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There are currently 30 messages.
There have been 1964 visits since 2008-10-04
This page was last accessed on 2009-11-07

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Message Number: 30 - Thursday, November 5, 2009 15:53:10 GMT
[IP = 68.231.94.206] -United States

Name:  Jim Lasher
Your affiliation to Farfan/NBA :  Radioman 3rd class 1956-1958
How did you find us?:  google
Comments:

I just happened upon this site and was so glad I did.
I was Radioman third class stationed in Panama 1956-1958. The comments from other buddies brought back some great memories.
Two of my close buddies were John (JB) Barnes and Robert Kwitchoff.
I remember the civilian bartender's name was Holder (he was Panamian), he was a great man and a good friend during those two years. In the bar we had a juke box, shuffleboard, and room to dance (if you were lucky enough to have a partner, usually the daughter of one of the Chiefs.
We also had a pool table outside the bar where the barber shop was.
We had a chief (can't remember his name) who constantly played 'Old Cape Cod' (his home town) on the jukebox. And he refused to ever let it be taken out when they were putting in some new songs and taking out some old ones.
Holder (our bartender) and I were the shuffleboard champs, loved to play dice, and we sang together to 'Little Darlin'. What great memories. I haven't heard the term 'Cerveza' in years, and for five cents you could really get a good buzz.
We had a movie theater on the base, a swimming pool (I was lifeguard and cleaned the pool) and base quarters, the mess hall on the second floor, and we slept on the third floor with two in a room.
I was the cook on our midnight watches. I made scrambled eggs with potatoes, peppers, onions and sometimes ham.
JB (my buddy) and I were the local photographers. Snapping pictures all the time at many functions, holidays etc. (Unfortunately, I don't have many of those pictures) I will enclose a picture of me and JB.
Our transportation into town was 'Cheva's' (busses) they were small with crazy drivers along very narrow roads. And of course taken liberty in Panama City.
We would often go to Ft Amador a base close to us for shopping and movies.
We had two great chefs, I wish I could remember their names. Also the Panamian help who would clean our rooms and do our laundry. I do remember a Jose, but that is a pretty common name in Panama.
We did play softball in the field across from the barracks. And we had a Bohia where our chef would barbecue.
Hope this brings back some good memories to those who served in Farfan. Hope to hear from you.
Jim Lasher

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Message Number: 29 - Saturday, September 26, 2009 18:50:13 GMT
[IP = 68.192.86.106] -United States

Name:  Carmine Mazza (MAZ)
Your affiliation to Farfan/NBA :  NAVCOMSTA BALBOA-SUMMIT/FARFAN MAR 68-MAR70
How did you find us?:  SURF THE WEB
Comments:
I WAS FIRST STATIONED UP AT SUMMIT FOR ABOUT A YEAR. IT WAS GREAT.. HAD LOTS OF LAUGHS.. SUMMIT ZOO WAS OUR HANG OUT WHEN WE HAD NO MONEY TO GO INTO TOWN. RALPH BOTTE, JIM COLE, FRANK VOYSCIK, ( HE IS NO LONGER WITH US.. HE WORKED IN THE MINES IN PENN, AND CAME DOWN WITH THE LUNG CANCER.. REALLY GREAT GUY) THERE WERE A FEW MARINES ALSO, TRAINTOR WAS ONE, TOMMY BARROW (CLIDE) WAS ANOTHER... THEN I WAS DOWN IN FAR FAN FOR ANOTHER YEAR... HEY CHIEF HANRAHAN, REMEMBER ME???? I PLAYED 3rd BASE FOR YOU DURING THE 69 SEASON.. WE HAD A GOOD TEAM.. ALSO SPENT A LOT OF TIME UP AT RIO MAR... WENT THERE WHEN WE HAD A 72 ON THE WEEKENDS WHEN WE GOT PAID.. THAT WAS A GREAT PLACE... THEY HAD THE BEST FRENCH TOAST.. AND THE COFFEE WAS GOOD... I CAN TASTE IT NOW... ANOTHER GREAT PLACE TO EAT IN TOWN WAS NAPOLI ITALIAN RESTURANT, RIGHT DOWN THE BLOCK FROM THE GOLDEN KEY... IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS THERE WHEN I WAS LATER MAZ

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Message Number: 28 - Tuesday, September 15, 2009 02:23:06 GMT
[IP = 190.5.238.243] -Panama

Name:  Robert Huber
Your affiliation to Farfan/NBA :  COMLE
Referred to us by::  David Rosenfeld
How did you find us?:  David Rosenfeld W7KJW
Comments:

I was a Shift supervisor at the US Navy Commercial Radotelegraph station, COMLE,  located on the ground floor of the Farfan communications station, where a total of 21 US and Panamanian civilians worked on a 24 hour basis.

The mission of COMLE was to provide Private, Commercial, and Panama Canal message traffic worldwide via H/F radio telegraphy utilizing several 10KW transmitters at Summit. The receivers utilized at COMLE Farfan were the famous Collins R-390 mechanical digital frequency readout.

COMLE  was forced to close down October 31st 1979 in agreement with the Panamanian government to take control of all Commercial communications in and out of the Canal Zone, at which time I was then assigned to work at Ft Amador, assisting in maintaining equipment with the civilian Mr. Carlson, and assisting the CMS Custodian, Mr.Charley Waller, whom some of you probably remember.

I was then reassigned to NAS Corpus Christy and shortly thereafter was reassigned to the Pentagon DOD main communications center.  

Retired from DOD Pentagon and relocated in 1997 to live in Panama City, Panama. Ham Radio Operator, call signsKZ5AN (FCC) and HP1XRH ( PANAMA ).

