PANAMA: US TROOPS AND FAMILIES LEAVE
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- (5 Jul 1999) Spanish/Nat
U-S troops are pulling out of Panama prior to a December 31 deadline, many wrenching themselves away from what has become a second home.
Many have married Panamanian women, and their wives now face the prospect of an uncertain future in a new country.
For the troops and their families leaving Fort Sherman, which closed last week, leaving family and friends behind in Panama is proving harder than they expected.
The lowering of the U-S flag at Fort Sherman was an emotional moment for the troops and their wives who are stationed there.
Packing up a lifetime of memories brings nostalgia for the family of U-S Major Kevin Huggins.
He and his wife made a home in Panama knowing that the country would return to Panamanian control in 1999.
That knowledge, however, has not made their departure any easier.
Like many Americans who are leaving, they have made their lives in Panama, married Panamanian women, and began to raise families in this tropical nation.
For Major Huggins, the idea of beginning again away from his wife Carmen's family seems difficult.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"Leaving this again, I know it's going to be permanent. You're going to have the memories. The sadness you have when you leave something you're fond of and this is definitely Panama."
SUPER CAPTION: Major Kevin Huggins, Fort Sherman
Carmen Huggins has already seen some of her closest friends move to the States.
She says it hasn't made her own departure any easier.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"Many of my friends have left feeling sad. The last day, everyone is crying when we see this. You have your house, your home, and then it's over."
SUPER CAPTION: Carmen Huggins, Major Huggins' wife
Sergeant Erick Pierson and his wife Vilma do not have children yet.
Vilma, however, breaks down and cries at the idea that her children will be born in the States.
She worries that they will never know the country where their family began: Panama.
The troops of Fort Sherman are not the first, nor the last, to go through this experience.
The United States has already handed over Fort Davis and Fort Gulick to Panamanian control.
More bases scheduled to be transferred later this year include Fort Kobbe, the Clayton Base and the Howard Air Force Base.
The terms of the agreement were laid out in the 1977 Carter-Torrijos Treaty.
If the Americans are finding it difficult to leave, for many Panamanians, this moment couldn't come too soon.
At the height of the American military presence, 65-thousand American soldiers were stationed here.
There is continuing bitterness over the unexploded ammunition the Americans are leaving behind buried in a 7,400 acre jungle firing range near Fort Sherman.
Outside Wednesday's handover ceremony for Fort Sherman, one lone protester chanted, "Only one flag, Only one country."
At least in Fort Sherman, where Americans have lowered their flag for the last time, the Panamanian flag now flies alone.
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I’m from Panama and my Dad is retired US Army. I miss Panama so much. 🌹
This is from 1999. Then the base were left to rot except for the areas the rich moved into. Facilities, buildings and infrastructure gone to waste. What a waste.
panama para los panameños eso es todo. peace.
pero que le pasa vale esta ladrando al arbol equivocado. deje de ser grosero. cual es el problema? a lo mejor nesecita calmarse y presentar un argumento racional.
Vic Mac You're kind of right, he should calm down a little bit. But that doesn't mean he's not telling the truth.
y por eso estoy de acuerdo. pero al mismo tiempo hay que respetar. al final todos en esta tierra mientras estemos vivos somos iguales: humanos e interconectados. lo que nos han hecho es terrible: divide and conquer. por ende tanta guerra y odio. bueno pues cuals es la discusion? panama sin usa? lo mismo que puerto rico? anexar sera la solucion? quien propone esto?
oscarwildeghost I don’t really agree. Most of the Office Buildings in Howard are still used as Panama Pacifico economic zone. The residences were torn down and new buildings erected because the old military residences were just too old. Most of Amador buildings was also knocked down to build a mall. Again the buildings were too old. Clayton has the most empty buildings sitting around, so there is more wasted space , but I think it’s because they are zoned for mostly business only. The other bases had the houses auctioned off and redeveloped. Speaking in 2018, it seems that most of it has been reporposed or torn down for land development, so I don’t agree. These buildings were all about a century old.
