Nostalgic Okinawa

[Oxmix]

Socialheart,

When I first arrived on Okinawa all new arrivals were required to attend an orientation class by an Okinawan gentleman. We were given an introduction about Okinawan history, culture and language. We were taught about what types of food were safe to eat and about which restaurants, "A" Sign "B" Sign etc. In all reality the restaurants without the signs were safe to eat at. The signs were for establishments that wanted GI business.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/ASign.jpg
It was at this orientation where our Okinawan instructor told us about the Bar Districts and emphasized that we use these places for our entertainment.
The bar districts were like the "Wild West". It seemed that just about anything went. There were very few restrictions on us in these areas.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/BCSt.jpg
I personally liked BC Street the best. I usually went to Gate 2 Street after the bars on BC Street closed at midnight. By law all bars were suppose to close at midnight. After midnight Gate 2 Street bars operated as speakeasies with a door boy ushering you in when the coast was clear.

Regards

Ox

[kilo_four-six]

I was there in the early 80s when BC street was still in full-tilt sleaze mode, spent much time there until I got a "real" girlfriend. But we also went there just to hang out and party, not necessarily just for sex. There was a taco place down at the end that had the world's best tacos believe it or not, "Charlie's Tacos"? And Condition Green had their own club, really crazy place. The whole place was a helluva lotta fun. Anyway now I hear it's all cleaned up, what damn crying shame..it will always be KOZA to me.

[Oxmix]

Kilo,
BC Street as we knew it is no more. It is a shopping area now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/BCSt.g.jpg
The New York Restaurant is still in operation and the inside looks much as it did in the 60's.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/NewYorkResturantd-1.jpg
I know what you mean when you say Koza. I have a hard time saying Okinawa City.

Regards

Ox

[DougP]

Good lord the "ol' days" look like they were some good times :(

[kilo_four-six]

It's so clean! That is freakin' weird man! :scared:

[Oxmix]

DougP,
Yes, they were good old days. Things were inexpensive. I would walk up the hill from the company area and catch a bus from Sukiran to Kaza for a whopping $0.08.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Sukiran1_1954b.jpg
A Taxi would cost me $1.00 for the same ride. From Koza to Kin Village was $0.28 by bus, $3.25 by taxi.
An Orion Beer, small bottle, in the bars was $0.70, $0.10 in the PX. A large bottle of Orion in the bars was $1.00
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/OrionLabel.jpg

Regards

Ox

[Muku]

Yo guys thanks for the trip down nostaligia lane here, brings back memories for me as well.:thumbup:

FYI numerous Okinawan people still call it Koza too!:D

[socalheart]

That is so cool. :thumbup1: I like history, but most of us aren't old enough to have been adults the same time as Ox, much less children. That one picture in color of the cars going by in streaks, is that BC street back in the day? I couldn't tell by the first car on the curb. (I'm so not a car person.) They have a mini-museum just off BC street now that has those A signs and other post war stuff on display.

[ryukyuboi]

Nice photos. Thanks for sharing.

[Karaoke Man]

Charlie's Tacos is still there and still very good. Also, if anyone remembers Mickey's Yakisoba, it too has moved to BC street to make way for the Koza Music Center. Although it is smaller and cleaner than the old Mickeys, the food is still great. Only bad part is that they close down before the bars close now.

[antonio gonzalez]

I was at kadena from 1957 t0 1959 . I remember the first time I went to the village,as we used to call it,I remember walking for the first on bc street. They had speakers on the light poles,and japanese music would play from them,honestly it was abit scary for me being by myself walking down bc,until i heard the song in spanish "besame mucho". I felt so much better about the place that i spent must of the 18month at kadena down the village,I was young then(sigh!) I deam of always returning someday.I loved the okinawan people. I remember the bar called "the night train,also "the last chance" close to gate 2.Thanks for the pictures!

[Oxmix]

Antonio,
Here is a memory for you. A match box from the Cabaret Night Train. Enjoy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/NightTrain.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/NightTrain2.jpg

Regards

Ox

[Oxmix]

socalheart,
I have been looking for an "A" Sign. If you know where I could get one I would be extremely grateful.
The picture of the cars streaking by is indeed BC St. in the 60's.
I would love to see pictures of the displays in that museum. Are there brochures available for purchase?


Regards

Ox

[Muku]

socalheart,
I have been looking for an "A" Sign. If you know where I could get one I would be extremely grateful.
The picture of the cars streaking by is indeed BC St. in the 60's.
I would love to see pictures of the displays in that museum. Are there brochures available for purchase?


Regards

Ox
There are some second hand shops around the bases that still have the A-Signs, maybe someone who lives in that area on a shopping trip might be able to find out the price.

On occasion I see them in Naha as well but they are not for sale.:(

[Oxmix]

If anyone should find an "A" Sign that is for sale PM me. Thanks.

Regards

Ox

[socalheart]

I will stick a mental post-it to the back of my brain about that stuff, Ox. You never know when you'll come across something like that. :)

[antonio gonzalez]

Thanks for the picture of the night train pic, i spent many hrs with my buddies in that place.Those were the days my friend..... Got more picture? antonio

[antonio gonzalez]

Those "A" certificates in restaurant when I was there in 1957 ,you were not supposed to eat there unless they post the sign on the wall, after being there a while i even bought "soba" from the street vendor. If the girls looked so pretty and healthy,how could it hurt you?

[Muku]

Those "A" certificates in restaurant when I was there in 1957 ,you were not supposed to eat there unless they post the sign on the wall, after being there a while i even bought "soba" from the street vendor. If the girls looked so pretty and healthy,how could it hurt you?

Antonio I for one would be interested in hearing about more of your experiences back then.

I would like to ask either you or Oxmix to possibly, if you have time, start a thread here about nostagic Okinawa maybe?

Please consider it, I would also look forward to anyone elses photos of that era, post WWII through the 70's.

[DougP]

I agree reading these last few posts by Antonio and Oxmix have been amazing to say the least. For some reason seeing those pictures and hearing the stories reminds me of Fields Avenue in Angeles City.

[socalheart]

Antonio and Oxmix have been amazing...That's awesome; being amazing because you're old! :D LOL, just teasing.
Seriously though, I'd also be interested in hearing some stories about your cultural experiences while on occupied-Okinawa. :thumbup:

[Oxmix]

socalheart,
Sounds like a good idea to me. The new thread will be Okinawa Memories.

Regards

Ox

[antonio gonzalez]

In those days,57 to 59, all the G.Is i knew would spent most their time down the village,mainly koza, yoshihara was off limit because one could get"v.d" ,but because it was off limit,that made the guys go there more. Those places where there were prostitutes, I never would call them that,that was their way of making a living,they really were sweet girls.they had to show you their health card.how humiliating!!! But not all bar had girls that would prostitude.,in some of the bars you would just go there and drink beer and dance with the girl,and you begin to fall in love with a certain girl after you got to know her. The guys on base they would call you a "village rat" needless to i qualified well!!! I don't recalled the base having much to compete with going to the village,o would go to the hobby shop and work on photography ,and did oil painting,but the village was the place to go,even after we get off work at mid-night,we would go out the gate to new york restaurant and eat,I was and "AIR POLICE AT KADENA Any air police outthere?

[Muku]

In those days,57 to 59, all the G.Is i knew would spent most their time down the village,mainly koza, yoshihara was off limit because one could get"v.d" ,but because it was off limit,that made the guys go there more. Those places where there were prostitutes, I never would call them that,that was their way of making a living,they really were sweet girls.they had to show you their health card.how humiliating!!! But not all bar had girls that would prostitude.,in some of the bars you would just go there and drink beer and dance with the girl,and you begin to fall in love with a certain girl after you got to know her. The guys on base they would call you a "village rat" needless to i qualified well!!! I don't recalled the base having much to compete with going to the village,o would go to the hobby shop and work on photography ,and did oil painting,but the village was the place to go,even after we get off work at mid-night,we would go out the gate to new york restaurant and eat,I was and "AIR POLICE AT KADENA Any air police outthere?

Great post, I hope you can share many many more.:D

[Oxmix]

Dance with the girls in the bar.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/ChinaNightClubKoza1967.jpg

Regards

Ox

[socalheart]

(o.O) good lord. they were always that skinny. ha! like how the bikini top fluff makes their whatchamacallits look bigger. get a load of those tuxes! didn't know they had color photos way back then. ;) actually, that looks like the club fujis-kin (http://www.clubfuji.com/Fuji%20Kin/FujiKinMain.html) is in now. huh...

[Oxmix]

(o.O) good lord. they were always that skinny. ha! like how the bikini top fluff makes their whatchamacallits look bigger. get a load of those tuxes! didn't know they had color photos way back then. ;) actually, that looks like the club fujis-kin (http://www.clubfuji.com/Fuji%20Kin/FujiKinMain.html) is in now. huh...

Harry Haney's newest bar.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/ClubFujiyamaKin.jpg

Most of the girls were short and thin. Not many carried a few extra pounds. I guess it was because there was no McDonalds there at the time.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/McDonalds.jpg

Regards

Ox

[socalheart]

wow, you know harry and miko-san?! :w00t: that's so cool. how?

is it the same place as in your pic? ;)

[Oxmix]

socalheart,
PM sent.
The photo with the dancing girls is not Fuji Kin.
Of course you know about his other clubs, Club Fujiyama on Gate 2 Street and Gate 2 Garage.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Gate2St.jpg

Regards

Ox

[Muku]

Oxmix I am looking forward to seeing your thread "Okinawa Memories". Thanks again for sharing here! Great stuff. :)

[Oxmix]

Oxmix I am looking forward to seeing your thread "Okinawa Memories". Thanks again for sharing here! Great stuff. :)

I appreciate that. What I'm doing is writing short stories in word and organizing pictures to go along with each story as time permits. Hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew.

Regards

Ox

[antonio gonzalez]

In my days prostitution was not ilegal, we had no curfew ,so we could stay all night in the village without being afraid of the military. They have "RASP" patrol,that army,navy, air force police, that walked patrol down the village, they woulg walk inside the bars and see that everything was ok,also check the bars that were off limit,mostlyin yoshihara, the gis would sneak behind the M.P.s and soon as they checked the they would go behind and go in. We used MPC for money,japanese money was also printed the usa, money was colorful then,,By 1959 there were no more MPC we went to US dollars even the okinawans went to the us dollars. The girls in the bar just dressed in regular clothes. They dress a lot in kimonos,which is not the case today. My favorite bars were "the last chance and the "night train" stay near the gate 2 ,also there was someone i liked at the last chance, she was nice.One of my friend had a motorcycle and we would go riding to other places .ithink OX mention about "short time for 4 dollar or stay all night for 8 dollars,he was right. You would walk in any bar ,and a girl would say DOZO and sit by YOall the time you were there,you were not lonely,NOT BAD!
.

[antonio gonzalez]

That is so cool. :thumbup1: I like history, but most of us aren't old enough to have been adults the same time as Ox, much less children. That one picture in color of the cars going by in streaks, is that BC street back in the day? I couldn't tell by the first car on the curb. (I'm so not a car person.) They have a mini-museum just off BC street now that has those A signs and other post war stuff on display.

when i was tere in 57,there were no sidewalks in bc,i remember small family houses ,and rows of small shops.I wonder where the families that lived there move to. After looking at those pictures,if were to go back,and i wish i could,i would feel like rip van winkle!!!:ohmy:

[antonio gonzalez]

I was priviledge, the first time I went to a bar i went to the "Last Chance" when i paid for what i ordered i gave a ten dollar bill,well the guy gave me change for a twenty and i gave the money back to to the bar tender,the owner of the bar saw me giving the money back,and from that day she treated special.I believe i was the only gi with credit in a bar. she would even asked to go to places with her,nothing sexually,she just became my friend they would see to it that nothing happened to me

[Oxmix]

I was priviledge, the first time I went to a bar i went to the "Last Chance" when i paid for what i ordered i gave a ten dollar bill,well the guy gave me change for a twenty and i gave the money back to to the bar tender,the owner of the bar saw me giving the money back,and from that day she treated special.I believe i was the only gi with credit in a bar. she would even asked to go to places with her,nothing sexually,she just became my friend they would see to it that nothing happened to me

What Antonio said is so true. If the Okinawans liked you and trusted you they would make sure nothing happened to you. I was even privi to their grape vine and was always kept up to date on what was happening or going to happen. I was always respectful, remembering that I was a guest in their land and that my actions would in part shape their view of Americans.

