This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Diane (TWS Admin) Short, SA
to remember
Peck, John (Doc), HM1.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
On retirement from USN, my wife and I bought a used 1979 VW Camper, we visited every state in US, and traveled from the Islands of Canada, across Canada, went on a 38 day expedition to Mexico, from "T" town, down the Baja, across the sound to the Main Land, visited thru out Mexico and returned to CONUS via AZ. Followed I-40 cross country to home, logging 7,800 on the VW, Needed new muffler and two tires.
When stationed at USN/MC TRNG CTR, Albany, NY, had a very interesting detail, my home base was 90 Church St., NYC, 3rd ND Hdqtrs. Was attached to 3rd ND, mobilization Team, we had to keep records of all HM's, if a disaster and/or mobilization, we could recall all HM's and Hospital personnel to ActDuty. Our area was from Albany, NY down to NYC.
Other Comments:
Served on Galapagos Islands, US NAAF, 1946, transferred to US NAS Coco Solo, CZ, Asst. to Flight Surgeon 15 ND.
1961- On board USS Randolph (CV-15) was attached to NASA Group for recovery of John Glenn. Corpsman in Isolation Chamber and Medical Isolation Team.
Made cruise on USS Eisenhower (CV-69)as part of Father/son cruise (Tiger Cruise) My son-in law was EMCM aboard the "IKE"
Coco Solo was a United States Navy facility, which operated a submarine base and a naval air station, that was established 6 May 1918. The site corresponds with modern-day Cativá in Panama. It was on the Atlantic Ocean (northwest) side of the Panama Canal Zone, near Colón, Panama and five C-class submarines were based there during 1914-1919.
US Senator John McCain was born in 1936 at a small Navy hospital at Coco Solo Naval Air Station.
The larger Coco Solo Hospital was constructed in the summer of 1941. The area containing it was transferred from the civil part of the Panama Canal Zone to the naval part when Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8981 on December 17, 1941. During World War II, Coco Solo also served as a Naval Aviation Facility, housing a squadron of P-38 Lightning aircraft.
By the 1960s, no US Navy vessels remained, only some support staff and housing. Coco Solo was also home to the Atlantic Side High School and Cristobal Junior and Senior High, which in the late 1970s was also the high school for Panamanians from Rainbow City. Also located in Coco Solo was the local commissary where Zonians would purchase food and clothing. At the far end of Randolph Road was Fort Randolph, unused except for military training exercises, and where the Fort Randolph Riding Club was located as used by the Canal Zone Horsemen's Association.
Until the mid-1990s, the town site of Coco Solo was used by the civilian employees of the Panama Canal as a residential area. Navy communications operations at the nearby Galeta Island facility were conducted as well.
After the turnover of the Panama Canal to Panamanians in 1999, US military activity ceased at both Coco Solo and Galeta Island.
