This Day 41 Years Ago

[Oxmix]

October 8, 1968.

It was 41 years ago on this date that I arrived on Okinawa. It was about 5 am when our plane touched down at Kadena. I was dressed in my wool winter greens. Thank you Army for making me wear my winter uniform to Okinawa.

We boarded a bus and were take to Sukiran where we ate breakfast, then back onto to the bus to the 30 Arty HQ's were I and another guy, Tommy, were dropped off.

We reported in and were told to wait in a small hallway, someone would pick us up and take us to the 44th Ordnance.

It was quite uncomfortable in our winter greens so we decided to open our duffel bags and change into our fatigues.

Lunch time came around and no one had gotten to us so we decided to leave our duffel bags and go look for a place to get something to eat. We found a small PX and had a burger and fries, then back to the 30th HQ.

It wasn't until 6 pm that someone came for us. It was the duty driver for the 44th Ordnance. Arriving at the 44th I proceeded to the Orderly room to report in and get a bunk. On the way to the Orderly room I was met by my new CO and was immediately informed that I needed a haircut. Welcome to the 44th.

After reporting in I was taken to the lower barracks upper bay and told to pick out a bunk and get settled in and report back to the Orderly room after morning chow for an orientation.

I was hot tired and sweaty. I headed for the shower. After I took my shower I walked back to my new bunk and noticed that I was soaking wet. At first I though I had not dried off in the latrine. I had, my towel was wet. I looked like I had just gotten out of the shower just walking from the latrine to my bunk. Welcome to Okinawa.

Regards

Ox

[Richard Burns]

Man that's awesome. I wasn't even born yet. I wish I was here back then.

[Carl]

My mom was in diapers and probably barely walking :scared:

[Zanpa]

Cool story dude. My memories are not so clear.

[proudtobnotpc]

thank you Ox :)

[js9234]

I.Y.A.A.Y.A.S. :thumbup1:

[GarryK]

October 8, 1968. I was nearing completion of my 2nd tour on Okinawa and itching for a good stateside assignment. I was with HQ & HQ Co, 2nd Logistical Command in the Machinato Service area and my principal duty at the time was the Career Counselor for Troop Command, 2nd Log Comd, providing reenlistment counseling support for HHC 2LC and 3 subordinate battalions. Wearing a “RE-UP Army” patch pinned to my fatigue shirt pocket, I would visit work areas mostly to let soldiers know that I was available to answer any question(s) they may have.

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/JU%20Forum%20Input/RE-UPArmy.jpg

This patch really worked wonders as it became a pass to get into areas not otherwise available to the ordinary soldier. Most of all I enjoyed visiting the (26th?) Transportation Battalion in Naha Port which was composed of Army tug boats and a floating crane. On four occasions I set up a meeting with tug NCOIC & Captain to visit and discuss reenlistment with them and the troops and the tug would get a short work assignment while I was aboard so I got to tag along and observe. Back at the dock I made sure I thanked every enlisted crew member for doing such a fantastic job (and never once mentioned reenlistment - the pocket badge spoke for me). This battalion had a good reenlistment rate.

1968 (and 1967) - Vietnam was growing and it brought additional troop strengths to Okinawa. Okinawa also became an R&R spot for military folks serving in Nam. As a result, The High Commissioner and Command General USARYIS/IXth Corps instituted a program of “Courtesy Patrol” composed of Senior NCOs from all services to patrol towns and villages with large bar areas to augment the Ryukyuan Armed Forces Police (RAFP) in maintaining discipline. Needless to say I did not wear my RE-UP badge when I was pulling CP duty.

My first assignment to Okinawa was in Feb 1960 and I was assigned to the US Army MP Group in Sukiran as a clerk. The MP Group was broken into 4 sections; Okinawan Security Guards (Yellow Hats), the Joint Services Stockade, Army MPs, and Ryukyuan Armed Services Police (RASP).

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/JU%20Forum%20Input/RASP.jpg

Only school trained Army MPs and Air Force APs were assigned to the stockade as guards.

RASP was composed of Army MPs, detailed Air Force APs, detailed Seamen, and detailed Marines who all attended and graduated from the RASP Academy before being allowed to perform duties off post (highway patrol, town patrol, etc.) On special occasions around the holidays, some of us non-MP types were detailed to ride along with a regular MPs as an extra show of strength. We were armed with an MP Brassard.

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/JU%20Forum%20Input/MP.jpg

Our mission was to find the Soldiers and Marines that had been drinking a little too much, find out where they were from, make sure they had cab fare, and get them on their way home (hopefully). If a little “too inebriated” we would take them to a local CP that had been set up and later on an Army 2 1/2 ton would take them to their base. If they became combatant, it was to the MP station for lock up and write up.