Regards

Ox

[antonio gonzalez]

one nite this guy and i at mid-night after we got off work,we were hungry and decided to outside gate 2,to new york restaurant not far from the gate. We heard this commotion coming from the street,we went to see and about 10 or 12 GIs were running like crazy,and behind a huge crwd of okinawans yelling and screaming,"run for the gate,this damn comunists are going to kill us"well we hadnot done anything wrong,but we decided we would join the guys running,on the to the gate we passed the "night train" bar,and there were about 3 girls trying to get this drunk gi in a cab and because he was so tall and so drunk they could not do it,well we tried to help but the crowed was getting to closed,so we left him there. we got safely to the gate,and the crowd stopped,the guys at the gate had their 45 out.however an okinawan police continued chasing this GI through the gate on foot until he caught him.come to find out the okinawans were having a comunist rally and the area was off limit for all military during the time of the rally but this gi had been drinking and decided to throw rocks at themwhile they were having their rally, the rest just joined the gis running 'cause we didn't what was going on.what happened to the drunk? he came walking to the gate,no shirt, and no shoes ,and wallet,he looked so tall and so hillbily,but they did not hurt him.i don't think he ever knew what was going on.It was exciting,but bad timing for a meal!!!

[kilo_four-six]

Anybody remember Noah's Ark? It was the coolest bar, completely covered in carpet with ladders all over you could climb up to get to little cubby holes where you could drink. They played great music too. The main drink there was purple haze. I think it was closer to Ginowan though, not really Koza, kind of on the road to Koza.

[eacooper]

I'm pleased to announce that my novel, "B.C. Street," is now available on Amazon.com. Please take a moment to check it out. It should bring back a lot of memories. ---E. A. Cooper, Sukiran, 3rd FSR (1963-64), Hansen 3rd Tank Bn.(1965), transit from S. Vietnam (1966)

[eacooper]

Socialheart,

When I first arrived on Okinawa all new arrivals were required to attend an orientation class by an Okinawan gentleman. We were given an introduction about Okinawan history, culture and language. We were taught about what types of food were safe to eat and about which restaurants, "A" Sign "B" Sign etc. In all reality the restaurants without the signs were safe to eat at. The signs were for establishments that wanted GI business.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/ASign.jpg
It was at this orientation where our Okinawan instructor told us about the Bar Districts and emphasized that we use these places for our entertainment.
The bar districts were like the "Wild West". It seemed that just about anything went. There were very few restrictions on us in these areas.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/BCSt.jpg
I personally liked BC Street the best. I usually went to Gate 2 Street after the bars on BC Street closed at midnight. By law all bars were suppose to close at midnight. After midnight Gate 2 Street bars operated as speakeasies with a door boy ushering you in when the coast was clear.

Regards

OxPlease see my novel, B.C. Street, on Amazon.com. Thanks---E. A. Cooper

[Asshat]

Anybody remember Noah's Ark? It was the coolest bar, completely covered in carpet with ladders all over you could climb up to get to little cubby holes where you could drink. They played great music too. The main drink there was purple haze. I think it was closer to Ginowan though, not really Koza, kind of on the road to Koza.

Yep, I remember that place. It was just outside the back gate of MCAS in Futenma-Town. Rock and Roll places are all but gone now.

[Muku]

Yep, I remember that place. It was just outside the back gate of MCAS in Futenma-Town. Rock and Roll places are all but gone now.

Along with the rest of the "good places" as well, in my opinion. Times have changed quite a bit, havent they.

[kilo_four-six]

Yep, I remember that place. It was just outside the back gate of MCAS in Futenma-Town. Rock and Roll places are all but gone now.

That is really sad, rock and roll was such a huge part of all our lives when I lived there, Americans and Okinawans both, hard to believe it's over, I guess it's all (c)rap now huh? ugh..

[eacooper]

That is really sad, rock and roll was such a huge part of all our lives when I lived there, Americans and Okinawans both, hard to believe it's over, I guess it's all (c)rap now huh? ugh..

Excellent point, about music being such a big part of GIs lives. That's why I carefully selected songs that were being played in the early '60s to include in my novel, B.C. Street. Songs like Marvin Gaye's "Stubborn Kind of Fellow," Barrett Strong's original version of "Money" (later recorded by the Beatles), Doris Troy's one-hit wonder, "Just One Look," Chuck Jackson's "Any Day Now," Timi Yuro's sad soul rendition of "I Apologize," and many others. I didn't just throw them in. I used them because they fit the action and helped to move the story along. O.K., I'm over-hyping my book, but I promise you I took great pains to make my novel a realistic and accurate reflection of the times. Somethings just don't change, so a good bit of the story is still relevant today--despite the loss of B.C. Street, Gate Two Street, and Four Corners, a.k.a, the Bush. Oh by the way, if there are any ladies out there, the story has a killer romance. ---E. A. Cooper

[ryukyuboi]

I went to Noah's Ark once. It was pretty dark and small with a psychedelic flavor to it. We might have smoked weed before going into that place.

[antonio gonzalez]

talk about old days in okinawa,do people still use the bathroom at the same time with the ladies? what a surprise that was for me. this af friend that i knew back in the states,he was tere before i got stationed at kadena.he invited me to go to japanese movie in koza somewhere, i needed to use the bathroom,and i asked him where it was,he pointed in the direction of it,i was there using it when lady came in and began using it.i zipped up and took off running back to my seat ,and cussed my friend out for sending me to women bathroom.he said here man and women used the same bathroom at the same.I told him i am not finish,but i am not going the by myself again!!! Benjo doko desu ka?

[socalheart]

HA! That's one of those bathroom stories that is always going to be funny. Restrooms here are now gender specific, except where small children (toddlers and babies for example) are concerned.

[Oxmix]

Do they still use the hole in the floor instead of a toilet?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/JapaneseToilet.jpg

Regards

Ox

[DoctorP]

Most places have a western toilet, but some still have the hole in the floor! There are still a few places with shared restrooms...they are not all gender specific...but the larger places have for the most part conformed.

[Oxmix]

Someone asked about a picture of Charlies Tacos.
YouTube - We found charlies tacos
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/CharliesTacos.jpg

Regards

Ox

[P_chan]

Just wanted to say thank you for all of the wonderful stories that are posted in here. I went to the Ryukyu Royal Hotel in naha today for lunch with my wife and the family. While eating I looked across the street at this steak place. I noticed it had one of those A signs and I thought it was really cool to see one. Of course on closer inspection I believe it was a fake. I busted out my phone and took some pictures for you guys.

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/4120/sa3a0012zz7.jpg
This is the restaurant

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/5207/sa3a0013mf9.jpg
Here is the close up of the sign

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6551/sa3a0014qh1.jpg
This is a pretty rainbow I saw on the way back. I know it has nothing to do with the other two pics. But honestly, who doesn't like pretty rainbows?

Just wanted to say thanks because without threads like this, I would not have know the significance of that sign.

[DougP]

Its funny how the english sign says STATE SIDE but the katakana says states size :) oh and those are some nice pics for a cell phone

[P_chan]

I actually had to make them smaller because they were too big. My phone also takes panoramic pictures and I can watch tv on it. I love my phone:D

[Oxmix]

P_chan,
Great photos. If you have the time and can't think of anything to do how about asking the restaurant owner where he got the sign.

How's the traffic on Okinawa these days? We had our rush hour traffic, 30 minutes from Sukiran to Machinato, then after that traffic wasn't to bad.

Regards

Ox

[antonio gonzalez]

I was just wondering, is anyone in the forum station at kadena,when did kadena became an airbase, where did the name came from?

[eacooper]

I was just wondering, is anyone in the forum station at kadena,when did kadena became an airbase, where did the name came from?

Originally called Yara Air Field by the Japanese, it was captured and greatly expanded after the invasion of Okinawa. The airfield was then re-named Kadena Air Force Base after Kadena, the adjoining Okinawan village. -- E. A. Cooper

[antonio gonzalez]

When I was there at kadena,my friend and I went exploring on base,we went to the back of the base close to to the beach where supposely our troops landed under hails of fire,anyway,there was ,and still is a lots of coral hills ,better cliffs with lots of caves, I was an air police, so I had access to anywhere on base, on the top of one of the ridge there is a cut out place rectangular where the japs had amachine gun emplacement overlooking the beach.There are also burial jappanese caves containing huge clay or ceramic pots full of bones. There were also tunnels naturally made where one could walk.In ther I found japanese military items such as cantees,etc. I missed the opportunity of collecting any.I went there a couple of times,I wonder if that placle is still accesscible.Just the japanese machine gun emplacement would be historical of the japanese army. Antonio

[socalheart]

I've heard stories about boonie-stomping up back of the ammo dump on Kadena. Supposedly, there's all sorts of stuff from the war back there. I heard there were a few haunted places back there as well.

[P_chan]

I know there is an old gun emplacement on the top of the hill on the golf course on kadena. The entrance to the cave is barred off though. You can still get inside the little bunker but the doorway to the cave is what's barred. There is what looks like the other end of the cave, but that entrance looks like it caved in a while ago. It's a nice view from the top of that little mountain.

There is also another cave in the sunabe area down the street from my apartment, it's about 3 blocks from the east china sea. It's fenced off and the gate is locked. You have to go to the nearby city office to get the key. Supposedly it was one of the few caves that all the okinawans in it survived. So it's sacred and they don't let people play around in there. We tried to get the key once, but the guy with the key wasn't there. The fence is easily hop-able but I didn't do it since it was an important place.

There is another cave I found in yomiton that isn't blocked off. But this one has a shrine in front of it and we didn't go inside. It's supposedly 'haunted'. A bunch of people died in that cave, so we didn't go inside. You could still find bones and stuff in that cave.

Oh, I also found the cave behind the haunted hotel. It's not very haunted, but I didn't have a flash light so I didn't go in.

[antonio gonzalez]

It was a beatiful view from the top of that hill i am glad that others are able to enjoy it.Thank! antonio

[EJAMM]

Originally called Yara Air Field by the Japanese, it was captured and greatly expanded after the invasion of Okinawa. The airfield was then re-named Kadena Air Force Base after Kadena, the adjoining Okinawan village. -- E. A. Cooper

An Okinawan friend once told me that Kadena translates to navel or bellybutton if you prefer, since the city is located in the "bellybutton" of the island. May not be accurate but makes for a great story. :)

[Muku]

I was just wondering, is anyone in the forum station at kadena,when did kadena became an airbase, where did the name came from?

History Of Kadena Air Base (http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7294)

The base was also largely destroyed by a major typhoon sometime around 1957 or so if my history recollections are accurate. After that time it was expanded to pretty much what it is today.

[Muku]

Koza and Kadena Circle (http://pages.prodigy.net/johna/koza.htm)
I just came across that link while doing a bit or research work on Okinawa. The pictures belong here as well.:)

BC Street
http://pages.prodigy.net/johna/bc-4.jpg

http://pages.prodigy.net/johna/bc-2.jpg

http://pages.prodigy.net/johna/bc-3.jpg


I would also recommend checking out the links at the top of the page that include the following;

Torii Station] [Barracks] [Yomitan] [Torii Beach] [Okinawa Pics]
[Manza Beach] [Zanpa] [Kobe] [Typhoon] [Misc Pics] [K.C. and Torii '97]

[socalheart]

That explains "Kadena Navel" shopping center then. I thought it was just the Japanese spelling naval incorrectly. Heh. Another of life's mysteries solved!

