Enlisted in the USAF at Ramey in Nov. 1967, and got assigned PCS as a B-52 bomber mechanic in Feb.1971. Got early out discharged in July because Ramey was closing . Great memories of friends, the Base and Crash Boat Beach. Worked as Alert Recovery Bomber Crew night shift.
I ,too lived on the base for a year with my parents and three brothers. Remember riding our bikes to school, spontaneous rain showers with the sun shining, swimming all day at the pool and eating a 25 cent plate full of french fries while over looking the ocean. Going to the movies every Saturday. It was the life for a 10 year old kid! ☺️💕🌴🦎 Don't forget the lizards.
The last two of us 4 kids were born at Ramey in 1966 and 67. Our father was a pilot, he retired as Lt Col Paul R O’Brien Jr. I’ve heard many wonderful stories of our family life during this time, and it sounds so blissful.
Thanks so much. I want to go back more than ever now. Every Sunday, after church, we had breakfast at the O club. I was allowed to order cheese omelet. Being a kid on base in the early sixties was paradise.
Thanks for the memories. Stationed with the CG three different tours. 1980-84, 1993-97, and 2000-03 Great friends and fun times. Learned to wind surf at the Shacks in the 1980's. Married my PR wife in 1985 & 28 years later still together.
Bob Snyder :your last name sounds familiar,maybe you remember my husband (he is in heaven)Carmelo Gonzalez,aka,Speedy,we where there in1977-1983,He was a avionic electrician,we love the base,so many good memories.The He pass away,he was in Clearwater Base.
@@ritagonzalez8923 Hello Rita, of course I remember "Speedy". We worked together many times on the H-3 Helo's at the base. I also deployed with him to Hati for 3 days one time. I was sickened when I heard about his passing. I did retire from the CG and we live in Florida now. Hope you and the family are well. Bob
As a former USAF enlisted mechanic, I relate to the call of past assignment locations. Pat's videos are concise and touching, in spirit and in recollection. It is a story of time and place.
I truly enjoyed this video. I agree with all the other comments that were made of the good memories. My father was stationed at Ramey AFB 1960-1963. I started school in Puerto Rico and am now 62 yoa. We first lived in Aguadilla before we finally got base housing. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for posting this! My dad served at Ramey, 1961-1965. We used to explore the caves in those cliffs. We lived at 81 Hook Rd (right behind Kings). It was an amazing magical place for a kid to grow up. Spent our days on swim teams, riding at the Lazy R. And the Sat night skate rink. My parents were Bunty and Neil.
Sure enjoyed your pictures of Ramey. My father was stationed there in the early 50's. I was in the 2nd- 4th grade and all kids walked to school. I lived on Cliff Road at the bottom of a large hill. Use to take coffee cans and catch crabs after it rained on that hill!! I lived at the Officer's Club Pool which we would go with or without our parents. I remember the steep road that led down to the beach below the O Club. There was a sign I still remember that said "No Swimming because of sharks, baraccuda and undertow. Saturday's were fun at the movies. We would walk there and I believe it cost a quarter. I remember the DDT truck that would spray around the quarters evenings and we would run behind in the cloud of insect killer!! No one seemed to find anything unusual about that then!! My parent's were Bill and Wanda Ruark, my name is Linda Ruark Carns. I'm 73 and still remember so much of this short film you made. Thank you so much. I especially loved seeing quarters on Cliff Road. There was a outside ledge that ran around the second floor that we liked to get on when our parents weren't looking. So many memories! Left there and moved to Barksdale AFB. Air Force life was great as a kid especially at Ramey!
My Dad was stationed there from May 1956- May 1960, my two youngest sisters, and one of my 4 brothers were born there. I loved it as a child. I am now 70, and Dad is 91. We were the Myers family and I went by Judy Myers! It has been 60 years since I’ve been there. Thank you for videoing my favorite places!
Hello there! This video made me cry !! My daddy was stationed here from "66 - "69. I have so many fond memories of living here and will be going back to visit this year with my fiancee. I want to show my fiancee the places I lived at while daddy was stationed there, and to pay tribute to my father " Joseph Allen Henry who was a Master Sargent and was a Military Police. I remember living a block from the elementary school and used to cut through our back neighbors house to go to the school. AWESOME VIDEO!! Thank you!!
