howUfound=Did a search on Kadena AB
Mick,
(edited intro)
I am returning to Kadena AB this summer with my Air Guard unit - 182d Aerial Port Flight IL ANG Peoria, IL.
I was at Kadena AB from March 1967 - January 1968 as a very young two-striper. I was a fuels specialist assigned to the 18th Supply SQ.(POL). I was transferred there from Clark AB, RP. We lived in the middle of the three big barracks on the top of the hill above the fire station. There was a radar installation behind/above us. I'm afraid that I didn't get to see much of the island at that time as I worked night shift "12 on and 12 off" (1900 - 0700) and only got one day a week off. I slept most of those days.
I was relieved of duty the night that the USS Pueblo was captured by the North Koreans. I did get to go home on time, but I was sweating every moment that I was going to have to stay for "the duration" of the incident.
Many things were completed during my time there: The second parallel runway was built and relieved much of the congestion in launching the tanker missions. They flew several recon sorties daily by the "blackbirds" of both kinds. I had a hand in putting the fuels storage system into service that was to support the new cargo plane coming into service - the C-5. There were five tanks built near Yomitan.
Kadena has always been a special base for me as I have several lasting friendships from those days. I am looking forward to returning this year. I am finally winding down my career after 32 years active and guard time. I can't think of a better place to spend my last "summer camp". This time, I intend to see as much as possible!
Good job!
Best Regards,
LtCol Dicky J. Brush
Bruce D. Clayton clayton@yosemite.net
Wednesday, January 31, 2001 8:34 AM
(the following was relative to one of the photos on my site)
In the picture, the fellow on the left looks quite a bit like Bushi Matsumura, who actually invented most of the individual techniques used in modern Karate.
He was a very savvy guy. Bodyguard to three Okinawan kings in succession. One of them announced that he had the best martial artist in the world as his bodyguard, and to prove it, Matsumura would fight a bull to the death on the king's birthday. One can only imagine the thoughts going through Matsumura's head when he heard this. ;-)
On the appointed day, Matsumura strode into the bull ring and stood in the center. The bull, tough and ill-tempered, burst into the ring from the chute. The bull circled the ring a couple of times before seeing the lone figure in the center. It turned and charged... but stopped short a few paces from the bodyguard. The bull looked at him for a second, then spun around and ran headlong for the chute!
For this performance, Matsumura was lionized, knighted and otherwise made into a legend. "Bushi" means "warrior," a nickname given to him by the king along with lands and titles. He was known as "the man whose glance can stop a charging bull." He lived to a ripe old age. Among his students (practically all karate people are "descended" from Matsumura,) it is well-known that he had spend the previous week preparing the bull. He visited the bull several times a day, and each time he poked a needle into the bull's nose.
BDC
Charles
Saturday, January 13, 2001 3:39 PM
Hello;
I have been searching for an old song that was popular in the late 60's early 70's in the Naminoue bar district. The songs name to the best of my knowledge is "The Road to Naminoue".
The story goes that an Air Force sergeant from Naha Air Base made the song, it wasn't received well, he transfered, the song became a favorite of the bars and customers of Naminoue.
Please reply if you have any info.
Thank You
Charles Cook
charles@mauidiver.com
cookc003@hawaii.rr.com
Judy Holdsworth Scott
Tuesday, January 16, 2001 1:43 PM
bill.judy.scott@worldnet.att.net
I'm interested in hearing from anyone who lived in Okinawa during 1945-49. My family lived there from 47-49 but I was only in the first grade and would like more information on the conditions, how the island was ever cleaned up from the battle for dependents to come over, etc.
We lived in Awase #614 in a quonset hut. I've read that some Japanese soldiers were still in the northern part of the island and never surrendered. Any truth to that? I remember playing see-saw on an airplane wing tank and being evacuated to a shelter for my first birthday because of a typhoon. Other details about this time period would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Tom Tillotson
Wednesday, January 17, 2001 10:10 PM
rtillotson@cfl.rr.com
Great site Mike,
Lived there from 61'- 74'. Planning on going back soon.
Thanks...tom
Russ Orilio
Monday, January 22, 2001 12:27 AM
wingtip@borg.com
howUfound=web search for Okinawa
Excellent web page. There are too few web pages that show the island.
I believe we were at Kadena AB at about the same time. (Base Police)
I arrived a few months before (reversion) and stayed for 18 months and 4 days. Sorry to hear that gate 2 street has been developed. I kind of liked it (and the side streets) the way I remembered it.
I spent 5 months on Ie-Shima.
The pictures in your site seem to show that it was developed too.
I remember one runway by the bombing range. If you could call it a runway.
Thanx for bringing back memories.
Shirley Sinell
ssinell@iopener.net
Monday, January 22, 2001 11:58 AM
I came across your website accidentally while looking for information on Great Falls. I plan to spend a week in Great Falls on an Elderhostel program studying the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
My husband was stationed in Okinawa from march 1953 to Sept 1954. I joined him there in Sept 1953. He was an Optometrist and worked at the Army Hospital. We lived in housing across the road from the hospital. I would be pleased to hear from you and learn what your connection to Okinawa is. I have fond memories of our stay there-the Island was beautiful eventhough it was still being built up after W.W.2. I have often wondered what it looks like today. Thank you for your attention to this letter
Shirley Sinell
Noriko
noriko@scottosan.com
Monday, January 22, 2001 5:54 PM
Scott Sullivan
URL: http://www.scottosan.com
howUfound=surfing
I_came_from=Welcome_to_Okinawa
comment=Great site, I miss Okinawa and can't wait to return.