[dk]

WTF? BC street has smaller roads NOW compared to then!

[socalheart]

I was thinking the same thing! Ha! BC street now has bigger sidewalks though. Heh. At first I thought those pictures were of Gate 2 Street. It's too narrow though. I tried to pick out which buildings were what, but even the store fronts have changed now. Is it just me, or is the pickup truck in one of the pictures a left-hand drive?

[EJAMM]

I was thinking the same thing! Ha! BC street now has bigger sidewalks though. Heh. At first I thought those pictures were of Gate 2 Street. It's too narrow though. I tried to pick out which buildings were what, but even the store fronts have changed now. Is it just me, or is the pickup truck in one of the pictures a left-hand drive?

In 1972 the Japanese resumed control of the Okinawa Prefecture and returned the driving rules to match Japanese standards. Literally overnight the driving on Okinawa went from left lane to right lane driving.

[dk]

Literally overnight the driving on Okinawa went from left lane to right lane driving.
Judging by how bad Okinawan drivers drive right now when it even starts to sprinkle, I can only imagine that first day was chaos!

[antonio gonzalez]

I experienced first hand that typhoon in 57, it was awful. First the moved the aircraft to korea and the philpine, then the typhoon was hanging around and they thought it had changed course so they flew the aircraft back, well it did not happend that way.it came full force,Myself being an air police we had to stay out until the last,we had to lay down the windshield of the jeep we were patroling in,when they finally bought us in into the barracks by the the theaters, we had water in the top floor hall about a foot deep,the wind was so strong ,it just howled like a ghost movie , they fed us old I mean old "c" rations from the korean war,the lucky strikes cigarettes had termites holes and they would not light up.when the typhoon was finally gone we were the first on the flight line,and i would n ever forget what I saw..There were about 30 aircrafts totally destroyed,they looked like they were toys made out of plastic and some giant foot had stepped on them.I heard they got ridd of the base commander for screwing up.The village outside gate 2 was waist deep in muudy looking water,and many poor house messed up,we walked through that water,It hurt bad the village. antonio

[Oxmix]

1978 was the year that Okinawa went to driving on the wrong side of the road.

For years we hosted International ELS students. I went to the Airport to pick up a girl from Hong Kong, Mandy Chan. When we got to my truck she started to get in on the drivers side then saw the steering wheel. I handed her the keys. You should have seen the look on her face. We had a good laugh over that.

None of the Japanese students we hosted made that mistake.

Regards

Ox

[Muku]

1978 was the year that Okinawa went to driving on the wrong side of the road.

For years we hosted International ELS students. I went to the Airport to pick up a girl from Hong Kong, Mandy Chan. When we got to my truck she started to get in on the drivers side then saw the steering wheel. I handed her the keys. You should have seen the look on her face. We had a good laugh over that.

None of the Japanese students we hosted made that mistake.

Regards

Ox
Oxmix I think you may have made a typo....1972 is the year Okinawa reverted back to Japan and traffic changed then as well. From 1945 until 1972 Okinawan was the same as the US.

[EJAMM]

1978 was the year that Okinawa went to driving on the wrong side of the road.

For years we hosted International ELS students. I went to the Airport to pick up a girl from Hong Kong, Mandy Chan. When we got to my truck she started to get in on the drivers side then saw the steering wheel. I handed her the keys. You should have seen the look on her face. We had a good laugh over that.

None of the Japanese students we hosted made that mistake.

Regards

Ox

Yes 1978...my bad. Thanks for the correction.

After the defeat of Japan during World War II, Okinawa was occupied by the United States and made to drive on the right side. Okinawa changed back to driving on the left when it was returned to Japan. The change took place at 06:00 on 30 July 1978. It is one of very few places to have changed from right to left hand traffic in the late twentieth century. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_the_left_or_right

[Muku]

Yes 1978...my bad. Thanks for the correction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_the_left_or_right


One of the many things that people have noticed about wiki:D

[Mad Hatter]

I still say that it's the wrong side.. just me i guess

[Oxmix]

Koza and Kadena Circle (http://pages.prodigy.net/johna/koza.htm)
I just came across that link while doing a bit or research work on Okinawa. The pictures belong here as well.:)

BC Street
http://pages.prodigy.net/johna/bc-4.jpg

http://pages.prodigy.net/johna/bc-2.jpg

http://pages.prodigy.net/johna/bc-3.jpg


I would also recommend checking out the links at the top of the page that include the following;



That could be me driving that Jeep. :)

In the bottom picture you can see the Club Cannon next to the bar Ace on the left.

Regards

Ox

[antonio gonzalez]

THANKS for the pictures and links, I copied them to send to my friend who was my roomate at kadena,and now lives in maine

[Muku]

THANKS for the pictures and links, I copied them to send to my friend who was my roomate at kadena,and now lives in maine

I was kind of surprised to see them myself. I am glad that I could share. This has turned into one of my truly favorite threads here on this forum.

Cheers!:thumbup:

[kilo_four-six]

I always thought 72 was when they switched sides...? That's when the island was given back to Japan.

[Muku]

I always thought 72 was when they switched sides...? That's when the island was given back to Japan.
It was, the article in wikipedia is incorrect on the year of the changeover, inthe article it stated 1978 when it should have had 1972 written instead.

Oh and btw the article in wikipedia is now corrected and it has 1972 written instead of 1978.:D


I changed it:D

[DoctorP]

That is why I never accept Wiki as law...too many errors. I do use it for research though, I just always ensure that I back it up with something else!.

[antonio gonzalez]

OXMIX,This pic are great,keep them coming!!!!!!antonio

[Oxmix]

Here is a panoramic picture showing the then Camp Kue area and the Army hospital.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Okinawawestcoast2-1.jpg

One time I saw one of these ladies drop her load,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/OkinawaWoman1960s.jpg

AFRT then.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/AFRTOkinawa.jpg

Army hospital at Camp Kue.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/KueHospital68.jpg

Regards

Ox

[ryukyuboi]

Thank you for sharing all of your old pics!

[EJAMM]

It was, the article in wikipedia is incorrect on the year of the changeover, inthe article it stated 1978 when it should have had 1972 written instead.

Oh and btw the article in wikipedia is now corrected and it has 1972 written instead of 1978.:D


I changed it:D

Thanks for the update...when I was stationed there the first time I remembered reading it was 1972 then I saw the wacki-pedia article.

[socalheart]

Very cool! :thumbup1: Thanks.

The hospital still looks the same with a few more layers of paint difference now. It now has landscaping and a parking lot. Heh.

I really like the vintage AFRTS sign. The great thing is that (in and around central Okinawa) they're still on channel 8, if you're off the antenna.

You make me want to dig up pictures my folks took when we first got here in 1976. Then again, that'd involve actually cleaning enough to get to the photo alnums. :)

[Oxmix]

I dislocated my shoulder one night and was having a lot of trouble trying to put it back in the socket. I had one of the guys get the duty driver to take me over to the hospital. By the time we got to the hospital I had managed to put it back in the socket. I went into the emergency room and got to see a doctor. After explaining what had happened to me to the doctor the doctor said to me , "Are you an enlistee or a draftee?" I said draftee. He told me, "if you were an enlistee we would fix your shoulder, but because you are a draftee, we won't do anything for you." He then walked out of the room. And they wonder why I didn't stay in. That was only one of several reasons why I didn't stay in.

Regards

Ox

[Oxmix]

AFRT
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/AFRTOkinawa2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/AFRTOkinawa3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/AFRTOkinawa4.jpg

Regards

Ox

[DADOG]

oxmix that's one of the stupids things ever said. with comments like that you were probably kicked out.

[DoctorP]

Very cool! :thumbup1: Thanks.

The hospital still looks the same with a few more layers of paint difference now. It now has landscaping and a parking lot. Heh.


Of course it looks the same...it's still the same building! :rolleyes:

[Muku]

Of course it looks the same...it's still the same building! :rolleyes:
Isn't the AFN building the same as well?

[Muku]

oxmix that's one of the stupids things ever said. with comments like that you were probably kicked out.
How so?....

[Fonze]

When was the Hospital built?

When did the hospital go Navy?

Was it called something else before Lester?

[DoctorP]

Isn't the AFN building the same as well?

Yes it is...along with much of the housing in that picture.

[Oxmix]

I dislocated my shoulder one night and was having a lot of trouble trying to put it back in the socket. I had one of the guys get the duty driver to take me over to the hospital. By the time we got to the hospital I had managed to put it back in the socket. I went into the emergency room and got to see a doctor. After explaining what had happened to me to the doctor the doctor said to me , "Are you an enlistee or a draftee?" I said draftee. He told me, "if you were an enlistee we would fix your shoulder, but because you are a draftee, we won't do anything for you." He then walked out of the room. And they wonder why I didn't stay in. That was only one of several reasons why I didn't stay in.

Regards

Ox

Dadog,
Please read my post again. Thanks.

After separating from the Army I tried to get the VA to help me. All I got was the runaround. I was told that my medical records were lost. When I went in for my shoulder examination they examined my hip. I kept telling the doctor that I was there because my shoulder kept dislocating. He told me my hip was fine. He wouldn't look at my shoulder.
In March of 1972 I had a civilian doctor repair my shoulder. It's been good ever since.
About a year after my surgery I related my experience to a young VA worker new to the VA. I asked her to see if she could find my medical records as I was told that they were lost. I didn't expect to hear from her. To my surprise I did hear from her a couple hours later. She asked me why I thought my medical records were lost, because she had them in her hands. I told her that's what I had been told. I asked her to look at the jacket and all of the date stamps and to see if my records had been anywhere other than the VA office. She said that they arrived a couple days after I separated and had been properly filed and were never lost. She also said that she had talked to her supervisor about my VA experience. Her supervisor said that the VA would take care of any future problems that I might have with my shoulder.

As we use to say on Okinawa. Some days you eat the bear. Some days the bear eats you.

That's life in the big city.

Regards

Ox

[socalheart]

Dude, the hospital was the same in the 70s too. I split my head open at 7 years old at a friend's house on base. So, the parents took me to the Naval hospital on Lester, which was closer. My parents met me there. The p.o.s. 2nd lieutenant refused to treat me in the ER, because I wasn't military. I remember my father (who isn't a small man) getting in this kid's face, which he rarely did. He basically told the kid that we were US citizens, this is a US hospital, and they were damn well going to treat me, or else we would have the General and his wife down here in one phone call. We knew some high ranking people back then. A Captain came in a minute later and stitched me up himself. :D

[Oxmix]

Your father should have made him get down and give him 25.:D

Regards

Ox

[antonio gonzalez]

Thanks for the links, I downloaded must of them,especially the videos ,driving through b.c ,habu trainer ,etc. I recomend that we all see them,thanks again. antonio

[Muku]

These pictures are from the US Army Corp of Engineers

http://www.pod.usace.army.mil/Photo%20Gallery/hospital.jpg
US Army hospital after it was built in the 1950's Hasn't changed too much:-|

http://www.pod.usace.army.mil/Photo%20Gallery/yaetake.jpg
Yaetake Air Station circa 1950's

http://www.pod.usace.army.mil/Photo%20Gallery/usahq.jpg
Army HQ Bld..check out the cars.

http://www.pod.usace.army.mil/Photo%20Gallery/sukiran.jpg
Army barracks Zukeran circa 1950's

http://www.pod.usace.army.mil/Photo%20Gallery/roads.jpg
Road building in Okinawa

[Muku]

http://www.baxleystamps.com/litho/blackie_1962_color_p4.jpg
An Okinawan village in the 1960's

Check this link out for more...