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Message Number: 27 - Friday, September 4, 2009 19:52:33 GMT
[IP = 63.122.231.194] -United States

Name:  Terry Adams
Your affiliation to Farfan/NBA :  Navcommsta Balboa 79-81
How did you find us?:  Surfing
Comments:

Stationed at the HQ Building of Navcommsta Balboa from 79-81 and at IANTN Farfan 89-91.

Another Guest asked about "Charlie" the bartender at the Cellar Club. Last I saw him he was working at the EM Club (Anchorage Club) on the Rodman Naval Station in the early 90's.

I also saw that Warrant Officer Barton had posted. He put in a good word for a knucklehead Seaman at XOI back in late 79 or early 80 and got him off the hook. I still thank Mr. Barton for that today and would say: Roll Tide!

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Message Number: 26 - Wednesday, August 19, 2009 17:05:01 GMT
[IP = 76.83.31.54] -United States

Name:  Wayne Frost
Your affiliation to Farfan/NBA :  Billeted at Farfan & was an RM3 at headquarters
Referred to us by::  Serendipity
How did you find us?:  Found a link to this site on Facebook
Comments:
Hi Guys-

I was stationed at Navcomsta Balboa from June 1966 through June 1968, my time in the Navy and at Navcomsta was a turning point in my life and prepared me for any small amount of success or achievement I have attained since.

Lots of memories from that time.  Anyone got a box of line feeds, or a roll of three part paper that some how got rolled up wrong at the factory?  Still got some purple ink on me somewhere from the ditto machine at the Traffic Desk and sore shins from marching in yet another parade for a two bit South American general. 

I am retiring at the end of this month, after more than 37 years with the same employer, where I played a major role in the development of automated payment systems, and it all ties back to my training, experience and maturation while in the Navy at at Navcomsta Balboa.

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Message Number: 25 - Saturday, August 8, 2009 17:26:22 GMT
[IP = 75.89.17.232] -United States

Name:  DAN STANLEY
Your affiliation to Farfan/NBA :  MEMBER
Referred to us by::  TUCK
How did you find us?:  TUCKER
Comments:

IT WAS GREAT TALKING WITH YOU ON FRIDAY, AUG. 7. YOU STATED YOUR PHONE NUMBER WOULD BE ON MY CELL, BUT IT WASN'T, IT SHOWED "PRIVATE NUMBER". PLEASE SEND ME YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS:  WILLIAME@DOR.STATE.FL.US UNTIL I CAN GET ONE SET UP.

GREAT TIME IN 2007 VISITING WITH EVERYONE, LOOKING FORWARD TO 2010 MEETING IN SAVANNAH, GA.  PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN, WHERE, AND TIME, AND I WILL TRY TO BE THERE.

YOUR FRIEND.

DAN STANLEY

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Message Number: 24 - Monday, June 22, 2009 13:25:54 GMT
[IP = 68.50.90.91] -United States

Name:  James V Halman
Your affiliation to Farfan/NBA :  Stationed NBA (Farfan) 1975 - 1979
Referred to us by::  David Rosenfeld
How did you find us?:  David Resenfeld
Comments:

Hi all,  I was great to find this website and read what everyone has been doing all these years.  My family and I lived on Farfan and I was the chief at the Receiver Site.  I retired in 1984 and live in Maryland.   

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Message Number: 23 - Monday, June 15, 2009 11:47:21 GMT
[IP = 72.216.6.158] -United States

Name:  Jack Barton
Your affiliation to Farfan/NBA :  Traffic/Message Center/Circuit Control/Security Officer 77-80
Referred to us by::  Dave Rosenfeld
How did you find us?:  Dave Rosenfeld
Comments:
It was a real pleasure to find this site, brings back a ton of memories!  I was stationed at NCS HQ on Ft. Amador, and lived in housing in the Farfan housing area across the field from the bahia.  My whole family loved it there!  I was KZ5JB/HP1XMX and KB4WR, mostly on 10M, now inactive.

I was initally assigned as Traffic Officer and Security Officer, later took on duties as Circuit Control Officer. Basically was the Division Officer for everyone working on the first floor of HQ building.

Retired when I left Panama, finished my BS in Computer Science, and went to work for DFAS TSO in Pensacola as a Systems Engineer for the next 20 years.  Retired from Civil Service in '04 and enjoying the heck out of retirement!

I would enjoy hearing from anyone who was stationed at HQ or Farfan or Summit during my tenure!

I read the comments by
Forris Hudkins.  RMCS Marcowski got around.  He was the SEA at NBA while I was there.  Believe he retired in '79.  A unique individual was he!  We shared an office when I first arrived at NBA.


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Message Number: 22 - Sunday, June 14, 2009 23:12:28 GMT
[IP = 24.8.216.216] -United States

Name:  David Rosenfeld
Comments:
Additional:  I was the chop of KZ5USN for two years.  I see that Joseph D. mentioned some of the antics prior to the Army / Navy game so I'll relate another one.  I was originally in the Army stationed at Fort Amador from 1965 to 1967.  One of those years I was part of the group that made off with the big (heavy) bell from in front of 15th ND HQ.  I still have the big brass bolt that held the bell in place.

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Message Number: 21 - Sunday, June 14, 2009 22:38:27 GMT
[IP = 24.8.216.216] -United States

Name:  Dave Rosenfeld
Your affiliation to Farfan/NBA :  stationed at receiver site 1978-79
Referred to us by::  N/A
How did you find us?:  web search on "NBA"
Comments:
RM2 Stationed at Receiver site 78-79 living in the Farfan barracks, then moved to the Transmitter site at Summit for my last 6 months.  Now that I'm retired, plan to re-locate soon to Western Panama permanently.

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