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I began to be interested in taking pictures as a young kid when I saw pictures that my uncles had taken in the early 1900's. In High School I was able to begin developing my own film and by the time I went into the Army I was a devoted "Shutter Bug". I have hundreds of pictures that I took in Mexico through the 1950's, from the old 120 black & whites to 35 mm. color slides, and some of them actually turned out to be good shots. I will only post the ones I think might be interesting to someone other than myself.
I traveled a lot around Mexico during 1951 and 1952 to get an idea of the needs of the people in the rural villages. I came to Mexico to preach the Gospel of Christ, but I became aware of their physical, as well as spiritual needs.
In the Army during World War Two, I received extensive medical training before going overseas, where I served in a combat Medical Unit. So based on that training and experience I began to provide elementary medical service to the people in remote mountain villages where there were no doctors or medical service of any kind. This gained me acceptance into the homes of the villagers and I was able to minister to many of their needs..
My "clinic" was often the tailgate of my jeep, or the kitchen of the patients home. Here it was an unused, school teachers house. But wherever we went we found people in need of medicine
| GETTING TO AND FROM THE VILLAGES WAS A PROBLEM |
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| ESPECIALLY IN THE RAINY SEASON |
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| ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEANS OF TRAVEL |
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| 175cc AUSTRIAN MADE BIKE CALLED A "PUSCH" |
| READY FOR ANOTHER TRIP |
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| JOSE ORTEGA HELPS ME LOAD THE JEEP WITH SUPPLIES |
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Jose Ortega was a my helper, teacher, guide, and fellow evangelist who traveled with me in those early years. Here we were preparing for a trip down south toward the coast (Pacific), across the River Balsas into the state of Guerrero
| BRAVE PATIENT |
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| PRIMITIVE FACILITIES |
There were very few roads in rural Mexico in the 1950's fit for automobile traffic. Transportation was limited to horses, mules, burros, a few trucks; and me. In my 4 wheel Drive Jeep Station Wagon, and later an English Land Rover, I could get almost anywhere I wanted to go. I pioneered roads into some of the villages, being the first motor vehicle to get there.
When it rained the trails that did exist turned to rivers, and washouts were the order of the day.
On another page I will post some more pictures of travel conditions.
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