JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
U.S. Army South is reconnecting with its history in Panama by displaying three concrete spherical artifacts from the Panama Canal Zone displayed near the flag post in the Army South parking lot. These massive concrete balls were originally on top of light posts lining the Panama Canal.
By 1938, many of these massive light posts were removed from the Canal Zone because larger ships such as U.S. Navy carriers had problems moving through the canal’s lock system.
The hulls of the ships were not the problem; however, their flight decks were too wide and overlapped chamber walls, which led to damage on many of the concrete lamp posts. Once the problem areas were identified after the first carrier transits, the Panama Canal Commission modified the lock's control houses and many of the original concrete lamp poles were removed and exchanged with smaller metal pipe poles.
Oscar Agueda, an Army South preventative medicine operations planner grew up in the Panama Canal Zone and recalled seeing concrete spheres on the lamp post when he was boy. Agueda said he felt the concrete artifacts are a strong reminder of the Command’s lineage to Panama.
“It brought back memories of the Canal Zone…the concrete artifacts were all through the canal, in front of the flag post of administration building and the governor’s house,” he said.
An ARSOUTH employee since the 1980s, Kaye Richey, G-3 Visual Information office, also grew up in the Canal Zone and explained the personal impact of these artifacts.
“These artifacts bring together a lot of people,” he said. “The history of Army South in Panama is really significant to those of us who worked at the command during that time and work at Army South now. There’s a real lineage and nostalgic connection with these artifacts and the civilians and Soldiers who served in Panama.”
Ivan Avila from ARSOUTH protocol agrees with Richey. Avila, a 20-year Army veteran, had three tours in Panama that covered nearly half of his military career.
“Many Soldiers have no idea where the command came from. The young Soldiers have not had the opportunity to be stationed in Panama like some of us,” Avila said. “There will always be a deep connection between Army South and Panama. Seeing those cement artifacts brings back memories, so there is a sentimental connection as well.”
To most Panamanians, the canal is a landmark of national pride and Panama’s importance as maritime global transit center.
Diana Norton, ARSOUTH protocol office, grew in Panama City and not the Canal Zone, but for her these artifacts are more than rock, sand and gravel.
“Every time I look at them, they have a significant meaning and connect me to the canal,” she said. “It means a lot that someone thought of putting them in front of the Army South headquarters. These are more than antiques and they have a great history behind them.”