Post by Karl Welteke on Sept 26, 2019 10:07:00 GMT 8
The Subic-Tipo Expressway is being widened!
The Subic-Tipo Expressway is built by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) after the U.S. Navy left and turned over the former Naval Base to the Philippines. It is about 9 km long has only two lanes. As the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) expanded traffic became a problem, especially with the slow trucks going up the hill.
SBMA, managing SBFZ, requested and now it is being done to widen the Subic-Tipo Expressway by two additional lanes. It is done on the north side of the expressway, at some places extra space is available to widen it, at other the ridgeline, embankments have to be cut down. A new tunnel and a new bridge over the Jadjad River is also required.
These pictures were shot from a moving car on the 30th of July in the direction of the former Tipo Toll Gate and the last 4 images were shot on the 5th of Aug. 2019 in the direction, back to the SBFZ. It was raining and some pictures have reflections of my dashboard.
Ze536. This is Google Earth image of the Subic-Tipo Expressway with the landmarks of this album marked in.
Ze542. Some areas along the north side of the Subic-Tipo expressway are flat and can be widened easy, at other areas the embankment has to be cut down. We are getting close to the tunnel.
Ze544. We are at the SBFZ end of the Subic-Tipo Expressway tunnel and here a new tunnel needs to be cut.
Post by Karl Welteke on Oct 2, 2019 14:46:38 GMT 8
My 2019 pictures of Subic Bay, Olongapo City, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Barrio Barretto and Zambales News and other events.
Note from Karl: Today my family and I are one month in Hawaii now and I just caught up utilizing the last pictures of Subic Bay and put them into these albums.
190808 A Navy Warship is in Subic. Every so often I drive thru the former Subic Naval Base and have a look as to what is happening; here is US Navy war ship along the Alava Extension Wharf, this was on the 8th of Aug. 2019.
190808 SBFZ, south wind,new road. The Philippine National Flag flies proudly in front of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) HQ. The wind is from the south like it should be on the 8th of Aug. during the rainy season. Roadwork is going on.
Post by Karl Welteke on Dec 17, 2019 0:21:14 GMT 8
USMC, Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis U.S.M.C. Photographs, Olongapo, early 1900s
Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis U.S.M.C. was a career officer in the Corps in the early 1900, took many pictures and they are now in the USMC Archives, here is the link:
Most of the pictures are of Cavite, Olongapo and Maquinaya (Barrio Barretto now).
Here are 3 sample pictures:
Ue711. Olongapo, circa 1909, this is the best picture I seen so far of Olongapo from the Kalaklan Ridge. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue712. USMC Bungalow, Olongapo 1910, a little sparse for a gentleman, but Marines know how to rough it. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue713. USMC Hike, crossing the Matain Rv. 1909. That looks like the mouth of the river in today’s Barrio Barretto, at the end of Baloy Long Beach. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Post by Karl Welteke on Dec 17, 2019 8:23:57 GMT 8
USMC, Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis U.S.M.C. Photographs, Olongapo, early 1900s
Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis U.S.M.C. was a career officer in the Corps in the early 1900, took many pictures and they are now in the USMC Archives, here is the link:
Ue714. A fire in Olongapo in 2009. The mountain left of center must be Mt. Redondo. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue715. Many bancas (boats) on the Olongapo Beach in 2010. In the distance I can make out the Dewey Drydock and Mt. Natib on Bataan. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue716. A sea of mud in Olongapo 2009, flooding is nothing new to Olongapo, it happened 110 years ago. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue717. The Army has arrived in Olongapo in 1910, are they going to take over in Grande Island? The Marines been busy there (later in another album). This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue718. A Marine Patrol crosses a bamboo bridge in the greater Olongapo area. I noticed just about every one is using a stick for balance. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue719. The Dewey Drydock and 5 customers including 4 small submarines in 1908 at the Olongapo Naval Station. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Post by Karl Welteke on Dec 18, 2019 3:35:08 GMT 8
3rd batch.
