Wednesday, February 23, 2000 1:02 PM
Hi Mick,
I first arrived on Okinawa in January 1967 for an 18 month tour, and fell in love with the island immediately. After a tour in Viet Nam from July 68 to July 69, I went back to Kadena and stayed until June 73. From there to Myrtle Beach AFB South Carolin for one year then back to Kadena for six more years. I went to Shaw AFB in July 1980 and was stuck there for four years until I finally got back to Okinawa in July 1984. Sadly I had to retire from the Air Force in 1988 after 22 wonderful years. I've been back to the island twice since then to visit. My two daughters still live there.
So, as you can see, I spent most of my military career (over 15 years) on Okinawa. I worked on the RF-4C aircraft in the 15th TRS for about four years and then Maintenance Control until I left in 1980. When I went back in 1984, I was a Field Training Instructor. I spent much of my time touring the island, motorcycle riding, scuba diving and working part time at the Kadena Marina Scuba Locker. I now work for NASA at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB California. I truly wish I could find a job on Okinawa that I love as much as this job, but I don't think it will happen.
Thank you for a GREAT web site that brings back many wonderful memories. After looking through your pages, I sometimes have to hold back the tears. If I may, I would like to recommend to all the Viet Nam Vets who read this to go to www.thewall-usa.com/literary/camunes.html.
Thanks,
Roy Coe
Visitor: Gerald Ross
Reference: You emailed me after seeing me in Gunny's book.
Location: Marshall, Texas
Contact: gwross@prysm.net
Date: Sun, Jan 17, 1999 at 10:06:59 (EST)
Comments: I like your site so far. Have just started to browse through it.
Visitor: Dixie Lawson
Reference: Your invitation.
Location: Pikeville, Kentucky
Contact: lawson@kymtnnet.org
Date: Sun, Jan 17, 1999 at 08:02:32 (EST)
Comments: This site is great! Thanks for inviting me. The kid's will love this site lots of
information. My Son is stationed on Camp Futenma until Jun. I hope he gets as many
pictures as you did Okinawa is beautiful. I will send you our school web page as soon
as it's up and running. I will also post your site on Marine Moms and Dads. The parents
there will really benifit from the information on your site.
Visitor: Dixie Lawson
Reference: Your invitation.
Location: Pikeville, Kentucky
Contact: lawson@kymtnnet.org
Date: Sun, Jan 17, 1999 at 08:01:17 (EST)
Comments: This site is great! Thanks for inviting me. The kid's will love this site lots of
information. My Son is stationed on Camp Futenma until Jun. I hope he gets as many
pictures as you did Okinawa is beautiful. I will send you our school web page as soon
as it's up and running. I will also post your site on Marine Moms and Dads. The parents
there will really benifit from the information on your site.
Visitor: Robert S. Mizner
Reference: Got your e-mail about an Okinawa website
Location: Okinawa Japan
WebSite: Okinawa Rod and Gun Club
Web Info: Info about our club, clay target shooting
Contact: mizner48@marinemwr.or.jp
Date: Sun, Jan 17, 1999 at 05:36:41 (EST)
Comments: Super website! Words cannot describe it!! I bookmarked it because I'll
definitely be visiting it again and passing the URL on to my friends. Keep up the good
work.
Visitor: John R. Persich
Reference: Gunny Northrop's site
Location: Born in Texas, raised in California, now living in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Contact: john.persich@sympatico.ca
Date: Sat, Jan 16, 1999 at 23:17:45 (EST)
Comments: I passed thru Okinawa as a Marine in 1970 and 1971 going to and from
Viet Nam, only spent a few days each time. Didn't ever want to be stationed there as it
was called the ROCK. My daughter is a Marine now, 2 years in Okinawa, she loves it
there, she would like to do her whole 20 there?!! Also lots of travel with the 31st MEU,
she has out done me in 2 years in places visited than I did in 9 years, even volunteered
to go to Kuwait last Nov 11th! I will spend a few evenings in the near future going thru
your site. Semper Fi!
Visitor: John R. Persich
Reference: Gunny Northrop's site
Location: Born in Texas, raised in California, now living in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Date: Sat, Jan 16, 1999 at 23:17:00 (EST)
Comments: I passed thru Okinawa as a Marine in 1970 and 1971 going to and from
Viet Nam, only spent a few days each time. Didn't ever want to be stationed there as it
was called the ROCK. My daughter is a Marine now, 2 years in Okinawa, she loves it
there, she would like to do her whole 20 there?!! Also lots of travel with the 31st MEU,
she has out done me in 2 years in places visited than I did in 9 years, even volunteered
to go to Kuwait last Nov 11th! I will spend a few evenings in the near future going thru
your site. Semper Fi!
