Fort Kobbe, Panama

Panama / Balboa /
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Established in 1925 as the Bruja Point Military Reservation. Redesignated Fort Kobbe on 15 April 1932 in honor of Maj. Gen. William A. Kobbe, who was instrumental in the development of American Coast Artillery tactical doctrine.

Closed on December 31st, 1999; was the headquarters to 5th Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   8°53'58"N   79°34'51"W

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  • Fort Kobbe was the home of 1/508 Infantry not 5/87 Infantry. The 5/87th was located at Fort Clayton
  • It was also home of the 1/228th Aviation Regiment.
  • 5/87 was at Ft. Kobbe. I was there from 96-99.
  • 193inf fort kobbe c-s-c 3/5 from 1980-1983 no ground to give the time I was ther we was so gunhoe if we have went to war we would have been hard to deal with when colonel mace came to are battion he said four words think like a ranger at that time I knew I was in trouble and with a general that thought he was general Pattion his name was general K.C. Leuer and how could I for get Hehry T Holland the maddes of them all my company commanding officer. A/T AND SCOUTS WAS MY HOME THER COBRA SGT.WILLIAMS
  • Was there 88 aug 89. Was ther for Op. Just Cause.
  • Co B 3rd Bn 5th Inf 1982-1985 the hardest unit I had served with no doubt we marched the isthmus after condensed JOTC bn cdr's bird crashed he walked the entire march that man was harder than superman's kneecaps. I fell in love every time I hit el bar paris...
  • CSC Mortar platoon 80 to 83 Definitely the best trained brigade in the army we did not care if we lived or die also have the best memories had a few roommates go crazy but those were the good days and I didn’t even know it. We did so many crazy things that sometimes I think I need to be on that show “I shouldn’t be alive.” Sgt Mccintosh was great have some good memories of his crazy ways.
  • Anyone from the 536th Eng. Bn FT. Kobbe my home 1993to 1994 my Email:signex_co@yahoo.com
  • HHC 193rd Inf Bde 1970 -1972 Company Clerk under the command of 1st Sergeant Patrick J. Campbell, Cpt Gawronski and later Cpt Irwin. Injoyed my time and duty with the unit and still in touch with 1st SGT Campbell who retired after 30 years as CSM. God Bless all who served with us.
  • can't believe I found this page... C co 3/5 inf 79-82 did a lot of humpin and runnin black paum, wait a minute bushes, bees....don't know how but got to be capt woteck's driver for a few months then got orders to HHC det A 193rd as the deputy brigade commander for operation and training Col William J. Mullins. David Hess was G-3 driver, Carl Grimm was K.C's driver....man we partied with everything Panama had to offer.... what a great time Sgt. Richard McDonald
  • Sgt.Willie Blount HHC 193rd Inf Bde 1969-1971 I to had the great privilege of serving under 1st SGT Campbell and Cpt Gawronski. Ralph, it made my day to read our 1st Sgt retired as a CSM. He earned it. Thanks for the post.
  • I was in HHC 1/228th AVN from 92-94.
  • it was the 219th when I was there col. wolf was cdr.
  • I remember everyone of those names,remember CSM Dane brigade CSM
  • , B Co. "Bandito's" 3rd Bn. 5th Inf, 193 Inf. Bde. Ft. Kobbe, CZ. 77-79. The 2 years in Panama were the best of my 09 yr army experience. When you left Panama you felt like a real soldier, it was a tough tour for sure. Triple canopy, can't see your hand in front of your face black, follow the cat eyes sewed to the guys patrol cap in front of you. Drive On rags tied on your head to soak up the sweat, prickly heat itching the hell out of you, black palm, inch long ants. It was such a good duty assignment, go down to Panama City to the Ancon Inn, Blue Goose, White Buffalo and party with all the ladies from all the different S. American countries working us, trying to make a buck to send home to mama somewhere. 4th of July Avenue was cool, go to the Panamanian side and the MP's could not mess with you, back to our side and the Panamanian police could not mess with you. lol, to much fun. I attended PNCOC at Ft. Sherman and was then Distinguished Honor Graduate from my course. We did a few aggressor duties against state side units. liked it as we could wear mixed uniforms like jungle camo tops, OD jungles bottoms, some guys wore levi's etc. I was an 11C, we humped the 81 all over the jungle or as most times were took our M561 Gamma Goats. Shot on the pistol team, one year combat the other composite. Flew back to the states twice to Ft. Riley to compete, got picked up by the 5th MTU for a few, till I washed out. God I miss that time in my sorry ass life. Ended up at Ft. Hood Tx as a T54A tank driver, wore a Soviet uniform for a year, re-enlisted, went to Korea as a 13F F.O., then went to Ft, Bragg, joined the 82nd Abn for about 18 months, after we came back from the Sinai I ETS'd and called it a wrap. 09 years was all I had in me.