I am from Panama City, Panama, but watching this video really broke my heart because to me Howard Air Force Base was a place that everyone called home until they decided to close down the base and Fort Sherman also. It hurts me to say this, but everyone from Albrook where I used to live, Fort Clayton, Howard, and Fort Davis who had families who served in the military did not deserve to leave like this and it breaks my heart that the Panamanian government does not care about bringing all the soldiers back to Panama and start rebuilding those houses on base for people who served in the military🇵🇦🇺🇸
I left Panama in Oct. 90 after a 1 year short tour. Went back to Bragg & 1 month later caught back up to my old unit in Saudia Arabia.
As a dual citizen from US/Panama, I can say that I'm so sorry that the Panamanian officials sold most of those properties to wealthy foreigners, and that the Panama Canal gives out millions of dollars to the government while there are Panamanian children starving in the country. There are lots of Panamanians who'd like to see the Americans go back to Panama, and now more than ever, when the communist Chinese regime is taking Panama by and by.
Positively. You arn't dual citizen gringo- Panamanian. You 're a wanabi wanting go back to the ashamed colonial condition existing before 1999. It will not be ever after. Ptyankee
ningun panameno humilde se beneficio con esa reversion, desgraciadamente el gov..de turno que avia en ese entonces, se encargo de repartir esa propiedadades entre emiguismo y favores politicos eh intereses economicos...
Y para que para poner otro "CHORRILLO, CURUNDU, SAN MIGUEL. en las areas revertidas??!!
Sino fuera x los norteamericanos el cerro Ancón estaría lleno de Favelas
y maleantería fuera de la "vista " desagradable viniendo del interior para la capital ...
Welcome to Panama politics. Is like that all over the world.
al final tanto pelear para quitarle la zona a los norteamericanos disque para el "pueblo panameño" y hoy en día esas casas y demás edificios están en muy pésimo estado casi que cayéndose a pedazos
Canal zone Cowboy. Totalmente de acuerdo con lo que dices y esta todo sucio lleno de monte es un asco
No se de que hablan ustedes. Nostálgicos de la colonia. Evolucionen y tenganse respeto.
Totalmente de acuerdo todo en ruinas da es tristeza ver esos edificios.
Entonces que? Quieres de nuevo a los gringos ahí? Idiota. Xuxa que comentario pa estúpido lape
@@nemesionieves8900 ¿Por qué carajos no te vas a vivir a Cuba????
dan ganas de llorar. tan limpia que estaba esa área ahora está toda hecha un asco
Los "patriotas" te dirian que somos soberanos y es nuestra basura ...
I disagree . The Canal Zone still is a clean place just the way it was back in the days. I was just there in February 2022.
Why can't we just get along...
Sad
I provided project management and inspection duties at the DIRECTORATE OF HOUSING at COROZAL and FORT CLAYTON military bases for 14 years. As a PANAMANIAN CITIZEN providing services to the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT the same as other 12500 PANAMANIAN civilian workers, made strong efforts to convince both, the UNITED STATES and the REPUBLIC OF PANAMA, of the urgent need then, to negotiate an extension of the U.S. MILITARY presence in PANAMA beyond year 2000, which would have been on behalf of both countries ultimate benefit due to the increase of DRUG TRAFFICKING operations throughout the entire republic of PANAMA and also extended over to the PANAMA CANAL iself...i spoke to many high ranking officials of both countries regarding the urgent need to approve an agreement regarding this very delicate situation which i conducted all the way back in 1990 tru 1999, however all of my efforts fell into deaf hears. As all of these valuable U.S. military bases, properties and infrastructures were turned over to the REPUBLIC of PANAMA, I am alarmingly sad and dissapointed at the absolute lack of maintenance and abandonment of these very valuable properties.
It is a shame that much of the infrastructure was left abandoned for so long following the turnover. I am happy to see, albeit expensive, that Howard and Kobbe (My old home) are being revamped with the formation of Panama Pacifico. One day I will get back down to check out the old CZ!
So much money just gone to waste. The bases can be used for many things to benefit people.
My Father and our family were stationed @ Ft. Clayton, Panama in 1977.
