The only “jets” based at Yokota are C-9 Nightingale hospital planes (to the best of my knowledge, there is a 3 ship detachment).

Besides that, the only aircraft based at Yokota are about 10 old C-130 “Herky birds” and a few old Huey helicopters.

There are still regular cargo flights to Yokota, but nothing like a decade or two ago, when Yokota was a major hub of the cold war era “MAC” or Military Airlift Command. These days, you’ll be quite lucky if you see fighter aircraft landing at Yokota…

Unlike the Marine command bases in Okinawa, the U.S. presence at Yokota is more symbolic than anything else; if someone attacks Tokyo, they’d be attacking the U.S. Air Force.

Theodore

P.S. It’s my guess that the jets you saw flying over you in Inagi were Navy planes from Atsugi…

Hmm, never knew that about Yokota–the flights always seemed to be coming from north to south, often heading in what seems a south or southeastern direction, and I thought Atsugi was south and to the west of me. Maybe they’re coming in for landings from the north, or something. Also, at the air shows I’d seen and heard about, there seemed to be a lot of jets–maybe just retired planes for show, I guess. But wherever they come from or are going to, they are definitely jets.

Thanks for the clarification!

Air shows are special. Planes will gather from all over the place and from all the services (there was even a Coast Guard Herky Bird at the Yokota Friendship Festival a few years ago!).

Luis,

I rarely, if ever, notice any planes here in Shinagawa. The American bases are truly invisible to me here. On the other hand, I spent one summer living in Hiroo a few years ago and used to go to the Hotel New Sanno quite a bit. We were traveling a lot at that time, and the Sanno was a limousine bus stop for Narita. Have you ever been by there?

I’m unsure of the details, but apparently the Sanno is a hotel run for the US military. I always shared the bus with young guys on their way back to the States from Korea or elsewhere. I think it was available to military retirees too. I often ran into older couples who were seemingly WWII, or maybe Korea, era vets and their war brides ambling slowly down the sidewalk in the afternoons.

The Sanno was a kind of strange piece of the US in one of the most upscale neighborhoods of Tokyo. One day when I was waiting for the bus, I wanted to get a drink, but there were no vending machines– truly a non-Japanese hotel, if there were no drink machines. I wandered upstairs to a small convenience store, and bang! I was back in the States. I don’t think I was even supposed to be there and had to fumble around to find the US cash I had for my trip. I was supposed to have an ID, but the woman at the counter sold me a bottle of water anyway.

You always had to show ID of some sort to go in there, but now I expect the security is tighter. I haven’t had any reason to go back recently, but I wonder if I could even get in. In the past, just a passport flash would get you past the gate, but the presumption was that most anyone there was military. I often got some odd looks as the shaggiest, least shaven guy in the whole building.

When we were there, the number one reason “Oki”s would miss marines (as articulated by both pogue marines and some former 300’s, heard by us between 2k & 2k1): they’re making so much money from traditional marine drinking. Marines pull out, mamasan broke. So that’s one of those things that answers to both sides-Americans expect Japanese people to be grateful for all the paying drunks.

The fact that Japanese religion got so thoroughly perverted with pure nationalism points to the unspoken answer: it must at least be a humiliation to a lot of people in one of the least immigration friendly spots on earth to still be occupied.

One thing you might profit from considering is Lil Kim. There has been talk, we’ve heard, of Japan going out of its mind with the NeoCon position on the PDRK (which is “it’ll keel over any day now, don’t bother with engagement, which only encourages them), which Kim does not appreciate too much and which has launched a few stray missiles. There was even some rumbling about the old boast, a nuclear Japan, but what really important is it came from this perception:

here the jingai are occupying our country and going from usually obnoxious to occasionally criminal, and they can’t even defend us from the Stalinists across the water!

The reason people in the Soyuz who had lived with invasion and sabotage tolerated Stalin was because while he would be tough on them, he would also be tough on invaders. That is the secret and thus true version of the Mandate of Heaven: maybe you’ll be oppreseed by Borgia or Napoleon, but you aren’t going to be attacked by anyone else.

While American influence on the islands is pretty far from the outright control of the long postwar era, it cannot please the Japanese to be occupied (even only on paper), and it certainly doesn’t make anyone happy to suffer both occupation and dangers the occupation would supposedly prevent.

And the other thing you could do is look at other partially occupied countries: Koreans saying leave our country as soldiers but come back as tourists, businessmen and immigrants; Iraqis saying thanks for deposing the dictator you supported for thirty years, but why are you still here doing the things you had him do; and so on.

They don’t hate America (far from it) but they cannot truly love occupiers.

I agree with the old man. After all. Japan lost the war. A war where they and their German allies were the brutal aggressors, attempting genocide and wholesale slaughter in places like Auschwitz and Nanking, a violent attempt at conquest of the entire world. If anyone in Japan is wondering why there are foreign military bases in their country then they are sorely lacking in education and knowledge of their own history. 60 years have passed, and perhaps the American military presence no longer has a practical purpose in Japan beyond it’s own strategic interests, and perhaps that is a matter for diplomatic negotiaton. As to the question of “how the Japanese feel” about the miitary bases, I don’t know, but I can tell you how they should feel: Ashamed. The bases should be a shameful reminder of the total savagery of their recent past and the price they had to pay with their just defeat.