Okinawa Photographs and Photo-Essay Books by Blackie the Photographer (http://www.baxleystamps.com/litho/blackie.shtml)

[Muku]

Reviewing the troops on Kadena, 1950's

http://www.defenselink.mil/afd/photos/1950s/images/ReviewingTheTroops.jpg

[Muku]

It wasnt always MCAS Futenma. This picture is circa 1960's, if you look closely the sign reads activated June(?) 1945. During the Battle of Okinawa!

http://www.navycthistory.com/images/oki_ulrich_1_big.jpg

Aerial shot of Torii Station

http://www.navycthistory.com/images/toriistation_1950s.jpg

http://www.navycthistory.com/images/sobe57_01big.jpg
SOBE JOINT PROCESSING STATION NCU 37, SOBE, OKINAWA
1957
The joint Army, Navy and Air Force station as seen in the picture, sat on a hillside overlooking Buckner Bay

(background). The barracks are center and to the right. The main gate is to the right.
The operations building is to the left outside of the picture. Rhombic antenna array can be seen beyond the barracks on the right.

The highway in front of the base, connected (to the left) to Route 58 which came down the western coast of Okinawa to reach Kadena Circle, Kadena Air Force Base, Naha and further south.

[ryukyuboi]

The military hospital prior to the US Naval Hospital on Camp Lester, formerly known as Camp Kue hospital operated by the Army, was located in the area between the Pepsi Cola Company and Sam's Anchor Inn. I believe it was called Camp Mercy. The buildings were all quonset huts. After the hospital was build at Camp Kue (Lester), Camp Mercy became the grounds for an elementary school. There was a small PX located there, and military club, too.

[socalheart]

I don't mean to be a stickler, but isn't it KUWAE? It's been sorta bugging me. :o

[Muku]

I don't mean to be a stickler, but isn't it KUWAE? It's been sorta bugging me. :o
Yes it is, I noticed it as well :D

Here is a shot of the hospital in 1958

http://www.oki.med.navy.mil/images/usnh58.jpg

and now; Pay attention to the hills in the background between the older and newer shots.

http://www.oki.med.navy.mil/images/usnhside.jpg

Here is a shot of what Mercy Hospital but it originally was in Ginowan like Ryukyuboi wrote..

http://www.oki.med.navy.mil/News/Mercy1959.jpg

After World War II, military hospital facilities on Okinawa, originally isolated field hospitals, were organized into a strip of Quonset huts. The huts were situated in present day Ginowan City and known as Camp Mercy Hospital (click here for a 30KB photo). The medical center actively supported world forces during the various conflicts and continued to sustain readiness for troops stationed on the island. In 1954, construction began on the U.S. Army Hospital at Camp Kuwae. The hospital was commissioned in 1958 and it eventually expanded to a 700-bed facility to provide medical treatment for military members carrying out campaigns throughout the Pacific. Negotiations began in March of 1976 for the transfer of the hospital from the U.S. Army to the U.S. Navy and from October 1976 until its commissioning as the U.S. Naval Regional Medical Center on February 28, 1977, Army and Navy personnel jointly staffed the facility.

Today most Okinawan residents continue to refer to the base as “Camp Kuwae”, as was its name for almost thirty years. However, on January 28, 1982 (with an official dedication taking place on June 8, 1982), the base was renamed Camp Lester in memory of Medal of Honor recipient Hospital Apprentice 1st Class Fred Faulkner Lester.


Taken from;
U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa (http://www.oki.med.navy.mil/News/history.htm)

[P_chan]

Nice pictures uchinamuku! I really enjoyed them!:thumbup:

[ryukyuboi]

Kuwae is Japanese correct for the area. However, Kue was the common usage by the Americans and was used officially. Spelling changes for these areas took place after reversion in 1972. The spelling changes resulted in pronunciation changes, too. Other examples are....

Futema aka Futenma

Machinato aka Makiminato

[Muku]

Kuwae is Japanese correct for the area. However, Kue was the common usage by the Americans and was used officially. Spelling changes for these areas took place after reversion in 1972. The spelling changes resulted in pronunciation changes, too. Other examples are....

Futema aka Futenma

Machinato aka Makiminato

Links please......:D If you have any that is........

Edited to add;Ryukyuboi were you here back then?

I'm sure it possible but there is no reason for you to use the "wrong" spelling here is there? :D

(I understand that there were many mistakes in misspelling of the Japanese cities, towns, and districts, the US used what sounded closest in English at the time, Zukeran was Sukiran, so on.....)

[Muku]

Here is a panoramic picture showing the then Camp Kue area and the Army hospital.
Army hospital at Camp Kue.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/KueHospital68.jpg

Regards

Ox
Ox, I notice in this picture that the extension was already built on to the hospital.

Do you know when it was built?

[Oxmix]

Ox, I notice in this picture that the extension was already built on to the hospital.

Do you know when it was built?

No, I don't know when it was built. Here is a panorama of the area showing the addition. 1969. My friend, actually took this picture, actually 3 pictures, and made copies for me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Okinawawestcoast2.jpg

Regards

Ox

[Fonze]

What is this overlooking?

[Muku]

If you look in the center there is a white building which looks like the Lester Hospital.

[Fonze]

okay I see it.

[P_chan]

No, I don't know when it was built. Here is a panorama of the area showing the addition. 1969. My friend, actually took this picture, actually 3 pictures, and made copies for me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Okinawawestcoast2.jpg

Regards

Ox

If you look closely you can see the power plant in the middle picture. The one near kinser.

[Muku]

If you look closely you can see the power plant in the middle picture. The one near kinser.
I dont think that is the power plant P it is too close to the hospital. If it were it would be farther to the left.

I am also starting to wonder if that really is the hospital, because the hospital does not sit that high up on a mound or hill as in this picture. The hospital is on level ground and more importantly close to sea level.

Plus the ocean seems to far away, currently the land area across HWY 58 towards the ocean is partly landfill as well.

Oxmix does your friend have any other pictures of this panorama from a different angle? Not saying it isnt the hospital but am curious about the area, it is hard to recognize with "current" vision

[Fonze]

isn't that hill to the left of that "powerplant" the one in front of the spot gate.

[DoctorP]

Which photo are you guys talking about? Tell me the post # please.

edit: Nevermind, I understand now...I can't see photobucket pics here. I will look at it later and comment then.

[Oxmix]

Save the image to your desk top. Enlarge the image. You will lose some resolution but you will see the hospital a little better.

Regards

Ox

[P_chan]

Yeah now that you mention it, that factory thing is too close to chatan castle. If it was to the left of it, then it might be it.

isn't that hill to the left of that "powerplant" the one in front of the spot gate.

Yes I believe it is. If it is, that's chatan castle! I went up there with my buddy about a year ago. Nice little hidden castle! But I guess the inner part of the castle is restricted to yuta priestess' only. Not that it stopped me and my buddy from looking around the whole castle:D

I also noticed small caves on the side of that hill. Once I got to the top of that cliff I could look down into some of those caves. It looked like there were some bones or sea animal remains in them. I could understand the sea shells and sea animal remains, but I wonder if those are bones. If they are, I wonder what they belong to.

[ryukyuboi]

There is no doubt the picture features the hospital.

The power plant is not the one near Kinser either. That area by the power plant in the picture used to be an airstrip for the Marine Corps. I think it was called Hamby airstrip. For many years, prior to the power plant, a ship was permanently docked there in the area of the power plant. It may sound odd, but the ship had something to do with electrical power.

[Fonze]

Theres a castle there? How do you get to it?

[P_chan]

All you have to do is walk up the road going up the hill. At the top of the hill (the road goes between two fences and is not fenced in) is a big water tank. At the top of the hill and looking back towards 58 there should be a small trail in the woods. Follow that trail and in a short while you will come up on a small clearing. In that clearing is a fairly new built shrine. Continue on though the woods past the shrine and you will see the castle around you. It's pretty run down, but a neat find. I was thinking about hiding a geocache up there, but don't want people disturbing the castle.

[Muku]

There is no doubt the picture features the hospital.

The power plant is not the one near Kinser either. That area by the power plant in the picture used to be an airstrip for the Marine Corps. I think it was called Hamby airstrip. For many years, prior to the power plant, a ship was permanently docked there in the area of the power plant. It may sound odd, but the ship had something to do with electrical power.
Isnt the area that is called Hanby now the Hanby Airfeild that you refer to?
The first time I came here to Okinawa there were no buildings there, it all has been built up since then.




Save the image to your desk top. Enlarge the image. You will lose some resolution but you will see the hospital a little better.


Ok now I see it better, thanks. The area back then compared to now has changed so much and the familiar landmarks that I remember from 20 years ago and today are quite a bit different.

[Fonze]

I would've loved to see this place before it was all elbows to balls.

[laflyer]

I really enjoyed this trip down memory lane. The pictures brought back a lot of memories. I remember 10 cent beer at the Airmen's Club and in the Air Police mess hall we had waitresses and a juke box. We didn't have to pull KP at all and I loved it!

[Cathleen_38]

Thanks to Bush, now your economy is going to the dogs. Yakisoba, bread and other pasta dishes is rising in costs because of the flour. Paid out the bUTT in BEER AND SOBA NOBODYS SAFE from the ABOMINABLE BUSHMAN MONSTER! In the States- gasoline 2.85 and milk is 3.00 a gallon. Usually the
gas is around 3.00 or more a gallon. Is there any wonder why I want to escape the hellhole I'm in??

[Tempestuous]

I really enjoyed this trip down memory lane. The pictures brought back a lot of memories. I remember 10 cent beer at the Airmen's Club and in the Air Police mess hall we had waitresses and a juke box. We didn't have to pull KP at all and I loved it!

Ahhh, I miss seein jukeboxes!
When we were first dating one of our favorite places served real vanilla & cherry cokes and had a jukebox.
I think the last place I saw one was the place at Kadena's Schilling Rec Center. Not been anywhere here in the US that still has them. Not even the wanna be retro diners. :(

History fading away

[Tempestuous]

In the States- gasoline 2.85 and milk is 3.00 a gallon. Usually the gas is around 3.00 or more a gallon. Is there any wonder why I want to escape the hellhole I'm in??

National US average is $2.770 for regular unleaded gas (according to AAA)

In our neck of the woods it is between $2-2.50 a gal for milk.
Around here it is actually cheaper to purchase milk at convenience stores than a grocery store. (always thought it was the other way around)

There is a hypothesis that the US economics have an upward climbing economic wave followed by a downward economic wave approx every 20-30 yrs.
If times were to follow this theory for the next 20yrs or so there will be a cycle of increase production & output and rising of the standard of living. On the down side this period would also include increased global dept, rising prices and dun, dun, dun (that was supposed to be ominous music :D)
increased international conflict.

[Muku]

National US average is $2.770 for regular unleaded gas (according to AAA)

In our neck of the woods it is between $2-2.50 a gal for milk.
Around here it is actually cheaper to purchase milk at convenience stores than a grocery store. (always thought it was the other way around)

There is a hypothesis that the US economics have an upward climbing economic wave followed by a downward economic wave approx every 20-30 yrs.
If times were to follow this theory for the next 20yrs or so there will be a cycle of increase production & output and rising of the standard of living. On the down side this period would also include increased global dept, rising prices and dun, dun, dun (that was supposed to be ominous music :D)
increased international conflict.
Is it possible to keep this thread on topic here? Nostaglic OKINAWA, and not about a political statement about rising food costs?:rolleyes:

[Tempestuous]

I did not make a "political" statement, I commented on economics in refrence to the statement brought up by Cathleen which was spurred on by to LAFlyer's post involving costs.

Sorry to have replied to a post that was steering off topic...I did not even pay any attention to the OP-
My bad, I will try to be more conscientious of that.

As for Okinawa- I missed the days when people there ( in general ) were friendly/nice. ;)

[antonio gonzalez]

I was an air policeman from 57 to 59 at kadena,when were you there? I work 6 month in k-9, had a nice german shepphard, i sure missed him! I was scared of haboo snakes when i pratrol through that "elephant" grass,but i made sure the dog leash was short when i go through that tall grass,cause i heard that dogs did not stepped on snakeI was hoping that was true. Our chow hall was by the theater,and we did had girls serving our meals,we lived accross from the chow hall. antonio

[antonio gonzalez]

Does anyone has any idea where a person would start to try to locate someone from the past if a person were to go back to visit,are there apt.to rent at reasonable prices if one wanted to live back in okinawa? I guess i could dream!!!!!! antonio

[Medama_Oyaji]

this island has definitely changed since the 80's...i am always telling my wife and kids how much fun it used to be to go out here, and in mainland japan, back then.