Lived in beautiful Tropical Acres, the 'other' housing area on the far side of the field. Dad was stationed there '66-'69. Great swimming pools, great skating rink, great beaches. Lazy R stables. Great band director for JH and HS, Mr. Ralph Cabret. I'd love to go back someday.
I too lived in Tropical Acres and remember The Lazy R and the old MARS Station where we had our Boy Scout meetings. In particular I recall an almost ill fated hike (swim) while trying to complete our 50 Mile trek "IN" the Guajataca River during what our leaders did not recognize as the monsoon season. I remember attending the two year Jr. High School as well as completing the 9th and 10th grade at Ramey High School (Go Bombers). Some of my fondest memories are on that island...thank you for the walk down memory lane. Jay McGinty
I was borne at the hospital on ramey afb 55 years ago.I saw a video that brought tears to me.I told my husband that for the our 35 wedding anniversary we are going to Puerto Rico to honor my dad who was stationed there in the 50s..
We lived there in 1964-67. My little sis was born there. Then my dad retired and we went back in 1970. Lived there til finally returning stateside in 1973. LOVED Ramey. I too remember walking to school as an elementary to middle school student. Then as a High Schooler later. Miss it to this day and I'm 60!
Wonderful! I lived there from 1978-1981, my dad worked at a pharmaceutical company on the base, I would go to the golf course with him on the weekends.
I lived the first 4 years of my life at Ramey AFB. I wish I had better memories of it. My parents - Keith and Virginia Latham - lived there from 1962 to 1967 or so. They had wonderful memories of living there. Dad was Major Keith S. Latham, and we lived in Circle C near the Roundys. Their son, Chucky Roundy, was my favourite playmate. How nice to see this video. I would love to go back and visit again.
hi I wish I had better memories too I do have a few that are really great I lived on Remi Air Force Base from 65 to 71, my dad was in the Air Force and I believe I went to E Street school and lived around the block or so something like that from the lighthouse. I got in big trouble one time going to the lighthouse and my mom couldn’t find me. I remember distinctly how the house looked . I went to the school there from 5 to 9 years old somewhere in there I remember we could go home for lunch and I just ran across the field into the subdivision to wear my house was. If you ever want to chat just comment back I would love to talk with someone that either has similar memories or maybe even knew my dad my dad was Bill Simmons. Maybe your dad knew him I would love to talk to somebody that knew my dad.
My dad was stationed at Ramey AFB 69-70. I was a teenager and loved it, I would sit on the beach and watch the rain come in from the ocean, one minute your dry the next you are wet. It was amazing. Also, we use to go to Rincon beach and dig for clams and swim, however, when a surf fisherman pulled in a barracuda it kind of dampened the mood, but people kept swimming. We went to the cliffs in Aquadilla on a field trip for my biology class and watch from above the sharks swim below the slaughter house. My Prom night adventure took us off base where we stopped at a bar, they thought we were a wedding party and were giving us free drinks. Life has certainly changed, these are memories I will cherish.
This is fantastic. My dad was a weather recon officer / (Hurricane Hunters) pilot and we lived here from 1966 to late 1969. Fond memories of my parents taking me to that officer's club on Sunday mornings after church for breakfast. I learned to play guitar there from an old Puerto Rican man and still make my living at is 50 years later.
Yea, Johnny, You and I were there at the same time. I did not know your father but we could have been at breatkfast together on Sundays at the O Club. We arrived in Jan 67 and left Dec. 69. Great place.
This is so great,thank you for sharing. My father was in the USCG and our family was there from 76-81.We practically lived at the shacks every weekend.Such great memories.Thanks again.
I grew up on Ramey My sis was born there. I used to play lol,in the Sugar Cane fields and remember the Huts across the street from the Apartments where the Bars were,I later found out.My Dad was stationed there in the late 60's.
Thanks for sharing this great video, Pat and Ginger. My dad was stationed at RAFB 1958 - 1961. I was very young at the time, 3 years old when we moved there, but I have great memories and recognized some of the places in the video. My mom worked at the golf club for awhile. My youngest brother was born in 1961 in the hospital pictured. Such a great place to live. Thanks again.