USMC, Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis U.S.M.C. Photographs, Olongapo, early 1900s
Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis U.S.M.C. was a career officer in the Corps in the early 1900s, took many pictures and they are now in the USMC Archives, here is the link:
Ue720. Drydock Dewey in the Olongapo Ship yard 1909, Olongapo Naval Station, I can make out Mt. Susongdalaga and Mt. PLDT behind the drydock. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue721. Olongapo 1909 from Kalaklan Ridge, zoomed it I can make out the Naval Station Admin Building. Across the water must be the Coaling Station. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue722. Olongapo 1909 from Kalaklan Ridge, zoomed it I can make out the Naval Station Admin Building. This is best picture I seen yet of Olongapo and the Naval Station. Across the water must be the Coaling Station. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue723. The Marine Band of the US Naval Station Olongapo Marine Barracks in May 2010. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue724. Olongapo got a mud bath in 1908, maybe climate change has started earlier? This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue725. The Naval Station Olongapo Administration Building, payday, no wonder they changed to the direct deposit system. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue726. Bread was important, we could not live of rice alone, the Olongapo Post Bakeshop in 2008. Were they sailors or Marines or both? This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ue727. The Old Spanish Gate to the Navy Yard, Olongapo Naval Station 1911. We can see the unique Olongapo Naval Station Administration Building. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Post by Karl Welteke on Dec 18, 2019 5:54:30 GMT 8
4th and last Batch
USMC, Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis U.S.M.C. Photographs, Olongapo, early 1900s
Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis U.S.M.C. was a career officer in the Corps in the early 1900, took many pictures and they are now in the USMC Archives, here is the link:
Ze728. Officers Quarters in Olongapo 1907 to 1911. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze729. A USMC Parade 1909 in Olongapo. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze730. The USMC Post Band 1910 in Olongapo. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze731. An Olongapo street in 1910. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze732. Tex Roger’s USMC C. 1909 in Olongapo. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze733. Washday in Olongapo1907. The mountain in the mid-picture should be Mt. Redondo of the west side of Subic Bay. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze734. A banca is passing Star Point in 1909; I have a feeling Star Point is today Kalaklan Point, the rocks at right seem to match. This is an Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Last Edit: Dec 18, 2019 5:58:51 GMT 8 by Karl Welteke
Post by Karl Welteke on Jan 14, 2020 1:38:37 GMT 8
Fleet Waiting Room in Olongapo 1941
A Face and Story about a Service Member who was stationed in Subic Bay in 1941! He suffered the cruelty of being a POW in the hands of the Imperial Japanese.
Ze882. Army Lt Chester K. Britt in front of the Fleet Waiting Room in Olongapo 1941. This picture is from his family via John Duresky. Mr. Britt was assigned to Fort Wint and was perhaps waiting for transportation back to his fort on Grande Island.
From Karl. When I first arrived in Subic Bay 1962 with my ship the USS Belle Grove LSD-2 (The Two Can Do), with 11 ships in my Amphibious Squadron Seven (7) out of Long Beach CA we had to anchor out, not enough pier spaces then.
John Duresky sent me the picture and the information about this Gentleman.
Good Morning Karl (I am writing from Arizona), Dec. 9, 2019
I wrote to you back in October, so just a quick summary, I am writing a book with a friend of mine, Lt Col David Britt, USAF (Ret). His father, Army Lt Chester K Britt, was one of 1,619 POWs that were on the Oryoku Maru. Lt Britt was first assigned to Fort Wint on Grande Island in 1940, then when it was abandoned on about December 24, 1941, he fought on Bataan, was on the Bataan Death March, then spent the next 2-1/2 years at Camp O'Donnell, Cabanatuan, Davao Penal Colony, and Bilibid Prison which he left at the end to board the Oryoku Maru. He survived the Oryoku Maru, then the Enoura Maru, then the Brazil Maru, then 3 months at Fukuoka POW Camp #3, then almost 4 months at the POW camp in Mukden Manchuria. He was freed on August 16, 1945. He died in 1953 due to health problems from his time as a POW. When he died my friend was only four years old
The book will be about his life, and the lives of those around him, some of whom survived the war, some who didn't.
This is Lt Britt's memorial page from West Point. He graduated on June 11, 1940.
Chester Kieser Britt, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Archie R. Britt, was born in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on June 13. 1915, and lived as a boy and young man in nearby La Crosse, Wisconsin. Since he was the eldest child in the family, he was looked upon by his brothers and sisters as being the leader who would set the example they too should follow. Memory brings back those years when as a boy he took the younger ones to school smoothing the path for their first venture into a new way of life, although many times he was undoubtedly equally as unsure as they. Later as they grew older, he taught them to make pumpkin faces, or fashion Easter baskets, build igloos in the wintertime, and the numerous other playthings that are so absorbing to children. He was a lad upon whom his parents could depend; and, as a “big brother” and son, he was dearly loved and respected.
As a young boy, “Chet" was active in scouting and loved to bring his friends home to do scout work, sometimes studying, to earn merit badges or constructing bows and arrows. During these years he became interested in playing the bugle and consistently won city-wide contests that sent him to scout camp for entire summers as camp bugler. Swimming, skiing, skating, fishing, and basketball were his primary interests in sports.
Later he became interested in aviation and model airplanes and won city contests. This spurred him on to try gliders; and one summer with the help of his friends, he built a full-scale glider and planned to actually fly it off the top of "Grandad's Bluff" His father put a stop to this when he decided it was too dangerous, and the flight was never carried through. The prizes Chet won in his various endeavors were not his incentive, however. It was rather his desire for perfection in all his ventures that won for him first place in so many things, and this conscientiousness was a part of his character.