[Oxmix]

Does anyone has any idea where a person would start to try to locate someone from the past if a person were to go back to visit,are there apt.to rent at reasonable prices if one wanted to live back in okinawa? I guess i could dream!!!!!! antonio

Antonio,
I have often thought the same thing. I think it would be next to impossible. I've talked to my friends wife. She goes back to Okinawa regularly. I asked her if she knew the were abouts of certain people. She had no idea what ever happened to them.

Regards

Ox

[dustymars]

Funny, two of us had just arrived at Kadena from Ashiya AB, Japan right before Christmas 1960 and the airman with a clipboard told us to get on a bus. We got off at the transient barracks. We were supposed to go directly to Naha AB but they mixed us up. So, we asked someone where the action was and he pointed to BC Street. About 3am we retuned to meet an old MSGT who was pissed off but drove us to Naha and we got to be friends on the way. He understood why we hit the “ville.” It was fun and both of us got laid. :first: $2 I think.

We hit every bar in Naha and Naminoue maybe. I was just 20 years old and except for how any beers I could guzzle; the only though was how many “short times” one could get on A/2C pay! Of course, that lasted for a few weeks until my pay caught up with my outlay, so to speak. The other guy was my friend from boot camp and tech school, a Nisei from So. California and Judo black belt. Since I had been in Judo since 1952 we hit it off right away, especially since one of the TI’s was a Judo guy as well. After the newness of the Rock wore off we got down to work and spend the next year, or so, on the tatami and studying the local MA. Of course, some time was allocated for the ”ville.”

When memory serves I will return for more BS’ing of the good old days on the Rock, or maybe BC Street. Only spent the first night there. Okinawa in those days was way out. I tried to last two years on the Rock, but the AF wanted me in SAC.

Jeff

[dustymars]

So many years have passed though I can not remember but two places I would go drink in, “Club Again” and the “Kokasai Club.” Would eat fried rice and egg plant at the New York restaurant or some form of Mexican food at a Taco restaurant nearby. Too many years gone by. My Okasan was the niece of one of our Judo sensei and worked at a beauty parlor in Naha near the Naha Police Dojo. Can’t remember exactly where that was now, but I spent a lot of time working out there. Okinawans are hard nosed Judo players, especially the police guys. Lots of fond memories of the Rock still racing though my old brain. Would be nice to be that young for a few seconds. Somewhere I have some old match boxes with Naminoue bar labels on them. Will find, scan and post maybe.

[socalheart]

I like these stories about pre-Japan Okinawa. We didn't arrive here until 1976, so these stories are like new to me. Thanks guys! :thumbup:

[AFuel567]

Oxmix I think you may have made a typo....1972 is the year Okinawa reverted back to Japan and traffic changed then as well. From 1945 until 1972 Okinawan was the same as the US.
I have it on good authority that he is correct, reversion happened in 72 by the driving change didn't happen until later.

[dustymars]

Are most of you folks actually living on Okinawa now and how many of us stateside lurkers are here?

Most of the postings here seem to be made by younger people, much younger than me, so I am way out of touch with contemporary Okinawa and just like to muse of my fond memories of my long gone days on the Rock. However, if no one wants to BS of the ancient days then I’ll log off.

[socalheart]

The few folks here as "ancient" as you do talk about the days on Okinawa before the turnover. Most of them are stateside as well. Perhaps you can PM them and schedule a time for y'all to meet in the FlashChat here to compare notes. :) You have to keep in mind that some folks your age who were here way back then (heh) don't know about this forum yet, or aren't internet/computer savy.

[Oxmix]

Are most of you folks actually living on Okinawa now and how many of us stateside lurkers are here?

Most of the postings here seem to be made by younger people, much younger than me, so I am way out of touch with contemporary Okinawa and just like to muse of my fond memories of my long gone days on the Rock. However, if no one wants to BS of the ancient days then I’ll log off.

I'm always open to BSing about the good old days.

Have you read my thread?

http://www.japanupdate.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1336&highlight=Okinawa+Memories

You might want to buy a copy of B. C. Street by E.A. Cooper

http://www.okinawa-bcstreet.com/

Regards

Ox

[Oxmix]

The few folks here as "ancient" as you do talk about the days on Okinawa before the turnover. Most of them are stateside as well. Perhaps you can PM them and schedule a time for y'all to meet in the FlashChat here to compare notes. :) You have to keep in mind that some folks your age who were here way back then (heh) don't know about this forum yet, or aren't internet/computer savy.

Hey Socal, I resemble that remark. :D

Regards

Ox

[dustymars]

I'm always open to BSing about the good old days.

Have you read my thread?

http://www.japanupdate.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1336&highlight=Okinawa+Memories

You might want to buy a copy of B. C. Street by E.A. Cooper

http://www.okinawa-bcstreet.com/

Regards

Ox

After reading much of the forum I see the average age group is younger than my son, who will retire from the Navy soon! :crying: I usually lurk and read with an occasional comment. Some of the things we saw back in the late 1950’s and 60’s would shock many here but not as much shock as I feel reading some other weird posts. The age gap is like in the centuries! Anyway, I was only there for 20 months but it seems like years. People I know who were stationed in Japan or Okinawa seem to have a different attitude towards life than others. It was one of the best assignments in my short eight-year enlistment and I still think of those days. So, maybe ask and my foggy memory will wake up. :first: Oh well, I will go over to your other thread to continue.

Jeff

[jwood]

I was enlisted Navy, stationed at Torii Station from October, 1968 to November, 1970. I worked at the Joint Sobe Processing Center (JSPC) during that whole stint. Just 21 years old when I arrived on the island, I spent lots of time playing ball, exploring, drinking, and unsuccessfully courting the bar girls. :)

Koza and Gate 2 Street were my favorite haunts, with my favorite club being the China Night, which was not far from the Kadena Gate and on the right if you were facing away from the base. The bar was upstairs. It was the first club that I went to and became my "base" whenever I went into Koza. I actually rented the place out for $100 when I re-enlisted in late 1970. The party turned into a catastrophe as with all the free booze, everybody was totally wiped out by 8:30 PM!

I remember the New York Restaurant, but my favorite place was around the corner from Gate 2 street, to the right, on Morami. I don't remember the name of it, but they served Mexican food and had great tostadas. The perfect lunch after rising late from an all-nighter. :)

Also, somewhere back above Gate 2 and BC Streets I found a baseball batting range. Automatic pitching machines, real baseball, the works. In that same area was a tiny gambling hall where they played some sort of simple dice game. I never understood the rules, but somehow almost always won a few bucks. I still wonder if they let me win because I was an American.

We had a big typhoon come, I believe in 1969. Also, at some point when I was there, a B-52 taking off at Kadena didn't make it off the ground. It went through a fence into some Okinawan houses, and there were casualties. The island, understandably, became a rather hostile place for many weeks, during which we were confined to the base.

Looking back, I wish that I'd spent more time exploring the island rather than just the bars. We did go to Moon Beach a few times, and I remember going to some sort of amusement park with a girlfriend. A day trip to Naha and and night trip to White Beach. There was also a very good American-style restaurant somewhere down the main highway heading south, where you could get a steak dinner for five bucks.

[Oxmix]

JWood,
Go to Okinawa Memories in the Okinawa forum for more nostalgia.

Regards.

Ox

[jwood]

Ox, I've been reading your stories for half an hour and won't stop until I'm done. Wow, is all that I can say!

[Old Timer]

After reading much of the forum I see the average age group is younger than my son, who will retire from the Navy soon! :crying: I usually lurk and read with an occasional comment. Some of the things we saw back in the late 1950’s and 60’s would shock many here but not as much shock as I feel reading some other weird posts. The age gap is like in the centuries! Anyway, I was only there for 20 months but it seems like years. People I know who were stationed in Japan or Okinawa seem to have a different attitude towards life than others. It was one of the best assignments in my short eight-year enlistment and I still think of those days. So, maybe ask and my foggy memory will wake up. :first: Oh well, I will go over to your other thread to continue.

Jeff

Concur. I go from mid 70's to mid 90's. The moral compass of the world has sure left some good debauchery go to waste.:old:

[Oxmix]

It was one of the best assignments in my short eight-year enlistment and I still think of those days.

I know what you mean. Kinda like a tattoo. It's with you for life.

Regards

Ox

[Oxmix]

I have a friend who was with the Marines on Okinawa in 1957. We are always talking about things we experienced while we were there.

He always refers to B.C.ST as Business Center.

Regards

Ox

[okisteve]

I know what you mean. Kinda like a tattoo. It's with you for life.

Regards

Ox

Or herpes.:D

[Oxmix]

I think I would rather have the tattoo. :D

Regards

Ox

[L1731bat]

Does anyone remember Camp Kubasaki? I was on Okinawa from Sept. 63 to Feb. 65. Was with 1/503 of the 173d Abn. I know that they transformed it to a High School. Since Futenma was close I spent probably more time there than at BC. How about "Animal Alley", or "Sukahachi Alley". They were located between Gate 2 St. and BC St.?

[oceanpinesjim]

new 80's guy here. look forward to reading the post in this thread (and others)

have been looking for an east indian curry soup (sams by the sea) recipe since i left in 1990....

[Oxmix]

Does anyone remember Camp Kubasaki? I was on Okinawa from Sept. 63 to Feb. 65. Was with 1/503 of the 173d Abn. I know that they transformed it to a High School. Since Futenma was close I spent probably more time there than at BC. How about "Animal Alley", or "Sukahachi Alley". They were located between Gate 2 St. and BC St.?

I don't know as I ever remember that the Alleys/Streets that ran between B.C. St. and Gate 2 St. had names. There were some small bars on those streets. The GoGo was one of them that I went to on occasion. There was a restaurant about half way down the same street also. That was the street closest to Moromi St.

Regards

Ox

[L1731bat]

Hey OX,
Animal Alley and Sukahachi Alley didn't have any good clubs, or any clubs for that matter. These were the names we gave them. All that were there were "short time" houses. I think the names were more discriptive of the quality of women available.

Hey did they still have "OMIrice" when you were there. It was sort of fried rice with an omelet wrapped around it. I used to order it with a bottle of Sapporo beer.

[uriel]

OMrice isn't confined to just Okinawa, I've had it up in Mainland too. Last time I had it I had curry omrice. Wasn't bad. I'd hit it again. Haven't had it here yet. I'll have to have my wife find us some...

[TheSpec4Jim]

Hi To All,
I just found this board as I was thinking back about my time in Okinawa. I only got to stay for two years from '75 to '77 and worked in what was then the U.S. Army Hospital. I was just out of high school and two weeks later into the U.S. Army. First station, Okinawa. Not being the smartest kid on the block, the platoon sargent yelled out Okinawa and I yelled out "where the h*ll is Okinawa". Then went home before going over got married and left my new wife here after three weeks and reported to Okinawa. It was h*ll while I tried everything to get the Company Commander to let me bring my wife over which didn't go well at all. After six months and talking with the Chaplin, he had stated there are more ways than one to bring her over. So, once I sent for her, I was in deep water with the company commander and he wanted to know when she was leaving the states. I stated that she's already on the plane. His words, I want YOU and HER IN OFFICE MONDAY MORNING and he walked away. But from the very first day I arrived on Okinawa, all I could think about is how could the Army send me to this God forsaken place...the ROCK! Keep in mind that I was only eighteen when I got there and my attitude was NOT the best. Once my wife made it over things got better and we did a lot of things while we were there, but, still I either didn't understand or didn't want to understand what I truely was missing and in fact later in my years would look back and realize the paradise I didn't learn to appreciate.
Now, those days are long gone and I long to have them back and redo. Sadly for me to no fault but my own, even though we (my wife and I) did things, I can only remember just a mere few things with little or no detail. There are times now I get nano-flashes of Okinawa of back then to include the smell and the feelings at that point in time but, can never make them last nor get the same feelings back. I did 8 years of the U.S.Army and 15 years of the U.S. National Guard and the whole time thinking how I couldn't stand the military. Now, I want to go back, redo, and appreciate. Of the whole time in the military the time I long for is the time in Okinawa. Thirty Three years later I'm still married to the same woman and we wonder where those years went.