My dad was stationed at Ramey from 1959 to 1962 and Victoria Principal was in my 5th grade class with Mr. Pritchard - a terrific teacher. thanks for such a beautiful video. Even though I was there years before you were, it still looks very familiar. Bob Hope and Eisenhower came there too! Thanks for the memories!
My Dad spent time in PR while in the Air Force in the late 50s or '60s. I assume he was stationed here. I will always remember his recollections of walking the beach -- he said it was one of the most beautiful places he visited in all his worldwide travels with the Air Force. Thanks for sharing.
My father was stationed there early ‘54-late ‘56. He was on a B36 crew. We lived on Wing Rd in NCO Wherry housing. My closest friend’s father was a full colonel. They lived on Brass Row, Cliff Rd. Ramey (and PR) was a great place to be a kid 8-10!
Thanks for the memories. We lived in base housing for a year when Dad was stationed there in 1946-47 when I was 7, one of the favorite years of my life.
Thanks! I was stationed in Roosevelt Roads from 73 through 74. Had a friend who had a surfboard co. in Isabella. We would go over every weekend and surf Rincon and Ramey Beach which we called wilderness. I won the all Navy surf contest that year at the beach your videoing from! Love that place. By the way his name was Jimmy Davidson, and the name of his Co. was Island Surfboards.
Back in the early 1950s my family was stationed at the San Juan Naval Station. Years later with the Air National Guard from New Jersey, we spent our two week summer training exercises flying out of Ramey. Both were fun with a lot of fond memories. I still think of sitting in a beach chair overlooking the ocean watching whales and sipping on a Piña colada! Thanks for the homecoming video!
I never knew why this beach was called "Shacks" until seeing the original small shacks at the end of this video! Thanks for sharing this! I went to first grade in Ramey, but then moved as dad was stationed in Europe and continental USA for the rest of our lives until he retired from the Air Force and we moved back to the West coast of the island.
Great video! Thanks! I was stationed at the Naval facility on Ramey from late 1962 to May 1965. I have so many wonderful memories from this paradise. I wonder if the Yellow Bar is still right outside the gate? My home away from home...
Served at Ramey AFB, 1957-1960 with 522nd Air Force Band. Roommate Bill Sacher and I camped on the beach below Officer's Club many times. Our Jazz Combo would play for President Eisenhower's parties, as he enjoyed playing golf on the Ramey Golf Course. Many memories from Puerto Rico, and rest of Caribbean.
I had no idea Ramey AFB was closed. I was wondering why those stationed at the A.F.B. were not lending a hand to those suffering from the after affects of Hurricane Maria. I was born in Aquadilla on Feb.1970. My Dad was stationed at RAFB.
I remember when my father was stationed at Ramey AFB Peruto Rico I don't remember the name of the street we lived on when we first got there but the address we lived at after we moved on the base was 126 Lighthouse Drive boy do I have found memories living there
Enlisted in the USAF at Ramey in Nov. 1967, and got assigned PCS as a B-52 bomber mechanic in Feb.1971. Got early out discharged in July because Ramey was closing . Great memories of friends, the Base and Crash Boat Beach. Worked as Alert Recovery Bomber Crew night shift.
I ,too lived on the base for a year with my parents and three brothers. Remember riding our bikes to school, spontaneous rain showers with the sun shining, swimming all day at the pool and eating a 25 cent plate full of french fries while over looking the ocean. Going to the movies every Saturday. It was the life for a 10 year old kid! ☺️💕🌴🦎 Don't forget the lizards.
The last two of us 4 kids were born at Ramey in 1966 and 67. Our father was a pilot, he retired as Lt Col Paul R O’Brien Jr. I’ve heard many wonderful stories of our family life during this time, and it sounds so blissful.
My mom has also told us about an earthquake that they experienced there as well in the latter half of the 69’s!
LOVE IT, born at Ramey i went to that beach many many times
Thanks so much. I want to go back more than ever now. Every Sunday, after church, we had breakfast at the O club. I was allowed to order cheese omelet. Being a kid on base in the early sixties was paradise.