Visitor: Chris Lee
Reference: Your E-Mail about the site
Location: League City, Tx
Contact: sewerrat@c-com.net
Date: Sat, Jan 16, 1999 at 21:50:56 (EST)
Comments: This is one of the best site's about Okinawa, for my little brother and
family are stationed there. I was there with 2/12 3rdMarDiv in 84-85. Your picture's
brought back a lot of memorys. Spent alot of time a Kadena for lots of Air Force
freinds. Am curious about info about Foster. keep up the wonderfull work. Chris Lee
Visitor: Mike J Hendershot
Reference: Invitation
Contact: mjhendershot@earthlink.net
Date: Sat, Jan 16, 1999 at 18:32:44 (EST)
Comments: Being a prior service Marine I am concerned about my son 19 who will be
going there for 6 mos. I went thru Oki in transistion to RVN and stay there for a month
at language school..came out of the field straight into Kedena and was met at the snack
bar by two beautiful round eyed dependants who showed me the island and even took
me water sking..My concern for my son is that alcohol does not become a choice for
boredom and that he will enjoy his time there perhaps diving and other things that he
could do with a limited income..so many of the young Marine's get sucked into drinking
it is very negative and dangerous etc. I regard's to the Rape incident I do not have all
the detail's but I would support the letter of the law and it would be harsh..very harsh..
thank you for your invite..66/67/68 was my time of service thru Okie..my son will be
there in Aug. and my prayer's will go with him ..Semper Fi
Visitor: Mayumi Hirtzel
Reference: Dad sent me!
Location: Philadelphia
WebSite: Umi's World
Web Info: A smattering of me
Contact: pmxo@pobox.upenn.edu
Date: Wed, Jan 13, 1999 at 08:47:04 (EST)
Comments: Hi, Mick! My dad Joe sent me here to take a look at some of your
pictures...they're great! But I especially thought the code you used for the tourbook was
very cool! I've never seen anything quite like it, and you did a great job combining
pictures and text. Keep up the fantastic work!
Visitor: Trisha
Reference: Doing a search for Kubasaki High School
Location: San Francisco, currently
Contact: Trish74@theglobe.com
Date: Tuesday, Jan 12, 1999 at 17:35:27 (EST)
Comments: Didn't get very far on your site -- there's so much! It's great, though. I only
got through one tour on the Okinawa page and it made me laugh out loud. The picture
of the fish at the botanical garden taken from the observation deck -- I have that exact
same picture! I lived there from '80 to '84 and seeing those few pictures made me
hunger for more. I'll definitely be back!!
Visitor: Gary Llewellyn
Reference: Just stumbled upon it...
Location: Indiana
Contact: glldds@excite.com
Date: Sun, Jan 10, 1999 at 14:49:29 (EST)
Comments: Just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed your home page...music,
pics, etc. I was stationed on Okinawa with the Marines at Camp Schwab 1993. I do
have a question...how does a person build a home page like yours, It is very profesional
looking. I would like to build a scrapbook with slides I took while stationed on Guam
and Okinawa and other personal pics. Any advice would b appreciated. Thanks, Gary
Llewellyn
Visitor: Ultima
WebSite: Ultima's Dream Page
Date: Mon, Jan 04, 1999 at 15:31:06 (MST)
Comments: I like the page lots to do here!
Visitor: John W McDonald (Formerly J9ABC)
Reference: Checking out various search engines and decided to find Shuri Castle
Location: Redmond, Washington
Contact: johnone@worldnet.att.net
Date: Wed, Dec 30, 1998 at 17:25:06 (MST)
Comments: Spent the year 1947 at Kadena AFB as a Tech Rep. Do not have
sufficient time to see all of your Web page. Will revisit. At the time we were at Kadena
we serviced the 1st Air Division, and the 316th Bomb Group. (B-29s).
Visitor: Boyd G. Bolte
Reference: Long Surf Story
Location: Live SC
Contact: bbolte@rbmg.com
Date: Mon, Dec 28, 1998 at 16:09:01 (MST)
Comments: Hey Mick: Great site. I have actually been to a couple of the places you
have pictured. When you stand at Nakajin Jo and feel the air blow across the top of the
walls ... you never forget! I used to live Tomari (Naha) came back in 94 ... BIG
MISTAKE!! My wife is from Miyako Jima ... very isolated there. Take it easy
Kiostukete ne! By the way, Nihongo dekiru kana? Boku wa kantan no koto ba shaberu
masu. AKA:Nishimura, Kani
Visitor: Janet Crane
Reference: via your brother Michael
Location: Payson, AZ
Contact: acmom@hotmail.com
Date: Thurs, Dec 17, 1998 at 14:02:26 (MST)
Comments: Hi! Great website. Michael was bragging on your site and I told him I was
in the Marine Corps and spent 2 years on Okinawa. I really enjoyed it over there. I
haven't had time yet to see everything, but many memories have come flooding back to
me already. Thank you for your site, it is really awesome. I was over there 1981- 1983,
stationed at Camp Kinser then Camp Foster. I lived off base in Ginowan City. I will be
back to check the site out further, there is a lot to see of this small island. God Bless &
Merry Christmas!
