Howard AFB July 2009.wmv

Last July, ten years after leaving Panama, we were fortunate enough to take a vacation there and visit Howard Air Force Base, where we lived for a total of about four years. Anyone else who lived there knows how great it was. Seeing Howard again was kind of sad, because the housing area of the base has been sitting completely untouched ever since the base closed. It was pretty much a ghost town. Our old house still had the carpet in it! Unlike Albrook and Clayton, where all of the houses have been sold and remodeled, Howard has been sitting empty. I'll be posting more videos very soon. Thanks for watching and subscribing.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Howard AFB
• air force base
• clayton
• albrook
• Panama
• canal zone
• military housing
• 1999
• 2009
• ghost town
• bridge of the americas

[KathyLak1]

When you go in the main entrance, what ws the name of the base that was acros the street?

[CitizenZero1]

@KathyLak1 Farfan, I think.

[shepoopi]

Very cool video! We lived at 158 Rencher as well from 1968 until 1971. I remember the playground across the street and I used to ride my bike down Commander's hill and skid in the carport! There was a nice Avocado tree up there near the playground. At the top of the stairs my sisters wrote their name (and date) when they did a concrete repair.  I wonder if you ever noticed it?

[CitizenZero1]

@shepoopi Just posted a new vid. I'm not sure about the names. We did the same thing. I loved going down that hill on my bike. Good to hear from you. what are the odds?

[truth032003]

REALLY COOL VIDEO. You allowed me to see my old house near the clinic (it was the first house on the right before you drove around the circle). In the early 1970's it was a fantastic place to live as a 10 year old kid.

You had to live there to know how great it was. No place can ever compare...

Thanks for the memories!

[CitizenZero1]

@truth032003 Finally posted my new video. Let me know what you think.

[RandolphAgarn1]

I ws stationed there in 80 - 82. no way i'd ever go back. Seeing all those houses empty is very strange. at last you didnt have to live in the dorms like i did.

[austintexasdj]

They have a Dell computer location there now...

[mm33mike]

Thank you. I have been wondering for years what happened to Howard. I was in the 24th CES.I was an airman,masonry specialist. We also took care of Albrook.I was 17 when I arrived from Iowa.I was there sept.'75-feb' 77. Really to young to appreciate it.Still, it was probably the highlight of my life. Thank you so much for the footage,I think you even caught my barracks,south of the bowling alley. So sad about the condition.

[dinkinsr]

I think it was Rodman Naval Station.

[jdport777]

as you entered there was a one story officers community for air force personell and then TLF, the yellowish 4 plexes. Farfan was a navy one story housing area that was farther down. I lived in the first house on the first street, right across from the park in farfan for 6 years. The park was shaded by huge oaks, it had a big bojillo and a mango tree next to it. The best 6 years of my life for sure. This video is awesome. K-50, the jungle, the combat shows for the kids..ahh memories.

[53398]

They are turning it into Panama Pacifico. To learn more you can google it or look it up right here on youtube.

[Alexcordoba100]

Now I would like to mention that it is sad that Howard remained pretty much like a ghost town even 10 years later. However, this has all changed. I don't know if you are aware that Howard has become what is called now Panama Pacific, which is and will be one the most prestigious area of Panama and worldwide (busineswise) Lot of these old houses have been remodeled for sale as they did in Albrook and Clayton.

[Alexcordoba100]

Hey there! I just saw this video and I enjoyed it a lot. I'm a zonian from the balboa area,but I had sibblings who lived in Howard and Cocoli before the bases were closed. I still live in Panama with my parents. I'm a college student so I can only remember my experiences from when I was a little boy in balboa elementary and when I used to stay at my aunt's in howard.

[Thinker669]

What are they gonna see with the buildings?