Thanks for the memories. Stationed with the CG three different tours. 1980-84, 1993-97, and 2000-03 Great friends and fun times. Learned to wind surf at the Shacks in the 1980's. Married my PR wife in 1985 & 28 years later still together.
Bob Snyder :your last name sounds familiar,maybe you remember my husband (he is in heaven)Carmelo Gonzalez,aka,Speedy,we where there in1977-1983,He was a avionic electrician,we love the base,so many good memories.The He pass away,he was in Clearwater Base.
@@ritagonzalez8923 Hello Rita, of course I remember "Speedy". We worked together many times on the H-3 Helo's at the base. I also deployed with him to Hati for 3 days one time. I was sickened when I heard about his passing. I did retire from the CG and we live in Florida now. Hope you and the family are well. Bob
Un paradiso. Great memories, muchas gracias
Yoooo brings back child hood memories
As a former USAF enlisted mechanic, I relate to the call of past assignment locations. Pat's videos are concise and touching, in spirit and in recollection. It is a story of time and place.
Thanks Mark,
Ramey was a great assignment. Were you stationed there at any time?
Pat Allen
Thank you Mark. It was a very special assignment for two 27 year old newly weds with not much money.
Pat
I truly enjoyed this video. I agree with all the other comments that were made of the good memories. My father was stationed at Ramey AFB 1960-1963. I started school in Puerto Rico and am now 62 yoa. We first lived in Aguadilla before we finally got base housing. Thank you so much!
You are welcome Michelle, We lived there 67 through 69. We lived off base for a while too at 13 Calle A in Aguadilla. Pat Allen
Thank you so much for posting this! My dad served at Ramey, 1961-1965. We used to explore the caves in those cliffs. We lived at 81 Hook Rd (right behind Kings). It was an amazing magical place for a kid to grow up. Spent our days on swim teams, riding at the Lazy R. And the Sat night skate rink. My parents were Bunty and Neil.
Closed the old Ramey Hospital in 1977 when I was in the Coast Guard prior to opening the dispensary in La Plaza. Loved Ramey, it was Paradise!
Sure enjoyed your pictures of Ramey. My father was stationed there in the early 50's. I was in the 2nd- 4th grade and all kids walked to school. I lived on Cliff Road at the bottom of a large hill. Use to take coffee cans and catch crabs after it rained on that hill!! I lived at the Officer's Club Pool which we would go with or without our parents. I remember the steep road that led down to the beach below the O Club. There was a sign I still remember that said "No Swimming because of sharks, baraccuda and undertow. Saturday's were fun at the movies. We would walk there and I believe it cost a quarter. I remember the DDT truck that would spray around the quarters evenings and we would run behind in the cloud of insect killer!! No one seemed to find anything unusual about that then!! My parent's were Bill and Wanda Ruark, my name is Linda Ruark Carns. I'm 73 and still remember so much of this short film you made. Thank you so much. I especially loved seeing quarters on Cliff Road. There was a outside ledge that ran around the second floor that we liked to get on when our parents weren't looking. So many memories! Left there and moved to Barksdale AFB. Air Force life was great as a kid especially at Ramey!
Thanks,for this video,Good memories
Peter hijo de pedro amigo de papi acevedo
My Dad was stationed there from May 1956- May 1960, my two youngest sisters, and one of my 4 brothers were born there. I loved it as a child. I am now 70, and Dad is 91. We were the Myers family and I went by Judy Myers! It has been 60 years since I’ve been there. Thank you for videoing my favorite places!
Yes, Julia Ramey was truly a super place to live at that time in Puerto Rico. We were there Jan 67 to Dec. 69.
Lived in aquadilla from 1970 to 73. My father worked as a security guard on Ramsey afb. Also at the muelle sugar terminal. The base was the best
Hello there! This video made me cry !! My daddy was stationed here from "66 - "69. I have so many fond memories of living here and will be going back to visit this year with my fiancee. I want to show my fiancee the places I lived at while daddy was stationed there, and to pay tribute to my father " Joseph Allen Henry who was a Master Sargent and was a Military Police. I remember living a block from the elementary school and used to cut through our back neighbors house to go to the school. AWESOME VIDEO!! Thank you!!
You are welcome John. It truly is a special place.. Also my name is Joseph Patrick Allen some what like your father.
