Battlewagons on the move... Rodman Naval Station, fleet support at the crossroads of the world. Rodman Construction on the Naval Station began in 1937 on the west bank of the Panama Canal because the east bank was becoming too crowded. A portion of Rodman, originally called Balboa, was underwater and dredge materials were used to fill in the tidal marsh. In the early days Rodman operated as a submarine base. There were also three piers for visiting ships. In the hey days before 31 December 1999, Rodman was the focal point for operational as well as administrational support of all US Navy Forces deployed within the Southern Command area of responsibility. the above map. The US Navy needed men during World War II. Here is a Recruiting Poster of that time when the entire world was at war. The Panama Canal played a vital role during World War II and Rodman Naval Station was a key player in the United States Navy's push in the Pacific. Here we see the USS Missouri BB-63 at Miraflores Locks making a transit. The year was 1945. Here is the USS Arizona BB-39 locking through the Panama Canal. The year was 1921. In the Old Navy while at sea and away from home one dreamt of home, the sweetheart or the wife and the kids, always the kids that were waiting your safe return home from the sea....... The United States Navy wants you! This painting depicts the USS New Jersey BB-62 riding in rough seas. ".... There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyages of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea we are now afloat, and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures." --- William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar "Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for a while, leave footprints in our hearts, and we are never, ever the same." --- Unknown Sailors and ships can do that and they will always hear the music as long as they live... The Call of the Sea CROSSING THE BAR: Sunset and the evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea, But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep turns again home. Twilight and the evening bell, and after that the dark! And may there no sadness of farewell, When I embark; For tho' from out our borne of Time and Place, The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face when I have cross the bar. ----Alfred Lord Tennyson USS Ohio - In the Cut (Circa: 1915) The US Navy in Panama Too Many Secrets More about my books ... Panama dreaming... It has been a real pleasure sharing little more about the old Canal Zone. Rodman Naval Station provided fleet support at the crossroads of world commerce in the heart of the universe. Please check out another page.....you'll be glad you did! Take care and drop by again. Hasta la Vista. See you on the flip side. Photo Credits: Author, Bill Fall, Montana, US Navy Archives, CZ and PCC Archives

US Navy wants you!

How about a few sea stories?

Sing and rejoice, tra-la-la, for fortune is smiling upon you!