went our own ways. I remember James Dunn, Lamboy, and Sgt Brown. I also remember going to WASCOM to get my newspaper at 6 pm and I remember the nights the strippers came and I tried to sneak in but they never let me in. I remember when Web Thompson gave me "marijuana" to be smoked only in the dark he said and it made me so sick only to find out he raided Mommy Thompson's box of parsley. Write to me if you can Norma - email to: TazDevilCake@aol.com
Harold (Butch) Arnett A1C Det-6 tour of duty 1964-65
I was at Wallace A-S from 1964 to 1965 and then on to 1st mob at Clark A.B. PI. .Thank to my job i found a great lady who puts up with me from Davo City PI. A few hours before leaving Trvis A.B Ca, KC135 landed at Clark A.B. and all was killed and other on the ground was killed..I use to get big eyes when i would see all type of air craft buz the radar dome
I am also looking for some of my fellow Det-6 people. Mr. Goldsmith was Det-6 Commander at the time. SSGT. Clark (now deceased) was the NCOIC. (I was the one who got run over) and here is the story. We were having a going away party for Mr. Goldsmith at the Phippine Navy outside gate of W.A.S. After the party ended three of us headed to the Harbor Lights bar with three cases of beer. It was raining and about midnight or later..I seen vehicle lights a head thinking it was a jeepney, when I went to the vehicle I noticed it was an old military two half ton truck we turned over to Philippines after the war. When I stepped onto the running board of the truck the driver took a turn left on to hard payment, I jumped off as the driver turn left and the right four wheels run over me. I spent about 78 days in clark hosptial..I was tranferred to first moble after leaving hosptial and later to vietnam. mailto: HAROLDARNT@wmconnect.com
Frank B. (Barney) Clark / 1LT Wpns Controller /Retired Colonel Tour of Duty May 1965 to Aug 65
Wallace-by-the-Sea was my second assignment after Benton AFS PA, a manual site. Wallace had the same UPA-35 control sets and OA-99 surveillance sets as Benton. Felt good to walk into familiar stuff after being an orphan under the SAGE sector at Syracuse. Wallace then had two Captains [Leo Minkel, Charlie Kilb], a Major [Manford C. Njust], a LTC CO [-- Pruzinski], about twelve 1LTs and two warrant officers. One of the Warrents, Bill Dunn was a real piece of work: He flew Spitfires with the Eagle Squadrons in England pre-US formal WWII involvement and was the FIRST American Ace of WWII. Dunn got crosswise of George Marshall as a liaison with the ChiNats on Taiwan and Marshall had him busted to the ranks. Soon after I arrived Wallace, LTC Bill Spencer – a real good guy - became the Wallace CC.
Among the 1LTs were Ed Goucher (later Undergraduate Pilot Training [UPT], shot down C-1223/KIA/ Vietnam); John Duane (career 17XX/retired COL/deceased); Gordon Swenson; Ron Rutkowski, Bill Sweeney; Pete Ache (UPT/C-141s/retired COL); Floyd Smith (UPT/RF-4s/F101B); Tom Mooney; Harry Kingsbury, Gary Wiley; Leo Sheedy; and myself (post-Wallace Tyndall Instructor/UPT/F-100 {VN}/T-38 IP/FB-111/ SAC Staff).
Some of the Wallace enlisted folks during my time were T/S Hezakiah Kithcart [Ops Sgt];, M/S Tom Kirk [Crew chief]; A2C Dick Wagner; A1C Cliff Channel; A2C Nathaniel McDaniel; A1C Zane Cofelt; SSGT Roger Householder; SSGT Sonanstine; A1C Balbino Villones and TSGT Sperling, who had waded ashore on Leyte with Gen.McArthur and the Big Red One in 1944 [ He said they did the landing hlf a dozen times before McArthur was satisfied with the photos].
These events kind of stand out among thousands of Wallace memories:
- The C-135 transport from CONUS crashed, no survivors, on approach to Clark Field. I had arrived PI on that flight the previous week.
- The first Clark-Bagio-Wallace truck ride: What vertical drop ??
- First trip to Manila. Scary traffic. Interesting scenery. A seven-foot Filipino.
- The sunsets
- A Filipino blowing himself up while fishing with dynamite
- The “Bubble Checks”. I actually did a couple of those later in an F-100 going to/from Nam for maintenance on Taiwan. Couldn’t get Musketeer up on 364.2.
- TDY to Laoag to monitor the first week of the B-52 strikes out of Guam. Watching the two B-52s mid-air/few survivors after refueling enroute Nam.
- Seeing all he folks coming to work from Airman’s Quarters 3 AKA AQ-3 ( Poro Point ), changing in AQ-2 ( multi-story barracks) and passing AQ-1 (cliff edge) into the Ops Building.
- The alerts after the NV navy struck at the USS Maddox on Tonkin Gulf - - long time in ops those days.
- TDYs to Nam to augment the 5th Tac Ctrl Gp build-up.
- Baguio, golf and the Crystal Cave
- The houseboys lighting their hooches by capturing the VOA broadcasting energy.
- The new Wallace First Shirt, about a 25-yr MSGT, arriving PCS at AQ-2 late night and going outside for a last smoke on a truly pitch-black night. One of the cows was standing invisibly about six feet from the new First Shirt. The startled cow welcomed the First Shirt by launching a world-class MOOOOOO ! Next day, the First Shirt’s first action was to turn out all and gather all the cows and goats on the basketball court for expulsion from Wallace.
