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Post by EXO on May 13, 2012 13:03:14 GMT 8
I have received the following e-mail, and post it without comment:
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Hi. I'm wondering if you know of a good site to find the full history of Grande Island. My dad, Lee Skinner, would've been a good source, but he's unfortunately no longer with us. Many of my classmates and others from Subic Bay have been talking on Facebook recently about Grande Island. I figured you guys would be a good source. I see there's info. on Ft. Wint, but we're looking for the complete history to include when Grande Island was off limits during the Vietnam War. Thanks. Bruce Skinner
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Post by munson on May 28, 2012 7:10:11 GMT 8
Bruce, I don't think that it has been written, but if it has I would sure like to have a copy. Here is an interesting story. The U.S. State Department took over the Island in the early 1950s, probably 1951 or 1952. I don't know what their mission was. They built the two guard towers, the swimming pool and the small cottages on the Island. They built the HQ building on the base and one of the housing areas. I think that is was Kallian (sp), the one that had the O' Club and pool. They also built the big house on the base, near the Public Works Department. The person who was in charge of the State Department unit was in Washington DC when the house was finished. When he returned, he noticed that someone had moved in. He knocked on the door and asked the women, who answered the door, why they were living in his house. She replied that all housing belonged to Public Works and since her husband was the Public Works Officer he could live any house that he wanted too. The man quietly left, and made a couple of phone calls. A couple of hours later, some Public Works trucks and employees moved the officer's things out of the house. There was a lot of contentions between the Navy, the Marine Provost Marshall, and the State Department. The Provost Marshall had no authority over the State Department and that torqued his jaws. One night the Provost Marshall, a Marine captain, and his Marines were going to raid a party at the State Department's club. They barged in and were met by a Marine colonel, who was assigned to the embassy in Manila. When the colonel got through with the captain, he decided to never bother the State Department again.
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Post by rickthelibrarian on Jun 25, 2012 19:37:26 GMT 8
As most people on this website know, the two 10" disappearing guns were removed in the late 1960s and reinstalled at Fort Casey, on Whidney Island in the State of Washington. In addition, three 3" guns on pedestal mounts were removed, as well - two were installed at Fort Casey and the other (along with what is now identified as a U.S. Navy 3" 50 caliber gun) at Fort Flager, also in Washington State.
I would also like to see a history of Fort Wint, as well. I live just a few miles from Fort Casey and give tours there.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 14:13:21 GMT 8
Wow! I know Bruce, and his Dad was a good friend and frequent Corregidor jungle explorer of my Dad's.
....small world.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Jul 25, 2014 19:26:32 GMT 8
GRANDE ISLAND, ARMY, STATE DEPARTMENT, NAVY, REFUGEES, CIVILIAN RESORT Mr. Munson, that is a very interesting story, I sure like to know more. I did not know that story. It is very believable because I doubt that the Navy built that big building that was later our Welfare and Recreation Hotel. Also the 6 or so cottages were large; I don’t think the Navy would have built us sailors such big cottages for recreation. But one thing is for sure after that Marine Captain left the Navy did take over the whole island and we Marines and Sailors did have the last laugh. I knew Grande Island only as a naval recreation spot since the early 60th when I joined the Navy. Then in 1975, when Viet Nam fell it became a temporary facility for the Indochinese Refugees. In 1980 the UN refugee camp opened in Bataan. But I remember visiting Grande Island in 1978 so the refugees were not on Grande Island anymore. Mt Pinatubo reared its ugly head in 1991 and the Navy left in Nov. 1992 and the island returned to the original owners, the Republic of the Philippines. A resort has custody of the island now but the new management did not use much of the ex US Facilities except the pier and one of three guard towers. Here are some of the structures, Mr. Munson, you wrote about: Z615—this Navy Welfare and Recreation map on plywood of the Naval Recreation Facilities on Grande Island was still around in 2004. Z616---this is the 2nd last or the last cottage in the north direction where Battery Woodruff was, this cottage is in the worsted shape. Z617—the pool in 2004 on Grande Island, ex Fort Wint, the new resort was being built but had no plans to use this pool. Z618---during our Navy time we had 3 guard towers, all three are still in place today in 2014. This one is next to Battery Hall, the SE end of Grande Island, Subic Bay, the ex Fort Wint. There is one at the NW end and the one at Battery Jewell became navigation light as of last year. Z619---the date on this picture is wrong, it is a 2006 image. That is the largest building on the island and the Navy used as a hotel; I assume you are talking about this building as the HQ building for the State Department. Z620---the Grande Island, ex Fort Wint swimming pool in 2014 under the new management. They don’t have any use for it.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 7:07:32 GMT 8
Thanks for all the info.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 7:11:07 GMT 8
Mr. Munson, I'm guessing you're the Mr. Munson who was friends with my dad and Jim Black.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Feb 20, 2016 10:51:29 GMT 8
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