Cholo

ps: Yes, I know America has a tremendous amount to be ashamed of as well in its history, but the difference between the American empire and the former Japanese is that when we captured our enemies cities, there was no “Rape of Berlin” or “Rape of Tokyo” where the populous was tortured, raped, and bayoneted – and so I am thankful that it was America who won that particular war, warts and all, given the alternatives.

I have resided on mainland Japan off and on for 35 years, more on than off and while it’s true that Japan had a horrendous military record in the past, I don’t think it serves any purpose to live in it. If you take Japan in total, the Japanese have absorbed many cultures into their land and culture. It is true that their immigration could do with an overhaul but you have to factor in the sheer amount of foreign people trying to live here legally or not vs the amount of land mass available. Many foreign people expect to have the same rights and privilges accorded to them in their homelands(pipedream!) and forget that Japan is a nation unto it’s own. I have found that most Japanese are resigned to having the bases because they do not truly believe that the JSDF can protect them from any attack. This national lack of confidence has help shape the Japan we know today. The bases will eventually go away, some faster than others, perhaps not as fast as most would like but they will go. I believe that it is inevitable that the US & Japan will realize that the bases cannot be sustained and the Japan will have no choice but to ammend their contitution to protect themselfs when the US pulls out. What most people do not realize is that on all military bases there are already contingents of JSDF standing by to occupy the bases once we are gone. If you think the Japanese government is going to turn it all back to the people and utopia is achieved, I have a bridge I want to sell you!

Regarding Cholo’s comment; no, America didn’t rape and pillage its way through captured cities – it just incinerated them from the air with incendiaries (Tokyo, Dresden) or vapourized them with atomic weapons. The use of atomic weapons on the (civilian filled) cities of an already defeated foe (They’d broken the Japanese code, remember – they knew Japan wanted to surrender, if only the emperor could be kept in place) is at the very least as horrific as the rape of nanking. What’s more barbaric? Incinerating entire cities, vapourizing 70,000 civilians in seconds (and leaving survivors and their descendents with illnesses) or hacking and raping your way through a city?

Luis, I’m stationed on Yokota AB as a weather forecaster. The C-9’s have been retired but there are a couple of small C-21 jets, similar to the Lear executive jet, used for VIP transport. And yes, C130’s with airframes old enought to qualify for Social Security in two decades. There are also modern C17 transport jet aircraft here. Yokota’s mission is primarily airlift and material support, plus it’s the principal port of entry for Air Force personnel transiting into and out of Japan. Any fighter aircraft you saw or heard were probably from Navy Atsugi or for an airshow; Misawa and Kadena have fighters/close air support aircraft. Theodore is right, our presence at Yokota is partly symbolic. It’s very much stressed that we are “bi-lateral” partners, the JASDF and USAF, implying two distinct chains of command, which unlike in NATO neither of which is ultimately subservient to the other. Japanese I’ve been in contact with since my arrival don’t harbor resentments about having gringos planted in their midst. Like any other place in the world where US troops are based, it’s the few ugly Americans, drunks cutting up in the bars, that are an annoyance. Economically, GIs rank among the Japanese middle class, so I’d imagine there’s not much glamour or interest from the Japanese on what we do here on the base. If anything, they’re probably a bit envious that we needn’t live cramped together in small apartments to save space. You can bet that if we do pull out, there will be a fight to snap up this real estate for an airport, how many other 2 mile long runways are there in the Tokyo area? I do have a question on another topic, though. My wife is Panamanian and secured a job at the Toyota Mabuchi auto parts plant in Hamura. Almost everyone that works there is Peruvian, with a scattering of Bolivians and Brasilenos. We’ve noticed a sizable amount of Hispanics, mainly Peruvians, in the Fussa and Hamura area. Aside from Peru having Alberto Fujimori as president, do Japan and Peru have some type of cultural/commercial exchange going?

Hi. I lived at Yokota during the 60’s, and even at that time, there were certain towns to the west of Yokota that were off limits to American personnel because of the hostile attitudes against Americans since the war. I heard several rumors about why, but that was the case.

Also, in the 60’s the Japanese Maoists staged several protests, one of which supposedly involved 10,000 protesting communists. One protest in particular I remember because of the attack on a bus I was on. The bus was pushed back and forth by Japanese trying to get at the Japanese “traitor” driving the bus. They finally gave up on that, though, after APs arrived.

I also remember a huge protest at neighboring Tachikawa AFB when the runway was lengthened in order to accommodate C5As. In that case, it was mostly the local farming community that was involved. Tachikawa was returned in the 70’s and the former base is now a public park. I have heard that the Japanese Camp David is underground there!