In high school he achieved very high grades, graduating as an honor student. He then attended State Teachers College in La Crosse, pledging Kappa Delta Pi, National Honorary Fraternity. It was during this period that he received a Congressional appointment to the Academy at West Point. Upon his graduation in 1940 he married his high school sweetheart, Miss Grace Runice, and together they went to Fort Monroe, Virginia, for a brief tour of duty before proceeding to the Philippine Islands, where Chet served in the Coast Artillery.
The ensuing war years are well known to all. Chet, holder of the Silver Star, was on Bataan when it fell and was subsequently a prisoner of war of the Japanese for three and a half years. Although only four Red Cross form cards were received from him in that entire time, his family never gave up hope of his safe return. The prayers of many people, some of whom were strangers but who had heard about him, and the dream of returning to his family helped to give him strength to endure those long years and enabled him to return home in 1945 after the Japanese surrender.
Homecoming was made even happier by meeting for the first time his little son, Chester, Jr., who was born in 1941. After Chet had regained his strength, he and Grace, and their son returned to duty at Fort Bliss, Texas. A few years of happiness followed during which time two more sons, Donald and David, were born to them. But the long years of maltreatment as a prisoner of war were to take their toll, and in 1949 a stroke partially paralyzing him, forced his retirement from the Army. At this time he held the rank of Major. He and his family returned to La Crosse to live, and there he spent the remaining years of his life.
In July 1953 this courageous man, whose life had been religiously and ideally lived, was called from this world. Now, when in Chapel we stand and sing America with the Christian flag and the American flag side by side, the words the minister used in describing Chet’s life come back again:
"He truly loved and served his God and his Country.”
Post by Karl Welteke on Mar 8, 2020 23:24:22 GMT 8
Three Allied POWs escaped from the Oryoku Maru in Dec. 1944.
This is one story I never heard before and it is pleasant surprise, especially that the three escapees were rescued, assisted by the Olongapo area guerillas as reported by Capt. Ramon Magsaysay (the future President) of the Zambales Military District.
A03. Zo138 Three POWs escaped from the sinking Oryoku Maru as reported by Capt. Ramon Magsaysay (later the President of the Philippines). This document was found and was provided by Bub Hudson. Amazing, I never knew that. Thank you Olongapo and area Guerillas.
A04. Zo139 Three POWs escaped from the sinking Oryoku Maru as reported by Capt. Ramon Magsaysay (later the President of the Philippines). This document was found and was provided by Bub Hudson. Amazing, I never knew that. Thank you Olongapo and area Guerillas.
A05. Zo140 Three POWs escaped from the sinking Oryoku Maru as reported by Capt. Ramon Magsaysay (later the President of the Philippines). This document was found and was provided by Bub Hudson. Amazing, I never knew that. Thank you Olongapo and area Guerillas.
Post by Karl Welteke on Mar 31, 2020 1:21:31 GMT 8
NOTE FROM KARL!!!!!
It seems I got it wrong about Richard Gordon
Friends
A Filipino VIP friend alerted me about a plane crash in Manila on the 29th March and then I googled it. There were several articles about the crash and they said that the Senator was one of the victims.
That would have been very sad news, because to me Richard Gordon was Mr. Olongapo and the creator of SBMA.
Many of you have alerted me that I either misread the stories or fell victim to a Fake news story. Senator Gordon was not one of the victims.
The news article above reported this on March 29, 2020 04:30 PM
Note from Karl: Senator Gordon was not one of the victims.
Zo406. Senator Richard Gordon
A traditional plaque exchange ceremony was held onboard between (from left) local officials Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Wilma Eisma and senator and former tourism secretary and former chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Richard Gordon, as well as Ovation of the Seas’ Captain Flemming Nielsen
JackJensen: I came across my father's name - Capt. Paul Jensen - who was with the CIC, on the forum. I'm hoping to find more, though it appears that his area - Sicily, North Africa - was not the focus of the board. So, I'm not sure how much I can contribute.
Jan 6, 2024 20:44:06 GMT 8
EXO: To clarify: There are a disturbing number of applicants for membership who are not reading the rules. As a result, new members who have not made a relevant post within 3 months may be deleted without further notice, on the ground they are "bots".
Feb 29, 2024 20:10:50 GMT 8
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lf62: Does anyone have the pdf file of 434. US Naval Station (NAVSTA) Subic Bay 1985 map or drawing that they can share with me? Let me know and I will send you my email address.
Mar 14, 2024 15:18:24 GMT 8
fortman: Thanks Karl. Sad to see so much deterioration on Grande Island.
Apr 18, 2024 3:44:41 GMT 8