I lived in Isabela and visited the base many times. I became 2nd Lt in the USAF (1978) but by then Ramey AFB was history. Thanks for sharing.
Lived in beautiful Tropical Acres, the 'other' housing area on the far side of the field. Dad was stationed there '66-'69. Great swimming pools, great skating rink, great beaches. Lazy R stables. Great band director for JH and HS, Mr. Ralph Cabret.
I'd love to go back someday.
I too lived in Tropical Acres and remember The Lazy R and the old MARS Station where we had our Boy Scout meetings. In particular I recall an almost ill fated hike (swim) while trying to complete our 50 Mile trek "IN" the Guajataca River during what our leaders did not recognize as the monsoon season.
I remember attending the two year Jr. High School as well as completing the 9th and 10th grade at Ramey High School (Go Bombers).
Some of my fondest memories are on that island...thank you for the walk down memory lane.
Jay McGinty
I was borne at the hospital on ramey afb 55 years ago.I saw a video that brought tears to me.I told my husband that for the our 35 wedding anniversary we are going to Puerto Rico to honor my dad who was stationed there in the 50s..
I went to school on that base in the '80s it was a fantastic experience.
I lived here as a child in 1966. I remember how beautiful it was. Thanks for the video!
We lived there in 1964-67. My little sis was born there. Then my dad retired and we went back in 1970. Lived there til finally returning stateside in 1973. LOVED Ramey. I too remember walking to school as an elementary to middle school student. Then as a High Schooler later. Miss it to this day and I'm 60!
Wonderful! I lived there from 1978-1981, my dad worked at a pharmaceutical company on the base, I would go to the golf course with him on the weekends.
I lived the first 4 years of my life at Ramey AFB. I wish I had better memories of it. My parents - Keith and Virginia Latham - lived there from 1962 to 1967 or so. They had wonderful memories of living there. Dad was Major Keith S. Latham, and we lived in Circle C near the Roundys. Their son, Chucky Roundy, was my favourite playmate.
How nice to see this video. I would love to go back and visit again.
hi I wish I had better memories too I do have a few that are really great I lived on Remi Air Force Base from 65 to 71, my dad was in the Air Force and I believe I went to E Street school and lived around the block or so something like that from the lighthouse. I got in big trouble one time going to the lighthouse and my mom couldn’t find me. I remember distinctly how the house looked . I went to the school there from 5 to 9 years old somewhere in there I remember we could go home for lunch and I just ran across the field into the subdivision to wear my house was. If you ever want to chat just comment back I would love to talk with someone that either has similar memories or maybe even knew my dad my dad was Bill Simmons. Maybe your dad knew him I would love to talk to somebody that knew my dad.
My grandfather was stationed there during the same time as well. Awesome
My dad was stationed at Ramey AFB 69-70. I was a teenager and loved it, I would sit on the beach and watch the rain come in from the ocean, one minute your dry the next you are wet. It was amazing. Also, we use to go to Rincon beach and dig for clams and swim, however, when a surf fisherman pulled in a barracuda it kind of dampened the mood, but people kept swimming. We went to the cliffs in Aquadilla on a field trip for my biology class and watch from above the sharks swim below the slaughter house. My Prom night adventure took us off base where we stopped at a bar, they thought we were a wedding party and were giving us free drinks. Life has certainly changed, these are memories I will cherish.
We were also there 66 to 69, my Dad was B-52 Officer / Crew, lived it there, loved Crash Boat Beach... such fond memories
Hi Ross, we were there from 65-68. Great place to be as a kid!
This is fantastic. My dad was a weather recon officer / (Hurricane Hunters) pilot and we lived here from 1966 to late 1969. Fond memories of my parents taking me to that officer's club on Sunday mornings after church for breakfast. I learned to play guitar there from an old Puerto Rican man and still make my living at is 50 years later.
Yea, Johnny, You and I were there at the same time. I did not know your father but we could have been at breatkfast together on Sundays at the O Club. We arrived in Jan 67 and left Dec. 69. Great place.
This is so great,thank you for sharing. My father was in the USCG and our family was there from 76-81.We practically lived at the shacks every weekend.Such great memories.Thanks again.