By far the most beautiful base was Johnson AFB, which had gorgeous plantings of apricot, cherry and other flowering trees. It was returned to the Japanese NDF in the 70’s.

In addition to these, there were several areas where American personnel were living, including Japamer Heights, Washington Heights (which became the site of the Tokyo Olympics) and Grant Heights, as well as several smaller bases where Signal Corps people were located, or hospital units and schools (like Hamura).

Further to the west was an American-style amusement park, Seibuen = “Western Military Park” that had some pretty fantastic rides, a UNESCO village which reproduced folk buildings from around the world (the Dutch “windmill” was also a concession stand), and an amazing restaurant at a man-made lake with a light show involving fountains.

Other sites catered to Americans as well, like Ikagawa, a fishing area with a mountain river stocked with rainbow trout and a 100-year old carp that locals called the “God of the Mountain”.

Good luck finding any of these places now! They have all probably vanished into history.

matt,

the usa has done many things that are considered atrocities. in the early 20th century when the philippines was placed under american control, the us army ra ped and killed thousands of innocent filippinos. this is a well-hidden historical fact that many americans fail to recognize. a more public incident was the my lai massacre in vietnam… american gi’s machine-gunned an entire village under the command of lieutenant calley. they were literally animals there, and there were probably similar incidents that happened in vietnam.

oh yeah, don’t forget what bush is doing to iraq now… operation iraqi freedom my ass…….

joseph,

i lived in japamer heights in the early 70s as a dependent. what a mess, walls were paper thin, and you know how cold it gets…

as for tachikawa, someone told me the runway expansion was stopped and the base closed because there were explosives buried under the west end of the runway, in tunnels dug by japanese communist sympathysers. i used to rollerskate in a converted hanger. i remember such wierd things; the hanger roof was held to the ground with nuts and bolts the size of dinnerplates.

after east housing opened up my dad got billeted there. that was about the time the c5s started rolling in, with thier huge and noisy fanjets. the noise of the c5s was loud, but not like the sound of the kc135 tankers. they rattled the windows. not sure the contractors took kc135s into consideration when they designed the houses. we were some of the first into phase one of east housing with phase two going up across the street from the north guard shack. i got to see the construction of the housing, the first time i ever saw the acrylic/concrete stucco over styrofoam wall technique. later on i built houses myself using the technique.

johnson afb: my big sister graduated highschool at johnson.

so many memories… the one that is the most clear is getting my butt kicked… for my i.d. card! seems the black market was alive and thriving… marlboros and johnny walker were the most desirable.. levis were running close though…

thanx for the memory trip guys; no politboro, no rant…

Joseph, I lived at Yamato Air Station during the early 1960’s. I remember the UNESCO Village you mentioned, but have no idea now where it was. Do you remember exactly? Is it still there? Also there was an indoor ski area nearby, but again, I can’t remember where it was. I have been back to where Yamato Air Station was, and it is a regional park. Just outside the north exit of the Tamagawa-Josui train station, there is a bronze plaque that is dedicated to the US airmen of Yamato Air Station. As for downtown Tokyo, I used to hang out at the OLD Sanno Hotel (very near where the present-day Capitol Hotel is) and at the Tokyo USO.
Those were good days! Bill Stone, Flagstaff, AZ

I had much affection for the original Sanno. I believe it was in Tokyo’s Akasaka Prefecture. As a U.S. television news broadcaster, I visited Japan many times during the late 60s to late 70s. I usually stayed nearby at what was once the Tokyo Hilton, and enjoyed stopping by the Sanno with U.S. government friends for drinks and good, cheap food. The venerable old building was once an exclusive club for Japanese aristrocracy, I recall. It had been coopted by the U.S. military following WWII. During the Vietnam War, many U.S. troops stopped there on the way to war, or on the way back. Later, in exchange for a new club built for the U.S. by the Japanese, the old Sanno was returned to Japanese interests. I have visited the new site, but it has none of the history of appeal of the original. There was apparently much consternation on the part of the Japanese that their exclusive club was for many years frequented by Americans. I am very interested in more details about the history and origins of the Sanno. I’ll look in on this site from time to time to see if anyone has taken me up on this request. Best to regards to all! Verne in N.C.

Bill

I am not clear about the location of Yamato Air Station. Was it in some connected to Tachikawa Air Base?

Kevin

Kevin,
Yamato Air Station was about 2 or 3 miles N/W of Tachikawa. It had a theater, snack bar, gymnasium, fire station, offices, lots of barracks for GIs and a High School for the dependents of Tachikawa. You could have walked around the entire station in a half hour.

I would be interested in hearing any comments from GIs who lived on Yamato. Did they bus you to Tachikawa for work? How did you feel about all those teenage high school girls running around on your turf? etc. What do you remember?

gels2@aol.com

I wanted to find out more about military agreements of the United States and other countries for having their bases in their country. But to mention it, the article was really good. Any body please give facts as a new article about my said topic of military bases. Thank you.

