Home

1954

1956

1957

8612TH A. A. U. Camp Chitose II-1955

Duty with the Navy at Kamiseya Naval Station - 1955As a result of the fire and loss of operations capability at Chitose, many operators were sent to Kameseya Navy Station near Yokohama to carry on our mission at that facility. After a couple of months some of us received orders to go south to Kyoto.

Headquarters ASA Far East Oji Camp, Tokyo We had to go through Oji Camp to get to Kamiseya Naval Station. It was the center of attention due to the fire at Chitose. It was here that I spent New Years 1955 while the fire raged at Chitose. I was on a wonderful R&R.

CPL Phil Zimmerman and CPL Art Staley on our way to Kamiseya Navel Station in Kamiseya, Japan.

Favorite Passtime-Navy Station, Kamiseya 1955 Pfc Jim Estep (back to you)left Pfc Tillman, Pfc Art Staley (across table and Pfc Jim Robertson, right. Pinochle was played by most everyone. Great card game that I don't see much of anymore.

Favorite Passtime-Navy Station, Kamiseya 1955 UNK, Jim Ramey(Neese mistake)and Phil Zimmerman in a Saki House in Kamiseya, Japan.

Phil Zimmerman-Kamiseya-1955 Phil returned to civvy street for a few years. He re-enlisted and we met again at Ft Devens in 1961 while he was in MM training. I was able to get him back into NM and held over as an instructor at Ft Devens. He later went to OCS and we served together in Augsburg, Germany in 1973-74. He was a Major and I was a Sergeant Major. He later retired and work for a government contractor in Greenville, Texas.

Some of Phil's cards of the day. The prestigous Rocker 4 NCO Club in Tokyo. Open to all US Froces NCO personel in Japan or passing through. (Front) (Back) (Front) (Back) This is pass given by Cdr, Kamiseya Navy Security Group Station near Yokuska Naval Base. Yeah, we had to have a camara pass at the NAVSECGRU station. We even learned some of their acronyms. WOW !! Wonder what happened to the Satozaki card. Phil's pass is from Kyoto Field Station while on TDY with the Site Survey Team back from Kyushu and is signed by 1/LT James Teal later to be known as BG Jim Teal. I can't remember is this class was for how to warm one's self, go get oil for it or how to get out of the barracks if it turned cherry red. Just can't remember.

Kyoto Bound This picture was made the day we left Kamiseya. From left to right in class A uniform are: SFC Ed Eccleston, SFC Robert Shake, CPL Phil Zimmerman, PFC Art Staley. Those in class A uniform, less SFC Shake, along with me , were on our way to 8610 D. U at Kyoto Station, Japan to prepare for a Site Survey Operation on the Island of Kyushu, Japan. This Survey resulted in the establishment of Field Station Hakata. We were part of twenty-five operators and analyst to make the Survey. Ed Eccleston rotated back to Ft Devens, Mass in late 1956 were he was involved in an automobile accident. Sadly the injuries from this accident would cause him to be medically retired from the Army. In the forefront of the photo is Donald Souza, who attended a reunion in Las Vegas a few years ago. He is the one with the cap pulled low over his eyes. Charlie Dawson say's, "I believe the two guys standing on the right in fatigues are; Weldon Neese, who is the taller one and Ray Williams, next to him." (I agree. The only UNID left is the guy sitting at Souza's right. It could be Richard Sterns. We need help guys. As Charlie says, "It's funny how you can remember faces and people from that long ago and short term memory can be so poor." (Could it be Old Timer's Disease?) Most of these soldiers and I returned to Chitose and finished our tours there.

Arriving in Kyoto home of 8610 DU A beautiful City.

Shirnes Were The Best In Japan Scenery Was fine The girls were beautiful OOOPPPSS!! This was our volunteer guide for a tour of one of the shirnes. A nice young man.
Here are the girls. Beautiful!! The Kyoto girls were the best dressed girls in all Japan.
One of the oldest shrines in Kyoto.
A majestic pagota at the old shrine in Kyoto.
Another pagota.	One of four corners of the old shrine.
The most popular shrine in Kyoto is the Heian Shrine also known as the red shrine, which we also toured while off duty. Along with the shrine with the girls above these are some scenes of the Heian Shrine.
Another pagota.	One of four corners of the old shrine.