Visitor: Sonya Crosby
Reference: forwarded addy
Location: Malmstrom AFB
Contact: caiome@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, Dec 13, 1998 at 02:19:47 (MST)
Comments: Very nice site, it's helping me look for a name on a braclet I wear.
Visitor: al B
Reference: by accident really; thru Virtual Okinawa, & surfing-around...
Location: Originally Wilmington, NC; now VandenbergAFB, Santa Maria, California
WebSite: After looking yours over; I'm not about to put my site up... )-:
Contact: al4B@netscape.net
Date: Fri, Dec 04, 1998 at 17:16:30 (MST)
Comments: Really enjoyed my visit to your site; very professionally done. One of the
best I've ever seen. Made my oku-san a little homesick though; she's from Ieshima,
Ryukyus'. The music sounds great and I'll now have to endure many hours of not surfing
the net while she listens and moves around your site! I was in the Far East eleven years,
mostly Okinawa; but didn't stay there much (RVN). USAF Retired (79), and been at
VandyLand now almost another 20 years, looking forward to retiring AGAIN real
soon. TNX for a job very well done with your Web Site, and I'll be visiting many more
times for sure in the nearest future. Cheers!
Visitor: C/SGT Paul M. Webb II
Reference: Surfed on in
Location: Springfield O.
WebSite: POW MIA Eternal Flame
Web Info: Eternal Flame Dedicated to the POWMIAs who are still missing, and those that have fought and died for our country
Contact: airmanFC@yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, Dec 01, 1998 at 16:34:11 (MST)
Comments: *salute* Sir, I no longer maintain the sqdn website. I do have a pow mia
page, though. Thanks. please come see my page. *one step back* *salute*
Visitor: Dave Todd - KHS Class of 73
Reference: Carl's Links (Kubasaki)
Location: South Carolina
Contact: dtodd@ftc-i.net
Date: Sun, Nov 29, 1998 at 06:28:48 (MST)
Comments: Super homepage! The music is great! I'm always looking for more
Okinawa and Kubasaki sites and yours is a great find. Thanks for all the hard work
you've put forth.
Visitor: Sue Franklin
Reference: surfing
Location: Originally from Okinawa; now in NH
Contact: shodanfranklin@cheshire.net
Date: Thurs, Nov 05, 1998 at 19:54:07 (MST)
Comments: Left Okinawa in 1974. Last residence was in Awase. I had totally
forgotten about the Pink Grocery Store! Enjoyed the wonderful pictures of Okinawa.
Visitor: Kody
Location: Currently Stationed on Okinawa, Japan
WebSite: Kody and Staci's Page
Web Info: Personal stuff about us and Okinawa
Contact: kody_pruitt@hotmail.com
Date: Tuesday, Nov 03, 1998 at 19:35:14 (MST)
Comments: Great page. Lots of information. Thanks for the wonderful stuff on
Okinawa. I'm currently stationed on Okinawa, and I love ever minute of it. You have a
very cool page, keep up the good work.
Visitor: Kammy
Friday, August 27, 1999
Subject: Aloha!
Hi Mick!
Great page on Okinawa! I am hoping that you'll be able to help me
with a question ... why is it that some Shisa (Shishi) hold balls or round,
flat objects with a flower-like symbol on them? Does it symbolize something
significant? I've been fruitlessly searching for an answer ... I'd
appreciate any insight you may have.
--Kammy
Hi Kammy!!
Oh, ye of TOO MUCH faith! (too much faith in ME, that is!) HehHehHeh!!!
It's a good question that you ask, Kammy - and now, one that'll haunt me
forever 'til I find out too!
Thanks a LOT! *grin*
Okay... I'll make a deal with ya - if I find out, I'll tell YOU and you tell
me if you get a straight answer from anyone! Deal?
Done!
Thanks for coming by one of my websites, Kammy! I hope you had a good time
and will come back often!
I SHALL NOT delete your message. I'll keep it here to remind me every day -
day after day - that we're in search of the truth, yes?Ya know... I've seen
that before too and never even gave it a thought! Let's see what we find
out!
I'll also - with your permisssion - post your message in my "Mailbag"
feature and maybe someone will read it and say, "Hey! I know the answer to
that! Now, what do I win!?"
Mata ne!!
Mick
More in the bag!
Page 1 of MailBag
Page 2 of MailBag
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
® Webmaster: Mick McClary P.O. Box 6245, Great Falls, Montana 59406