I’m interested in anyone stationed at Yokota AB during 1958-1961 assigned to the Weather Squadron who knew Airman Ralph L. Wheeler or who had children born at the military hospital.

While was at Tachi in the early 60s Yamato struck me as an anomaly — no particular mission, somewhat isolated, small area, etc., and none of the buildings appeared to be all that old, as compared with those at Tachi, Camp Drake, or Fuchu, for example.
Years afterward I learned that a major aircraft crash – the worst of its kind at the time- occured at Yamato’s location June 18, 1953. The site then was farmland.

Therefore, I suspect the crash site was acquired and utilized as a kaserne of sorts. The crash itself may have motivated the anti-base activists to erect their obstruction derricks and their tall banner staffs just across the fence on Tachi’s north end. At the time I was there they were dismissed a leftwing radicals.

The bronze plaque just may commemorate the 129 lives lost in that crash.

This URL provides related details:

http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/airplane_crashes/globemaster_japan/p_globemaster_jp.htm#PhotoGallery

UNESCO Village was featured at Murayama Park , which was near Tokorazawa, if my memory serves me correctly.

Frank

Here’s the URL in its entirety.

http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/airplane_crashes/globemaster_japan/p_globemaster_jp.htm#PhotoGallery

Frank

Hi,
I lived by Yamato AS for several years after it closed.
It was by a little Seibu Line Train Station “Tamagawajosui”.
And by that there was (and still is) a Music University.
(Kuni Tachi Music University).

I has always wondered what that base did? I was at Camp Drake from 1970 to 74, worked in communications. And I remember there was a microwave shot from Tachikawa to Yamato As, but everytime I drove by there (goging from Camp Drake to Tachikawa to go shopping) I could never figure out what they did, because it always looked empty.

And UNESCO village is still around (I think). It is (or was) close to Seibu Amusement Park. I live close to there now, so I will go and look around one day.

http://www.seibu-group.co.jp/railways/tourist/english/info/seibuen.html
This link to the Seibu RR group has a link to UNESCO
village, but it is all in Japanese. They have a lot of
dinosaur exibits now.

Take Care,
John in Tokyo

Hi,
I live in Ome city near Yokota base.
I know Yamato is not convenient place to do anything.
Recently, UNESCO village changed many atractions due to attract very few customers. One of them is a dinosaurs’ museum. Today, Japanese kids are crazy about dinosaurs because of a card game. I guess that UNESCO village can get a lot of customers in this summer vacation.

John Hill I think I remember you. I was stationed at N. Camp Drake from 72 – 74 and worked in Tech Control. I thnk we worked together for awhile. While there, I lived at Grant Heights and later on the economy in Asaka. I remember shift outings to the S. Camp Drake ballfields for cookouts and Saturday ballgames.

When I left Japan in 74 most of Grant Heights, Momote Village and S. Camp Drake had been turned back over to Japan. Most folk were moving into quarters at Yokota and making the hour drive back and forth to Drake to work each day.

Hi, I was stationed in Japan from 1968-1970.I worked at Tachikawa in the Finance office and lived on Yamato AS.Everything people have been saying is accurate.Not much on Yamato except barracks.We had to drive to work.Many of us shared cars and went to a little town outside Tachi.Had to drive over a small bridge.Come to find out a bomber from WW2 crashed there and the locals never said a word.
Yamato had a big field in the middle of it.Unesco close by.Thanks,Steve Clark

In 1959 I lived on base at Yamato A/S as a Morse Intercept Operator with the 6988th RSM (U.S. Air Force Security Service). We originally were housed at Fuchu, but I don’t remember why we were re-housed at Yamato. After a short time we were moved back to barracks at Fuchu. I remember the Airman’s club and the high school for military dependents. I also remember the football stadium located on the base. I played football for the 1959 Fuchu Tornadoes and this was our home field. We played against Air Force, Navy, and Army teams all across Japan and also Korea. I also was also a member of the the 5th Air Force All Star track team, and the track inside the football stadium was our practice facility and home track to compete against nearby Japanese colleges.

Hi Tom H.
This is John Hill. I lived at Momote for several years
and left Japan when Momote closed. I work at Tech Control
for several years. I remember R. Riddle and Jim Porter but
but have not heard from them in years. I know Riddle went to
Florida, but Porter, no idea were he went.
I went to DC and worked at Andrews AFB, then got out in ’75.
I was from Florida so moved to Tampa and worked at Honeywell
making US Gov’t items.
Then back to Japan in 79 (wife wanted to come back over here)
and have stayed every since.
Drop a line, or SKYPE me.
John

Guy’s, I was at Yamato 6/64-6/67, 2875GEEIA at Tachi, our barracks was across from the chow hall, Airman’s/NCO club further around the corner, there was a snack bar, theater etc. Best thing was the service club, the folks that ran that did a great job organizing trips around Tokyo, Mt.Fuji etc. They had AF blue shuttle buses running to Tachi all the time, many of us had cars or cycles as well. I do remember the train station not far from the front gate,we had learned to read enough japaneese to catch the train to Tokyo and back. Do not remember the high school for some reason or UNESCO village, neaver knew about the crash site either, thanks for the intresting blog, Roland.