[Asshat]

I only got to stay for two years from '75 to '77 and worked in what was then the U.S. Army Hospital. I was just out of high school and two weeks later into the U.S. Army. First station, Okinawa. Not being the smartest kid on the block, the platoon sargent yelled out Okinawa and I yelled out "where the h*ll is Okinawa".

Hi Jim. It was my first duty station too, at about the same time you were here. I hated my first year, went back to the US for three months and begged to come back. Been here ever since. :)

It's completely different in every way now.

[-Rudel-]

My grandfather was in Okinawa in 64-66. He said he remember being stationed near Naha, but he doesn't recall the name of the base or anything.

I can't think of any bases near Naha that he could have been stationed at except the Naha Airfield when it was in our control. He swears that is not it. Were there any other bases that far south the Air Force were occupaing?

He says he use to walk to the harbor to hang out, ride the crazy taxis on dirt roads around place. Of course he was so drunk he doesn't remember where. :D

[Oxmix]

Hi To All,
I just found this board as I was thinking back about my time in Okinawa. I only got to stay for two years from '75 to '77 and worked in what was then the U.S. Army Hospital. I was just out of high school and two weeks later into the U.S. Army. First station, Okinawa. Not being the smartest kid on the block, the platoon sargent yelled out Okinawa and I yelled out "where the h*ll is Okinawa". Then went home before going over got married and left my new wife here after three weeks and reported to Okinawa. It was h*ll while I tried everything to get the Company Commander to let me bring my wife over which didn't go well at all. After six months and talking with the Chaplin, he had stated there are more ways than one to bring her over. So, once I sent for her, I was in deep water with the company commander and he wanted to know when she was leaving the states. I stated that she's already on the plane. His words, I want YOU and HER IN OFFICE MONDAY MORNING and he walked away. But from the very first day I arrived on Okinawa, all I could think about is how could the Army send me to this God forsaken place...the ROCK! Keep in mind that I was only eighteen when I got there and my attitude was NOT the best. Once my wife made it over things got better and we did a lot of things while we were there, but, still I either didn't understand or didn't want to understand what I truely was missing and in fact later in my years would look back and realize the paradise I didn't learn to appreciate.
Now, those days are long gone and I long to have them back and redo. Sadly for me to no fault but my own, even though we (my wife and I) did things, I can only remember just a mere few things with little or no detail. There are times now I get nano-flashes of Okinawa of back then to include the smell and the feelings at that point in time but, can never make them last nor get the same feelings back. I did 8 years of the U.S.Army and 15 years of the U.S. National Guard and the whole time thinking how I couldn't stand the military. Now, I want to go back, redo, and appreciate. Of the whole time in the military the time I long for is the time in Okinawa. Thirty Three years later I'm still married to the same woman and we wonder where those years went.


Don't feel bad, there were lots of guys like you. For me I knew what I had when I hit Okinawa.

They say that first impressions are everything and I was totally captivated by my first impression of Okinawa. I had always deramed of traveling to the Orient and thanks to the Army there I was. I savored every minute I was there, relishing that wonderful time.
The memories have lasted me a life time. I can close my eyes and still see and smell from 40 years ago just as they were and will never be again. Some day I'll invent a time machine and go back to the Okinawa I once knew and loved, but until that day I will have to rely on my memories. I thank God for having been in the right place at the right time.

Regards

Ox

[Oxmix]

My grandfather was in Okinawa in 64-66. He said he remember being stationed near Naha, but he doesn't recall the name of the base or anything.

I can't think of any bases near Naha that he could have been stationed at except the Naha Airfield when it was in our control. He swears that is not it. Were there any other bases that far south the Air Force were occupaing?

He says he use to walk to the harbor to hang out, ride the crazy taxis on dirt roads around place. Of course he was so drunk he doesn't remember where. :D

He was probably at Yoza Dake, which was south of Naha. I ate at their fabulous mess hall many a time.

Regards

Ox

[P_chan]

Anybody know what type of Air Force instillation they had on Miyako island back in the day? Just found out that I had an uncle who was stationed there and I'm not able to ask him because he died a while ago.

[chiefk]

My grandfather was in Okinawa in 64-66. He said he remember being stationed near Naha, but he doesn't recall the name of the base or anything.

I can't think of any bases near Naha that he could have been stationed at except the Naha Airfield when it was in our control. He swears that is not it. Were there any other bases that far south the Air Force were occupaing?

He says he use to walk to the harbor to hang out, ride the crazy taxis on dirt roads around place. Of course he was so drunk he doesn't remember where. :D

He might have have been at Machinato, it was a big Army depot of some kind then. Later on it was changed or people called it Makiminato. Just on the north side of Naha on Hwy 1 (58 now).

[chiefk]

Don't feel bad, there were lots of guys like you. For me I knew what I had when I hit Okinawa.

They say that first impressions are everything and I was totally captivated by my first impression of Okinawa. I had always deramed of traveling to the Orient and thanks to the Army there I was. I savored every minute I was there, relishing that wonderful time.
The memories have lasted me a life time. I can close my eyes and still see and smell from 40 years ago just as they were and will never be again. Some day I'll invent a time machine and go back to the Okinawa I once knew and loved, but until that day I will have to rely on my memories. I thank God for having been in the right place at the right time.

Regards

Ox

Ox, I agree with you. When I got to Oki the first time in 1968 as a 20 year old kid I just knew I was in paradise. So I just kept going back and finally left my last assignment there in 1978. The island was so much better before reversion.
Dan

[TheSpec4Jim]

Hey,
Thanks for all the replies! After reading many posts, I didn't see anything about snorkeling or searching for shells when the tide was out or just sitting on the sea wall. That's some things I do remember. Did any of you do that? I remember walking down a street early morning (it was daylight) but I was by myself and I'm not sure was street I was on. I stopped at this corner and just like you hear in the movies there was this creeking sound. I turned around to this black door on the corner opening up, then this female arm came out from the dark and raised her finger and motioned me to her. I didn't know what to think so I kept walking. I didn't go to any of the bars that I can remember. If I wanted a beer, I put 50 cents in the soda machine which had a beer selection button that was in the barracks and drank that way. I met a friend with whom my wife and I did a lot of site seeing together. I wrecked my car and he loaned me the money to repair it because it was tight being just an E-2 living off base. My car was the very first vehicle I had ever owned. It was a 1969 Datsun BlueBird. It was a pale rustic yellow color. In other words rusting from the seasalt and bleaching out from the sun and not being waxed. My wife and I left Okinawa in June of '77 then my friend left about two months later and stopped by for a week on his way to a new duty station. We kept in touch by phone for a few years and then nothing up until about six years ago. I decided to play hooky from work and I went over to my dads house to mess around with our RC planes. The phone rang, I picked it up and it was my friend trying to locate me. Now, after 27 years, he comes up and spends two weeks in the summertime. We (my wife, myself, and my friend) have talked about going back to Okinawa because I had read where the hospital was going to be relocated this year and if the hospital is moved, it just wouldn't be the same. But, after seeing pictures of Okinawa now, we're afraid that what memories we do have of Okinawa would be destroyed by the new Okinawa and our old memories wouldn't hold the same meaning or feelings so, we decided against it.

So, Asshat, when did you make it over and how is it now?

[Asshat]

So, Asshat, when did you make it over and how is it now?

August of 1977 Jim. (Hey, that makes you a couple of years older than I) :)

Yes, we used to sit on the sea wall and drink beer and hang out. I think some of the younger crowd does it still as evidenced from the graffiti.

The places we used to snorkel are now covered under tons of dirt. For example, you remember Hamby airfield along side of 58 near the hospital.

That place is gone and land fill is now a half mile further out to sea across the reef and the place is filled with homes and stores.

You mentioned RC planes, something I am also in to. There is an "American" club here and at least two very active local ones. We get together and fly weekends.

Suicide alley, or pipeline road is still here, but it's all paved. BC street is now a walking street with cobble stones and botiques- a great place to take the wife shopping. The bars there are comparatively upscale from what you remember, and Gate 2, though it still offers the young GI a bit of entertainment, consists of a few bars-the girls are mostly Phillipina- a couple of rock and roll bars. The bars outside of Kitamae are all but gone, and the ones outside of MCAS at Oyama have been gone for years.

I think to sum it up, it is more crowded now, more upscale, more Japanese and more American at the same time.

The new locale for the hospital is vacant, but moving the hospital and all of the other plans here for moving US military facilities is on hold.

Collecting shells with the tide out is fairly futile now, but there are a lot of scuba divers here. Sitting on the seawall gave way to buying or renting boats for a lot of us.

About the only familiarity I feel with the good old days is when the typhoons come. The sound and the feeling the pressure drop brings is timeless. But for me, the only way I can get away here now is to leave the island for a bit.

[Maytag Man]

A few old photos to enjoy

[Maytag Man]

A couple more...

[chiefk]

Maytag, keep the pictures coming.

[Maytag Man]

Old Okuma VOA Photos

[TheSpec4Jim]

Hi Asshat & all,
Sorry for the delay, it's been a few days since I've been on the computer. I hope everyone's New Years was good.
Thanks for the update on Okinawa Asshat. It's a shame that it had to change though I know it was to be. It just seems that once the US turned Okinawa back over to Japan, they wasted no time in trying to commercializing it. I could be wrong but, that's what it seems to me. I too can remember the typhoons. One of the things I wanted to do if I would've made it back was walk the ramps in the hospital one last time. Sounds silly but, I can remember walking them many a times not giving it a second thought as it being my last time. I wanted off that rock and really just lived for the next day to mark of my short timers calendar. I remember the Okiawan Past-times is that still around? My wife and I would drive up to Kadena after I got off work around 11PM from the hospital watch a movie or we'd go to the laundry mat. One thing I didn't bother to get was a decent camera, so what pictures I did get are from a Polaroid wait a minute and you got your picture and the quality is...well it's missing, though it was the cheapest thing going at the time. I remember the snake and mongoose fights. There was a small pond that had starving fresh water fish that you could fish, I went there once but don't remember where that was. I do remember hwy 58. I also remember making three Okinawan dump trucks upset and they boxed my wife and I in. I don't remember what it was about. I don't remember the airfield beside the hospital although I do remember a large field as that's where an E-6 showed me how to drive a stick shift my Datsun Bluebird. I don't remember Suicide Alley. I lived in Awaise (don't know how to spell it and hope you might understand) we were in an apartment on a cliff. Then moved up behind the hospital to Futuma. I'll go for now and type more later take care to all and thanks for the photos as I would love to see more especially from the time I was there '75-'77. Oh and Asshat, I was 18 when I arrived in Okinawa! Does that still make me older than you :)
Later guys!

[TheSpec4Jim]

My wife and I remember stopping along side the road at one of those road stops on wheels where you could get cup-o-noodle or corn dogs. To this day my wife and I have yet to find any corn dogs that compare to those in Okinawa. Are any of those things still around? I remember the cockroaches too. One day I strayed the inside of my car with insecticide and went back to the car in about 10 minutes and couldn't believe my eyes. There hundreds and hundreds of roaches crawling trying to find a way out. There were small ones and big ones. Darnest thing was, I had to go to work...at the hospital and was wearing whites so while driving all the way there, I was knocking cockroaches off of me. That's when I lived in Awase, man those were the days. :)

[TheLastDon]

A couple more...