  • Poncho Liners, Air mattresses, boonie hats, Alice packs, jungle boots, OD jungle fatigues, bug juice, mosquito nets, hammocks, water purification tabs, 2 qt. canteens, drive on rags "Green triangular bandages", heat tabs, camo sticks, machetes, mango tree's, prickly heat, wait a minute vines, triple canopy jungles, Chagres River, Poncho rafts, C-rats, LLRP Rats, snakes, tarantulas, howler monkeys, pigs, inch long ants, RT-524, Prc-77, ANT-92, fish reel antennas, M16A2's, Colt 1911 .45, Winchester 1200 12 gauge shotguns for guard duty at the ammo dump, Friday Bn. 5 mile runs in Co. T-shirts, white PT shorts and jungle boots, mess hall was in A Co's building and was painted inside red, black, green, all the cooks were black, blacks, whites, Mexicans all sat at our on spots in the mess hall, the brothers would pound the mess hall tables as a dap when they were jiving with each other. Veracruz beach just a short walk away, Panama Red an really strong un-cut coke, NCO club, PX and such were at Howard AFB, every co had a show shine man who made the worn and weathered jungles all spit shined and ready for formation the next day. MP's bringing the dogs in on Health and Welfares, oh the great times it was down there, the place just rocked, what ever you were into...
  • wow i knew sfc jimenez and sfc rhodes i was their training nco i work be side first Sergeant fails i wounder you remeber me.
  • I can't believe I'm reading these comments. I served with the 3/5th Infantry from March '78 to March '80. I was a platoon leader in B Co. under Cpt. Paul Trees, and then Battalion Support Platoon Leader under the S-4, Cpt. Russ Webb. SFC Jimenez was my Senior Mess Sergeant. I went back to Ranger School at Ft. Benning to try a second time, and returned with my tab in July '79. I became a platoon leader in A Co. (Abn) under Cpt. John Kenneally, who died in the helicopter crash over the Great Salt Lake in 1992. I left Panama for Korea and the 2nd ID, then Fort Sam Houston, where I ended my Army career. My two years in Panama were the best of my life. Mike O'Brien
  • 78-80.Rich, I still have the plaque you gave me signed by KC Luer. You took me to Howard the day I pcsed. Partied with you many times. I was in 1st plt then headquarters. Like many have said before me... best time of my life.
  • Gregg Hubbs, very accurate description of my time at Kobbe 3/5th 71&72........Tom Carty....."I'll Try Sir" .......Tom Carty
  • I was in Bco 3-5 Inf 81-83 Company Commander Cpt Jose Ventura
  • Ronald Fenceroy,I was in Bco 3/5 Inf 81-84 Cpt Jose Venture was my commander training was everything, and everything was training and CD training was hell after almost every field exercise. Left Panama a SSG and went on to a 30 yr career SGM retired 2007, I had a great and rememberable 3 yr tour.
  • Checking in again, really sad how time passes, the years keep stacking up. Memories of the time spent in the US Army and being stationed in the Canal Zone linger. Those days still make me chuckle, all the good times and friends, ah those were the days guys. If one cold say the jungle never kicked their butt, then they never had to hump it. Take care all you 193rd Inf. Bde. bad ass MOFO's, it was a really special time in our lives... Airborne!
