Military

One of the best assignments of my Air Force career was serving on the island of Okinawa from 1963 to 1967. I was stationed at the Awase Transmitter Site out of Kadena for 40 months. I arrived there a mere 18 years after the battle of Okinawa.

At the time, the second world war seemed like ancient history, but looking back on it today, I realize that 18 years wasn't really such a long time at all. During the mid 60's there were still plenty of reminders of the war to be seen. Un-exploded ordinance, caves uninhabited since the carnage. In some cases, human bones, remains of boots, gas mask hoses, etc etc.

But most of us at Awase during that period weren't really "into" history. We were too busy immersing ourselves in the night life of the villages. The bars offered what few of us young men had seen before. For the most part, life was one continous party. Everything was cheap, and there was so much of it!Those days could either be called a colossal waste, or a wonderful learning experience. (I lean towards the latter!)

My "Awase" page features pictures of as many of the guys who were there, as I could come up with. I had a lot of help with this one. If you happened to have served there about that time, then check out "The People Of Awase". If you don't see someone you knew, you might at least recgonize the unbridled freedom and passion for life we all felt when we were that age.

The last four years of my Air Force career was at Eielson AFB, Alaska. Suzie, the kids and I lived there four years. Alaska is a most beautiful area, much of it unspoiled and relatively untouched. There is no place else like Alaska. My section on Alaska attempts to convey some of what I feel for our 49th state.