Holy cow, the Torii station gate area looks so different now. That picture makes it look a lot more pretty than it is now.

Great pics. :thumbup:

[Tanimaga]

My wife and I remember stopping along side the road at one of those road stops on wheels where you could get cup-o-noodle or corn dogs. To this day my wife and I have yet to find any corn dogs that compare to those in Okinawa. Are any of those things still around?

Lots are around. The best place I've found is right next to a bait shop going towards White beach on Hwy. 10.

[Oxmix]

Tori Station Gate 1972

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/ToriStation1972.jpg

Tori Station Gate 1997

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/ToriStation1997.jpg

Regards

Ox

[w4nls]

just found this site and enjoyed it very much. I was on Okinawa april 63 until oct 64. 173d Abn bde. seen one post from some with 1/503d. some of the posts brought back memories. does anyone remember where 173d Hq was. i will dig thru some old pic taken then. remember some wild times there

[Oxmix]

Camp Kubasaki.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/ryukyumap.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/fatima_okinawa-1964.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/Kubasaki.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/okinawa_64_wrestling.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/2-503_1964_OK-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/1-503_Bn_Hqs_1964.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/1-503_mortar_plt_1964.jpg


Regards

Ox

[P_chan]

Wow, Yagachi island was a leper colony?

[Oxmix]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/okidance3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/okidance4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/okidance5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/okidance.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/okishrine2.jpg

Moon Beach party

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/okimoon1.jpg

Regards

Ox

[P_chan]

Looks like there is still a leprosy treatment facility in operation on Yagachi.

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=33570

[TheSpec4Jim]

If the Coke cans still look like this one from 1977? I had two of them both over time leaked out and rusted pretty bad so tossed that one but I still have this one. By the way I love the pictures. Sure would like to see more especially if you got some from the '75 to '77.
Thanks to all :)

Ok, I can't seem to figure out how to up an image, can someone explain to me please?:smile4:

[ryukyuboi]

Anybody know what type of Air Force instillation they had on Miyako island back in the day? Just found out that I had an uncle who was stationed there and I'm not able to ask him because he died a while ago.

About 45 years ago, I went to Miyako with a group of Americans. I was the youngest member in the group. I only remember a few things about that trip.
I do remember staying in a military run facility, quite small, and close to a beautiful white sand beach. It reminded me of staying at a cabana at Okuma.

I would be interested in knowing what the military operation was there at that time as well. The only person I remember who went with me to Miyako on that trip is dead as well. He would have known.

I want to speculate that the military had a communication relay station of some sort there.

[chiefk]

Camp Kubasaki? Are you sure? I never heard of it and it is not on that nice old map you posted. I do remember Kubasaki High School.

[w4nls]

are you in the MG? I spent some wild times with someone who had an MGA. I was a radio oper in Hq & Hq Co across the st fro Bde Hq. name is Stites. I think myself and les samimae spent time at 1/503 training some radio stuff. did you got to Iromoti ( not sure of spelling) for jungle training??

[P_chan]

I want to speculate that the military had a communication relay station of some sort there.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

[GRAYWOLF]

OK, this is kind of off the wall, but after quickly scanning this thread it looks like there may be some folks here that can help me.

My father was in the AF on Okinawa in 69. My pregnant mother visited him there and I was born in an Army hospital. My birth cert. only states US Army Hospital Ruyuku Islands...

Any way to know what hospital that was (was there more than one then)?

[navwifecom]

OK, this is kind of off the wall, but after quickly scanning this thread it looks like there may be some folks here that can help me.

My father was in the AF on Okinawa in 69. My pregnant mother visited him there and I was born in an Army hospital. My birth cert. only states US Army Hospital Ruyuku Islands...

Any way to know what hospital that was (was there more than one then)?

The Army Hospital you are looking for is now called Naval Medical Center Okinawa, or Camp Lester Naval Hospital.
Army Hospital of the Ryukyu's was also called US Army Hospital Camp Kuwae until the mid seventies when it was "decommissioned" as an Army facility and then "recommissioned" as a Navy Hospital. (at least thats what the plague in the main lobby says......)

[GRAYWOLF]

Thanks....

[Oxmix]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/KueHospital68.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/ArmyHospital.jpg

Regards

Ox

[L1731bat]

In June 1963 the Army created 173d Airborne Brigade Separate. They expanded 2nd/503d Battle Group, which consisted of 5 rifle companies and a Headquarters company. They created 2 rifle battalions, an artillary battery and a Support battalion (rough estimate).

1/503 was sent down to an old abandon Seabee camp, on the east coast, north of Yonabaru and below the Nakagusuku Castle, on Buckner Bay.

This was Camp Kubasaki, Home of 1/503, from June 63' until April 65'. It was a real shithole when we first occupied it. And I guess it was a shithole when we left. The rest of the Brigade called it the "Animal Farm".

Our messhall never did get permanent cookstoves. All the meals were prepared over portable cookstoves. We used to think the Marines at Camp Hanson really had it made.

[Richard Burns]

This post makes me sad. I'm starting to think that those of us that got here after 1980 or so missed out on the real Okinawa. Thanks for these pics. Keep 'em comin'. Man I wish I was around back in the day.

[DesertDonn]

1952 map showing Kubasaki on the east coast
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/Camp%20Kubasaki/img326.jpg

Started out as Naval Receiving Station 3256 which processed a lot of Okinawan's returning from Japan in 1946-47
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/Camp%20Kubasaki/1947RyukyuIslandsreportcoveredited.jpg

American Dependent School from 1952 to 57
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/Camp%20Kubasaki/kubasaki.jpg

1955 Slide showing some of the school buildings at Kuba Saki
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/Camp%20Kubasaki/img750a.jpg

1959 photo of Kubasaki
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/Camp%20Kubasaki/img320.jpg

[Oxmix]

This post makes me sad. I'm starting to think that those of us that got here after 1980 or so missed out on the real Okinawa. Thanks for these pics. Keep 'em comin'. Man I wish I was around back in the day.

It was Grand. A young mans paradise.

Regards

Ox

[chiefk]

It was Grand. A young mans paradise.

Regards

Ox
Amen to that!

[DesertDonn]

In June 1963 the Army created 173d Airborne Brigade Separate. They expanded 2nd/503d Battle Group, which consisted of 5 rifle companies and a Headquarters company. They created 2 rifle battalions, an artillary battery and a Support battalion (rough estimate).

1/503 was sent down to an old abandon Seabee camp, on the east coast, north of Yonabaru and below the Nakagusuku Castle, on Buckner Bay.

This was Camp Kubasaki, Home of 1/503, from June 63' until April 65'. It was a real shithole when we first occupied it. And I guess it was a shithole when we left. The rest of the Brigade called it the "Animal Farm".

Our messhall never did get permanent cookstoves. All the meals were prepared over portable cookstoves. We used to think the Marines at Camp Hanson really had it made.

I have a unit book for the 173rd on Okinawa published in late 63 or 64. Lot of photos of training drops, Iriomote Jungle Training Center, Armed Forces Day activities, etc. No direct reference to Camp Kubasaki or any photos of it that I could recognize. I don't know if the sign for 1/503 was at Kubasaki or not?

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/173/img036.jpg


http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/173/img369.jpg

[jimbob17755]

It was Grand. A young mans paradise.

Regards

Ox
It was super! But we had to take the good times,with the bad,like any other generation!

[L1731bat]

The picture you posted of the Paratrooper standing in the door on the wall of 1/503, was right across the street from the gate at Kubasaki. I think they took that picture the day after they completed the wall (sometime in 64'). It was a disaster. The paint flaked from day one and I think the concrete statue fell off onto the ground a couple of times. By the time the unit left for Vietnam (Apr. 65') it was no longer maintained.

[Modelwright]

I have been reading this thread with some interest as I did a search on Camp Mercy and ended up here. I return to Okinawa every year around Mother's Day to take my wife to see the Hanayakara Mother's Day program and the difference in Okinawa of today and the Okinawa I arrived at in 1959 is, of course, astounding. I have tried to determine the location of Camp Mercy for the last couple of years but have not been able to pinpoint the exact area. It has changed that much. I can remember about where it was but can't say "this is the place". I worked at Camp Mercy, which at the time was mostly a collection of quonset huts, one of which housed the 1st Special Forces code training equipment and school, which was my domain.

I am familiar with the history of the Army and Naval hospitals, having been treated in both. I don't, however have a chronological knowledge of the transition from Camp Mercy to Camp KUE and then Camp Lester. I do however know that the official name was Camp Kue and it was Kue Army Hospital. Anyone wanting to dispute this can read my son's birth certificate and my own treatment records from that hospital.

My duty station, when I returned to Okinawa in 1969 was at Camp Kue. My unit was located there.

I was an English teacher at Kuwae Junior High School which is located in the reclaimed area just north of what used to be Hamby Army Airfield and the Jacona power ship, and back off highway 58 a couple of blocks. There may be some confusion about what is officially called the Kuwae area but I'm not familiar with the name other than the school.

I was stationed on Okinawa from 1959 - 1965 and from 1967 - 1973 with a couple of tours in Vietnam and some TDY's interspersed. I worked on Okinawa from 1997 - 2000 and have traveled there from the mid 80's almost every year. I have traveled and explored Okinawa extensively, speak both languages and am deep in Okinawan culture. I have scuba dived throughout the Ryukyu's and consider myself to be knowledgeable in most things Okinawan. If my parents were not still living when I finally retired, I would have probably retired on Okinawa.

I add this to the thread, not to be argumentative, but to provide accurate information from someone who was there and has documentation with official signature blocks.

[Modelwright]

There were missile defense facilities all over the Ryukyu's and I believe Miyako had one but when I came back from Viernam in 1970, our company was located in an old missile defense facility that had been abandoned and most of them, if not all, had been closed out by then.

[Oxmix]

I'm sure this picture will bring back memories. It's from 1969.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Okinawa/Okinawawestcoast2.jpg

Regards

Ox

[DesertDonn]

I have been reading this thread with some interest as I did a search on Camp Mercy and ended up here. I return to Okinawa every year around Mother's Day to take my wife to see the Hanayakara Mother's Day program and the difference in Okinawa of today and the Okinawa I arrived at in 1959 is, of course, astounding. I have tried to determine the location of Camp Mercy for the last couple of years but have not been able to pinpoint the exact area. It has changed that much. I can remember about where it was but can't say "this is the place". I worked at Camp Mercy, which at the time was mostly a collection of quonset huts, one of which housed the 1st Special Forces code training equipment and school, which was my domain.

I am familiar with the history of the Army and Naval hospitals, having been treated in both. I don't, however have a chronological knowledge of the transition from Camp Mercy to Camp KUE and then Camp Lester. I do however know that the official name was Camp Kue and it was Kue Army Hospital. Anyone wanting to dispute this can read my son's birth certificate and my own treatment records from that hospital.

My duty station, when I returned to Okinawa in 1969 was at Camp Kue. My unit was located there.

I was an English teacher at Kuwae Junior High School which is located in the reclaimed area just north of what used to be Hamby Army Airfield and the Jacona power ship, and back off highway 58 a couple of blocks. There may be some confusion about what is officially called the Kuwae area but I'm not familiar with the name other than the school.

I was stationed on Okinawa from 1959 - 1965 and from 1967 - 1973 with a couple of tours in Vietnam and some TDY's interspersed. I worked on Okinawa from 1997 - 2000 and have traveled there from the mid 80's almost every year. I have traveled and explored Okinawa extensively, speak both languages and am deep in Okinawan culture. I have scuba dived throughout the Ryukyu's and consider myself to be knowledgeable in most things Okinawan. If my parents were not still living when I finally retired, I would have probably retired on Okinawa.

I add this to the thread, not to be argumentative, but to provide accurate information from someone who was there and has documentation with official signature blocks.

If you go back to #101 of this same thread you will see more info on Camp Mercy and Kue.

