Leaving Riyadh - Goodbyes - Leave Saudi Arabia - June 1961
Photos in this album were taken on Keith's last day in Riyadh. These were
pictures of saying goodbye to friends and colleagues at our compound and at the
nearby Riyadh airport. As new replacement staff had been coming in, and
therefore known to Keith a relatively short time, many of their names have been
forgotten. As stated in previous albums, we would like very much to make
contact with any of our fellow "Desert Rats." If you have any
information on any pictured here, please email Keith: 
The final 8 photos below were taken at the Dhahran Air Base during the day or
two getting ready to start the flight toward home. He would continue to
fly east until returning to the west coast of the US, thereby circumventing the
globe during this year in the Army.
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| In the center here, in
front of one of our villas, is MSgt. Simko & Lt. Col. Croonquist (maybe
Keith's bosses?). |
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| "Top Dogs" -
our leaders - unsure of names but believe they were Col. Von Rohr & Lt.
Col. Lentz. |
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| Some of the more recent
arrivals to our Riyadh group. |
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| At the front steps of our
villa, from the right, Scotty, Keith & Ed Ouelette - names of remaining
4 have been forgotten. |
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| Now at the airport, the
group has the addition of "Big Bobby" Orr on far left. |
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| An airport view of some
our guys & vehicles waiting for the arrival of the Gooney Desert Run. |
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| Sp4 Wheeler by our bus.
(What did those stars symbolize?) |
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| Friends Don Scott, Ed
Ouelette & Del Moerke by our trusty bus. |
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| The reliable (sort of)
Gooney arrives and taxies in. |
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| Good friends, Keith, Ed
& Scotty. Was Ed also shipping out with this flight? |
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| Keith does the requisite
prop pose. |
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| Supplies get unloaded
before passengers board. |
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| The final Riyadh photo
from the Gooney window. |
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| Air-conditioned
quarters for visiting enlisted personnel at Dhahran Airfield on the Arabian
Gulf. |
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| The beautifully designed
Dhahran Airport terminal building was just under construction in June of
1961. |
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| Impressive architecture
but far from being ready for use. |
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| Another view of the
terminal that was then under construction. |
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| This is the terminal area
as Keith remembers it in 1961. Many great memories would be taken home
by this young soldier - many adventures, great friends made & a much
better view of this part of the world. |
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| The red & white
control tower commands a view of this coastal airstrip. Keith was able to
qualify for the "embassy flight" that would take him back to
California via south Asia & the Pacific. |
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| The MATS Super Constellation
("Super Connie") with its US Navy crew awaits the "Embassy
Run" that would take Keith towards home (with stops in Pakistan, India,
Thailand, etc.). |
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Please send any
information about any of those pictured above to Keith
Return to Old Military Photo Album Index
