Ernest J. Gaines Grave Site 2021-Jan-31

Zd890. This is one of three pictures of Ernest J. Gaines Tomb in the Gains Beach area on Redondo Peninsular in Subic Bay on the 4th of Aug. 2006. Very few people were residing there then but my hiking partners and I wanted to see the tomb.

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Ernest J. Gaines was/is a Legend in Subic Bay. He was a Photographer Mate Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy and settled and died here in Subic Bay. He and I never met but we have the Navy in common, the settling down here and maybe the passing away also. I love to walk and I walked at the Gaines Beach area when only a few people lived there and now an explosion of new residents has occurred. But his tomb is still there. I was told the remains were taking out and moved to Ilo Ilo. Besides today’s pictures I also present some shots taken earlier. At the end of this page are a few URLs about him and his beach.

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Zd891. This is one of three pictures of Ernest J. Gaines Tomb in the Gains Beach area on Redondo Peninsular in Subic Bay on the 4th of Aug. 2006. Very few people were residing there then but my hiking partners and I wanted to see the tomb.

Zd892. This is one of three pictures of Ernest J. Gaines Tomb in the Gains Beach area on Redondo Peninsular in Subic Bay on the 4th of Aug. 2006. Very few people were residing there then but my hiking partners and I wanted to see the tomb.

Zd893. This is the grave/tomb plaque of Ernest J. Gaines on the 23rd of June in 2012; I went by his tomb again and it seems his grave plaque got cleaned up or was replaced.

Zd894. This is my GPS track on Google Earth of my walk in the former Gains Beach area to find the Tomb of Ernest J. Gaines again.

Zd895. This is one of the first ladies I asked about the tomb site. She told me that the remains of Ernest J. Gaines have been removed and were brought to Ilo Ilo. She also said, that she has a pictures of his bones in her home across the bay in Matain Village. Where I found her was the wrong spot and I continued the search.

Zd896. This is one of 5 images of the grave/tomb site of Ernest J. Gaines, a legend in Subic Bay. These pictures were shot on the 31st of Jan 2021. The grave plaque is removed; the tomb was entered and closed again. So, most likely the story, the previous lady told me, is true that the remains were brought to Ilo Ilo. The man in the picture helped me find the tomb. He said that one time he and others stopped people monkeying around on the tomb. As you can see houses have been built all around the tomb now, since the opening of the Hanjin Ship Yard Road, many people have settled here.

Zd897. This is one of 5 images of the grave/tomb site of Ernest J. Gaines, a legend in Subic Bay. These pictures were shot on the 31st of Jan 2021. The grave plaque is removed; the tomb was entered and closed again. So, most likely the story, the previous lady told me, is true that the remains were brought to Ilo Ilo. The man in the picture helped me find the tomb. He said that one time he and others stopped people monkeying around on the tomb. As you can see houses have been built all around the tomb now, since the opening of the Hanjin Ship Yard Road, many people have settled here.

Zd898. This is one of 5 images of the grave/tomb site of Ernest J. Gaines, a legend in Subic Bay. These pictures were shot on the 31st of Jan 2021. The grave plaque is removed; the tomb was entered and closed again. So, most likely the story, the previous lady told me, is true that the remains were brought to Ilo Ilo. The man in the picture helped me find the tomb. He said that one time he and others stopped people monkeying around on the tomb. As you can see houses have been built all around the tomb now, since the opening of the Hanjin Ship Yard Road, many people have settled here.

Zd899. This is one of 5 images of the grave/tomb site of Ernest J. Gaines, a legend in Subic Bay. These pictures were shot on the 31st of Jan 2021. The grave plaque is removed; the tomb was entered and closed again. So, most likely the story, the previous lady told me, is true that the remains were brought to Ilo Ilo. The man in the picture helped me find the tomb. He said that one time he and others stopped people monkeying around on the tomb. As you can see houses have been built all around the tomb now, since the opening of the Hanjin Ship Yard Road, many people have settled here.

Zd900. This is one of 5 images of the grave/tomb site of Ernest J. Gaines, a legend in Subic Bay. These pictures were shot on the 31st of Jan 2021. The grave plaque is removed; the tomb was entered and closed again. So, most likely the story, the previous lady told me, is true that the remains were brought to Ilo Ilo. The man in the picture helped me find the tomb. He said that one time he and others stopped people monkeying around on the tomb. As you can see houses have been built all around the tomb now, since the opening of the Hanjin Ship Yard Road, many people have settled here.

URLs for Ernest J. Gaines; about all have pictures and or some interesting stories about the Legend, the retired U.S Navy Chief Petty Officer Ernest J. Gaines.

Find a grave, click here:

Gaines Beach~ REVISITED ~ Jim Holub, click here

Submarine Forum Page, about Subic, click here:

Ramblings of a Madman, click here:

NAAS Whiting Field Photo Lab Crew in 1960, click here:

Comments:
-My friend, Jack Kingsley wrote this ti me: hi karl, great job of reporting on old friend ernie gaines. had many a beer with him as i was a beach bum off duty and gains beach got you away from the bullshit. his set of binoculars was tripod mounted so you could get a steady look at the beautiful bay at anytime while hearing ernie growl about some topic of local interest. stayed there in 83 for midway collision repairs and ernie bet me a case of beer capt. carmichael would be relieved for cause. i was the reconstruction officer at the court martial hearing and was sure the captain would not be fired. i won the bet, then old ernie died, owing me a case of san miguel beer. i’m sure he’s playing horseshoes somewhere in sailors heaven with a icy beer in his hand. i see him smiling and happy, in part because i’m not his partner and the next round of beers is at stake. rip ole phc ernie gaines. a legend in his own time. i’ll collect that case of beer when i join you.

Aubrey Nabb
In 73-75 when I was the Fleet Boat Pool div off , the ships would call me and we would provide boat runs to Gaine’s beach for their ship’s parties .My boat crews liked it because they always got some good chow>>>