  • Wow, you were down there way back in the early 70'S. What was the training like then? Did troops rotate in to learn about Jungle warfare during Nam? At least the hell you went through was still waiting for us new guys. Jungle Ops were pretty brutal, kept one in top physical condition. Take care Tom! Regards, Hubbs
  • Well men back at it again looking over this post looking for old names and new comments. Dang the clock keeps ticking and that is sad. Lately I think about the bygone days in the U.S. Army and inevitably the 193rd Inf. tour in Panama comes back to the surface. I actually broke out my 2 qt. canteen and started drinking from it again. It had that taste, that plastic taste to it like most canteens do. But I wanted to taste the water from a canteen again. I would close my eyes take a few pulls from it and for just 1/ 100,000th of a second I was back in the jungle. Standing on some forgotten trail hating it, sweating it up and thirsty. And then I was back, back on my job site, alone and working as I have done many a days. I'm a tile contractor and while I used to have many men, I'm now down to just me at 62. The work is at times brutal, sweaty, physically demanding and lately for months on end. Between the 3 jobs I have going on (1 has lasted for over a year now (Oct. 17 to Oct. 18) the other 2 almost as long. I'm typically all alone, just my boom box IPOD and my runaway mind. Most times during the demolition phase I wear my "Drive On" rags like when were humped the jungles, 1 on my head and 1 for a bandana. Using them brings back memories of the bush and makes me proud of my past and endeavor to work as hard as I can. Honoring the good ol days as it were. And then thinking of them at work makes me want to come home and get back to this web site. To mentally re-live those crazy days and share my thoughts with you all who come here for the past. I mean the canteen thing is stupid in some degree and then at times it gets me off my job and the madness of it. There are times I standing there half beaten to death dripping with sweat Drive On rags soaked, taking drinks from the canteen and almost feel like I'm having a breakdown. And just yell out at the top of my lungs "I'm still here!" Still standing, all alone out in the jungle waiting for everyone to come back. Like the brutal times are still kicking my butt after what since my 77-79 tour, I feel like I'm not a quitter, still in the trenches, hoping for the cavalry to show up, a Huey coming to extract me. I listen to Apocalypse Now all the time, the whole movie soundtrack and the sound of the Hueys coming and going, wow, I'm saddened that it is all over. How many of you knew or even pondered your last ride on a Huey would be your last ride on a great bird like that? I would pay good money to ride in one again. Wish they would do that at an air show somewhere. Doing a hard bank, we are facing outward, weapon barrels pointing down and we are looking at the jungle floor and the butterflies in our stomachs flutter as we level off and drop down to be dropped off. What a sad thing to never be in a Huey again. One day you are indifferent to the hard 3/5 Inf. assignment and then I think we mostly look back and long for it, just one more time. Do you remember the last time you drank from a army canteen? Go get it out or buy one and have a hit, it takes you back even if briefly, then drink from it all the time for a couple weeks. It takes you back time and time again. I enjoy it, I enjoy the memories of my youth, my "when I was somebody" youth. Now I'm just a numb nuts tile installer, waiting for the end, the final battle between the universe and my being. Oh I do high end custom home work, I'm not a butcher, that is how I get a year or more on a job, bathroom after bathroom, splash after splash etc. But I feel like it does not really matter to me, its just some no name job where no one knows of who you were. SSG. Hubbs 13F3P 73-83. Out here I'm essentially nothing and that's what goads me. Still in the (work) jungle, looking for a way out. That is what brings on my screams to the world, "I'm still here!", almost breaking down, sad that this after army life is so pitiful I should have stayed in the jungle. I'm glad many of you have got out and hopefully have had a livable life, had a family, jet skis, razors etc. It is a tough gig being in the game and losing after all the herculean efforts extracted from me to just live. What a waste, hate to have lost. I also think of the things we did or used, wanted to post more of them to jostle your memories a bit. The OD ripstops, jungle boots, 2 qt. canteens, drive on rags, Jungle