I was stationed at Yokota Air Base from January 1949 – November 1951. I was first assigned to the 8th Bomb Sq., Third Bomb Group when I was assigned to Yokota. However, there was a call for someone to attend Postal School in Nagoya and, being newly assigned, I was selected. After finishing the school in the summer of 1949, I was assigned APO 328 Postal Detachment. (We took over the postal duties from the Army — this was just after the Air Froce became a separate service.)

After I left the Air Force in 1952 I ended up as a DIA Photographic Interpreter, and writer of Imagery Identification manuals. In the 1960s I made several trips to SE Asia and worked on manuals for the detection of Insurgency. One covered Vietnam, one covered Laos and a third covered Thailand.

The Thailand project was a joint DOD/State/Thai project with support that allowed a three man team to travel over 7,000 miles in country and take 84 rolls of B&W 35mm photos and 45 rolls of color slides.

I am in the process of scanning many negatives and slides from these trips as well as my time at Yokota, into my computer. I may go on-line with a web site to share these pictures of early Yokota history.

Would be interested in contacting anyone stationed at Yokota during the time I was there. I have one friend from Yokota that I crossed paths with in the 1960s when I was a DIA employee attached to a CIA organization. I worked for him for several years. His wife ran the Base Library.

Enjoyed visiting your Blog.

Take care,

Tom Farrell
Cedar Hill, Texas

I just returned from Japan yesterday. While there, I went back to visit the site where Yamato Air Station was. There is a fountain with a bronze plaque that says, “Dedicated to the men and women of Yamato Air Station . . .” Also, at the entrance to a ball field on the current site, there is an engraved stone that says, “these Oak Trees were donated by Yamato-machi as a token of friendship on April 24, 1964.

As I understand it, Yamato Air Station (I was there from 1962-1964) was a converted prisoner of war camp, left over from WWII. When I was there, there were guard towers on every corner of the base, and barbed wire on the perimeters.

Also, while I was in Japan recently, I visited the site of the Old Sanno Hotel in Akasaka, just off of Sotobori Dori. There is a high-rise, upscale building on the site now called the “Sanno Building.”

Anyone with questions, or who is interested in receiving pictures, let me know. (bill.stone@nau.edu)

i lived at yamato as 1968-1979 as part of the 2875 geeia sq. we did ride a blue af bus to and from tachi to work. we had a great nco club and service club.

Hi all,
I also lived in Momote in the early 70’s (along with Green Park, Grand Heights, Sagamihara and Zama) I attended Yamato, Chofu and Zama High schools. I never realized Yamato was a working base while it was a high school. I always believed the entire base was the HS. I know the NCO club was converted to a library and several barracks converted to classrooms. I’m still in contact with some of the teachers that were there. Brings back memories…..

Interesting blog. I was at Tachikawa 7/63 to 5/65 with 2875th GEEIA Sq. Lived in Grant Heights. Was transfered to Det 2 2875th GEEIA at Kadena until 5/66. I noticed someone signed as
Neko Nomad…I believe that was our on our squadron patch.
Cheers to all.

John Hill…thanks for the posting. Sorry it has taken so long to get back with you. My job requires me to travel a good bit and I don’t have the opportunity to check this site very often. I remember all the guys you mentioned in your post. I have run across several guys that worked with us in TC..I ran into J. Jones at Andrews AFB when I went there for the Ga. Air National Guard…John was still working in TC, talked with J. Zimmerman who was moving back to Japan, and talked with A. McCool who lives in Okalahoma. I remember you very well. You had just re-enlisted when i arrive in Japan and was studying for promotion. We often had shift parties at your house, or at H. Soseville’s house. I also remember your wife. I’m trying to plan a trip back to Japan within the next several years and would like to try to see you if you’re still there. The trip is not scheduled yet. My wife and I just want to go back to see what is left of the the places we know back then. I have kept track of what has happened to Drake thru the Japan Bratz and Dragrons Roar websites sites. My address is tomjean468@bellsouth.net.
tom

I was stationed at Tachikawa from 65 to 69. Earlier I
had a tour in Nagoya, 53-57 and Fuchu 57-59. For awhile Yamato was a replacement depot. Airman arriving in Japan by ship were bused to Yamato where they were rerouted to bases throughout Japan and Korea. They were bussed to Tachikawa for air transportation.
I worked in the Tachikawa Headquarters building and
lived in a big white building. It had been a BOQ that was converted to family housing. We often went to the Yamato theater.
There was a small Air Base Squadron at Yamato that provided administration to the station. The commander of that unit reported directly to my boss, the Director for Support at Tachikawa. His name was Harry P. Wheaton. The Tachikawa base commander was Brig Gen. Richard Ault. General Ault lives in Winchester, Virginia these days and I contact him from time to time. He flew airplanes until he was 85 years old.
It is sad that those places are no longer there. We had many good days back then. But, Japan has changed a lot and I can understand the younger people’s displeasure with our continued presence. I had many good Japanese friends and my wife was born in Nagoya. Now to tell you how old I am, this year my wife Toshiko and I will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary.
I was the NCOIC of the Directorate of Support, At that time I was a Master Sergeant. My official name is Burket E. Tyler, but I now go by my nickname of Bud.

