AWR

From the time I was a little girl, my father's pictures, stories, and having a pet monkey are what inspired me to want to visit Africa.
Ashley Woodrow Rice was a 24 year old lieutenant, cargo pilot, and base commander in the Air Force (formerly the Army Air Corps).
Below are some shots my father took during his World Word II tour of duty across Africa where the Allies were fighting General Rommel a.k.a. "Desert Fox."
It is truly amazing how many countries he visited during his 2 years: Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo or D.R.C.), Cameroons, Egypt,
French Equatorial Africa (now Central African Republic, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville & Gabon), Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Palestine (Israel), Tanganyika (Tanzania) and Uganda.

In 1997 Rick and I traveled on a 2-week safari to Kenya and Tanzania. As it turned out, we returned to Africa to live for a year and a half.
I know now how much of a life-changing experience his 2 years must have been for my father. It was for me.

1943

(Above) In Jan. 1943, my mother & father, Lt. Rice, pose before he flies to Africa to become "Sahib" at his base in French Equatorial Africa.		(Above L, C & R) Dad poses with the Jar Tribe in French Equatorial Africa, including a young boy named Hamu.


Though these are black & white pictures of typical scenes in 1943 French Equatorial Africa, we saw virtually the same in southern and eastern Africa in 2006 - 2007. (Above Far L) Woman carries a long pole. (Above L) Mama with baby in a blanket. (Above C) Boy carries water on his head. (Above R) Typical marketplace. (Above Far R) Man casually sits on a termite hill.


(Above) One of many storage & sleeping huts on his base.	My father's life was much the same routine on all of the bases where he was stationed. In French Equatorial Africa. (Above L to R) He drove around to inspect the base; flew cargo in & out; administered operations; and hung out with friends at the Officers' Club.

1944

(Above) Body surfing in Cameroons.	(Above L to R) He did own a pet monkey (my kids' and my personal favorite image); climb for coconuts; stand by a termite hill (see my version near the bottom of the Uganda page); and pose near a Banyan tree.


(Above L to R) Dramatic waterfalls in Uganda; directions from Kano, Nigeria to many places; Common Zebras in Kenya; elephant herd & Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanganyika.


What's different in Nairobi from 1944 to 2007? The cars are mostly newer, slums are bigger/denser and the streets are always crowded. (Above L to R) Peaceful courtyard viewed from a hotel balcony; downtown Nairobi street; monument in front of the Standard Bank of South Africa; mosque seen from street level; and minaret for Muezzin to call to prayer as viewed from another tower.

(R) War memorial and (Center R) Sabina Hotel in Leopoldville, Belgian Congo named for King Leopold who led the cruelest colonial regime in Africa.			(L) Celebration in Elizabethville, Belgian Congo for the liberation of Belgium.

1945

With General Rommel's forced suicide in 1944, peace returned to North Africa. In 1945 my father was assigned to Egypt and traveled to Alexandria and Cairo. Pictured in Alexandria (Above L to R): Obelisque in someone's honor; boulevard along the Mediterranean; mosque with Muezzin's tower; Smouha Country Club with a pyramid in the background (not part of the club's roof); my father at a table inside the Smouha.


(Above L to R) Both Alexandria and Cairo are near pyramids, sphinxes, camels, small Muslim villages and street cafes. My father visited many in both cities with friends.


Though Egypt borders Israel, then Palestine, it seems there have always been issues crossing from one country to the other. But my father's commanding officer gave permission and dropped him and a couple of friends for a few days in Palestine. (Above L to R) Relaxing on the Tel Aviv Boardwalk; standing in front of his Tel Aviv hotel; waiting for the bus to Jerusalem; viewing a major street corner in Jerusalem; and visiting one of the many religious site in Jerusalem's Old City.