- The BOQ bartender, Bert Cacaam. Reputed to be a honcho in the local mafioso, Bert was a real good guy and – usually - kept the local bad guys at bay; exception: When the bad guys sliced up a tech rep in his beach quarters. Have a photo on Bert bringing a cooler of ice from the Wallace Club, walking into the teeth on typhoon winds.
Learned a lot of dos and don’ts at Wallace. Watched a lot of boredom slip by with a really great bunch of guys.
Thanks for keeping up the Wallace Log !!!!!!!!!!
mailto: FRANKCLARK1@COX.NET
Don Miles - SGT Tour of duty - Mar 1964-May 1965 - Radar repairman
Ed Antosh and I worked together for a while and when we worked the mid shift we would throw rocks on the tin roof of the power plant roof to get Ron Scheer out of the john from taking a nap. The rocks sounded like the generators were throwing a piston. Needless to say he wouldn't be to happy. At that time our radar was a single channel AN/GPS-4 tunable magnetron which had the old AN/FS-20 receiver. The other channel was part of the old AN/FPS-3. Our crew when on break and when we returned Mr. Carroll the tech rep had installed the AN/FPS-8 along side the old FPS-3 equipment (which was becoming obsolete) and it to be the other channel. So at one time we had all three running.
We also had the AN/FPS-6 heightfinding radar. We also had 9 UPA-35's, 2 UPX-6's with the SIF decoders, GPA-30, and a couple of OA-175's. If you have been in radar you can see that for two guys on a shift your evening was busy just doing shift check. We also had the T-2 & T-4 trainers which were maintained by one other radarman. One of the highlights of my stay was that our radar boss, Maj. Njust, sent Charlie Knox and myself on the old C-47 that came in every Tuesday to Clark AFB to see the Bob Hope USO show in 1964. (Also was able to see Bob Hope in Saigon in 1972.)
My other crew mate Jim Beggins, met this PI ship captain and when he came into port we would partake of San Miguel's on his ship. Drinks at the club was 10 cents a drink during happy hour. Pall Mall's and Salem's were the cigarettes of choice, $1 a carton, rumor had it that the SP's could sell your cigarettes off base for 20 pesos ($5) a cartoon. A 12 place setting of the best Noritake china from the BX was a $44 at that time. The old patio was a good place to sit and dream of going home. The Rice Bowl in Baguio was a good place for dinner. We use to get bubble checks out of Clark with F-100's and A-1' from the PI Air Force. One saturday morning we had a C-135 give us 3 low level passes before going on to Clark. I imagine he told the fighter jocks that was a real bubble check. I am still in contact with Don Marsh comm. sqd. donmiles@cox.net
Jerry Chambers, TSGT, USAF, Ret. (A/3C & /2C at Wallace). I worked in the power plant in 1964-65
Some of you may know me better as "Julius", the nickname I was given by George Chanatry. George, my room mate had a talent for nicknaming. This was my first tour of duty after tech school and was also the best assignment I had during eleven years in the Air Force. I still have many fond memories of that time. As an E-2, I had very few responsibilities so as a young man of 21, my main focus was on having fun. I managed to do a very good job of this. I probably would have qualified for a "9 level" in wild living. Life, of course, had to get serious after Wallace but those were good times. I retired from the Air Force on disability (spinal cord damage) in 1974. My E-mail address is jerrych@bellsouth.net
Sam Ward A1C: I was stationed at Wallace A.S. in Jan 1965 thru Apr 1966.
Best assignment I had in my 24yrs of svc. I was assigned to Det 6, 1961 (1960-worst) Comm Gp as a teletype operator. Harold Arnett, Dan Allen, Brice Cohen, Jim Duncan, and Mr "G" (Goldsmith) were stationed there at that time. We all had a lot of fun times up there in those days. I used to shoot a lot of pool with a guy named Jerry Noel over at the Outpost quite a bit.....My wife, Tita, is from Poro Point, (Tawi-Tawi)...I still keep in touch with Scotty Evans, he's retired from the marshall's service and the AF reserve and lives in Victorville, CA. Dan Allen lives down in Texas, and I still owe him a letter. Dan Allen is married to Helen, who he met while he was stationed there. I was stationed in the PI four times while I was in the service, but the first one (Wallace) was the best one. Jerry, the one question I had about Camp Wallace is just who was it named after?? (Jerry's answer is) See page one Sam...Email: sgtsam49441@altavista.com
Jerry Jensen, A/2C - Dec. 1965 thru Mar. 1967, attached with Det. 6, 1961 Comm. Gp.
at Wallace. Arrived at Wallace, just before Xmas in '65, right out of Keesler (Ground Radio Repair) where my last instructor had just come from Wallace(a SSgt., name escapes me). He showed me pictures and we talked, but needless to say flying in and landing at San Fernando "International" Airport couldn't have prepared me for the next 15 months. I can still remember the smell of the cooking oil in the air, coming across the bay, while walking out of the 3rd floor barracks staircase. Great people, great site, and a great experience. Things I remember the most.... "Best Chow Hall" in SEA with it's San Megal beer and Pizza nights, fresh eggs and powered milk & ice cream. Many a nite a bunch of us would sneak in late and the cook would fix us something to eat. ....the Harbor Lights... trips to Baguio City on the weekends, with it's "19th Tee", also the bus filled with guys going to John Hay on Tuesday mornings.
