I'll briefly share my experiences there......as a kid living on the base in the PI, you eventually got to go on a field trip to J.E.S.T. - the closest thing we had to a zoo. But really, it was in case anyone got lost in the jungle since we were living in the middle of it! We learned what snakes and reptiles were poisonous, what plants were dangerous - they even warn you of falling Durian in the playing card pack they give you! I even got to try cooked lizard when I was there. Of course, it tasted like chicken!
I remember that the guide told us not to tease, stare at or antagonize the monkeys in the big cages. Some young Marines were there that day and didn't heed the warning and soon enough the monkeys were holding their hands under their rears. The Marines couldn't figure out what they were doing until a second later the monkeys started flinging feces at them! For a pack of Third graders - this was funnier than - well, shit!
I fondly remember many of the camps biggest stars - often special guests during many of the Parading of the Beef! Most noteably, Monty, the 18 foot python that was a frequent guest at the club!
Hopefully I'll find more pics and get them posted, but thought I'd share those stories for now
Been there, done that. Once for the normal JEST class and once was a excersize with SEALs consisting of being extracted from enemy lines by a team. They found us, and then took us all through the jungle out by the fuel tanks near Boton. We were put in the rubber boats and extracted out safely. It was quite an experience seeing how the SEAL Team worked. Very professional during and if I recall, we got back to JEST around midnight and had a few cool ones.
_________________ Mark W Felhofer
San Antonio, TX
US Navy, Retired
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