OKINAWA ADCC 1956-1961 BAKER CREW

There were four crews at the ADCC and each was distinctly different in the eyes of the others. Each felt the others to be inferior in some manner, always below themselves, feeling far superior to others in all matters. Their feeling was not egotistical or arrogant, but rather a combination of pride, esprite and comradeship. This generated self-initiated competition resulting in successful achievement of the unit mission, maintenance of high morale and reduction in discipline problems. Today these things are over-analyzed, studied, planned and command initiated in an attempt to achieve the same level ofresults, usually without success.

"KISS" The root cause of its success was common courtesy, respect and caring by those involved. Not things taught in any school, class or seminar. Put simplistically, The Supervisors, singularly or in concert did everything they could to benefit the crew as individuals and as a group. The crew responded by doing everything it could to deserve that effort. "what Goes Around - Comes Around" The Supervisors were rewarded though the crews efforts. The Organization was an obvious winner.

Baker Crew was very proud of itself and often went to great lengths to demonstrate that fact. Early in 1957 they developed a crew "patch" or logo. Amn Howard and Amn Law worked on the design on the plotting board with inpuut from the crew. They settle on the Black cat with bloody claws and feathers floating out of its mouth. As the crew kicked around a "motto" to go with it, the Senior Controller, lLt Qvale, stood up and announced that it should be " We Eat Birds". Our Air Defense Mission was to intercept and destroy hostile aircraft and the motto seemed appropriate. The patch was worn on light windbreaker Okinawa souvenir jackets. Later, in a mockery of the Communist "Heroes", the crew developed its own "Hero" badge. This badge was usually awarded for some frivolous accomplishment by the crew member at a crew party, usually accompanied by a lot of laughter.

Later on the crew decided to start having mugs special ordered for each departing crew member. The best, and now world famous) lacquerware company on the island was "Bembo". They were engaged to make a lacquered wood mug, in black, with the Crew logo on its face with the words "Okinawa ADCC" below it. On the back was lettered the member's name and years spent on Okinawa. Today one would be hard pressed to get Bembo to fabricate such an item, they are too exclusive. Each crew "Short Timer" got his cup for many years. Like the crew patches, I do not know when that would have ended.

On one occasion, the crew "liberated" a very large (1 meter) Kirin Bottle used as an advertising display. We later chipped in and paid for it, as we did when there were any unintended "accident" at our gatherings. That bottle was assigned to the care of one crew member, who passed it on to another upon his own departure. The crew members would all sign the label on the bottle and put their stateside address inside on a slip of paper The bottle was still there in 1965. whatever happened to it upon deactivation of the unit in 1972/73 remains a mystery.

In 1957 the Crew decided that it would be good for morale, fitness and probably out of pure bravado, to organize and participate in a field march. A route was planned out to and from a beach area south of the fishing village of Itoman. Arrangements were made for communications, medical backup, rations and equipment. On one of our days oft we drew our weapons and webgear with extra canteens and got our K rations. Led by Lt Qvale and our NCO's, we marched in cadence out the south gate on our way. It was summer time and very hot. Once out the gate we went routstep to our destination. We were stared at and followed by school children most of the time. We ate on the beach at our destination and, after a good rest, returned. We were really worn out by the time we approached the Air Base. But regardless of the soaked uniforms and sore feet and the oppressive heat, we formed up and marched in cadence from the gate to the front of the Orderly Room. We were very proud of our accomplishment. Remember, this was voluntary "training".

Later that year, we repeated the drill. That time we marched clear out through the Main Gate before going routstep across the island to the fishing village of Yonabaru, located in the east shore of Okinawa. The march went much the same as the first, except this time we ran low on water on the return march. Disregarding all the rules of field sanitation (Hey, we're Air Force!) several of the crew drank water from a farmer's well. They all got a bladder infection that caused them considerable discomfort and gave them the urge to relieve themselves 24 hours a day! This march was much longer and, instead of at the Main Gate, the crew did not form up and march in cadence until nearing the BX. Still, they pounded smartly into the Detachment parking lot with their heads held high.

Crew Parties were a way of life. Nearly every event justified a party. We held them at the Teahouse of the August Moon, on the beach at Ishikawa, in the Latin Quarter night club, at the homes of the crew Officers and NCO's, and anyplace where we might gather. This included several "clandestine" typhoon parties in the barracks.

Most of the crew tended to play together as much as they worked together In pairs or in groups, they could be found engaging in the things that interested them the most Like any `family" there were disputes and quarrels on occasion, but camaraderie prevailed. They would charter fishing trips, organize tours with those that had wheels, or go bird and duck hunting with service club shotguns. There were bookworms, fighters, lovers, artists, writers, painters, photographers, and I even remember one who liked to embroider. The lack of cars hurt the mechanics and hot rodders, but they could find other outlets like snorkeling (and later SCUBA). Spades was popular, as was poker (specially around payday) and a few played chess. Those with technical skills built "HiFi" sets from Heath kits. One had a HiFi that, when hooked up to a window screen for an antennae, would transmit the phonograph music on the same frequency as AFRTS throughout the barracks. That caused a few disputes. There were "Village Rats", "Straight Arrows", loan sharks, some that had "Gone Native", and the ones with broken hearts from the cruel "Dear John" leffer. We grieved with them.

At work, it was rare to have a crew member reprimanded or disciplined. An occasional haircut reminder was needed. They all worked hard, took pride in the crew accomplishments and contributed their best to its success. Most of the discipline problems arose from misconduct off duty. There were a lot of rules, which meant that inevitably some of them would get broken or sorely bent. The most serious event was the unnamed NCO, that shot and killed an Okinawan farmer while hunting south of the Air Base. The farmer was coming out of his sugar cane stand and the NCO fired at the sound - stupid and tragic.

Baker Crew was , in all probability, no different from any of the others, except in our own minds. It can best be described by stating: "I feel the same affection and nostalgia for the crew as I do for any one individual that was ever on it" And that is saying a lot!

Contributor: David Law