Airman's Donnivan, Patrick and Falkner, all Radio Repairmen, Carson - Teletype repair and Sgt. Moreno - radioman. Fighter planes that would do a "Dome Check" that would knock you right out of your bunk. Painting the Transmitter Building, the summer of '66, this pretty shade of "Carolina Blue", who knows why, we didn't know how to mix paint. Swimming and watch the Filipinos throw sticks of dynamite into the water to catch fish. Trips to Clark, took the train back once, what an experience. AP Scotty Evans .... Airman Worshbale, a guy who would eat a hot pepper sandwich every morning for breakfast .... the AC&W and Raytheon guys, driving our truck to VOA to fix a broken receiver. So many more that come back to me now that there's not enough room for it all. All in all, a great experience, a lasting effect. I hope that if anyone remembers me they will try and write. My e-mail address is jjensen@ec.rr.com, living in Wilmington, NC now. Thanks for the chance to write to your page.... Jerry Jensen
Walter Batchelor Raytheon Company Jan. 1966 thru Nov. 1969
I remember skipping out of upstate NY (Oswego) just barely ahead of the record snow (110 inches in a week) to start my "tour" at the tropical beach resort of Poro Point. I was not to escape record setting weather, however, as a typhoon's eye passed directly over Baguio during a rainy season. The storm dropped 47+ inches of rain in 24 hours, setting the world record for a day. It broke the 43 inch record which was also held by Baguio ... don't remember exactly when this happened but was very glad I was at Poro that day and not in Baguio! After I adjusted to the lack of snow, I fell in love with the climate and people (one in particular!) and have to say it was the best job of my career. I lived on the base (airman's dorm) for 2 years and then in Baguio (with it's 70° climate) for another 2 after I got married. The commute to Baguio was interesting but my night shift partner (Rob Roy) and I would hit the links at John Hay most every day. All that practice didn't help my golfing much but the exercise was great... and what views!
The sunrises over the mountains at Poro were fabulous but the sunsets with all the after-glow couldn't be topped anywhere. The rainy-season brought photo-opts almost every day. This WEB site makes give me the urge to dig out all those slides and get some on-line. Maybe, someday (when I can find time!). I have difficulty remembering names (always have, but 35 - 40 years ago ... wow). I remember one airman (from Long Island, I think) that flew a small Cessna with me but the name doesn't come back. It was probably in 1966, possibly in 1967. If anyone remembers his name, drop me an EMAIL. I won't embarrass myself by listing the few Raytheon workers that I do remember but, anyone interested, EMAIL me. I will update this entry when I get my list better organized. I'm currently living in Oswego, NY (now that the snow has melted), work in Rochester, and am now addicted to marathoning (walking variety). "I'd go almost anywhere for a good race." WalterBatchelor@Netscape.NET
Michael Donoho 1st Lt. Weapons Controller 1966 - 1967
Wallace was a great place and a great time to be there. Would love to hear from any friends from those days. At that time I was a 1st Lt. Weapons Controller. I remember the sunsets - how the sun would just "splop" straight down into the South China Sea at that latitude - an observation probably enhanced with a few cocktails or beers enjoyed at the club on the cliff. Remember when Peggy Vick joined John, and they, John Macon, and I rented a house in San Fernando.
I remember when Col Paegler arrived - he was a great man. And I remember Libby in the Admin Office. I remember driving up to Baguio - would like to go back just to drive that road one more time. Also remember sunrise drives down to Clark that were beautiful. Specifically remember going up to Baguio, one time, to substitute for Macon, who had been asked to be the best man at a wedding, but who, sadly, had to pull duty and could not go. Fortunately, as I recall, the bride and groom were much more interested in one another than the identity of their best man - so it was OK. That night I stayed at John Hay. I had become so used to the tropical climate. In the middle of the night, I woke up freezing. It was probably no lower than about 60 degrees. I put on my suit, and wrapped up in the blanket, and the curtains from the window, and anything else I could find - towels, the newspaper, whatever, and waited for dawn. Go figure - my next stateside assignment was Ent at Colorado Springs and I loved the cold. I'm retired now. Eventually became an accountant and retired from US Civil Service last year. Live in Baltimore and Cambridge, MD. Hope to hear from some Wallace folk. e-mail is Donlee725@msn.com
Edward Meagher Tour of Duty 1966 - 1977 duty section was 1961st. Comm Sq.
I was stationed at Wallace from late '66 to mid '67 with the 1961st Comm SQ. as a radio operator. I remember Mike O'Neal and Joe Landers. We took several trips to Bag City and then onto Manila on PAL. I ran the little library and just about read my way through it. I remember steak dinners at the Cliff Club and 25 cents Scotch. Life was good.
mailto: emeagher@cox.net
John Macon Capt. Tour of duty 1966-67 - Weapons Controller
Worked the Wallace extension site at the PAF in Loag. He was at Poro Point in 1966-67 when Cornell Wilde filmed his movie Beach Red, with several airmen serving as extras. mailto: JFmacon2@aol.com
Fred Lloyd A/2C Tour of Duty Nov 1966 to December 1967 Radar Operator
I arrived at Wallace Air Station with seven other one stripers in November 1966. It was quite a culture shock for an eighteen year old Airman. I've been aware of this great site for a long time and I have many memories of my thirteen months at Wallace. I plan on expanding my narrative in the future. I worked for the Defense Logistics Agency, but retired on disability in 1997. I spend summers in Upstate NY and winters in North Florida. I also have other black & white photos of our time @ Wallace, but they're in another location. I may send you some of those to in the future. mailto: chenangorick@usadatanet.net
Jim Richards (A2C, AC&W Repair). Tour of Duty Dec 1966 to Nov 67.