THE BEST TOUR EVER. I was a Bushmaster from 1991 to 1993, 29 MI BN to 308 MI. Won the Football Championship and the Turkey Bowl in 1991.
Tan bonito k era cuando los USA taban ahi,ahora k abandonados los edificios callendose,y el gobierno panameño no ha hecho nada,los gringos tenian a Panama.mucho mejor k ahora
Eres un perro. Porqué no te vas con ellos??
El panameño no sabe cuidar nada todo lo ensucian. Estoy de acuerdo con tu comentario da tristeza ver todo eso cuando uno maneja y ve los edificios feos.
@@nemesionieves8900 Y tu por qué mierda no te vas a Cuba con tu puto comunismo por el culo????
@@nemesionieves8900 Y cual es tu trauma "patriota"??!! X que no salistes el dia de la invasión y defendistes a la patria CABRÓN??!!
Escribiendo aguevasones típico de loser como Tú ...
Por cierto, aspiro a irme de visita turística a Cuba, tan pronto se normalice ésta pandemia. A visitar la Patria de Fidel. Yo sospecho que tus aspiraciones turísticas es ir a vivir un rato a una base gringa o a un cuartel colombiano, como "cocinera con delantal abierto atrás". Ser despreciable. Lambon y arrodillado.
Lived there as an Army brat in the early '70s. Dad worked at the TTC and it was the best place I have ever lived, and I've lived some wonderful places! The footage of the houses was wonderful as that was exactly like our house (419B Smith street).
The US gave away $32 trillion dollars for free ,with no conditions when to signed over the canal,what a bunch of stupid FUs to have done that.
Its not that the guy that gave the Us the canal wasnt even panamenian
Blaine Jimmy Carter man and this f***** is still running around on taxpayers dime of secret service protection don't nobody want to kidnap his ass the kidnapper will spend more time trying to care for his health at least Nixon has some f****** courage to disband his secret service protection after 3 years he wrote Congress and told him I'm responsible for my own security now Congress didn't want to do it but it was a request from a former president and they honored it and Nexus said thank you now I can say the American tax Bill some money. Good luck with the current crop of assholes better getting protection at the expense of the taxpayers
It's funny the things you forget. Moving out in 1998 from Ft Clayton, we had a big stack of paper like at 1:10 to wrap dishes in, and I remember being so mad at how bad it was for drawing on, and getting yelled at for dawdling and goofing off instead of packing my things.
I remember. It was VERY sad. I was there too.
Recuerdo aquellos tiempos, mi amiga vivía en unas de esas casa; todo estaba limpio .
Es una lastima que esas casas ahora estén sucias y que muchos de los que viven ahora hay son los ricos de la clase alta panameña, pero lo bueno es que al menos ya podemos pisar nuestra propia tierra sin la preocupación de ser retenidos por soldados norteamericanos...
Y q querias??!! Otro chorrillo o san Miguel en las areas revertidas ??!!
Suficiente con la maleantería que hay x tdos lados que no se AGUANTA!!!
😢😢
This shouldn't have happened
and the Panamanian government let the base go to s.h.!.t.
Actually it's now called the City of Knowledge and they have done a great job of keeping most of it original and added some nice additions. I was back there a couple years ago and while it seemed smaller than when I was a kid, everything was in great condition and all my memories found their origins.
Should have kept it, just like the
Philippines. It will deteriorate in the years to come.
I used to work in all the Colon and Panama bases that sad they are very good house with very beautiful lands not even we Panamanians have the money to buy them only those who have a lot of money can have them
October '74
11b4p 82nd 1/504
I installed an air traffic control system at Howard AFB in the eighties. Enjoyed my stay there. Visited the Panama Canal. I remember the monkeys that roamed the base.
The date at the top of the story indicates it's from 2015. But I believe the base closed in 1999. I can't find anything via Google that says it was still open. I did see a story about the US arranging to open two bases in panama, as of 2011, to fight drug smugglers. Anyone know for sure?
late 99. pretty sure but not certain the army flag ceremony was ft clayton.
