Addendum to Kume Trip Report - Sept 15, 2004.

As many of you know, Nancy and I were privileged to participate in the first anniversary celebration of Kumejima Town last August (2003). The event also celebrated the good relationship between the citizens of Kumejima and the American servicemen from 1952 to 1972, with “Habu Hill Story”, an exhibit of photos by American servicemen.

There were many exciting events and wonderful feasts. One of the most exciting events to me was that Bill Richards, Karl Lysinger and I were invited to be guests of the JASDF on site at Habu Hill where we once served. I have reported on this visit before, but for security reasons and in respect to the JASDF personnel, I left out one of the most special incidents that occurred during our visit. I don’t know why I was so sensitive about this because there were probably fifty or so people with us and the TV press was there filming everything.

In any event, this is what happened;

As we were nearing the end of our guided tour, after we had visited the BAQ and I visited my old room; one of the JASDF officers asked me, “Mr. London, is there anything else you would like to see?” Well, I had told Nancy that I was going to ask to visit Op’s, not that there was a chance that it would ever happen, but what’s to lose for asking, right? So I put the question to the officer, and he paused a moment, and asked me to please wait while he stepped over to consult with the other officers. They consulted for maybe two or three minutes and he returned grinning and invited only the three of us veterans on a tour of Op’s. I’m thinking ‘Yipeee’ let's go before he thinks more about it!

We were invited back into the vehicles for the short ride up the hill and I told him that I wanted to walk it one more (last) time, as I had done for a year in 1957. Bill and Karl eagerly joined in. Talk about nostalgia!

We were given soft slippers to wear inside.

For those of you that worked there; it is very recognizable. It seems that some new interior walls are in place, and some of the spaces are used differently now, and a trick of the mind makes it seem smaller, but it was still very familiar to me.

The Op’s area itself is the same! I mean exactly. It’s like a time warp. The same dias(s), the position of the equipment (though modern now) is the same as it always was. Even the crummy old broken green tile on the deck is still there! Amazing.

And here’s the kicker; the old plotting boards are still there! The main board with the island images, and the Adiz drawn in; the ‘weather’ board and the ‘comm’ board, they all look just like they did in 1957! My fingerprints are probably still there someplace. I remarked on this and the NCO said that the old boards were still used occasionally for training purposes.

We stood there a while telling old war stories to the JASDF guys and laughing a lot. I told about (and you will recognize this) that close to the Christmas holiday we had a talented guy on one of the crews that used the multi-colored grease pencils to drew on the comm board; Santa Clause and the reindeer and a snow scene with presents and holly and people; and all very elaborate and a wonderful reminder of home far away.

As I was relating this he broke out in a big grin. When I finished speaking he said; “We do! Same, same! We do same at Christmas time!” very excited. And we had a great laugh about it all. Wow – who would have thought !

Our tour ended with a visit to the old maintenance area. You won’t believe it – they still have one of the very old black radar scopes. One of you maint types will be able to fill in the model number, I’m sure. And guess what; it is  still operational! We watched some tracks on it – but alas, they wouldn’t let us call them in to ADCC.

As the kids say; ‘way cool!’

As we left the building, the TV press was there to record all our grins and handshakes.

What a fun experience! I will be ever grateful to our friends on Kume that arranged for permission to visit the site, and to the JASDF personnel that gave us such a great tour!

On behalf of Bill Richards, Karl Lysinger and myself - Thanks!

– John London – Sept 15, 2004