The first thing I remember was the Base Commander confronting the troops over the amount STD's the first 25 days of December. I have pictures of the guys that attended chapel and of the base softball team. I enjoyed the ping pong competition, 25 cent Brown Cows and some of the best food I have ever eaten. I'll never forget the bug zapper at the guard shack, the F-4 fly bys and the wonderful beach. I hope to stop by San Fernando on a mission trip to the northern Phillippines in the next year or two. I now live at Copalis Beach on the Washington coast where I pastor a small, rural church.
mailto:doubleblessing@coastaccess.com
Jerry Smith SSGT. Tour of Duty May 1966 to July 67 Civil Engineers - Air Conditioning Tech
When I was at Wallace, TSGT. Johnson was the WASCOM manager, SMSGT. Libby and I were in charge of the Civil Engineers and Motor Pool. I was the site Air Conditioning specialist. SSGT. James Smith and SGT. Bixler were in charge of security and Lt.Col Paegler was the commander at that time. I would just like to say that the Airmen, NCO's, Officers, PAF troops and local nationals (Ilocanos) were a great bunch of people. I credit all for making my assignment and stay at Wallace a very rewarding one. Now that was a long time ago, but the memories are still etched very clearly in my mind.
Alot of good things happened to me while at Wallace. I wasn't even expecting my promotion to SSGT and I was very proud to wear those new stripes. I also received a PAF commendation for repairing their equipment cooling systems which got their radar gear up and running. I was invited by Emelda Marcos to attend a dinner at the presidential palace but did not attend. What an uproar that caused.
I am elated yet very humbled by the fact that this website is so loved and popular with all you great Wallace veterans. Thank you all for participating and help in making this website one huge success.jerry.l.smith@att.net
Raymond "Budaman" Buda, CMSgt, USAF(Ret) Tour of Duty 1966
TDY - PCS 1969
My first experience at Wallace was
in the summer of 1966. I was assigned to the 2875th GEEIA Sq at Tachikawa
AB Japan. Our job was to remove the old search radar system and install the
modified FPS-20 Series. 5th Tac from Clark had set up an MPS-11 as a backup
while our team replaced the radar. One of the first problems we had was bringing
up the antenna from Clark. The main box beam and the two end sections of the
sail were no problem. There were a couple of us assigned to ride shotgun on the
trucks that were bringing up the equipment. The big problem is bringing up the
three big sections of the antenna. The trucks could not make it through one of
the bridges because of the height. We had it arranged for a forklift to unload
the antenna sections, drag them across the bridge and reload them on the semi's.
As always Murphy's law struck and the banding machine that we were using to
secure the antenna sections back to the semi's broke. We did manage to wrap
enough banding to make it to Wallace. When we got to the main gate we had to cut
the sign down so the trucks could make it through. The trip from Clark to
Wallace lasted 24 hrs.
In May 69 I was assigned there PCS. When I arrived
there I asked the commander for a 45 day leave so I could visit my family back
in the states. He told me that I was suppose to take leave between my last duty
station and Wallace. I told him that I had just left Viet Nam and the first
place the plane landed was Clark. Needless to say the leave was never
approved.
The year that I spent there was beautiful. I dated a Philippine
Generals daughter in Manila and her family was so nice. She had relatives in San
Fernando that ran one of the hotels on the beach. I was able to visit the see
the cemetery in Manila for the American servicemen killed in WWII. It was quit
impressive.
One of my trips back to the site from Manila I was stopped at
an accident scene by the local police. It turned out that one of the PAF trucks
from Wallace had wrecked. One of the police men asked me if I was from Wallace
and when I said I was he asked me if I would take the injured PAF person to the
local hospital. I did and two armed police men rode in my car to the hospital.
After leaving the hospital I went on to Wallace. When I got to the site I
stopped at the Wascom for a couple cold ones. Two of the locals that worked
there thanked me for helping with the injured person. How word got there before
I did I do not know. They told me to leave my car at the club and the next day
they would clean the blood off the back seat. The next day it was clean as
new.
I was there when the AFETS Tech Rep was gunned down. It turned out
it was a mistake of identity. One of the civilians working for Raytheon was
involved in a traffic accident earlier and a local was killed. He was sent out
of the country over night but the problem was his car was similar to the one
that the AFETS Rep had. The may of one of the nearby towns had him
killed
I remember when we received the fire truck. Some of us volunteered
and we had some good training. We did some training with foam at the local
airport just incase one of the F-4's had to make an emergency landing. We did
have one run while I was there and that was to help the local fire department
with a house fire. The page with the pictures, I am the middle one with us
standing bye the truck and one of them showing us training I am in the back
round.