I found the following as to Camp Mercy's location today: :Okinawa Convention Center in Mashiki, Ginowan; the site of the old Camp Mercy
Also here are some other items about Camp Mercy:

1954 map showing Army Hospital down by Ojana, that is Camp Mercy
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/camp%20mercy/1954OKINAWAROADMAP.jpg


1956 map showing Mercy Area, on opposite side of Hwy 1 (58) from Camp Mercy which would have been near the Pepsi plant
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/camp%20mercy/1956TMOMACHINATO.jpg


1967 map showing Hamby Airfield and Camp Kue
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/camp%20mercy/1967.jpg


1967 map showing Camp Mercy location
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/camp%20mercy/1967a.jpg


Camp Mercy Hospital photo
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/camp%20mercy/Mercy1959hospital.jpg


Camp Mercy elementary school
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/camp%20mercy/mercyel.jpg

[chiefk]

Donn, where do you find all these old maps and stuff? They should make you the military historian for Okinawa!
I used to belong to that VFW in the top map. I believe at the time, 1969, it was the largest VFW in the world member wise. They had a booth in the MAC terminal at Kadena and signed guys up that were coming back from 'Nam and on the way to the states!

[Okiman]

Here is a map of the old airfields. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Okinawa_airfields_1945.jpg

[Spadesy]

I have been reading this thread with some interest as I did a search on Camp Mercy and ended up here. I return to Okinawa every year around Mother's Day to take my wife to see the Hanayakara Mother's Day program and the difference in Okinawa of today and the Okinawa I arrived at in 1959 is, of course, astounding. I have tried to determine the location of Camp Mercy for the last couple of years but have not been able to pinpoint the exact area. It has changed that much. I can remember about where it was but can't say "this is the place". I worked at Camp Mercy, which at the time was mostly a collection of quonset huts, one of which housed the 1st Special Forces code training equipment and school, which was my domain.

I am familiar with the history of the Army and Naval hospitals, having been treated in both. I don't, however have a chronological knowledge of the transition from Camp Mercy to Camp KUE and then Camp Lester. I do however know that the official name was Camp Kue and it was Kue Army Hospital. Anyone wanting to dispute this can read my son's birth certificate and my own treatment records from that hospital.

My duty station, when I returned to Okinawa in 1969 was at Camp Kue. My unit was located there.

I was an English teacher at Kuwae Junior High School which is located in the reclaimed area just north of what used to be Hamby Army Airfield and the Jacona power ship, and back off highway 58 a couple of blocks. There may be some confusion about what is officially called the Kuwae area but I'm not familiar with the name other than the school.

I was stationed on Okinawa from 1959 - 1965 and from 1967 - 1973 with a couple of tours in Vietnam and some TDY's interspersed. I worked on Okinawa from 1997 - 2000 and have traveled there from the mid 80's almost every year. I have traveled and explored Okinawa extensively, speak both languages and am deep in Okinawan culture. I have scuba dived throughout the Ryukyu's and consider myself to be knowledgeable in most things Okinawan. If my parents were not still living when I finally retired, I would have probably retired on Okinawa.

I add this to the thread, not to be argumentative, but to provide accurate information from someone who was there and has documentation with official signature blocks.

Awesome post...you're probably more Okinawan than the Okinawans. :thumbup1:

[vvloc]

Having lived in NYC, where nobody knows your name, usually, not even your next door neighbor, I Love Naha, where, almost, everyone is kind and gentle toward me (even the police)

[DesertDonn]

Donn, where do you find all these old maps and stuff? They should make you the military historian for Okinawa!
I used to belong to that VFW in the top map. I believe at the time, 1969, it was the largest VFW in the world member wise. They had a booth in the MAC terminal at Kadena and signed guys up that were coming back from 'Nam and on the way to the states!

Just collected Okinawa things over the years and pretty soon I have over 50 maps of Okinawa, 1000+ photos and postcards, 125 books, etc so I can pretty much come up with a picture or info on a lot of things. That is why every once in a while I throw out a hard question on the Okinawa forum to see if anyone else has any info, such as
where was Typhoon Terrace (1945) or Pinetree Army Air Base, or the 1955 road photos (where were they taken and what do they look like now)? Don't usually get a lot of response though.

VFW postcard postmarked 1967 as close to 1969 as I can get.
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/army%2067%20bks%20clubs/img388.jpg

[Oxmix]

Just collected Okinawa things over the years and pretty soon I have over 50 maps of Okinawa, 1000+ photos and postcards, 125 books, etc so I can pretty much come up with a picture or info on a lot of things. That is why every once in a while I throw out a hard question on the Okinawa forum to see if anyone else has any info, such as
where was Typhoon Terrace (1945) or Pinetree Army Air Base, or the 1955 road photos (where were they taken and what do they look like now)? Don't usually get a lot of response though.

VFW postcard postmarked 1967 as close to 1969 as I can get.
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/army%2067%20bks%20clubs/img388.jpg

Or places like Mig Alley. I was there a few times, but didn't care much for the area. Of course everyone knew New Koza.

Regards

Ox

[abonifi1]

Having lived in NYC, where nobody knows your name, usually, not even your next door neighbor, I Love Naha, where, almost, everyone is kind and gentle toward me (even the police)

Reminds me of a Singapore girl I met once who told me she knew more about NY than me, because she once spent 2 weeks there in 1997.

Or an English guy I met, who told me he understood every aspect of American culture after living in Chicago for 3 months (the time allowed on his visa)

[Hawk7173]

Just read the entire thread and it brings back many a memory. Was there from Jul 72 to Jul 73. One thing to note..... while I was there we drove on the right side of the road. When I went back in 96, I drove on the wrong side of the road in a car that had a steering wheel on th wrong side:thumbup:

[GarryK]

To all those that are adding photos - It would be nice if you could add the year (or close to it) the photo was taken. Thanks for all the memories. As I read through the thread I thought of taking notes so I could do some input when lo and behold, the next post provided the same info I would have furnished. Sukiran Troop area; Jacona Basin and the power barge "The USS Never Sail", Hamby Air Strip, Shimabuku and the Palms Cabaret in Maromi (Moromi). Lots of mention about the Army Hospital at Camp Kue, but no mention of the Stockade that was located in that area. Early 1961, the First Sergeant of the US Army MP Group put me and a bunch of off-duty MPs on a 10-man detail for a "shake down inspection" at the stockade. My equipment was a heavy pair of gloves and a screw driver that was about 12" long. Check the mattress for slits and if found, take it outside so it could be ripped apart. Pull the caps off the bunk legs and shove the screwdriver down it searching for contraband. It there was any, it would either fall out or be shoved so far into the leg it would be impossible to get it out. Why? It seems that some honor prisoners (work detail without supervision) were tasked to clean the cannon in front of USARYIS HQ (you know the ones that pointed down the road to Futenma). On the opposite side of the HQ down in the valley was a golf course driving range. One or two decided to gather up about a dozen golf balls and someone got some extra rolls of toilet paper out of one of the supply closets in the HQ. The cannon got cleaned, then they rammed some TP down the barrel about 15 inches then poured in the golf balls. At the 5pm retreat, the MP loads a blank round in the cannon and stands by with lanyard in hand. Retreat starts - time for the cannon - BOOOOOOOM - a hail of golf balls heads off towards the highway (and Futenma) and the lawn is layered with a blanket of SNOW???? (on Okinawa in sthe summer?) The MP got written up for failing to check the the cannon, the detail was no longer allowed out on unsupervised work detail, and we got to shake down the stockage.

during our last weekly get together DesertDonn suggested that I go through my old photos and see if I could come up with some scenery shots of early Okinawa (I got there in February 1969). So far I found a few slides that I scanned - sorry for the quality - very old film plus my scanner is goofing up during a scan.

Here I am sitting at the red light at Tomari Port on the old Hwy 1. Tomari St off to the left. All photos taken in April 1963.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/Early%20Okinawa%201963-1964/Hwy1TomariPort.jpg

I believe it was the Yamagataya Department Store that had the carousels on their rooftop.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/Early%20Okinawa%201963-1964/YamagatayaDeptStore1.jpg

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/Early%20Okinawa%201963-1964/YamagatayaDeptStore2.jpg

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/Early%20Okinawa%201963-1964/YamagatayaDeptStore4.jpg

In the words of Bob Hope, "Thanks for the memories."

GarryK

[GarryK]

Armed Forces Day, 1963, Sukiran
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/1963%20Armed%20Forces%20Day/1963ArmedForcesDay18.jpg
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/1963%20Armed%20Forces%20Day/1963ArmedForcesDay15.jpg
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/1963%20Armed%20Forces%20Day/1963ArmedForcesDay17.jpg
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/1963%20Armed%20Forces%20Day/1963ArmedForcesDay16.jpg
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/1963%20Armed%20Forces%20Day/1963ArmedForcesDay19.jpg
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/1963%20Armed%20Forces%20Day/1963ArmedForcesDay1.jpg
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/1963%20Armed%20Forces%20Day/1963ArmedForcesDay12.jpg
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/1963%20Armed%20Forces%20Day/1963ArmedForcesDay13.jpg
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/1963%20Armed%20Forces%20Day/1963ArmedForcesDay2.jpg

And just for Ox --
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/1963%20Armed%20Forces%20Day/1963ArmedForcesDay14.jpg

[Oxmix]

Armed Forces Day, 1963, Sukiran

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/1963%20Armed%20Forces%20Day/1963ArmedForcesDay15.jpg
And just for Ox --
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/1963%20Armed%20Forces%20Day/1963ArmedForcesDay14.jpg

I recognize the French mas36 and the Russian M38 and the M1 Carbine. Not sure about the subgun
Thanks for the picture of the Herc.

Regards

Ox

[Tanimaga]

I'm confused about the SMG as well.. looks closest to a MP3 Grease Gun, but I can't find a match in any country's list.

[Biru San]

Who can forget the great steaks at the Seaman's Club?... We were moored at the LST docks, near the Harbormaster... Saturday night at Kedeena NCO club was Nickel Nite. You paid full freight for your beer and a nickel for hers... Left there in 1963, enroute Hono., and sailed right into a Typhoon off of Guam... Lots of fun in a 180' C. G. buoy tender... Great memories... Wishing all of you the very best... Tanoshinde kite kudasaii !

[Biru San]

I am so glad I stopped by this site... what a trip... Most grateful to all who contributed... This Coastie left a big piece of his heart on that island, and I will never forget those gracious people... My very best to all of you... Bill Damery, retired shobosho, from Bedford, MA

[GarryK]

Location correction on my photos. The carousel was located on top of the Ogoshi Department store - now called Mitsukoshi Department Store.

GarryK

[DesertDonn]

A few shots from a couple of rides at the Kadena Karnival 1967

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/kadena%20carnival%2067/Kadina67edit.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/kadena%20carnival%2067/1img123.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/kadena%20carnival%2067/2img122.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/kadena%20carnival%2067/3img138.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/kadena%20carnival%2067/4img121.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/kadena%20carnival%2067/5img133.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/kadena%20carnival%2067/6img132.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/kadena%20carnival%2067/7img131.jpg

[chiefk]

I can't believe the flying saucer! If somebody made that kind of ride today I'm sure there would be hell raised as it didn't pass some government inspection.
I missed that Kadena Karnival, I guess my first one was in 1969.

[GarryK]

That flying saucer was around for a long time. I remember it at the carnivals in the Sukiran area during 1960-1963 time frame. To the best of my knowledge it was US Govt item and not a commercial vendor. Its hard to tell, but I believe the crane belonged to the U.S. Army.
Respectfully, Garry

[Oxmix]

That flying saucer was around for a long time. I remember it at the carnivals in the Sukiran area during 1960-1963 time frame. To the best of my knowledge it was US Govt item and not a commercial vendor. Its hard to tell, but I believe the crane belonged to the U.S. Army.
Respectfully, Garry

So they did rebuild the saucer that crashed at Roswell. :D

Regards

Ox