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Post by Karl Welteke on Jul 22, 2018 16:37:36 GMT 8
Charlie Moser and Karl visit Grande Island 2018-07-20 Charlie came to visit from Hawaii and wanted to go to Grande Island, the ex Fort Wint, to take pictures of Battery Warwick. The two 10 Inch guns of Battery Warwick were dismantled and shipped to the Fort Casey Washington State Park 50 years ago. Charlie helped dismantle those guns and is invited to speak at the 50th Anniversary of the arrival of the “Big Guns” in Ft. Casey. The first resort on Grande Island was not successful, they had started about 2004. It is closed now. But thru luck we were able to get on the island on the 20th July 2018, met the On-Island Manager Christopher Andrada, and more important, the General Manager David Du was on the island that day. Both managers were glad to see us and hear about the history of the island and the fort. Mr. David Du is a 2nd generation Filipino-Chinese, he told us that Mainland China investors are now in charge and have plans to develop Grande Island anew. He could not give us an completion or opening date, so who knows when? I added 8 images of the people involved into this Photobucket album: s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Manila%20Bay%20Forts-Other/Fort%20Wint%20and%20Grande%20Island/Ft-Wint%20Visits%20Grande-Isl/Ft-Wint%2018-07-20%20w%20Charlie%20Grande%20Island?sort=9&page=1In this thread I chose 4 of those images:  Zc311. The General Manager David Du, his son Chris and the On-Island Manager Christopher Andrada, look at the history of the Battery Warwick 10 Inch guns. My shipmate Charlie Moser brought the printed material down from Fort Casey Park, he printed several copies, gave them to those Gentlemen and I got one copy also.  Zc312. Charlie Moser and the General Manager David Du converse on Grande Island on the 20th July 2018. The greenery of the resort looks pretty good and the new management will make landscaping a priority.  Zc313. Charlie Moser shows the General Manager David Du and his son pictures of the 10 Inch Guns, as they were dismantled, shipped and remounted at Ft Casey.  Zc314. No 1 Gun of the 6 Inch Battery Hall, at the ex Fort Wint on Grande Island, people are right to left, Charlie Moser, David Du, David’s son and Karl Welteke 2018-07-20. |
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Post by Karl Welteke on Jul 23, 2018 17:46:35 GMT 8
CHARLIE MOSER AND KARL VISIT GRANDE ISLAND 2018-07-22 3rd Segment, 9 images, it is about boats, pier & trip, Nine (9) images have been uploaded into this Photobucket album. s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Manila%20Bay%20Forts-Other/Fort%20Wint%20and%20Grande%20Island/Ft-Wint%20Visits%20Grande-Isl/Ft-Wint%2018-07-20%20w%20Charlie%20Grande%20Island?sort=9&page=1In this forum page I chose 4 out of those 9 images:  Zc315. This is the Grande Island Resort boat landing, one of their big boats, white, is at left. An outrigger boat arrived to pick us up. This was the site of the Navy Officer Boat Landing in the early days. These outrigger boats are NOT VERY GOOD TO LAND ON PIERS OR DOCKS. It was a choppy seas day and the crew had to struggle to keep us and the boat safe. In back we see the Leyte Wharf, the former Aircraft Carrier Pier, a merchant ship is alongside. Next to the Leyte Wharf have risen a huge bulk grain warehouse and about 5 silos. It is now a grain port. To the right was the famous actual geographic Cubi Point that is where the Officer Beach used to be. It is a big container port now.  Zc316. This is the reception area of the Grande Island Resort, it was built around 2004 but now new investors from Mainland China will try to revive it. Right now it is closed to the public.  Zc317. This is much of the north side of Grande Island, the former Fort Wint, much of this side, the east south side can be used for swimming, the west side is very rocky. Whatever the Navy had here IS GONE!  Zc318. The distance from Grande Island is about 7 ½ Km, it was choppy and took some time. We are on our return trip. Ahead, along the Alawa Extension Wharf, are two USNS Ships, a merchant and Philippine Navy war ship. |
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Post by Karl Welteke on Jul 24, 2018 17:55:57 GMT 8
Grande Island Resort, how it looks now, 2018-07-20! Fourth and last segment of our visit to Grande Island, the former Fort Wint. My friend Charlie Moser and I wanted to see Battery Warwick and take pictures for the 50th Anniversary of the “Big Guns” (10 Inch Disappearing Guns) arriving at the Fort Casey Washington State Park 50 years ago. We were lucky and met the right people and were invited to come on the island. I already uploaded pictures, about Battery Warwick, other batteries and the boat trip. This is the last presentation of some images of the resort. In about 2004 investors built a resort on Grande Island, the former Fort Wint, but it was not successful. For some time now the resort is closed now and Grande Island is not available to be visited by the general public. The new General Manager, a 2nd generation Filipino-Chinese, said that other Mainland Chinese investors got control of this resort and have plans to revive the resort. He said they will specialize in landscaping and are working on that right now. The existing landscaping still looks pretty good! They do want to take advantage of the former Fort Mills Battery