One of the young waitresses that worked at Wascom later married a
guy in radar maintenance. I found out when I was stationed at Luke AZ and he was
in my shop. We became next door neighbors after I got married while stationed at
Luke.
I do not know if any of you remember George White that was
stationed there in the 80's in radar maint. He was a blond hair guy. I met him
while I was TDY to Det 4 in Columbia.
When I left Wallace I did a 9 month
tour to NKP Thailand and the 9 month tour to Udorn Thailand.
During
the Tet 68 I was still assigned to the 2875th GEEIA but was on an installation
of a FPS-100 and FPS-89 at Irworl San Korea. I was there when the Pueblo was
captured. I went PCS to Viet Nam in Jul 68. The funny thing is when I got to the
Radar shop at the 619th TCS they put my name on the bottom of the rotation list
to go back to the states. Some got upset when I told them to move my name up on
the list because I had spent 45 days TDY to SEA back in 66.
Of the 37 1/2
years that I spent in Radar Maintenance in the military only one year was in an
AC&W SQ. Two were in ATC at Keesler and three in GEEIA in Japan. The other
31 1/2 were it TCS between active duty and the Air National Guard. mailto:
ChiefBuda@aol.com
Jon Vick, 1st Lt. - Tour of duty 1966-67 Weapons
Controller
What a great time we had at Wallace, both at work and
at play. There were a great bunch of guys in the USAF, the PAF, and Raytheon.
And of course the Honeys; what would we have done without the honeys. My new
wife (now my ex-wife) Peggy joined me after a few months and we lived in a house
in San Fernando that John Macon, Mike Donoho, and Pat Leonard and I had rented
from the Senor Villanueva, who had given away his wealth in a failed attempt to
run for mayor.
Highlights and memories of the tour: Learning to conduct
good intercepts from Lt. (Art?)Smith; Most responsibility I had ever had as
Security (what security?) Officer and Senior Controller; Libby in a casket
driving through Town, "Its all right", freaked the natives; Cornell Wilde
filming Beach Red; long, uncomfortable and occasionally exciting trips on the
Philippine Rabbit to places like the Rice Terraces; parties with the Peace Corps
girls; USO troup from Pepperdine College; Honeys, Honeys, Honeys; San Miquels
and balutes; the overnight train to Manila; The Army/Navy Club in Manila;
parties at President Marcos' Poro Point House; visiting the VP in Manila and
trying to sell him a car (he didn't buy); mid-air collision with a weapons
controller trainee at the radar scope, and later finding a pilots helmet in the
water; Charging Sparrow, where we controlled F-4s that were testing Sparrow I.R.
missiles over the Linguyan Gulf; slots in the Officers Club; the US submarine
that came in and our baseball game and getting drunk with the crew; Selling my
Corvair illegally, but who knew; the weekly C-47s (Gooney Birds) that delivered
our nightly movies; "Bubble" checks with F-102s and 106s coming in low and fast;
great friends John Macon, Sherm Reed, Mike Donoho, Pat Leonard, and characters
like Mike Reilly and many guys whose names now escape me; cool nights at Camp
John Hay; and did I mention the Honeys?
Life is short, and we knew how to
live well at Wallace. Do you remember what a bong bong is? I believe it is a
butterfly, and if you went from girl to girl you were referred to as a bong
bong. What memories.
Jon
Vick
President, ASCs Inc.
13678 McNally Road
Valley Center, CA
92082
Tel 760-751-0250
Fax 760-751-0263
e-mail:
jonvick2@aol.com
www.ascs-inc.com
Message to Jon Vic From John Macon - Wallace Tour 1966-67
Thanks so much for sending the Wallace pictures and web site. Jerry Smith has done a beautiful job with the web site. I think we all had some great fun at Wallace. I was sorry to hear Jack Paegler has passed away..........he was a class act, and we were very lucky to serve under him in those days (Poor guy....he had to serve under General "Whip" Wilson at Clark....I don't envy him that aspect). I'm glad you can remember that you were on "Charlie Crew". My memory is a mess these days! I must have been on Alpha or Beta crew? One memory sticks out..... I can recall getting off of the night shift one morning and walking down those long stairs to the beach to go swimming, only to find the largest shark that I'd ever seen sunning himself where we usually went swimming (someone had told me that sharks never came where we swam.....wrong)! From that day on, I'd only go swimming at our beach if there were a lot of other folk (bait) already swimming in the water. By the way, you guys look much too young in that picture of Charlie Company..... Best regards, John Macon
Mark Staley - Frequent visitor and friend of Wallace
Great job with the site. I came to Clark '67 and '68 from the 683rd in Sweetwater and visited Wallace many times during my off days. Clint Stegeman and I were in TX together so he introduced me to many of the Wallace troops. Marvin Folk was another friend. I have just discovered the Radome, your site and the Clark site. Good to look back and remember those good days. Your photos of the beach area brings back good memories. I learned to snorkle there. I have as many memories of Wallace as I do the 13th AF Air Defense at Clark. I had a call from Stegeman yesterday and we rehashed the good ole days. With your permission, I will sign the blue book as a friend of Wallace. Again, great job on the site. My biggest regret is not having the foresight to take pictures and write down names and notes during those years. Mark Staley Newnan, GA
Rolando Garcia - Civilian 1966 - 1991 - Worked in the Civil Engineering, Raytheon and the SP's
I worked for the Civil Engineering Unit from 1966 to Jul 1968. My foreman was Mr Galang. after that I worked with Ryan and Raytheon from 1968 to 1973. I remember Mr Cloud, he was my boss and He gave me one rim of Marlboro once a month in addition to my salary. My other boss was Mr Hendick, a good guy. I learned to smoke by this way and after getting sick of smoking I decided to sell my ration of marlboro. The scar inside my lungs is still in me up to this day. How ever my health is in perfect condition now and I'm physically fit to play basketball, tennis, and golf. The wallace golf course taught me how to play golf. I have to bring with me my artificial fairway green approx 10 inches square to hit my ball on it. The fairways in wallace was rocky and no grass during summer time and a lot of grass during the rainy season. The green is not a grass green but a sand green. After the putting the player must fix the sand green by pulling a wooden rake around and around the hole. The Walla Rock beach is a perfect place to relax and enjoy the sound of the thundering waves against the big rocks. Snorkling in the crystal clear beach is wonderful and the beauty of the corals under water will make you come back.
