Coco Solo was a United States Navy submarine base established in 1918 on the Atlantic Ocean (northwest) side of the Panama Canal Zone, near Colón, Panama. By the 1960s no vessels remained, only some support staff and housing.
During World War II, Coco Solo additionally served as a Naval Aviation Facility housing a squadron of P-38 Lightning aircraft.
From the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, Coco Solo was utilized by the US Navy, Marine Corps, and Army as a residential and administrative location supporting operations at the nearby Galeta Island facility.
After the return of the Panama Canal to Panamanian Control in 1999, U.S. Military activity ceased at both Coco Solo and Galeta Island.
Coco Solo is presently the site of two large container terminals, including Manzanillo International Terminal, the largest container terminal in Latin America.
U.S. Senator John McCain was born at the Coco Solo base. Also, Michael Coder's birth certificate states:he was born in the military hospital (U.S. Zone) Cristoble Canal Zone, Panama May 25, 1936 of military parents. The (U.S. Canal Zone) of Panama has always been considered American soil by the American military.
A photo of the US Naval Hospital Coco Solo is available at: http://www.czbrats.com/Photos/PO/POcocosolo2.jpg Jogershok (talk) 10:31, 29 February 2008 (UTC)