Okinawa

[DocWilder]

I am NEW to this forum and I figured I would start by stating that I am with a Green Side unit on Okinawa. I have been in for about 2.5 years and the 1.5 or so here on Okinawa. I am with MLG If you are planing on coming her as a first duty station or returning to Okinawa feel free to ask questions I have seen much of the Island and will be here for the next 2 years. I am also NCS that was extended and plan to go to Med School. I have taken some college on Island and will Physics this fall.

I have read this site for a few days now and it is a great resource so if anyone has questions about anything I could help with let me know.

[SavedbyaDoc]

Welcome aboard.

I'm a newbie here, too. FMF HMs... 'Rah!!!

J.

[KentuckyBoy]

Yo, you on camp Hansen? I'm home on leave right now (THANK GOD!!!!) but will be back on Oki in a couple weeks (NOOOOO!!!!!)

[Instructor's Mom]

Do you know of a 1st Lieutenant Bobber ? He is a Marine Helo 46 pilot, there on Okinawa with my niece and their three children.

[Da-Chief]

Doc Wilder good to see you, Same with you Kentucky Boy!! Been wondering where you have been!
Hope to hear from you both more!
Happy 4th!!

Da-Chief

[DocWilder]

Nice to meet you I hope to keep in touch.

Like I said if you ever need anything let me know and hope you had a happy 4th.

[DocWilder]

Yo, you on camp Hansen?


Yes, I am on Hansen! I know how your felling about Oki but it dose have more to offer than most people know. I have enjoyed been here for a long time though so I am more used to it than most.....

[DocWilder]

Do you know of a 1st Lieutenant Bobber ? He is a Marine Helo 46 pilot, there on Okinawa with my niece and their three children.


No I do not know him, they live on a different part of the island now near the air base. I have done some good training with the 46's here though. For all I know he could have been the pulot.

[docmctee75]

Hi Doc Wilder.

It's been nearly 35 years since I was Okinawa. Back in those days, I was stationed at Schwab with the 9th Marines. We lived in barracks that had two squadbays, each capable of holding a platoon and as such, Mike Co, 3/9, the unit to which I was attached was comprised of two barracks buildings, a company office and armory.

While we were there, the seabees built a rudimentary "club" on the beach and we had a company party and BBQ just as 2/4 was practicing amphibious landings with AMTRACS, selecting Camp Schwab's beach to practicetheir landings.

I left Okinawa just before they hosted a World's Fair in 1975. I understand that there have been a lot of changes made to the bases since I spent my 13 month tour there. Could you tell me what the living conditions are like, etc.?

Semper Fi,

Doc McTernan

[8404]

Could you tell me what the living conditions are like, etc.?

Better yet, post a picture. I found one I took of the barracks and streets of Camp Hansen dated January 1974. I stayed in the barracks marked with an 'X'. Click on the picture for an enlarged view.

My question: Do the barracks look the same or are they the same today on Okinawa?

[psencik1950]

Certainly didn't change from 72 to 74. As I was leaving, the island was being turned over to the Japanese. I didn't have to deal with that.

[mm3toHM3]

Hey Docwilder!

Hopefully I can join you in Japan. Out of my first A school I asked for Japan, and I ironically received a Norfolk based Aircraft Carrier. The real question is, when you graduated NHCS and FMSS, did you get to choose orders to Japan? or was it " where the navy needs you"? Not sure how they treat orders and Billets, or if they give any preference to people who already did some time in the fleet?

Basically, I would really like to work with a Marine unit in Japan. Although I am looking a bit far ahead, still waiting on my crossrate package, haha

Thanks!

[DocWilder]

I have some NEW pics but I am in Tokyo so I will post them when I get back to Oki...

[DocWilder]

I can tell you there would be little to no trouble getting at least Okinawa but getting main land is a lot tougher. It dose happen though.... If you check JAZ you can see that there are a bunch of spots open in Okinawa but its all about when you pick orders.

[Doc Fluty]

MM3... when my class graduated FMSS most people got a place where they at some time requested, yet some people got random duties such as on the Mercy ship or back to RTC.

At times the navy is accommodating, but when it needs people in a certain spot (Iraq) then that is what you get. So one month everyone gets what they want... next month the need of the navy rule is enforced... its a crap shoot based on man power availability

[d-one-corpsman]

If you check JAZ you can see that there are a bunch of spots open in Okinawa but its all about when you pick orders.

if that is the case i want to go to either Japan after FMSS or Italy i have been hearing a lot of good things. Whats the chances of going to Italy?

[8404]

if that is the case i want to go to either Japan after FMSS or Italy i have been hearing a lot of good things. Whats the chances of going to Italy?

'D' One: If you can choose, I would choose Italy or mainland Japan, NOT the Island of Okinawa. Just my humble opinion, others may say different.

[Doc_Stevens]

Been too long, but if I remember correctly, I chose three duty station (dreams), three each for SHORE, OVERSEAS, and FLEET.......my last choice of all was FMF.....so, of course, that's what I got. Just so happens that after Field Med, I was assigned First MAW (based out of Iwakuni Japan.

I had mixed feelings going to Japan, but all-in-all, I consider it one of the best duty stations I was ever assigned.

[jkeasling]

Italy is good. I was there when they moved the Hospital out of the old wine factory fairly downtown or rather it was on a hill above the barracks (which was built like a hotel and murder when the elevator went out) to the New (then) Hospital which is still there( I think, built in a crater). If you missed the shuttle and had to walk, it was a long way and the road to the Hospital was littered with used condoms and cotton. It was really a chore moving all the patients. But it was a good duty station, well until the fleet was in town and all the prices doubled. That was 40 years ago.

[8404]

..used condoms and cotton.

I'm afraid to ask what or where the 'cotton' was from! :D

[jkeasling]

You just avoided stepping on it. I guess it was used as a wipe getting ready for the next John.