I worked with the Security Police of Wallace AS from 1973 to 1991. I was amazed when I saw this website and read all the stories of the enlisted men and women who were at Wallace. I aggree with everyone's comment that Wallace was indeed a beautiful place, not only the beautiful sunset and sunrise views but also the people I met were very friendly and accomodating in Walla Rock. Have you heard about a driving person while sleeping? I still rememember Rolando Ramirez, Ciriaco Talaro, MAnuel Yapyap, etc..etc. It will be too long if I'm going to list all the names of the people that run Walla Rock before. My CSP before then Was Donald Dawson, how are you Sir? How about Cuyahon, Macabitas, and all DOD's in Wallace, How are you guys!!!
My address is 22736 Kinard Ave, Carson, Ca 90745 and I hope everyone recalls all the wonderfull memories of Wallace Air Station. God bless you all. mailto: rolandogarcia@2by2.net or rolandodgarcia@yahoo.com. My business e-mail is rolandogarcia@barlinrealty.org. Thanks for all the memories.
Michael O'Neal SGT. Tour of duty - 1966-1967
I just couldn't believe my eyes when I opened your site. It took my breath away. I was stationed at Wallace in '66 to mid '67 and then I was sent to Pleiku, Vietnam. I still have dreams(pleasant ones) about Wallace. What a magical time in my life. Military vets have a hard time believing me when I tell them how great we lowly enlisted guys lived. Does anyone remember Joe Landers who worked for Raytheon. I heard he was killed in Vietnam during the Tet offensive. He was a good friend who I knew when I was younger in Bermuda. I was a service brat and he was an airman who ran the Teen Club there. Eight years later I walk into the snack bar at Wallace and there he sits.
I remember some names -- Morelli and Sgt. Schwartz, who was my boss, Sgt. Moreno, Amens, Capt. Ford, I can see all the faces but the names are fuzzy. There was a Lt. Who brought his wife over and she looked great in a bikini. One guy who cracked me up was a radar tech named Salmons. One of the guys I knew visited me in Pensacola, Florida in the early seventies. He lived in Alabama but I just can't think of his name. I wish I could remember my crazy roommates name. I think he was going into hotel management when he got out. I was also a movie projectionist during my tour. This site is a terrific idea. I'll be checking in from time to time to see if any of my old gang shows up. Thanks. Michael O'Neal Powder Springs, Ga EmaiI me at mco@mindspring.com
Bill Bencsik A1C AC&W maintainance - Tour of duty October of 67 - November 68
Wallace is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and I was fortunate enough to be stationed at Wallace for 13 months. This is while my less fortunate brothers were being sent to Vietnam. I was definately counting my blessings. I was a brand new scuba diver and our beach was like something you read about. I have yet to find reefs as perfect anywhere. I was a young man of 20 and the number of beautiful Philipino girls made me feel like I had died and gone to heaven.
. The bars we hung out in, like The Harbor Lights, were from a Humphrey Bogart movie. Because there were so few of us stationed at Wallace the locals weren't burnt out on GIs and they treated us well in spite of our sometimes, shall we say, poor manners. I used to go to John Hay to re-fill scuba tanks and met General Benjamin Davis while golfing there. I also got a glimpse of Ferdinand Marcos while at the restaraunt on base. There was a resort named the Nallinac which means Peaceful Waters in Tagalog. We hung out there a lot and every now and then met some "round eye girls" they couldn't really compete with the local action. I remember going to the movies in San Fernando La Union. I also remember heving a parade through town and all the citizenry came out waving flags and cheering. I could go on for hours about my adventures in the PI, my guardian angel had to be working overtime. I can't help but feel that I was the winner of a Cosmic lottery when I got assigned to Wallace..mailto: b.bencsik@bencsik.com
Mike Cooper SGT stationed at Wallace from Nov - 67 to Dec 68.