Meanwhile back at Chitose II Camp - 1955 Joe Vines Reporting
Pvt Joe Vines Military Police The MP's were the best dressed troops on post bar none. OOOPPPSS!!
Pvt Joe Vines Military Police The MP's were the best dressed troops on post bar none.
Lake Shikotsuku The lake was the place to go during the summer. Mount Teramai, an active volcano, in the background.
Me and a friend Things were not so good at times. I had recently arrived and was note fully indoctrinated into the ways of Chitose Town. Picture taken near Ice Flow DF Site.	Friends at Shikotsuku Things got better after a few visits to the lake country.

Honor Guard Although most of the troops where in Kamisaya, visiting dignitaries were plentiful. The Caddy to the left belonged to the C. O., Maj John T. Horton.
The Ryan Twins One of the novelties of Chitose II was the identical twins Frank and Nelson Ryan. They were good and sharp soldiers. They were also two of the best athletes on post.	CPL Nelson Ryan - MP

Sightseeing was a one of the many pass times for the troops of Chitose II in 1955.
CPL Fleet, PFC Warner, PVT Stanbro at Nuborobetsu May '55. Earl Warner and I were to play for the Chitose AFB Football Team in the Fall of 1955.	Fleet on road to somewhere, '55.
This farm house, near Ice Flow was a typical country building with all the makings of a home in the Chitose countryside. Steep thatched roof, firewood stacks and few windows. They had to be good though, for they withstood high winds, lots of snow and 40-50 below cold.	Hisao Hirono We met in a Saki House in Chitose. He later gave me a tour of his Company in the Japanese Self Defense Forces compound, which surrounded our Chitose II Camp. We visited the arms room, mess hall, barracks, orderly room and other areas. I met his Platoon Sgt, First Sgt and other soldiers there. They evidently thought I was from a place in Ohio called Gazaimasu or some such place, because when I was introduced to anyone he would add that was where I was from. I finally figured that one out.

FLEET Fleet was a DF Operator and a nice person. He received a request for a divorce from his wife one day. He took the matter to an Air Force lawyer on the Air Base at Chitose I. He was told that he could either take a leave to the states and settle the matter or wait until his ETS. He went to town and got drunk. He was throwing fire crackers at people from a rickashaw. The Air Police arrested him and off the the PMO he went. We found out about it while drinking in the Rainbow Bar. Several people decided to storm the PMO and free Fleet. They were locked up and given DR's. They let Fleet go after he slept it off. For some reason I stayed out of that one. (Editor's Note) Another story that included Fleet, and Joe Vines, was concerning a threatened suicide. I, Jim Brock, was on CQ in the orderly room when I was told there was trouble in Bks 103. I sent the OD over. I was later to learn and was told to write it up in an incident report. I was told the following concerning this soldier, whose name escapes me after 45 years. The soldier had come by the orderly room and signed in and returned his pass to me. As he walked a way he said he was going to try something different and go to the barracks and kill himself. I told him the club was still open and it would be better to go have another drink. It was only a few yards from there to the club and then the same distance to his barracks. Shortly someone came in saying there was trouble and it involved this same soldier. I told the OD and he went there. He had the MP's take the soldier to the Air Force Hospital. Later I was to hear the story that went something like this. Fleet had just finished a shower and was drying in the latrine when in walks this soldier with a new double-edged razor blade, still in the wrapper. He opened it and commenced to wash it under the hot water tap. Fleet watched with a little interest, not much. Then the soldier asked Fleet, "If you were going to cut your wrist to kill yourself, where would be the best place to cut it." Fleet told him to just slice it across the wrist above the hand. The soldier started to, very carefully, break the skin in the area indicated. Fleet was watching with interest born of being some what in the bag. Someone else, Mike Pederson I think, walked in and immediately started to take the blade from the guy. Once the blade was in someone elses hand, the soldier started carrying on and said he wanted to die. Everyone in this barracks was on break. Some were in town, others in the club. Well just then Joe Vines walks into the latrine, while the MP's are cuffing the guy. He was told what was going on, and went to get a belt to put a tournaquet on the guy to stop the bleeding, He said the best place to put the belt was around his neck.

PFC Wiseman, Motor Pool, DriverWiseman drove the mail run to the Air Base at Chitose I to pick up our mail. He was always a source of good or bad news depending on whether we got any mail for the unit. He was a funny guy. Always talking and laughing. Charlie Dawson says, "Stan Wiseman was from my hometown, Baltimore, and we went to the same High school. I ran into him at a Colts football game back in the sixties."