Howard/Kobbe housing and barracks were mostly allowed to rot and are being demolished slowly, with the exception of the flight line. New buildings were built but extant housing and most of the barracks were never used again (and are almost all gone). Gateway (new housing) and Farfan continued to be occupied (civilian) however. Worth looking at google earth present and historical imagery. Main (tropical) housing was never occupied again. New zero-lot-line housing and/or condos have been built in a few locations. A grocery store just opened this year too, quite the big news.
Only the Americans were sad. For Panamanians, they were happy and celebrating. They could be a sovereign nation
Believe it or not, thousands of Panamanians regretted that the Americans left the country. Panamanians even had the chance to join the US military and thousands were employees earning lots of dollars at the Canal Zone.
Tanto apuros a revertir estás tierras para que si están en tremendao desastre ademas el pueblo ni se beneficio de esto
I saw a video where some people took footage of it in recent years and is totally abandoned to the jungle. Just 25 years ago people lived there. Wonder where those Panamanian women in this video are today. Obviously are they living somewhere in the States. They must be in their late 50s middle aged now. Finally just like to say. Panamanian women at least the ones that here in this video from Jul 1999 from the late 1990s early 2000s are attractive,sexy and beautiful. Finally, I don't approve of U.S. foregn policy or U.S. building bases in other peoples countries. But I feel interested in knowing what happened to the the Panamanian women in this video 25 years later? Hope their happy and alright. It must have been tough leaving their Panamanian family and friends behind to live in another country. Although if you do well in the States. There are parts of the U.S. that can be nice places with decent standard of living to live in. So they may not be too home sick after a while, provided they were successful in the states.
The Canal belongs to the United States of America.
No. The canal belongs to Panama according to the Torrijos-Carter treaty
@@alejandratreat1678 As the communist Chinese regime is taking over Panama, you'll wake up and see.
Todo lo dejaron perder
Why complain now, they were there for almost a hundred years and did not share the profits properly an evenly with the Panamanians. Now today 2020 it is Panamanians and yes they deserve it and can do as they please with it. A lot has being improved 2020 and better now even than before and the improvement and grow continue all over the country, BEST PLACE TO RETIRE
Yeah, sure! I can say this as a Panamanian citizen as well. The governments of Panama take in millions of dollars every year from the Panama Canal, but that money NEVER touches the people of Panama, and I bet you must be a communist or a member from the ex Panamanian military political party: PRD that today rules over Panama and don't give a fuck about children starving in the provinces. With the Covid-19 pandemia the government has locked down most of the people and only gives out to them $100 a month per family while the Panama Canal has given away millions and millions of dollars in profit, ¿Where the hell is that money???
@@rogerzimet Well said Roger! I am a dual citizen also and some of these people here are talking out of their As... and fanaticism and have no idea of the economic damage the departure has left to the country. I lived in Fort Clayton and the last time I visit I almost cry to see the base full of new condos where only foreigners and the upper class can afford to live. So Nada a mejorado, todos se han vueltos mas ladrones. Thiefs stolen money from the Canal to enrich their own pockets.
@@amazing-osky2052 Totally agree with you, mi paisano. Blessings! Bendiciones!
Now what every inquiring mind wants to know is: the Americans possess those homes they lived in????
No. I just visited Fort Gulick and its all Panamanians. The quarters are still there and some have been remodeled. The office buildings opposite of the post office have collapsed and the movie theater is close...
Claro porque la vida de ricos que tenian aqui con ese sueldo de soldado no la tendrian alla por eso lloraban
gringo go home.
Why? You hate running water and paved streets?
oscarwildeghost Yeah bunch of ignorant idiots. That's how it is, they want something just for that business money.
Now they said yankee come back
@@derekthompson6550 not every Panamenian is like that, belive lots of us are grateful that you guys took out that idiot Noriega. The rest is just brainwashed!
Edit: what I ment is no need to be so rude
@@gordoelkis The lonely who is unhappy they has got away are you. I understand it's must be extremely hard to see your boy friend going far away from you. Leaving your heard broken in two, and something else. Don't cry, boy. Gringos must be out of this sobereign beutifull country.