Guestbook

John Wood wrote on December 27, 2010 at 4:00 pm

Kadena (1961-63)

Good Morning,

I thought that some of the members might find this interesting.

The perfect mountain retreat. Your own refurbished Adirondack missile silo. (sporting solid wall construction and great views!)

Noted in the HUD statement:

Property has been verified \"Decommissioned\" and cleared from the Russian\'s \"First Strike\" target list per SALT Agreement 1987.

Atlas-F ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) not included. (Begs the question \"where is it?\")

http://www.silohome.com/index.htm

Bill horn wrote on December 25, 2010 at 12:30 pm

For those of you who have following the Tokyo Broadcasting System documentary and one of us returning to Okinawa after 50 years, let me say , it was a \"TRIP OF A LIFETIME\".
Brenda and I are back with a load of memories we will never forget. The changes on the Island are something that I still can\'t comprehend.The people are the most gracious and attending I have ever met, the new construction is a testament to their attitude, \"what recession\" ??? Everything crane on the Island is in use for high rise buildings.Kokasaui Street in downtown Naha is straight out of a Bruce Lee movie with all its glitz and glamour. The City is one massive jumbo-tron scoreboard from any NFL stadium. The economy appears to be booming with Cartier, Louis Vutton, and Rolex specialty stores everywhere, and they are not fake knockoffs either. It is truly a 21st Century city of Starbucks and McDonalds... oh, did I mention the cost of food was thru the roof ?
I was only able to locate one of the original Mace launch sites, the one at Onna Village. It is now a Peace Memorial and has been retro-fitted to resemble a high class Museum. I was greeted with much enthusiasm by the caretakers and given a fantastic tour of the complex.... it only took 5 full days to locate the place. The Site was very difficult to locate and no one at the local Onna Village City Office knew of its existence.No one understood English and could not speak Japanese. We got along quite well with much pointing grunts and SMILES, the other universal language right up there with music.
Brenda, myself, and two Grandkids were there for 12 days and will always look upon favor with the memories. I had always talked going back but never thought it would be a reality, not cheap, but well worth it.
As soon as the Jet-Lag subsides and normal returns, I have loads of images to post here. For those of who were on Okinawa , you won\'t believe your eyes.

Bill Horn
Original Pioneer
September 5th 1961 - March 5th 1963
Site 1

Pete Graham wrote on December 23, 2010 at 11:13 pm

Kadena 1964-65 498th GEMS Shop. Was there a place clled gate 2 street?

don paterson wrote on December 23, 2010 at 1:40 am

61-63 Lowery AFB, Travis AFB, Orlando AFB
Okinawa 63-65. 873 TMS/498 TMG. Site 1 mech 5.
Lt. Decelio LCO
Kozo Palace hotel bar 63-65!!!

Lowell Woody Woodworth wrote on December 22, 2010 at 5:39 pm

Hello,
Just a short note to ask that any of you who served with the Air Force Air Defense Radar Sites, during the years of about 1950 through the present time, if you\'d like to belong to a web forum which has much discussion of the times served on these sites (Worldwide) look into joining us at the following web; http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFRSV/
When you open the web, if you would like to be a member (free with no member dues or fees) click on the switch you\'ll find mid homepage which is labeled Join this Group and follow the instructions.
Thanks everyone and Merry Christmas/Happy New Year to all of you and your family\'s.
Regards,
Lowell (Woody) Woodworth - lgwdwrth@earthlink.net
AFRSV (Air Force Radar Sites Veterans)

Fred Herbert wrote on December 21, 2010 at 10:35 pm

I was a Martin Company Tech Rep with the 69th TMS, 586th TMG and ended up assigned to 701st/38th Wing Staff at Hahn. Served from 1956- 1959. Was a member of the Proof Test Task Force. Many operations in Libya.
I am a member of the 701st, 586th Reunion Association.

Frank Nieto wrote on December 21, 2010 at 2:09 pm

I was stationed at Hahn from Jan 1956 to Dec 1958 as a missile electronic tech. Enjoyed the work and the comraderie during that time. Retired from the civil service in 1990 as a Production Superintendent, working as a civilian in the air arm of the Navy, at Alameda Naval Air Station. Hello to all my old friends.

Richard E. Tashner wrote on December 21, 2010 at 9:56 am

I was stationed at Sembach AB with the 11th from the July/Aug 1956 to July 1957. I was a control systems maintenance S/Sgt during that time. I was with the 69th at Patrick AFB in 1954 to the time they shipped to Germany. Then I was moved to Orlando AFB where we built up the 11th TMS. I had only 13 months of time left on my enlistment, but because it was a unit shipment, i was required to go we the unit to Sembach.

KENNETH ANCHOR wrote on December 19, 2010 at 6:41 pm

Tainan - 1959/61

Hello, I\'m looking for any photo\'s from the 868TMS. Thank you, Ken

Les Dretsch wrote on December 19, 2010 at 4:17 pm

I made a earlier entry and first I want to Thank Sid Couey for making contact with me since since my first posting...in Nov...

I remember after Lackland I went to Lowry like most all but I will share a funny story about Lowry... There was another Airman name Bill Bardon I believe his name was from VT...He had a 1958 Corvette and I had 1958 Blue Chevrolet Impala... So of course we were down having a few 3.2 beers at the airman club and decided on a race... Like dumb shits we decided to race on the airfield...LOL...return runway... Yep you guess it the Air Police got us both and we had our cars inpounded and we both got busted back to Airman Basic ... oh well shit happens... Does that ring a bell with anybody being at Lowry in the Spring of 1963... Oh by the way ...Bill Bardon Corvette beat me... Dang I lost all around.... Just some memories gone by...LOL Les Dretsch (Okinawa 64 65 and 66)

will marquis wrote on December 18, 2010 at 9:11 pm

at sembach 1955 to 1957 msq1a radar maintenance. sgt t volk ,allison ,stewart ,don bastian all friends served with.