This picture was sent to me by Clayton Taylor T/A 1955/56. It was great to get back in contact with Clayton. He provided a number of scenes from Chitose that were taken during his tour there. However the best of them were of the Chitose AFB Football Team which Clayton, Earl Warner, Jerry Teller, and Frank Ingrassia and I played on in the Fall of 1955. (See Chitose AFB Football-1955)

The Antenna Field with some fog, but towers can be scene on right side of the picture.

Clayton Taylor 1955.

Picnic at the lake 1956.

A ride on the lake 1956.

Clayton in the sun at Camp. Didn't happen that often..

Other Items of Interest

Kyushu Duty-1955 SFC Eccleston, Cpl Zimmerman, PFC Statley, and I made up the Radio Printer crew for the Site Survey of two sites, one of which, Hakata, was to be chosen for the 14th USASA Field Station. MORE TO COME ON THIS SUBJECT

Return to Chitose-1955 SFC Eccleston, Cpl Zimmerman, PFC Staley, and I returned to Chitose in August 1955. Others returned from Kamiseya as well. Here is the article from our own Chitose Confidential on our return. Along with our return there was a steady in coming group from the states as well. Here is one such group of NEWBYS. Tom Lawler was one of my favorite people. He was a great athlete and a great person. George Hort was the bowler in the unit. George Hort was the bowling guru in the unit. The Yankees came in '55 after the Brooklyn Dodgers beat them in the World Series and in '56 the Dodgers came after the Yankees beat them in the Series. Bloop Cummings and I arrived in Chitose together. His dad ran the concessions at Fenway Park in Boston. I was a Red Sox fan so we had lots to talk about. After I returned to Ft Devens in '57 I went to a Red Sox game and went down under the stands to the concession headquarters and sure enough ther was Bloop working the concessions. He was head man as his father had recently passed away. I never saw him again after that once. VIEW CHITOSE AFB FOOTBALL TEAM Summer 1955 While all that was happening Sgt Leo Ray Lewis left for the land of the big PX and round-eyed women. Fond memories remain, but that was a big day in the life of Ray Lewis. Summer 2006 Ray Lewis returned to the USA and found a beautiful lady in the land of the big PX. His lovely wife shown here with him. I believe this was there 50th wedding anniversary. Christmas 1955 The picture was taken in the EM Mess Hall, Christmas Time 1955. The three ladies are waitresses in the dining room. The one on the left's name is Chisai, and if you can name the other two I'll buy you a drink at the Florida Bar the next time I'm there with you. The middle lady was a good friend of 1stSgt Wilcoxin as I recall. VIEW Special Christmas Remembered by Ron Dakin

Christmas 1953 This menu was made for Christmas 1953, but it is similar to the ones we had every year. (Thanks to Don (Pop) Austin for providing this copy for our webpage.)

Christmas 1953 Major Ben B. McKibben was Commanding Officer when I arrived in April 1854. He was replaced by Major John T. Horton in August 1954.

Christmas 1953 This mess section was mostly intact when I arrived in April 1954. I lived in Bldg 106 with these guys for a few months before moving into my trick barracks, Bldg 101 at that time. MSG R. A. F. Kutnarowski, Mess Sergeant, was the post Advanced Pay Section. He would lend most anyone a five or ten until payday, no interest. Donald F (Shorty) Richardson was Ass't Mess Sergeant. Benger (sp?) was gone. Robert W. Nixdorf was real fine cook and person. Cable (?) was also gone. H. C. (Harold) Norrod became my best friend. See elsewhere on these pages. Kenneth E Leidy, another great guy. Richard C. Holsinger was a cook's cook. He later went to Morse school and retired from the Army. Does anyone know where he is? Paul Hemphill was lots of fun in the barracks. He had a 78 record player and when it was on and KA9MF, our ham station, came on the air you could hear it loud and clear through Paul's record player. Some kind of radiation, huh? Smokey, Pete and George were the Japanese ass't cooks who did great work in the Mess Hall. Later additions to the mess section were Butch Hubbard and Bob Weir.

Christmas 1953 This was some kind of fine chow I'll tell you. You didn't go away hungry from Christmas Dinner at Chitose or any other place in the Army.

Christmas 1955 For many of the holiday meals we had some of the orphan girls from Angel Guardian Orphanage at Kita Hirosima, Hokkaido, which we supported each payday, come to eat with us. This was on one of those occasions. Warren Stowell and friend.

Mess Hall -1955 Chisai and the girls who waitressed the mess hall approx 1955.

Sgt Willie Long-1955 The day everyone dreamed of, Willie Long is going home. Back to the land of the big PX.

Home

1954

1956

1957