Recollections of San Pan

By Captain Jack Preble

"At San Pan we found our arrival was a bit premature. The field was occupied by a medium bomber group which had not yet pulled out for their new base. We would have to make temporary camp until they did so we moved into a former prisoner of war camp -- of british soldiers.

That night the rains came. Early morning found 3" of water covering the concrete floor of our main shelter -- our baggage was soaked, the mosquitos danced in clouds around us and our spirits were dampened. Not a dry spot was visible so we slept in the water for 3 or 4 nights.

A drawing between the commanders of the 4 sqdns won for the 515th and 513th, the right to occupy the only wooden barracks on the field just as soon as the present tenants moved out.

After 4 or 5 days the medium bambardment group left the field. We had some trouble getting rid of them as they insisted on remaining long enough to try to tear down the barracks for the purpose of trucking them away. After some hot words we convinced them they had no right to do no matter how badly building material was needed by them.

We found our new home to be a churned up sea of mud. The former occupants had paid no attention to roads and the entire camp area was criss-crossed by ruts and holes where bogged down trucks had been dug out. Mixed with the mud - like salad-was garbage, partially emptied food tins and scraps of food. I swear the fat and sassy rats which swarmed over the place were the size of polo ponies!-- well, at least the size of muskrats.

Under the able direction of Capt. Parker, who was just as pugnacious as the rats, a general clean-up was ordered before any repairs to living quarters were made. Vehicles were restricted to roads where they belonged, drainage ditches were dug, garbage, cans and debris burned or buried and receptacles scattered throughout the camp to contain other waste matter."