I grew up on Ramey My sis was born there. I used to play lol,in the Sugar Cane fields and remember the Huts across the street from the Apartments where the Bars were,I later found out.My Dad was stationed there in the late 60's.
I remember playing in the sugar cane fields, too! There was one right behind our duplex.
Thanks for sharing this great video, Pat and Ginger. My dad was stationed at RAFB 1958 - 1961. I was very young at the time, 3 years old when we moved there, but I have great memories and recognized some of the places in the video. My mom worked at the golf club for awhile. My youngest brother was born in 1961 in the hospital pictured. Such a great place to live. Thanks again.
My dad was stationed at Ramey from 1959 to 1962 and Victoria Principal was in my 5th grade class with Mr. Pritchard - a terrific teacher. thanks for such a beautiful video. Even though I was there years before you were, it still looks very familiar. Bob Hope and Eisenhower came there too! Thanks for the memories!
I lived there when Eisenhower visited. I remember the parade and waving a little American flag at him.
My Dad spent time in PR while in the Air Force in the late 50s or '60s. I assume he was stationed here. I will always remember his recollections of walking the beach -- he said it was one of the most beautiful places he visited in all his worldwide travels with the Air Force. Thanks for sharing.
My father was stationed there early ‘54-late ‘56. He was on a B36 crew. We lived on Wing Rd in NCO Wherry housing. My closest friend’s father was a full colonel. They lived on Brass Row, Cliff Rd. Ramey (and PR) was a great place to be a kid 8-10!
That's cool Joe, we arrived there in Jan 1967 and lived on wing road also.
Pat
Beautiful place!
Thanks for the memories. We lived in base housing for a year when Dad was stationed there in 1946-47 when I was 7, one of the favorite years of my life.
Thanks! I was stationed in Roosevelt Roads from 73 through 74. Had a friend who had a surfboard co. in Isabella. We would go over every weekend and surf Rincon and Ramey Beach which we called wilderness. I won the all Navy surf contest that year at the beach your videoing from! Love that place. By the way his name was Jimmy Davidson, and the name of his Co. was Island Surfboards.
Great job. I remember most of it very well. I was stationed there in 1971 in the 53 rd WRS. Thanks. Brings back a lot of memories
Jasper, I was stationed there 72-73 when it closed. 1640 ABW, Det 1. Parents were from Aguadilla.
Back in the early 1950s my family was stationed at the San Juan Naval Station. Years later with the Air National Guard from New Jersey, we spent our two week summer training exercises flying out of Ramey. Both were fun with a lot of fond memories. I still think of sitting in a beach chair overlooking the ocean watching whales and sipping on a Piña colada! Thanks for the homecoming video!
I never knew why this beach was called "Shacks" until seeing the original small shacks at the end of this video! Thanks for sharing this! I went to first grade in Ramey, but then moved as dad was stationed in Europe and continental USA for the rest of our lives until he retired from the Air Force and we moved back to the West coast of the island.
Great video! Thanks! I was stationed at the Naval
facility on Ramey from late 1962 to May 1965. I have so many wonderful memories from this paradise. I wonder if the Yellow Bar is still right outside the gate? My home away from home...
Served at Ramey AFB, 1957-1960 with 522nd Air Force Band. Roommate Bill Sacher and I camped on the beach below Officer's Club many times. Our Jazz Combo would play for President Eisenhower's parties, as he enjoyed playing golf on the Ramey Golf Course. Many memories from Puerto Rico, and rest of Caribbean.
I had no idea Ramey AFB was closed. I was wondering why those stationed at the A.F.B. were not lending a hand to those suffering from the after affects of Hurricane Maria. I was born in Aquadilla on Feb.1970. My Dad was stationed at RAFB.
I got caught in a riptide. at those rocks off the point. Somehow i swam sideways and survived. I was 10 years old...
i lived there in 68-72--they called me 'T-bird--real name Steve Funderburk
lived next to the golf course--great place-stationed there twice
I used to rent a house from the coast guard and go here on weekends
Great video
I remember when my father was stationed at Ramey AFB Peruto Rico I don't remember the name of the street we lived on when we first got there but the address we lived at after we moved on the base was 126 Lighthouse Drive boy do I have found memories living there