I wrote an autobiography about my life including chapters on my three tours in Japan. It is available at Lulu.com.
Search the title “Laughing All The Way.”

If any of you remember me, HI. I would be happy to chat about those really “good old days.” flybud@msn.com

I was assigned to the 2875th GEEIA Squadron at Tachikawa AB from January 1965 through December 1970. I am trying to find a NEKO NOMAD patch from that squadron. I’d bet that there are still a few patch shops in the area that could make some.

I have a picture of the patch that I can provide via email attachment.

If someone reading this in Japan in the Tokyo/Yokota/Fuchu
area would be willing to get one or a few for me, please email me at lbparis@yahoo.com

The AF lost all of my hold baggage during a PCS move and all of my most precious mementoes were lost.

Len Paris
—

Very interesting blog. Reading all the postings really brought back some fond memories of my three tours in Japan. 1952-1954 Misawa AB (Hq 511th AC&W Gp and 847th AC&W Sq (ADCC) and Okushiri-shima Radar Detachment (Site 29, (848th AC&W Sq), 1956-1958 Misawa AB and Fuchu AS (5th AF Hq), 1959-1960 Wakkanai AS (USAFSS), TDY to Johnson AB August 1955 for 30 days). I played for the Misawa Jets baseball team 1957, and the Fuchu AS golf team 1957. Of all my assignments and travels, I liked Fuchu Best as an assignment, and my favorite city was Hakodate on Hokkaido. Fuchu was quite an experience after spending so much time in Northern Japan. Hanging out in Shinjuku (Tokyo) was was something else. Hard to believe how far a few dollars went back in the day. I doubt a dollar would by you a book of matches today. Can you believe I went to a Paul Anka show in Tokyo (I believe 1957) for the grand sum of $2.50. My girlfriend worked at a small coffee shop/bar in Shinjuku named The Orion. I never ran into another American there. I really can’t dismiss Misawa Town though. Where else would an 18 year old have access to about 100 bars/clubs and more girls than one could shake a stick at:) I was on the entertainment and public relations committee at Misawa during 1953 and got to travel to some of the bigger cities booking floor shows for the Airmen’s Club. Gosh, I thought I was somebody:) Hey, please visit my personal Web Site and view the many vintage photos of almost all military bases in Japan during the period of about 1946 to the 1960s. You will also find some old Japanese music that most GIs remember like The Tonko Bushi and Shina No Yoru (china night). My Web Site is a clean site and safe for the family to view. I can’t post the URL due to filtering, however you can contact me at my email address USAFTraveler@aol.com and I will forward the web site URL to you Herman R. (Sam) Snead, SMSgt, USAF, Retired, Lutz, FL.

I may be the most unique person to reply to your Blog from another Dimension – My father was an airforce pilot in WWII, and after the war, my mom, brother and I were on the first boatload of american families to join the american servicemen after the war was over. I was 6 my brother 8 years old. Dad was stationed at Tachikawa AFB and we made the trip by jeep in the snow to our pre-fab housing units built by the servicemen to house the families.

We were there 2 years. We went to school in a bombed out hangar. Our teacher was a Drill Sargeant, and we played in nearby bomb-shelters. At night, Japanese people, who had not yet heard the war was yet over, would come down from the outlying hills, and rummage through the trash-barrels for food. They were also curious, and would sneak-a peek in our windows if they could. They did not harm us. I remember many other wonderous things from that post-war adventure, and am in the process of committing these memories to pen for a book I am writing. I believe there are others out there who would be interested in the historical aspect of the memories from this dimension. The people and their culture were beautiful, and memorable. But it was during a post-war time, and there was still fear in the air. The americans, were trying to help the japanese get back on their feet again, after a terrible defeat.

Hello! I’m interested in anyone who has photos of Tokyo during and just after the occupation. I’m an officer with VFW Post 9450 in Tokyo, and I’m working on getting a historical section up and running on our website (which needs refurbishing). Anyone who has any information, etc., please leave a comment here, and I’ll get back to you.

Thanks!

Anyone out there fm the Yamato comm. center; 5th AF Nagoya??

To Sean…..hav been to Tokyo a few times 1946 thru 1948 fm Nagoya 5th AF hdqs…..Best pics book I have seen is “the great experiment” about occupation printed in 1951 in Tokyo by Tokyo news service covering years 1945 thru 1951…pages are about 8 x 11 1/2 inches…got this one off ebay & would think should be some in Tokyo?? they are authentic pics as have personally seen the real thing there…….cable address: TRADENEWS TOKYO…..PRINTED BY DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO, LTD TOKYO, JAPAN…..BOOK IS ABOUT 1/2 IN THICK….

