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Post by batteryboy on Jun 10, 2009 15:09:47 GMT 8
Between May-June 1931, General Kilbourne, then HD Defense Commander in the Philippines authorized the construction of the Club Swiming Pool in Fort Mills. The size will the 90 x 50 feet with one end to be 15 wide with a depth of only 2 feet for children. The rest of the pools depth will be from 4 feet to 9 feet. Salt water will be used in the pool and will be drawn from the one of the salt water tanks in topside. The pool will be drained regularly and its water to be drained with pump motor to another water tank to be used for sanitation purposes. Below is a photo showing the excavation of the pool Then by October the same year the pool was finaly open. The photo shows General Kilbourne on top of the diviing platform. With just a one sentence speech, he formally opens the Corregidor Swimming Pool with a splash. There were several aquatic activities during the opening ceremonies. However this was capped off by a beauty contest limited to ladies below the age of 14. The winner was: Miss Lorraine May Lowder, age 4. As young as she is, she was a real swimming buff that did not prevent her from diving from the highest platform of the pool. Today the pool rest in peace. Now empty but it has filled a lot of soldiers and dependents with happiness and fun times during those early years. Photo of todays Corregidor Swimming Pool courtesy of Fots2. The early year photos are from Batteryboy's "Shelf of Doom" Cheers,
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Post by okla on Jun 10, 2009 21:09:04 GMT 8
hey battery....great photos. i gotta think that serving a peacetime hitch on corregidor would have been a great experience. i betcha there were plenty of people there who extended their tours of duty on a voluntary basis. i gotta say the general's swimming attire leaves something to be desired. wonder if he ever considered a "speedo" for the dedication ceremonies? ? lol. again, really good stuff. its great sitting way back here in tulsa, oklahoma viewing the fruits of you guys' labors. i still rue the day that i didnt get that assignment to clark field way back in 1953 when i was finishing my tour in korea. heck i might still be there. keep up the great work.
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