Assigned to Operations (Weapons Tech) for a while, then to straight days in TOR (Training). Off duty I ran the theatre for most of my tour. The Ryan drones came during my tour and I was assigned to help the Navy, then later the AF, set up their helo operation to retrieve the drones from the ocean after they returned. I ‘had’ to fly back to Sangley Point NAS with the Navy helo crew several times to help coordinate their operation. Sometimes we would be wx’d in or the bird would go down for maintenance and I would be ‘stuck’ in Manila for several days. The AF helo was out of Clark and the trips there with them would usually be overnight. Angeles City, here I come. All in the line of duty of course. The C.O. was Lt Col. Russel Kalessa; The Operations Officer was Capt. Raymond Joh; The Senior Director was Capt. James McCoy; Lt. Tom Ohta was my boss. Some of the guys I worked with were TSgt. Tom Kilgore; TSgt. ‘Underdog’ Underwood; SSgt. Bob Nichols.
Wallace’s call sign was “Musketeer”. I remember working mids and handling the refueling rendezvous between the B-52’s out of Anderson AFB and their KC-135’s over the ocean west of WAS as they headed to NVN on their Arc Light missions. Then we’d do the same on their return leg. It was always sad when fewer would come back as went in. When the TET offensive began and CINCPAC declared DEFCON 3, they blew the siren at 3AM and the next thing I knew I was walking the fence with a 30 cal carbine until they flew a SET Team of SP’s in from Clark. I just knew the zips would be coming through the wire right where I was. Only time I questioned my decision to enlist.
I bought a ton of stereo stuff (I still have the Sanyo speakers and they still work) and camera gear. I have several dozen reel to reel tapes that have the search radar ‘buzz’ every twelve seconds over top of the music. (You guys remember that, right?) I heard after I DEROS’d, the Harbor Lights had to lay off a bartender and two waitresses because of the cutback in business. Of course, we must not forget the ‘Hammers’. (Sorry, only someone who has served a tour at Walla Rock will know what that means!) Wildest remote assignment you could ever get. Mike Cooper; Lockhart, Texas; iyochief@hotmail.com.
Harvey Swatsworth, USAF TSGT. Tour date - Wallace in 1968-69. Crew Chief on Charlie crew
Jerry, Congratulations on a first class web site for Wallace AFS. When I opened it to the first page, I was blown away with the photo of Poro Point. It certainly brought back some nice memories. I like most other Airman enjoyed the stay but I was married with five children that I had left behind so most of the time my thought's were on my loved ones. My name is Harvey Swatsworth, USAF Retired T/SGT.
My first assignment was Crew Chief on Charlie crew. Now this was a blast. We challanged the other two crews to compete in any game we could do at Poro. The other crews were up to the challange, so we started with soft ball, tennis, and others. I was really enjoying the members of Charlie crew. After approximately two months, I was assigned as WASCOM Custodian. What an assignment for my 19th year in the AF. One common theme I hear from vetrans of the Phillippine s is how cordial and cooperative the Filipinos were. I can attest to that and add that I was blessed with an outstanding group of people that made up the staff of the WASCOM.
I could not help but notice the WASCOM card on your web site was signed by me. I have quite a selection of photos of Wallace. Christmas of 68 was celebrated by having a party on Wallace for about 600 children from the surrounding area. Many other good memories but to many to mention here. I hope to hear from some of my fellow Airman that were there during my time. God bless and take care. Harvey Swatsworth, 54 Abbeywood Drive, Romeoville, Illinois 60446 Mail to:swatsworth@comcast.net
Gerald Bargo Aug 69 Thur Sept 70 Det 2 14Th Comm. Sq.
Sgt
When I got to Clark I call the 1st Sgt at Wallace he said to find
a place to sleep for a couple of days and someone will pick me up. Well 2 weeks
later Dave Creamer(our admin clerk) kicked my bunk and said let go to Wallace,we
went by the Officers barracks and picked up a 1st Lt.and we headed up the road
and the fun began.
I
remember the good friends we made while at Wallace,going to John Hay for the
bowling league and to play golf had some great golf holes. We painted our room
gloss black and had red lights where else but at Wallace,so to all you guys that
came after me yes that was my room,1st Shirt came by one night but would not
come in to our room shook his head and walked away,roomies were Bob Rhodes and
Tim Phillips.Other Good friends were Ear Honeycutt,Pat Brown,Dan Crossly,Dan
Palmer,Don Carroll, Reed Ledwig (sorry about your tires) and Carl Wagner and
many more that I can't remember sorry guys and Baby.
Remember the USO shows coming and doing a live recording of the show
and then following them to John Hay and Clark to see what I had missed.Taking
the C47s were a great ride,as were the Red Rabbits don't know which were the
most dangerous.
Some
of us got to go to Japan to see the other side of our operation when for 35 days
1Sgt Spurlock took us back after 10 days what a trip spent 6 hour lost in
Tokyo(Myself,Dan Palmer and Ssgt Wagner) When we took off for our return to the
PI the pilot took us right over Mount Fuji what a sight.
Oh what great night
we spent at WASCOM and the Dark room developing our film and running the
projector for the movies. This was a great place for a boy from southern West
Virgina to spend some time in I know my mouth was wide open the first month or
so.
My email is gerrybar46@yahoo.com or bargo@Verizon.net And again i
am sorry to all the guys names I can't remember.
Paul Wallace SGT Stationed at Wallace Dec 69 - Jan 71
I was at wallace for a total of five years/ first assign. was dec.15- 69 til jan.10- 71 and one of the people i new there was walter richmond there was quite a few of us made buck in feb of 70/ rich married lita who was a waitress and they were back and forth a few times/ they ended up in tucson, az. where rich retired from the usaf after 32+ years in the game/ unfortunetly rich died after a little over a year later/ he was buried in phoenix and lita went back to her home town in the p.i.