I lived in Green Park near Fuchu when my father was stationed at Tachi. We lived there twice. 54-56 and 61-63. I learned later that Green Park was the former Nakajima bomber factory in the war. I suspect that was where my mother was exposed to asbestos. She worked in the library and unlike my father and I who left the building during the day. She was there all the time. She died a number of years ago of mesothelioma (rare cancer related to asbestos). Would be interested in hearing from others who lived in Green Park or know any history of Green Park.
Thanks.
Gail my email address is being blocked. Post and I’ll email you

Really enjoyed your blog–brought back a lot of memories. My father was stationed at Yokota from ’63 to ’67. At that time the base had F-105s, WB-50s, I believe, and B-57s. The 57s left for S.Vietnam shortly after we arrived. Initially we lived off-base near the end of the runway–the F-105s would shake the house pretty good. There was one large protest while we lived in the “Paddy” house. Many of the people would wave at us and smile–not really serious about protesting. We then moved to Hyde Park on Johnson AB–really pretty place. I attended Sophia Univ.(three hours a day on the train)–worked as a glass washer in the Yokota NCO club and then as a janitor at the pre-school on Johnson to pay for school. Using Yahoo sat. pics I notice Hyde Park is no longer there. I spent most of my time in Tokyo–many nights at the old Sanno and the New Otani (sp??) Hotel across from Sophia (Yotsuya). Worked at the Asamura Patent Office across from Tokyo station after graduation. I don’t think many Japanese were happy we were there–they were just too polite to say anything. Still, a great experience–had many Japanese friends, including girlfriends. Would love to go back.

I have lots pictures of my Mother and Father at different functions. We live on several bases between 1964 till 1973- Camp Zama, Sagamihara, Grant Heights, Momote Village and S. Camp Drake
My Mother, Catherine Andrews was a 4 & 5 grade school teacher. My Dad Harry Andrews was Army CWO 4 in 1968. I recall that my Dad managed the NCO club at Camp Drake; I also remember playing the pinball machine there for hours and hours.
Both of my Parents have passed on, my Father was laid to rest in Arlington with full honors on Sept 11, 2005.

Why are we old vets looking at these sites? Nostalgia for our youth, I suppose. Thanks for the great pix. Was at Camp Drake from ’59-’62, peacetime, thank the Lord. It’s all gone now, just like our youth. But the memories persist. Great job. Great Blog. Keep it up. Thanks.

I just stumbled onto this blog while looking for some info about the old Sanno BOQ. My only relationship with Japan was as a transit point back and forth to Vietnam. I’d usually stay at the Hotel New Japan in Akasaka (this was between ’69 and ’71). Anyway, my first stop in Tokyo was on 15 July 69 enroute to RVN for my first posting as a “civilian advisor”, ’nuff said. I was there for 2-1/2 years.

But getting back to the Sanno, which was within walking distance of the hotel, we went over there for drinks at the bar the day after arriving. I believe it was the evening of 16 July 69, and it was there in the Sanno BOQ that some colleagues and I watched the liftoff of Apollo 11 on its journey to the moon. It was shown on a big screen in a large room (restaurant or bar), with loads of cheering Americans and quite a few Japanese onlookers. What a sight!

We left Tokyo a day later, and were in Saigon when they landed on the moon’s surface on the 20th. That’s my only memory of the old Sanno, but it is certainly a memorable one.

Jack Evans, Orlando FL

I spent from June 1968 to April 1970 in Japan I was stationed at Camp Tokorazawa with the 602nd Medical Ambulance(heavy) Co. We transported patients from Yokoda to Tachi and 5 other Army&Navy hospitals in the greater Tokoyo area. Spent a lot of time stuck in trafic. I am looking for anyone who happens to have some pictures of the buses that we drove all over the place.
Or who happened to ride on one of them. we moved around 250 a day 7 days a week. Most of the wounded were from Vietnam. A lot died before we could get them there. Bouncing would open wounds and they would bleed to death no matter what we could do. we run more fluids in and try to hurrry but they needed a surgeon not a bouncing bus ride. If any one out there get back to me.
Jim

I learned how to drive in Japan. I took my frist driving test in a 3/4 ton carryall somewhere out in the back roads of Camp Tokorazawa. It took a long time ,I went through 2 E-5’s before I finally got it.(or so I thought). With a fresh U.S.Army Drivers License I was ready for the streets of Japan. In the next 22 months I usally hit stuff that didn’t move. I lost a lot of mirrors on telephone poles. Took out a wall at Tachiakawa Hosp.(backing in) An awing at 20th Cas. at Yokoda. a lot of parked cars. But I surrived, my frist Sargent changed my frist
name to something unprintable. and at times said he didn’t know me! He taught me a lot. Once he said I wrote a good traffic accident report. What he taught me most was patience.How to relax and mst of all to look before I back UP!