structures and maybe even mount some guns made out of synthetic materials, and make them part of the attraction. The chalets will be two storey structures, no work has been started. The wave pool, which was the baseball field, is now stocked with fishes. The hotel and restaurant are going to be renovated. It was not clear to me as to when they are planning to open it, so who knows? I put 15 Grande Island Resort pictures into this Photobucket album as the fourth segment: s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Manila%20Bay%20Forts-Other/Fort%20Wint%20and%20Grande%20Island/Ft-Wint%20Visits%20Grande-Isl/Ft-Wint%2018-07-20%20w%20Charlie%20Grande%20Island?sort=9&page=1In this fourth and last forum presentation I chose 5 to be presented here:  Zc319. This is the resort on Grande Island, the former Fort Wint, 2018-07-20; landscaping between the chalets.  Zc320. This is the resort on Grande Island, the former Fort Wint, 2018-07-20; we are looking from near the breakwater from west to east along the north beach/coast. This is the main beach now and was for the Navy before.  Zc321. This is the resort on Grande Island, the former Fort Wint, 2018-07-20; this is one of their seed beds for their landscaping work. This is located where the Army barracks were, one can see the foundation posts.  Zc322. This is the resort on Grande Island, the former Fort Wint, 2018-07-20; we are looking to the south across the wave pool, which is now a fish pond. Left we see the road that leads to Batteries Flake and Hall. This was a ball field during our time.  Zc323. This is the resort on Grande Island, the former Fort Wint, 2018-07-20; we are looking at the front of the reception building as we step off the pier. |
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Post by Karl Welteke on Aug 12, 2018 17:56:41 GMT 8
The Eve before the 50th Anniversary at Fort Casey Our leader Steven Kobylk put in hundreds of hours of hard work getting this set up and a number of enthusiastic volunteers helped paint the guns and spaces to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the disappearing guns being installed at the fort, in 1968. Rick Slater is one of those volunteers, he visited us in the Philippines, and he uploaded about 25 real nice images to this Coastal Artillery Facebook page and made the quoted comments: www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156654259237210&set=pcb.10156654263747210&type=3&theater&ifg=1Here are three sample images:  Zc517. Ft. Casey, 10Inch guns, at eve of the 50th Anniversary, received from the Philippines, picture from Rick Slater, a park Volunteer.  Zc518. Ft. Casey, 10Inch guns, at eve of the 50th Anniversary, received from the Philippines, picture from Rick Slater, Steven Kobylk, another volunteer and leader, at work.  Zc519. Ft. Casey, 10Inch guns, at eve of the 50th Anniversary, received from the Philippines, picture from Rick Slater, the upper end of the shell hoist by lamp light. The words of Volunteer Rick Slater: As part of the weekend activities at Fort Casey State Park (for which I am a volunteer), the fort was lit up last night with several kerosene lamps to give the feel of the time before electricity was installed at the fort. The sky cooperated with a beautiful sunset. Our leader Steven Kobylk put in hundreds of hours of hard work getting this set up and a number of enthusiastic volunteers helped paint the guns and spaces to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the disappearing guns being installed at the fort, in 1968. The official ceremony takes place today. The guns were brought over from the Philippines, Subic Bay, which was a large American naval base at the time. |
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Post by rickthelibrarian on Aug 13, 2018 21:09:46 GMT 8
As Karl mentioned, I participated in the festivities at Fort Casey, marking the 50th anniversary of the 10" guns being installed in 1968. We have had a dry summer in Washington State and the ONE day we had the ceremonies is the day it decided to rain, right through the event and then it quit soon after! In addition to rain, there was thunder and lightning, including one large BOOM immediately after the U.S. National Anthem was played!
Former CDSG president Steve Kobylk had an outstanding display of period and reproduction coast artillery equipment. A number of re-enactors set up "shop" and, as you can see in the pictures, conducted the presenting of the colors. Unfortunately, some of the displays had to be cancelled or cut short due to the weather.
Several speakers, including local, business and community leaders who had taken part in the guns being moved to Whidbey Island, gave (shortened) speeches. Park Ranger "commander" Jon Crimmins said he cut his speech down from 4 pages to 1!
The area around Battery Worth was almost immaculate, having been painted and cleaned by a number of volunteers. Steve Koblyk, especially, volunteered hundreds of hours to getting ready for the day. The guns and battery looked the best I had ever seen them since I first traveled to Fort Casey in 1969!
The day started out fairly sunny as preparations were being made:
Some of the equipment that Steve Kobylk provided and installed for the day:
As is one of the most popular activities for the many visitor at Fort Casey - having your picture taken with one of the 10" guns as a backdrop:
As you can see, the weather was starting to change fast!