Linda Tate
ltate1@cfl.rr.com
Wednesday, January 24, 2001 9:32 AM
Mick,
Now Im homesick and want to go back! Great pics.... I have some that you might be interested in....I have some of the planes and plaques by the front gate of Kadena....also, Cinderella Park. If there are any that you are in need of, let me know, if I dont have them, I might know who does!
Thanks again for you site....its great.
Linda
Elena
Thursday, January 25, 2001 7:34 AM
URL:
howUfound=surfing on the net
I_came_from=Mick's_Big_Sky
I like your web site, it's well done and easy to surf !
Take care of yourself
Elena from Italy
Joseph Paulin
Thursday, January 25, 2001 3:31 PM
JPaulin@aol.com
howUfound=Yahoo
I_came_from=Mick's_Big_Sky
I was at Itazuke AFB from Dec. 1953 to Nov. 1955... was a medical technician in the 6160th USAF Hospital. When I returned to the states, I was stationed at Loring AFB, Maine, where I also worked in the hospital. I'm brand new at the internet and was hoping to see some familiar names from Itazuke... I also spent a month or so tdy at Kadena AFB when we had the standoff with China... I loved reading all these messages... Thanks
Stuart Payne
stuandkyu@dellnet.com
you popped up in my email today. I may have put notice on bulletin board. In 1952,53 I was at Kadena AFB and lived just outside gate #2. Am familiar with what was called the BUSINESS CENTER. And I had a small house and lived in Shimibuko until I felt it was unsafe. Stuart Payne
Patrick Michael S SSgt 352OSS/XPE
michael.patrick@mildenhall.af.mil
Friday, February 02, 2001 3:41 AM
Just wanted to say I found your website very very good. Brought back a lot of memories. I do miss it. The opportunities there are unlike anywhere else in the world. Thanks for maintaining a great site.
MICHAEL S. PATRICK, SSgt, USAF
NCOIC, GROUP PLANS AND EXERCISES
John Russell
tprov@i-55.com
I'm trying to find shipmates for a friend who served aboard LSM-414 during the invasion of Okinawa in April of 1945.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Michael Mignone
seebmmignone@pikeonline.net
Friday, February 09, 2001 9:28 AM
hi mick, like your web page.i wonder if you can help me. i'm trying to locate mr stephen d abrams who i believe is now living in montana.he has written many books about wwii and gen eisenhower. he also has narrated many programs on the history channel. i am a member of the navy seabee veterans of america and we will have our next national reunion in st.cloud,minn. he was also responsible for opening the d-day museum in new orleans
i'm trying to locate him to see if he would like to be a uest speaker at this years reunion.any help you can give me would be appreciated.
Thanks
mike mignone
Mike speeddemon@ndak.net
Sunday, February 11, 2001 9:34 PM
Hi
I just wanted you to know that i have really enjoyed your site. I was stationed in okinawa while i was in the Marines and I really miss it i always browse the internet for new pictures of Okinawa. And i think you have the best so far.
Mike
Jeff Beish
jeffbeish@earthlink.net
Saturday, February 17, 2001 5:07 AM
Changed servers. Still enjoy this web page. Was there 1959-1962 at Naha.
Walt Matthews
wmatthews@nfr.net
Friday, February 23, 2001 12:10 PM
It is unfortunate that you had to deface your own photos due to piracy. Despite this, I shared these photos with my half-sister who immigrated here from Okinawa 7 years ago. The 1960's photos brought back a lot fond of memories, in particular the picture of Heiwa-Doori.
Thank You Very Much!!!!
-Walt Matthews
Howard Wolfe
usermail=wufie@flash.net
Sunday, March 18, 2001 1:55 PM
Your website extremely enjoyable bringing back memories. We were stationed on Kadena on two seperate occasions. l958-60 and 62 thru 66. My children attended Kubasaki HS, in fact two oldest girls graduated from there. Both older girls were extremely active in Kadena Youth Club, Cheer Leading, and participated in the Kadena Football Queen Contest. One of them Sharon was selected queen for the year of 1965, the other Sandra one of the runner-ups.
We have fond memories of Okinawa. To this day our daughters still attend the annual Okinawa and Kubasaki HS re-unions. For others interested I believe there is one scheduled during the month of April 2001 in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the time of our tour on Okinawa I was assigned first to the 6316th ABWg, second time to the 498th TacMsgGp, followed by Sgt Major of the 3l3th Air Division under the command of MGen Albert Clark. Upon rotation being assigned as F/Sgt, 824th Civil Engr.Sq under Col Lester Alexander. After our final rotation we came here to KAFB in Albuquerque, NM and chose it as our retirement spot. Our oldest daughter Sandra resides in Missouri, Sharon the second oldest in California. Again we do sincerely enjoy being taken back with this web site. Thanks for the tour.
Claire Rehkopf
EdEdrehkopf@gateway.net
Having lived on Okinawa for two and a half years and having attempted on numerous occasions to find information about the island--history, culture, current (minimally unbiased) political and social commentary)--and having been terribly frustrated, it was such a great thrill and boon to find your site AND LINKS.
Thank you.
Don Devaney
d.devaney@worldnet.att.net
Monday, September 03, 2001 8:36 PM
It was great finding this site and a trip down memory lane.
Kiyomi K Wilkins
KiyomiKWilkins@aol.com
Thank you for posting these picture for all to see. I took a trip to see all my relatives that I have never met in Yomitan-Son, Okinawa. My children didn't get to come with me on this trip. I was able to show them the little villages through your eyes. I wish you had taken more pictures too!
Michael R Healy
mrhealy1@yahoo.com
Thursday, September 13, 2001 10:24 PM
howUfound=Through e-mail 8th RRFS
Excellent site brought back some old memories I was in Okinawa from dec 65 to june 1967 have the year book and made contact with about 10 people I knew still looking for Harry Heath known as scotty
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