The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Legion Hall 50 years ago today....

I was drafted into Uncle Sam's army.

Spent the next 8 weeks in Ft. Bragg, NC, then 8 weeks in Ft. Gordon, GA. Then, after a short leave, spent the next 15 months as an MP in Okinawa. Then got out approx. 4 months early, as they were starting to cut back in preparation to turn the place back over to Japan. Also the Viet Nam war was starting to wind down at that time.

Nothing special about it otherwise--just happened to notice the date on the calendar. One of those dates you never forget!

Thank you for your service.

Thank you for your service! I was among the age group that didn't have to register for the draft.

I went into the delayed enlistment program for the USAF when I was 17 back in 71 before I got drafted.

I was at Kadena AFB from 1970-72, including during the "reversion" to Japan and the riots that accompanied that cluster-flop! When things really got out of hand one night, more than 200 American-owned cars got burned. They were easy to spot- - - -we ran yellow license plates, while the local cars had white ones. One of my neighbors in an apartment building off base was in charge of the USAF Security Police arms room. He "lost" a couple of thousand rounds of "practice" ammo that didn't need to get accounted for so his guys could defend themselves adequately!
Jerry

My brother was stationed at Kadena but in the late '60s. I visited him and his wife in Oct. 1968. I visited 3 bath house in a week while I was there it took that many trips to get the Viet Nam stink off.

Thank You to all of you that served our country. For myself, I was drafted in April 1968. There were over a 1,000 of us there that day. Made it half way through the physical exam when the doctor looked into my eyes and told me I was done. I have been blind in my right eye since birth. He asked me if I would allow other doctors there to have a look too. Said the government would make it worth my while. They made reports and drawings at what they were looking at. My retina is mostly scar tissue. Caused by a virus cats have, that the pregnant woman picks up. Destroys the retinas in the baby they are carrying. The government offered me an apprenticeship as a stereotyper. Told them I already had a typography apprenticeship (typesetter). So, as time when on, in 1970 I was married and we had a 6 month baby girl. Still had the apprenticeship. I've always regretted not serving and appreciate those that do. Many of my relatives have served for the Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. From the Civil War to the current conflicts.

Rick

Congrats on the anniversary, Rich! Good memories, hopefully. We spent three years stationed at Camp Foster and we were there for the 20th anniversary of reversion. There were some protests, but nothing ugly. Can't blame the Okinawans for being a little tired of foreign militaries camping out there ... And obliterating their ancient and sacred Shuri Castle ... didn't exactly go over well, either.

May, 1970. Got off the Greyhound Bus at Fort Polk La. Was a hot summer in basic and AIT that year. 11C.

RonR

I was there from about October of '70 till January, '72. Got up to Kadena a few times, but not a lot, as we were located south of there. We did take off from Kadena when we left. The whole plane cheered when the wheels left the ground!!
Futema and Koza were near where we were. We did get in on one riot in Koza where they burned about 80 or so cars.
We called it the armpit of the South Pacific, but it beat the he!! out of going to Viet Nam!!

Kadena from December 1967 to mid June 1969. Off base was party central. It’s scary to think Ron and I were in the same area at the same time. Shoot we might have even been in the same Bar.
Thanks everyone for answering the call.

My brother and his friends took me to 3 bars and he warned me no matter what you think they say, say NO. One was a strip club. I was there for the NCO club Halloween party. I flew into Tachicowa AFB or Yokada AFB not sure after all these years.

Boy you kids are making me feel like a Spanish American War vet since I was
out before most of you were in. USAF 03/64 to 03/68. Last year an half in
the PI and Saigon and loved both of them and the native people I meet there.
Felt like I'd taken a step beck in time in both countries. Always wanted to go
back but it's always been out of my reach, now it's to late.
Hard to believe it's been over half a century since I was there.
Denny G
Sandwich, IL

How was it serving with TR and going up San Juan Hill, Denny??

Anyway, the Okinawa we knew was a wonderful place to be with a family for three years. The 3-year accompanied tour was far superior to the 1-year unaccompanied tour or the 6-month UDP deployment a lot of Marines experienced in my time. We had a nice little concrete bunker of a house, got to experience a lot of the culture, spent a lot of time camping on beaches and scuba diving. Speaking of MCAS Futenma, one of our favorite family events was the Wed Night "Build Your Own Pizza Night" at the Futenma O'Club. Got to visit a lot of the Far East while we were there, too. We felt so comfortable there that our daughters (9 and 11 at the time) could ride the public transportation without us from time to time. Good memories, although friends who are there now say its changed a lot ... so we feel no need to go back.

One draw back was living on a recent battlefield -- one didn't do a whole lot of gardening or digging around in the yard. It was not uncommon for EOD to come into the housing area to deal with unexploded ordinance left over from the Typhoon of Steel. One time, they had to deal with a whole rack of 5-inch rockets that had apparently been pickled from an F4U or an F6F ... everyone in the vicinity lost a few windows when they blew that one ...

Yep....those were different times. In the 60's there were still a lot of the Filipinos
that were around then had lived thru WWII occupation by the Japanese and were forever
grateful to the GI's that liberated the PI. If you treated them with respect they did
so in return.
The town people that I meet in Saigon were mostly decent people who just wanted
to get on with their lives and put their country back together.
Denny G
Sandwich, IL

I thought about moving this to the Legion Hall this morning but was unable to get to it.

It's here now.

Sorry.

The Hall is "open" in May and November. I better notify the moderator!

Peg

My daughter was born on Okinawa in May 1972. When she was growing up, if I really wanted to get her upset, I'd say "I've got a kid that was made in Japan!"
LOL!

John, the EOD guys came to our neighborhood one day and upset a bunch of local kids. They were kicking a rusty piece of metal around- - - - -a WW II hand grenade! The mean old guys in the bomb suits took their toy!
Jerry

TUFOS. 50 years goes by fast!

50 years in August. Drafted with a low 111. Left for Fort Campbell out of Fort Wayne, Detroit. Basics in Fort Campbell, AIT at Fort Polk, "Birthplace, Combat Infantrymen for VietNam". January to December in Nam, 1st Cav, 11C grunt until March. Then 101st Airborne Division Headquarters, Camp Campbell, Phu Bai. I guess there were bath houses, but that's not what we called them! I made it home for Christmas. One year in Nam.

51 years ago today, Uncle Sam got me.

Miss America, Phyllis George, has died. Miss America and her entourage put on a show for the troops in the summer of 1971 at Camp Campbell, 101st Airborne Division Headquarters, Viet Nam. I was fortunate enough to attend. I remember sitting there, awaiting the opening, with my 300mm telescopic lens in hand, as a company of grunts began descending upon us in full jungle combat readiness, locked and loaded. It was a site to see, but no Bob Hope. When it was over, everyone went back to the business of the war we seemed to be engaged in.

To all the ones recently posted......THANK YOU for your service. YOU are one of the reason's we can enjoy Stovebolt.
Whether you had to fight or some other duty, you are all hero's.

Rich, I also took basic at Ft. Bragg. March to May 1969. Then 9 weeks infantry AIT at Ft. Dix, New Jersey, then off to the land of the little PX's!