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Post by rickthelibrarian on Aug 13, 2018 21:20:23 GMT 8
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Post by oozlefinch on Aug 14, 2018 1:42:47 GMT 8
Steve Kobylk, together with his other volunteers, are to be commended for a job well done. Steve has been a prime mover at Ft. Casey for several decades and deserves to be recognized for his fine work.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Aug 30, 2018 19:11:58 GMT 8
Army-Navy Story in Subic Bay Friends The 10 Inch guns, Battery Warwick, Grande Island were dismantled in 1968 and were shipped to the former Fort Casey to replace the 10 Inch guns there. The former Ft. Casey is now managed by the Washington State Park Administration and a few weeks ago they celebrated that they received these Big Guns from Subic Bay 50 years ago. I have a personal angle to this story for several reasons. Subic Bay is my home now and I visited Grande Island many times to explore its history. Before the Navy ended up with it, it was Fort Wint, part of the U.S. Army Coastal Defense Command. In 1968 a Navy team dismantled the two 10 Inch guns and one of the Navy volunteers was my friend, HT1 DV ( Hull Technician 1st Class Petty Officer and Navy Diver) then and now Charlie Moser HTCM DV USN (ret). He also was invited to speak at the 50th Anniversary of receiving the guns at Ft Casey. He gave me several pictures of dismantling the guns that he cut out of the Cubi Point Naval Air Station news paper The Afterburner, dated 1st of March 1968. I created a webpage about my friend Charlie and his pictures dismantling the two 10 Inch Disappearing guns with 18 images: philippine-sailor.net/2018/08/30/army-navy-story-in-subic-bay/In this thread 9 sample pictures are presented:  Zc704. This is the article about dismantling the 10 Inch disappearing guns of Battery Warwick on Grande Island in Subic Bay dated 1st of March 1968. Do not try to read it; a better readable copy is following.  Zc705. This is the picture of the 10 Inch disappearing gun of Battery Warwick on Grande Island in Subic Bay dated 1st of March 1968 from the previous image.  Zc706. This is the readable copy from the article about the removal of the 10 Inch disappearing guns of Battery Warwick on Grande Island in Subic Bay dated 1st of March 1968 shown in the previous image.  Zc707. This is the front page of the news paper The Afterburner, dated 1st of March 1068; this paper was put out by the Naval Air Station Cubi Point in Subic Bay. My friend Charlie Moser cut out the article and pictures and kept them now for 50 years because he was part of the story. Charlie is the person standing at right of the group of volunteer workers.  Zc708. Wow, the crane had to be positioned on top of the casemate to be able to handle all the lifting. That is the Navy LT Gerald R. Stott from the staff of the Commander U.S. Naval Forces Philippines at the Naval Station Sangley Point.  Zc709. That is my friend Charlie Moser HT1 DV doing his HT (Hull Technician) stuff. Most of his hair is gone now, though. He was one of the Subic Bay Navy guys’ volunteers to dismantle the 10 Inch disappearing guns of Battery Warwick on Grande Island in Subic Bay dated 1st of March 1968.  Zc711. This is picture #1 in the Cubi Point Naval Air Station news paper The Afterburner about dismantling the 10 Inch disappearing guns of Battery Warwick on Grande Island in Subic Bay dated 1st of March 1968. Attached are the picture descriptions of the pictures in the news paper. The next picture is the readable copy of the descriptions.  Zc712. This is the readable copy of the descriptions about the pictures of dismantling the 10 Inch disappearing guns of Battery Warwick on Grande Island in Subic Bay in Feb. 1968.  Zc713. This is one other Navy volunteer dismantling the 10 Inch disappearing guns of Battery Warwick on Grande Island in Subic Bay in Feb. 1968. The mountains in back are the Redondo Peninsular forming the west side barrier of Subic Bay. |
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Post by Karl Welteke on Jun 14, 2019 16:33:53 GMT 8
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Post by Karl Welteke on Jun 17, 2019 13:44:25 GMT 8
The 38th Div. takes Grande Island without a casualty.
A very good friend of mine, we met on Corregidor several times sent me three 1945 pictures and he said this:
“Hi Karl, I found this 38th Division (Indiana National Guard) Yearbook at the local Library. I copied about 40 pictures, go ahead, post them as you wish”.
My friend Roger Davis is a very active member of the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org) and has contributed much in keeping alive the history of the US Army Coastal Defense.
All of the pictures were uploaded into this album in high resolution, be our guest if you are interested:
www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157709117454053
Of the entire pictures only one deals with Grande Island, the ex U.S. Fort Wint.
U099. This is most likely, Gun #1 (10 inch Disappearing Gun) of Battery Warwick in the former Fort Wint on Grande Island. This picture was copied from a 38th Inf. Div Yearbook at a local U.S Library by Roger Davis who is a member of the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org). It shows the 2nd Battalion, 151 Reg., 38th Inf. Div. retaking Grande Island on the next day which most likely was the 30th Jan. 1945. I noticed the last soldier took 2 steps at a time, more than I ever did.
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