The early 60's were a great time to be assigned to Okinawa.

Respectfully, Garry

[Biru San]

October 8, 1968. I was nearing completion of my 2nd tour on Okinawa and itching for a good stateside assignment. I was with HQ & HQ Co, 2nd Logistical Command in the Machinato Service area and my principal duty at the time was the Career Counselor for Troop Command, 2nd Log Comd, providing reenlistment counseling support for HHC 2LC and 3 subordinate battalions. Wearing a “RE-UP Army” patch pinned to my fatigue shirt pocket, I would visit work areas mostly to let soldiers know that I was available to answer any question(s) they may have.

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/JU%20Forum%20Input/RE-UPArmy.jpg

This patch really worked wonders as it became a pass to get into areas not otherwise available to the ordinary soldier. Most of all I enjoyed visiting the (26th?) Transportation Battalion in Naha Port which was composed of Army tug boats and a floating crane. On four occasions I set up a meeting with tug NCOIC & Captain to visit and discuss reenlistment with them and the troops and the tug would get a short work assignment while I was aboard so I got to tag along and observe. Back at the dock I made sure I thanked every enlisted crew member for doing such a fantastic job (and never once mentioned reenlistment - the pocket badge spoke for me). This battalion had a good reenlistment rate.

1968 (and 1967) - Vietnam was growing and it brought additional troop strengths to Okinawa. Okinawa also became an R&R spot for military folks serving in Nam. As a result, The High Commissioner and Command General USARYIS/IXth Corps instituted a program of “Courtesy Patrol” composed of Senior NCOs from all services to patrol towns and villages with large bar areas to augment the Ryukyuan Armed Forces Police (RAFP) in maintaining discipline. Needless to say I did not wear my RE-UP badge when I was pulling CP duty.

My first assignment to Okinawa was in Feb 1960 and I was assigned to the US Army MP Group in Sukiran as a clerk. The MP Group was broken into 4 sections; Okinawan Security Guards (Yellow Hats), the Joint Services Stockade, Army MPs, and Ryukyuan Armed Services Police (RASP).

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/JU%20Forum%20Input/RASP.jpg

Only school trained Army MPs and Air Force APs were assigned to the stockade as guards.

RASP was composed of Army MPs, detailed Air Force APs, detailed Seamen, and detailed Marines who all attended and graduated from the RASP Academy before being allowed to perform duties off post (highway patrol, town patrol, etc.) On special occasions around the holidays, some of us non-MP types were detailed to ride along with a regular MPs as an extra show of strength. We were armed with an MP Brassard.

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/GarryKoons/JU%20Forum%20Input/MP.jpg

Our mission was to find the Soldiers and Marines that had been drinking a little too much, find out where they were from, make sure they had cab fare, and get them on their way home (hopefully). If a little “too inebriated” we would take them to a local CP that had been set up and later on an Army 2 1/2 ton would take them to their base. If they became combatant, it was to the MP station for lock up and write up.

The early 60's were a great time to be assigned to Okinawa.

Respectfully, Garry



Tks. Garry... Was on the rock in 1962-63 aboard the U.S.C.G.C. Basswood... Worked with UD team from Camp Schwab, and serviced A/N all through Micronesia... Tied up at LST docks Naha Porto... Did you ever get assigned to the HASP ?... When we were in Hono., they were bad asses... Pulled S.P. twice in Yokosuka red zones... 3 months after I got out, the Basswood was reassigned to Guam and then went to Nam for river patrol... Lost a shipmate on the CGC Point Welcome there to friendly fire... Google CGC Point Welcome, as it is a story every GI should be aware of... Be well, and a:old:gain, many tks for your post.. Biru San :old:

[SnaFu]

Special thanks to all of you for sharing your memories with us. Best of luck and happiness to all and your families.

[simsim]

. I wish I was here back then.

Yer me too.

[Oxmix]

The 2nd Log was right across the street from us in the missile shop in the Machinato service area.

Regards

Ox

[GODH8SU]

October 8, 1968.


Regards

Ox

HEHE! My mom was just about to turn 12!

[chiefk]

Oct '68 I was on my first TDY to Kadena, having arrived July 31st and would leave about Nov 29th (or close to that date) the day after the B-52 blew up after going off the end of the runway. That TDY changed my life as I fell in love with Okinawa. For a 20 year old kid I was in paradise even though we were working 12 hours a day, six days a week fixing the B-52s and KC-135s.