My boarding pass and a pic of me waiting for military transportation with comrades at the Narita Airport in Japan
A business card I was given at the hotel I was staying in Misawa, Japan. The taxi driver's must not know any English.
A boat trip to King Kong Island, hee hee. 
A Buddhist statue I visited
My name written in Japanese. Also a pic of Judy and me.
The squadron I worked with while at Misawa AB, Japan
TDY number 2 - A NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) evaluation at Misawa Air Base located in the remote town of Misawa, Japan.
Apparently I found a camera and brought it with me on this TDY. As you can tell, I wasn't a great photographer.
Misawa seems like a thousand years ago but I do remember some things.
The flight to Japan was a commercial flight and it seemed to last forever. I don't know why we didn't fly military during this period. This was a time when people could smoke on airplanes. The smoking area was in the back of the plane, but I remember by the time that extra long flight was over the entire plane was smoke filled. There was no way a non-smoker could get away from it. Also, this was a time when I used to smoke, so yes, I contributed to the pollution of innocent lungs.
I remember arriving at the base and getting briefed on the culture, prohibited locations (brothels, bath houses and pharmacies), and that we couldn't drive while in country. The women had a separate briefing - it was to let us know there were very few woman on the base, to go out in groups of two or more for safety, and to be extra careful because rape was a problem on this base.
The NATO evaluation was one week long. It was an exercise where we were tested on our abilities in a combat situation. I remember wearing full chemical warfare gear for a lot of the time. I was assigned a team and we were given combat scenarios and we had to show how we would accomplish the tasks assigned. At one point, I had to explain to two colonels how I was completing a fabrication repair and how long it would take to complete. At the end of our exercise we received an excellent rating.
I looked at my pictures and couldn't remember where that boat ride or where it was taking me. I didn't even remember visiting the Buddha. Maybe the boat ride was to the Buddhist temple. I do remember walking around in the small town of Misawa and having a local write my name down on a piece of paper. I also remember there were several Pachinko parlors in the town. Pachinko is like a slot machine/pinball machine and you could win steel balls. When you were done playing you could turn in your steel balls for prizes. They had shelves of prizes. I wish I would have taken pictures of those parlors they were quite interesting and always busy with Americans and locals.
I know I didn't have much money back then and the only trinket I have from Misawa is a tiny Kokeshi Doll.
Misawa seems like a thousand years ago but I do remember some things.
The flight to Japan was a commercial flight and it seemed to last forever. I don't know why we didn't fly military during this period. This was a time when people could smoke on airplanes. The smoking area was in the back of the plane, but I remember by the time that extra long flight was over the entire plane was smoke filled. There was no way a non-smoker could get away from it. Also, this was a time when I used to smoke, so yes, I contributed to the pollution of innocent lungs.
I remember arriving at the base and getting briefed on the culture, prohibited locations (brothels, bath houses and pharmacies), and that we couldn't drive while in country. The women had a separate briefing - it was to let us know there were very few woman on the base, to go out in groups of two or more for safety, and to be extra careful because rape was a problem on this base.
The NATO evaluation was one week long. It was an exercise where we were tested on our abilities in a combat situation. I remember wearing full chemical warfare gear for a lot of the time. I was assigned a team and we were given combat scenarios and we had to show how we would accomplish the tasks assigned. At one point, I had to explain to two colonels how I was completing a fabrication repair and how long it would take to complete. At the end of our exercise we received an excellent rating.
I looked at my pictures and couldn't remember where that boat ride or where it was taking me. I didn't even remember visiting the Buddha. Maybe the boat ride was to the Buddhist temple. I do remember walking around in the small town of Misawa and having a local write my name down on a piece of paper. I also remember there were several Pachinko parlors in the town. Pachinko is like a slot machine/pinball machine and you could win steel balls. When you were done playing you could turn in your steel balls for prizes. They had shelves of prizes. I wish I would have taken pictures of those parlors they were quite interesting and always busy with Americans and locals.
I know I didn't have much money back then and the only trinket I have from Misawa is a tiny Kokeshi Doll.
You are missing a picture! **giggle giggle**
ReplyDeleteKeep your giggles to yourself sassy pants
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