by Thomas C. Utts
Right--More than 14,000 people,
with only what the could carry in
cars, hit the road for the 50 mile
drive. The trip normally took two
hours, but this day it took most
more than five hours. Incredible,
by nightfall, everyone was safe
at Subic. However, finding places
to put 14,000 people was no easy
task. Still, they managed.
(Right--Photos spread
from Airman magazine.
Below--Photos
by Mark Hanneman)
Most were sure it was an over reaction--for
two days. Then Pinatubo blew. The volcanic
cloud from first eruption passed overhead
and there was still hope. Then, in the middle of
the night there was a monster eruption.
Within two days, it was clear, life would never be
the same. First the dependents were ordered
back to the states. After a second major
eruption, everyone but those deemed mission
essential were also sent out. These
photos are a small tribute to all who went
through those traumatic events.
Following pictures sent Tsutomu (Tom) Aber,
a staff sergeant who worked in
the 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron
armament systems back shop
at Clark, and Capt. Mark Hanneman, AFOSI,
District 42.
The plume from an eruptions drifts across Subic Bay.
These pictures of Aber 's car which he drove to Subic Bay during
the evacuation,
illustrates the difference between the dusting which resulted after
the first several
eruptions, and the ashing which occurred during the dark days of
the
big one!
Shortly after
the big one
went off
Tom Aber
was outside
to see how
it could be
snowing
in the PI.
Aber's Subic story: "The
picture with the umbrella was about four hours into the
eruption, around 1 PM. The volcano's
plume completely blocked out the
sun making it dark as a moonless
night. I used the flimsy umbrella to
protect myself from the ash and
rocks falling out of the sky. After
a few hours, the umbrella fell
apart and I had to face the
elements like everyone else. Some
friends and I went
cruising downtown Olonpgapo, but
returned to the
base because we figured we would
rather be
there during an eruption. Looking
back,
that was a good decision.
Generators shut down so
there was no electricity, no air
con, no
light other than flashlights, no
water, and no
telephones. Continuos eruptions
and earthquakes
were going on, with small rocks
pelting the ground and
metal car roofs. The air filled
with volcanic dust and the strong
odor of sulfur. It was fascinating
and scary at the same time."
After the big one, when daylight returned, the primary concern
was cleaning roofs on
building which hadn't already collapsed. It had to be done immediately
since
Clark evacuees were were jammed in nearly every available on Subic.
In the photo on the left, across the river is the Barrio Subic,
which
suffered terrible damage to buildings and property.
On the left is
Barrio Subic before
the big one. The next
two photos are how
it looked afterward.
(Photos by Tom Aber)
Many people don't know
that Subic Bay Navy Station
was ashed over nearly as
badly as Clark. Here the
roof of the Youth Center
which housed more than
100 Clark evacuees is
cleaned to prevent
it from collapsing.
(Photo by Joey Hodges)
Joey Hodges' $300 car got him, his wife and baby daughter to Subic
Bay safely. They figured they
would return in a few days. After the big one they
knew they weren't going back. (L) During a
break from cleaning the roof of the Youth Center where he
and his family stayed. (R) When
he checked his car he found it was in need of a wash. Like nearly
all his personal
possessions, the car was left behind when they evacuated to Mactan
on a
Navy ship. However, months later, at his new base in England,
the car
retured--with volcanic ash in almost every crack and crevice.
(Photos by Joey Hodges)
The day after the big one
Mark Hanneman and
wife (in back), with
Subic friends, went
outside to check
the ash fall and
have a warm
one.
Before and after pictures of the home where the Hanneman's stay while
at Subic Bay. They
were among the lucky one who stayed with Subic families. Their host
was an NIS agent.
(Photos by Mark Hanneman)
Mark and Sue Hanneman
search for water at Subic
after the big one.
(Photo send by
Mark Hanneman)
Sue Hanneman attempts
to remove ash from their
newly customized van.
She must be careful
not to violate rule
on sign behind her.
(Photo by
Mark Hanneman)
At first the Air Force intended to keep all the military members
behind to return and clean up.
After a second major eruption only those deemed mission essential
stayed. (R) Mark, Sue
and their two daughters line up with other Clark folks for evacuation
processing.
(L) Tearful good-byes for AFOSI families. Hanneman stayed and returned
to Clark.
Is that a Carnival
Cruise ship??? Well,
that's close, it's the
USS Rodney M Davis
(FFG 60).
Many others left on an aircraft carrier.
(Photo from Airman magazine)
Talk about lucky! Who'd figured an Air Force tour in the PI would
include an all expenses paid, luxury cruise from Luzon to Cebu.
What a deal, an ocean voyage with luxurious quarters and exciting
deck activities--to say nothing of the interesting people you meet.
(Photos from Tom Aber's cruise memories book!)