The Ash Warriors
by C. R. Anderegg
Category: Air bases, American

In November 1991 the American flag was lowered for the last time at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. This act brought to an end American military presence in the Philippines that extended back over 90 years. It also represented the final act in a drama that began with the initial rumblings in April of that year of the Mount Pinatubo volcano, located about 9 miles to the east of Clark. The following pages tell the remarkable story of the men and women of the Clark community and their ordeal in planning for and carrying out their evacuation from Clark in the face of impending volcanic activity. It documents the actions of those who remained on the base during a series of eruptions, and the packing out of the base during subsequent months. This is the story of the "Ash Warriors," those Air Force men and women who carried out their mission in the face of an incredible series of natural disasters, including volcanic eruption, flood, typhoons, and earthquakes, all of which plagued Clark and the surrounding areas during June and July 1991. The author of "The Ash Warriors" knew the situation first hand. Colonel Dick Anderegg was the vice commander of the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing when the volcano erupted, and he was at Clark throughout the evacuation and standing down of the base. He brought his own personal experience to bear in writing this story. He also conducted extensive research in the archives of the Pacific Air Forces and Thirteenth Air Force, utilized scores of interviews of those who witnessed and participated in the events, and visited Clark in 1998 to see in person how the installation had changed in the 8 years since the Americans left. This story is one of courage, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty on the part of Air Force men and women called upon to respond to one of the great natural disasters of the 20th Century. As the following pages reveal, the Ash Warriors were up to the challenge in every respect.