by Thomas C. Utts
These pictures were sent by former Sergeant
Mike Hensley.
Was it successful? Did the rate of theft
drop dramatically? Was it safe to leave
your bicycle outside? Did Air Force
equipment suddenly stop evaporating from warehouses and offices? Well,
of course not.
While stationed at Clark Mike met his wife
to be, Lynn.
Both were Radio Communications Analysts in
the 6922nd ESS from 1986
to 1989. Left: Mike and Lynn share
a moment in the Cobra Den. Right: check
the wording on the sign very carefully -- among other interesting
items in the picture.
Mike and Lynn got married on base in what
he said was a very informal affair. Their
commander showed up and stood in as the
best man. The service was performed by a
judge from Angeles City. Mike said the
ceremony was priceless, with the judge who
said something like, "Marriage is like a
hot pepper. You put it in your mouth and
you want to spit it out." However, after
he warmed up, Mike said he made
it a very special event.
There have been lots of pictures of
Jeepneys, but this is one of the
first good pictures (if you
discount the crazy GI)
of a trike.
For more of Mike Hensley's pictures check out his web site at:
http://www.arom.com/activerange/clark/
In 1987 the
Air Force Thunderbirds made a visit to Clark.
Nancy Sauer, (left
with two team members) was a civilian
employee at Clark
working as a supervisor both in the
Diplomat, the base
dining hall, as well as the FMS snack
bar. During the
visit she got an autographed photo of the
team members as
well having pictures taken with them.
Nancy now lives
and works in Germany.
These photographs were sent by Jim Maxwell,
a 26-year-old staff sergeant in the 3rd Security Police Squadron.
He said lived off-base in an area, "which
was,” Maxwell said, “definitely off-limits at that time.” The
reason for that was that he and close friend,
Johnny Cline, a staff sergeant in personnel,
raised fighting cocks, not an activity approved
in base housing. Most of the time
Max was assigned to the cop squadron at Camp
O'Donnell, protected the
facilities for the Crow Valley Gunnery Range.
Most of these photos were taken at Crow Valley range where Maxwell
worked
when he wasn't sneaking off to the cockfights. He said he
and other SPs
working there often went to Charley site very near Mount Pinatubo
making post checks and taking supplies to Filipino guards
who worked for DoD. “It was cool and nice up there,”
he said, “you could see the ocean. We would
buy souvenir and bows and arrows
from the Negritos.”
(R) Now that's humping the boonies. (L) Got to keep your weapon clean.
More pictures of the highly trained, elite Air Force Security Force
in action.
Max found time to enjoy intramural sports and played on
the Security Police baseball team (left). He was also a
very active member of the Clark Do-Jo, studying Karate
and earned a Black Belt. (Below, left) Doing his thing
with a some unlucky bricks. (Right) At an awards
ceremony with other participants.
Of course Max and his friends didn't spend all their time on duty
or in the gym, but that's another story.
While the pictures seem grotesque, like many things in the PI, it
is more show,
that reality. Small cuts are made on the flagellants' back. Self
whipping with
bamboo sticks promotes surface bleeding that coagulates and
makes their backs look like a chunk of raw meat. Oh, why
do they do it? It is suppose to pay for their sins during
the previous year. Most would probably need
a lot more than that if it weren't
just for show.
For more Holy Week pictures click here.