Comments on: Dad holding Me in Okinawa

By: Ben Drake

Ben Drake — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 23:51:05 +0000

I was, and am, a Marine. I was stationed at Camp Onna Point 1973 and 74 with 3rd Bn. Recon. What a blast. We spent a lot of time in the surf and did a lot of cliffe snorkeling. There was a large cave that you could only get to by diving under the rocks and coming up in the cave. It was funny because there was a 1965(?) 175 cc twin Honda in there. Great times and good memories.

By: Peter Opper

Peter Opper — Sat, 01 May 2010 16:21:10 +0000

I was at Onna Point 65-66. Most vivid memories are of hot cinnamon buns at nco club, a giant fan blowing some chemical mist to get rid of mosquitoes , the inside of the barracks coated with powder to get rid of crab lice and the first place bowling trophy I won and still have that our flight won.

By: Dave Matteson

Dave Matteson — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:02:53 +0000

Every USAFSS dedication site is one less chance that it will be forgotten. Thank you for fond memories of your Dad and the USAFSS he knew. I enlisted a few months after your Dad and finished Radio Traffic Analyst school at Goodfellow in 1960. Was in Samsun, Turkey then to USAFSS HQ Kelly AFB where I made A1C. Thanks again for more USAFSS history with your fine site.

By: Jim Weiss

Jim Weiss — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:38:25 +0000

Greetings from beautiful Okinawa. My wife and I are visiting for the first time since 1977. Was at Onna Point 65-66, Kadena 67-70 in USAFSS and Kadena 73-77 in real AF. One son born here in 69 and the other one in 77. Just missed you dad at Keesler and I was in Bremerhaven when he was at Darmstadt. Its a whole lot different now but I still love it. Have to go home next week but I don’t want to. Carole. you’re right about the typhoons. Last two times we were here my wife got pregnant. Sure hope one don’t hit in the next week. She has really enjoyed seeing her family for the first time in over 30 years.

By: Carole Hendrix

Carole Hendrix — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:09:27 +0000

How could I forget the typhoons??!!Anybody who was stationed there would remember. If you were were not pregnant before, you certainly were afterward. We were locked up tight for a good 24 hours. I remember Bill and Jan Burwell knocking on our door while the storm was raging, with 2 little girls. Pinochle time. Mom

By: admin

admin — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:25:48 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Jim. I don’t remember a thing about Okinawa — Dad left when I was almost 3 years old and then we went to Darmstadt. I also joined the Air Force when I grew up. Raised 4 kids while in as well (3 of them are in the Army now). Met and married my wife (she was Army) at Goodfellow. I am also a ham radio operator.

Brian, N0DBH

By: Jim Abbit

Jim Abbit — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:59:31 +0000

What a great site!

I was a ditty-bop with USAFSS. Sure enjoyed reading your page and its links. Went through Keesler in 1963-64, Okinawa 6927th (Hanza DF site)in 1964-65, then 2-T to Det 95 Karamursel Turkey 1965-67. Got married to a local Turkish girl who worked in the BX, my wife now 45 years.

Got out, came back flying, and retired in 1990. We have 4 grown kids, all raised in the Air Force.

Okinawa is still probably my best tour; really enjoyed it. No money but good friends and lots of fun! Still have contact with a few of them.

am also a radio ham so continue to practice my Morse techniques. Its still music to the ear, but as I age the fist gets a little less precise.

Jim, K0GAE

By: Carole Hendrix

Carole Hendrix — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:06:13 +0000

Many memories from our first home and first two babies. The most vivid is taking you and your brother John downtown to shop. We always drew a crowd, two blonde babies in a sea of blackhaired Okinawans. It was a beautiful place then. It was country, rice paddies for miles and the most beautiful blue-green water.The people were so kind and polite.The food was great, we lived on the beach and I remember hearing the drums at night during the Obon festival (August I believe) It was hard leaving. Mom