Excerpts from "Army Posts & Towns"

"Army Posts & Towns", Describes Ft. Davis and its Facilities in the 1920's

Excerpts from

ARMY POSTS & TOWNS

Compiled and Published by Charles J. Sullivan

Captain, 26th Infantry, U.S.A., 1926
 

PREFACE

The mission of this book is to inform the transferred officer or man at the moment he most needs information, at the time he receives orders transferring him to a station about which he knows little or nothing. The data listed herein was obtained directly from the Post Adjutants and Quartermasters.

Your attention is called to the fact that in the Panama, Hawaiian and Philippine Departments there are General Articles covering the whole department: this is in addition to the articles on the posts themselves.

CANAL ZONE, PANAMA

TOWNS. On the Atlantic side are the cities of Cristobal and Colon with a population of about 8,000. Cristobal is the American-made port town in the Canal Zone; Colon is the ancient Spanish port. On the Pacific side are the cities of Balboa, Panama City and Ancon, all practically together. There are other small construction towns and villages in the interior, such as Gatun, Monte Lirio, Darien, Gamboa, Pedro Miguel and Golden Green.

TRANSPORTATION. The Panama Railroad is the only means of travel (other than the Canal itself) across the Isthmus, from Colon to Balboa. If your orders require you to travel by rail across the Isthmus you may obtain transportation requests at the dock where you disembark. There is no road across the Isthmus.

PRIVATE CAR. At all posts except Fort Sherman it is desirable to have a car.

ROADS. There are short lengths of paved roads in and around the cities. The tributary dirt roads cannot be used except in the dry season.

CLIMATE. Two seasons. The wet season extends from May 15 to December 15 and during this time all training consists of garrison instruction, range practice and preparation for the maneuvers of the dry season which is from December 15 to May 15. All quarters are equipped with dry closets and lights are put inside of pianos and other such cabinets.

CLOTHES. Cotton O.D. and whites are worn all year, the latter after 4:30 p.m. Civilian clothes are not worn.

REMARKS. Station in Panama is now considered highly desirable. It is now one of the most healthful spots in the world. Flies and mosquitoes have been nearly eradicated and there is practically no danger from insect-borne diseases.

FORT WILLIAM  D. DAVIS, GATUN, CANAL ZONE

BRANCH. Infantry and Field Artillery. Headquarters of Infantry Brigade. One regiment of Infantry and one battalion of Field Artillery. 90 officers.

TOWN. The post is six miles inland from Cristobal and Colon, population 16,000.

TRANSPORTATION. The Panama Railroad runs two trains daily each way from Panama City and Colon through Gatun. There is also a scheduled bus service and plenty of jitneys.

QUARTERS (married officers). This post, although a modern post, uses the town of Gatun to which it is adjacent for housing the officers and some of the men. The quarters are scattered and practically uncountable. There are sufficient public quarters, however, for all officers and men. Some of these are concrete and some are frame; all have gas ranges. There are two sets for warrant officers, and 18 concrete and frame sets for married NCOs.

COMMUTATION CONDITIONS. None of the personnel lives off the post. There are no accommodations for transients nearer than Colon.

SCHOOLS. Post buses carry children to and from the schools in Gatun and Cristobal. $3.00 per month per pupil.

CHURCHES. Major denominations are represented in Colon and Cristobal. There are both Protestant and Catholic chaplains on the post.

PRIVATE CAR. A necessity. Taxi fares are high.

SERVANTS. Good servants may be employed at $20.00 per month.

MARKETS. The Commissary at Cristobal is a very large department store, run by the Panama Railroad Company.

ROADS. There are a few miles of very good roads.

SPORTS. The Gatun Golf Club offers membership; it has a good 18-hole course. There is a tennis court on the post. Hunting and fishing is good: deer, tapir, wild pigs are found, and tarpon, red snapper, jack and mackerel are caught. There is a swimming pool on the post, and there is a fine salt water pool at the Washington Hotel in Cristobal.

CLIMATE. Tropical. Two seasons. Wet from April to December; dry from December to April.

CLOTHES. Cotton and white. Take heavy clothing to wear back.

REMARKS. Fort Davis was occupied by a regiment of Infantry in 1920. It now includes Gatun where there is a battalion of Field Artillery. The post is named in honor of Colonel William D. Davis, a regular Army officer who was killed in Belgium on November 1, 1918.

 

Burlington Free Press Printing Company, 1926

 

Thanks to Terry Bender, 1/14th Inf, for making this document available and for his dedicated efforts to preserve the history of the 14th Infantry Regiment.



1926  Excerpts from "Army Posts & Towns" - by Charles J. Sullivan
Copyright © 2012  14th Infantry Regiment Association
Last modified: November 01, 2012