I was born at camp drake on august 14 1973. my father name is Frederick Le Beau. I have always wondered what it was like where I was born. I know my parents were stationed close to camp drake because my dad had to go the wrong way on a one way street to get there before my mom gave birth in the car. my parents friends the lavarnways we still keep in touch with. If anyone know who I am talking about replay and I will get you in touch with them.

I was a Chinese linguist stationed with the 500th MI Group, during Jul 73-Jun 75. The first year I was at Drake, the second year at Zama. We closed Camp Drake out, as I recall, leaving only FEN behind. My CO was Col. Brown, but I worked in the USARPAC Document Center (UDC) run by Leo Traynor, a distinguished linguist and musician.

I noticed the name Tom Cozine higher in this thread. I think it must have been from your father (was he my first sergeant?) that I bought my first car in Japan, a green Cedric sedan. A great car until a friend of mine borrowed it and hit a fallen rock during a typhoon.

Even as late as 1973 there was a bar with a dirt floor outside Camp Drake out on what was called “the han” (Kawagoe kaido) and a transvestite strip joint across the street that must have dated to 1945. A real throwback (not that I was ever in there!) Outside Asaka station on the Tojo line, there was a really old-fashioned oden cart on occasion where I used to stop late at night on my way back to base. Tall clear glasses of sake, hardboiled eggs, seaweed, konyaku, potatoes, fish cakes, standing at this cart late at night, it was really tasty. The cart master loved racehorses; I think that’s what we always talked about.

Man, I cannot tell you how much fun I had in Japan! At Zama, I moved a half-hour drive off-base to a little hamlet named Ogura, next to the Sagami-gawa. My house had a little wood-fired bath house three steps from the kitchen. How my neighbors loved me; it was as if I was the first foreigner they had ever seen! I had many, many Japanese friends, traveled all over Honshu and Shikoku, attended fantastic festivals like the fire festival at Chichibu and the omatsuri of the Haneda jinja (one of the great shitamachi festivals in Tokyo), slummed quite a bit in the gaijin ghettos of Higashi-kitazawa, taught English on Sundays in Sangenjaya, drank coffee at Shinjuku Lighthouse, bought rare jazz records at a great little shop in Machida…don’t get me started…

I remember Yokota being quite a busy noisy place from 1968 to 1971. F4 Phantoms were coming and going regularly. The first C5 to land there was quite the attraction. For some of us the first live siting of a 747 was at Yokota. A PanAm 747 was rumored to be diverted to Yokota from Haneda for some reason. Many of us spotted the enormous tail from the West side housing area and scrambled across the pedestrian walkway over to the main terminal. From within the terminal several had cameras hoping to snap a shot of the monster PanAm. I remember folks with Nikon and Pentax SLRs cameras with big lenses and one kid with an Instamatic. The SP happen to see the kid click his camera at the PanAm and promptly confiscated the film. The big camera guys just waited until the SP sauntered off before making their shots.

You probably can’t help me but I’m grabbing at straws. I served in the Army Signal Corps in Thailand from fall of 1961 until late winter 1964. How can I go about finding a list of the guys I served with during this time. The CO was Maj. Mule’. I do not recall any others. If you can’t help, please forgive my intrusion. If you can it will be greatly appreciated.

Albert (Al) Grant, Jr.

Ref my earlier posting March 2007. One correction I wish to make is that I played for the Fuchu Air Station golf team in 1958, not 1957. My new Web Site address is http://www.warhawk1940.com. Herman R. (Sam) Snead, retired Senior Master Sergeant, USAF

I lived in Japan (on Zama) during the 80s, and I remember visiting the old Sanno hotel, and staying overnight on one occasion. My father and mother lived there much longer… until about 2005.

When the old Sanno hotel was decommissioned, my parents acquired the grand piano from the lounge/ballroom. I’m proud to say that I have since taken possession of it, and it now sits in my living room here in Southern California.

I’d like to know what celebrities (if any) may have performed with this piano during the period of time it was in the hotel. Anybody have any ideas?

Can anyone tell me the exact address of the OLD Sanno Hotel?

Also, was it demolished? Someone on this forum said that the “Sanno Building” now stands where the old Sanno Hotel is. Is this correct?

Thanks!

@Chris

Hi, Chris!

Any chance that you would email a photo of the piano to me?

I was just 15 when we moved to Japan (my dad was with MAAG). I remember staying at the old Sanno, riding the elevators up and down. As I recall, it was the old-style elevator with the metal “accordion-like” gates, right?

I also remember (I think) as you entered the hotel, if you turned right it led to a main meeting room/lounge where the piano was. I attended several functions there with my dad even though I was only a kid.

I’d love to see the piano now. Thanks!

David (in Seattle)

@Luis

Hi, Luis!

Thanks for the info. According to what I just read (http://1.usa.gov/N8tBQc), the New Sanno closed due to the earthquake.

I assume that they are open again?

Does anyone here have a photo of the outside of the original Sanno Hotel in the 60s, 70s, or 80s? I’d love to have a photo!

Thanks!

David