Expert badge (Patch), going commando, water purification (Iodine) tabs, lister bags, formation inspection for Guard duty, Guard duty at the ammo dump, Winchester 1200 shotgun when pulling guard duty at the ammo dump, Calisthenics & PT runs in Jungle boots white PT shorts and your company t-shirt (still have mine "Bandito's"). shaving profiles ( some brothers could get them) ,the motor pool, Gamma Goats (us 11C mortar maggots used them on occasion),Riding in a deuce and a half going to the range, Cat Eyes on helmet band (and you used them on night movements it was that dark in the jungle). Starlight scopes (ANPVS-2), TA-312 landline telephones, RC292 antenna, PRC-77's (Prick 77's),Fish reel antenna, machete's (US military black handles, great steel) 120ft rappelling rope, smoke grenades (purple, yellow, white, red), Slap-n-pop parachute flares, boonie hats, alice pack, camo poncho liner, od ponchos, mosquito nets, air mattress, waterproof bags, pogey bait, C-rats, P-38's, bug juice, LSA weapons oil and a bristle brush to keep you weapon rust free when it rains, M16A1, bayonet, Colt .45, 90mm Recoilless rifle, 81mm mortar, 4.2 mortar (only at CSC) The Pig M60 MG, Camo sticks, OD hammock, butt packs, clear cylindrical ear plug container w/ green ear plugs with chain through your jungles shirt button eyelet, heat tabs, canteen cup, making MOCO (C-rat coffee and the cocoa together in the canteen cup), triple canopy jungle, ranger qualified mosquitos (they found a way into your mosquito net), tarantulas, boas, Bush masters (fer-de-lances), Caimens (rumor was A Co. had theirs jump qualified as they could not have any leg Caiman in their gator pit), scorpions, ants and more ants, howler monkeys, pigs, extra large bright blue butterflies Chagress river ops by Ft. Sherman, poncho rafts, drown proofing at the pool on base, RB15's (Black 15 man rafts), UH1H Hueys (choppers), the sound of Hueys, CH47's, Howard AFB (the Zoomies did not blouse their boots and only PT once a year or something like that, Health and Welfares with the MP's bringing the dogs through and we all had to wait outside till your room was called if the dogs alerted on something, Pulling CQ, Reveille 1st call at 1st formation, Retreat at 5 pm always had to stop face the music and salute if not in a formation. and then at 11 pm taps was played (all these were played from the BN HQ speaker) at Ft. Kobbe least ways, the large white 3 story barracks with red tiled terra cotta roofs, the latrines were in the middle sections at each level by the stair wells, the irrigation ditches that ran between the barracks A & CSC on one side and HQ, B & C on the other side. Monsoon rains, very hot prickly heat days, Even remember getting hailed on a couple times out in the bush (we ate the ice), the 1st Sgt. coming around in the M151A2 jeep and M416 trailer with the mermite containers and hot chow when in the field. Beer, pot, coke, the Panamanian ladies at the AFB EM club lined up waiting to get in to dance and laugh & wow a new one every week if you wanted. Well it is late and my brain is dead. Have to get the 8 yr old granddaughter onto her home work and super etc. Taking her to the pumpkin patch thing tonight too. A days work is never done. Wish more men would stumble onto this site and make some remarks, that was a very special duty assignment down there. When you left after 2 years you felt like you had just left one of the toughest most physically demanding units in the U.S. Army. All you men take care, remember the saying from the bible it was on Platoons opening or ending (Charlie Sheen) Rejoice in thy youth for it is fleeting. And now mine is gone a 62 year old has been, 09 years in Uncle Sams jam, the best thing I never knew until 20 more years lapsed and I began to realize those were the greatest days of my sorry ass life. Airborne! All the way! 80 deuce on the loose. Bye my unknown jungle bastards and true friends! B Co. 3rd Bn. 5th Inf. 193rd Inf. Bde. and of course to all you others who were there to include at Amador, Ft. Sherman etc. Take care it was a tough but memorable gig!! We did it too!
  • HHC 3/5 Sp4 Swingle was a cook for the only mess hall on post. SFC Jimenez and SFC Dixon,SFC Rhodes were the mess SGT's. That was the best duty station I ever had and the boot boys did an awesome job getting my shoes to shine like a you know what. Who could forget those KP'S the leader of them was called chief who loved his beer and so did the rest of them. And finally the beach at Veracruz and the fried fish and plantane.
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This article was last modified 13 years ago