Mike Walfoort A1C - Tour of duty January 1968 to February 1969
i arrived at wallace right out of radar training at Keesler AFB, Mississippi .also from my class was gene norman , ron wilson, dave misiak and mac allen barnes. i enjoyed reading mike coopers account of wallace. mike , (coop) was our recorder of events at wallace. drone launches and the like. we always enjoyed watching his 8mm movies. of all the things i remember , i recall a beutiful location that i was probably too young to appreciate. however , upon my return to state side duty, i realised how good we had it.
i recall all the crazy nicknames we had , i was called frootloop because of the double o's in my last name . ther were many others . jr barnes , chickenman , murph , papa kools , border patrol , just to mention a few. i spent most of my free time away from the radar scope on alpha crew at the wonderful beach or at the harbo lights canteen . i made quite a few trips to john hay in baguio city for a weekend retreat . baguio reminded me of my home in minnesota . and they had a great marketplace colonel kalessa was our commander , sgt sweat was our first shirt and tsgt kilgore was our crew chief on alpha crew.
I'll never forget the "bubble checks" and the card games in mid shift. many things were happening in the world then , vietnam , the martin luther king and robert kennedy assasination. we also lost a crew member over ther , gary gus , in an auto accident in downtown san fernando. after wallace , i was stationed at Mt Laguna AFS in california and finished my hitch at Luke AFB in Phoenix AZ. i returned to Minnesota after the service and raised a family . four kids and now eight grandkids. it was a pleasant surprise to find this website and all the memories. mailto:mikewalfoort@msn.com
Earl Honeycutt SGT Tour of duty 1969 - 1970
Assigned to Detachment 2, 14th Communications Squadron as a radio repairman. Det 2 took over for Raytheon contractors and ran the Over-the-Horizon radar transmitter system. The Operations building later became the dispensary and was located across the road from the area later occupied by the drones. I remember arriving by helicopter from Clark and being met by our commander, Capt. Alex Valchuk, who was attired in a pith helmet and 1505 shorts! Knew right then, even though I spent 1967-68 at Mactan AB in Cebu, that WAS would be different. Det 2 started as a small cadre of 5 people and by August of 1969, we had approximately 30 men assigned to the detachment. Wallace was a great tour that allowed me to grow personally.
There was plenty of time to read, think, recreate in the WASCOM and downtown at the Harbor Lights, Cherry Blossom, Playboy Club and D'Key. We also spent time at Bali Hai and Cresta Ola. One night about midnight my date from the Harbor Lights and I were asked nicely, back by the pistol in the guard's hand, to leave the swimming pool at Cresta Ola. Still remember the shock of learning of the civilian tech rep being shot and killed in Bauang in January of 1970. The blue bus ran regulary to John Hay for medical, laundry, and R&R purposes, so it was easy to enjoy time away from the rigors of the job in the "City of the Pines." Like others at Wallace, time was spent swimming, looking for shells, playing softball, and hanging out at the WASCOM.
I have kept in touch with two of my best friends at WAS: Pat Brown and Wayne "Reed" Ledwig and have attempted to contact others through ads in the AF Times and AF Magazine--all to no avail. It would be great to hear from Bob Rhodes, Tim Phillips, Jerry Bargo, Butch Carroll, Howard Wilson, Tiny Harrington, Dan Crosley, and David Cramer. My tour at Wallace, and the friendships that were made there, had a very positive effect on me and I ended up spending 30+ years in the Air Force/Air Force Reserve, retiring on January 1, 1998 as a Reserve Colonel. I last visited Poro Point in May 2000 and hope to return soon. I am a professor of marketing and international business at Elon University in North Carolina and regularly take students to the Philippines, primarily the University of the Philippines at Diliman and University of San Carlos in Cebu City, for cross-cultural visits. In many ways the Philippines remains the same after all these years! Should any of my friends or acquaintances from Wallace want to contact me they can do so at E-mail: ehoneycutt@elon.edu
Robert Echement SGT - I was stationed at Wallace during Dec 1968 - Jan 1971
I worked in Radar Ops. We were kings then, the place was a spoiler and there will never be another place or time like that again, truly magic. I wish I could recall the names of the guys better but I seem to remember a Humbolt, Dzamko, JB Baxter was my boss, Bill Dennis (because he was stationed with me at Fortuna AS North Dakota. I quit the Air Force on account of that. I would have reenlisted for 130 years if they would have left me there but to send me to North Dakota in January from Wallace was more than I could handle. It really broke my heart having to leave that place. thebob@mobis.com I live in Grand Bay, Alabama now that I'm retired.
Pat Brown SGT Served at Wallace AS, Rep Of Phil from AUG 69-SEP 70.
Material Control Specialist, DET 2 14TH Comm SQ. Retired from Mil E-7 after desert storm (142FA 7TH CORPS). "WALLA ROCK" Was the most fun I ever had. I loved the Philippine people and the days were like the colors of the rainbow. Roomies, "ear" Honeycutt, "Reed" Ledwig & Daniel Lee Crosley. mailto: PLBrown@ShelterInsurance.com