WHO

The remaining area of this former naval hospital constructed in 1940s (in 1947-48 converted into housing area until demolished in 1962) had been used as a storage area and staging area by the Army. The Army's Empire Range Control maintained an office there.

Until late 1990s it was also used as staging area for inbound and outbound units deployed to Panama for engineering exercises in Panama and training at the Army Jungle Operations Training Center at Fort Sherman. It was also used as family reception center and joint information bureau during Operation Safe Haven (housing of Cuban migrants at nearby part of Empire Range) Sept. 1994 - Feb. 1995.

(Top Photo) ROUSSEAU 1940s to 1961, originally a Naval hospital constructed on 77 acres, later converted to housing area used by the U.S. Civil Aviation Administration (later redesignated Federal Aviation Administration-FAA). Demolished in 1962. [Photo by T.A. Strepp (Civil Aviation Administration Area Administrator during the Rousseau era) at www.chagres.com/taruswd4.jpg © T.A. Stepp. Courtesy of Dino Barkema and T.A. Stepp.

(Lower Photo) Rousseau area today. Large white quonset shelter was used by U.S. military for temporary exercises or contigency operations. [Photo by Dino Barkema from his site ww.chagres.com photo album 3 - Copyright © 2000 by Dino Barema; used with permission.]

See Copyright and Privacy Policy for details for any further use. ]

Army Property

Rousseau-History

1999/ June 30

Part of Piña Range (Atlantic side)

Army Property

1999/ June 30

Fort Davis communications site (Atlantic side)

Army Property

1999/ June 30

Fort Sherman (Atlantic side bordered by Limon Bay and the Caribbean Sea)

Transferred: 23,100 acres (mostly training areas) with seven barracks buildings, 67 units of family housing, warehouses, small cement dock, water recreation facilities, fire station, gymnasium, theater, chapel, gas station, fire station, community club, outdoor recreation fields and beach (Shimmey Beach), 2,775-foot limited runway, and extensive training areas covered by double canopy jungle with swamps, and river and ocean areas.

Fort Sherman was the home of the U.S. Army Jungle Operations Training Center from 1951 to 1999, which trained U.S.-based combat units in jungle warfare and jungle survival (10 to 12 units per year since late 1970s); also provided similar training to small military units from several Latin America countries.

Last unit to train at Fort Sherman: a unit of the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Last commander: Lieutenant Colonel Thomas A. Heaney, Jr.

Inactivation ceremony held April 1, 1999.

Market value of property: $60,800,000 (Replacement Cost in 1992 dollars--$174,000,000).

Fort Sherman, bound on the left by Limon Bay across from Colon, was the site of Army jungle warfare and jungle survival training for almost five decades. Row of barracks (left) facing Limon Bay was used by the battalions in training. Extensive triple canopy jungle used for training is in the background. [Photo courtesy of Interoceanic Region Authority (ARI) from its website]

USE BY PANAMA:

Ecological-tourist complex at Sherman and nearby Fort San Lorenzo (old historic Spanish fort near Sherman) that includes hotels, a biodiversity research center, botanical gardens, and eco-observation centers underway.

National Maritime Service personnel with fast boats and other equipment located at Sherman for patrolling Atlantic-side coastal areas and on counterdrug and other missions.

Army Property

Fort Sherman-

History

Sherman-

New Uses

1999/ July 1

Remainder of Piña Range (Atlantic side)

Army Property

<<preceding page >>NEXT PAGE

Site developed, owned and maintained by

William H. Ormsbee, Jr. 2005