KENT WASHBURN wrote on December 18, 2010 at 11:23 am

498TH TMG Okinawa A1C 1965 66 time frame site 3 Mech 3 LO was Lt Don
Homrighausen (He use to take his unicycle to the site and ride it in the hallway occasionally ) Now that I look back it was a great experience . Great people to work with

CHESTER H GAY wrote on December 15, 2010 at 2:47 pm

ORLANDA,WHITESANDS,SEMBACH.I WAS ONE OF THS SIGNATURES OF EXCEPTANCE FOR THE MACE AFTER WE EXCEPTED IT AT WHITESANDS.I WAS A CALIBRATION TECH.

CHESTER H GAY wrote on December 15, 2010 at 2:32 pm

I WAS WITH BOTH. CALIBRATION TECH. ORLANDO AND SEMBACH.

Jean C. Brandt wrote on December 13, 2010 at 10:34 am

Orlando \'59-\'60, Osan \'60-\'61
I\'m sad to notice fewer Matador Vets as time goes on. Wishing ALL the best Holiday Greetings and a Happy New Year!! Especialy to Fred Notar, my fellow Team 10 mate.

Sidney R Couey wrote on December 11, 2010 at 10:17 pm

Okinawa 1964-1965 and 1968-1969. The first time over I was in the 873rd at site 1 crew 8. LT. Jorden was the LCO. The crew chief was a Canadian (can\'t remember his name)may have been Johnson, Al Joesph was the Mech1, I was Mech2, Les Dretsch was the Mech3, Teddy Collins was the mech5. I can\'t remember who the Mech4 was. 2nd time over was in the GEMs Shop and the supervisors name was Dewitt I was there till the 498th shut down then I was off to Tucson AZ Davis Monthan. Good to see W.C. Smiths name he and I were in the 100SRW in Tucson!

Leonard Ances wrote on December 5, 2010 at 7:22 pm

Orlando AFB 1957-1958

Osan Korea 58th TMG 1958-1959, Part of the original move of the Matador missile from Florida to Korea. Worked in Guidance, Radar, Plotter, Radios, and Link Signial Simulator.

Roger D Jones wrote on November 25, 2010 at 2:28 pm

Bitburg;GSC:Jan 1964-Oct1966
6 months temp Sembach launch 1966
AT&T 1967-2002
retired 2002-?
bought George Midling\'s VW when I arrived at Bitburg $300 gas 15 cents.
HIGHLIGHTS:Rozic\'s Lux Wedding!!!
Peace to all

Les Dretsch wrote on November 23, 2010 at 2:03 pm

Well I do remember a bit about Okinawa... Unfortunately on my return to state side my duffel bag was stolen with all my uniforms, orders...pictures etc etc never to be found again... I was at Orlando when Kennedy assassination spending 65 and 66 on the rock...I did work at all four sites with a number of different crews I liked the stand-by X-crew status..I do remember I did start out with a Lt Jordon Sid Couey Sgt Winters..and can\'t remember the rest..I was the squadron PT Recertification Instructor..and I played First Base on the Squadron Soft Team..My name is Les Dretsch after getting out of the USAF in ..I was a RR Engr..for Southern Pacfic (now Union Pacific RR) working in Or NV and UT...until my retirement...I lived on my 45 ft in San Diego for spell and traveled in my Motorhome...and now finishing it out I guess in San Antonio..TX...if you remember and would like to connect my phone number is 210-376-7653 or email me...whynotles@Yahoo.com

gordon.fisk wrote on November 14, 2010 at 2:03 pm

55 - 66 orlando formosa canaveral hahn

Steve Lankford wrote on November 9, 2010 at 4:15 pm

I am about as far away from Mace and/or Matador missles involvement as you could get unless you were to have caught us on the surface. I was in the USN on the old diesel submarines in the Pacific, early \'68 thru \'71. The reason for my interest here is that I have in my possession a totally functional and operable MM-1 Teracruzer which was used to transport the Mace missles I believe. I Live in Alaska and use this machine to haul freight, fuel and cargo to a gold mining operation I have in the Talkeetna Mts. As soon as I figure out how to...I will post some photos of the Teracruzer in its present condition...which is quite good, btw.

Vince Santamaria wrote on November 7, 2010 at 10:54 am

Lackland 1961
Lowry 1961
Orlando 1962
Hahn Site V 1962-1965 Mace Flight Control Mechanic.

I still have my Site V coffee mug somewhere around here.
I retired from IBM in 1997. My wife and I spend the summer in Robbisville,NC and the winter in Fort Myers,FL
Hope to make the 2011 reunion in San Diego.

F. Scott Notar wrote on October 29, 2010 at 6:04 pm

Airman Notar reporting in, its been a while since I did. Time flies in retirement with normal duties and playing with Grandchildren. The last two years I have gone to concerts for the first time. The little lady says that I am a groopy for the \"Celtic Woman\", group. I don\'t hear her say she didn\'t want to go along with me to the shows in Seattle and Denver. Denver sure has changed and nothing is there at Lowry, except Hanger 2.. I was in from Nov. 58 to Sept 62. I was at Lowry, Orlando, Osan 60-61(Launch 10),and back to Lowry. I think back at my service with fond memories. I salute all who are serving now, God Bless. Scott

Jerry Brenner wrote on October 26, 2010 at 9:58 am

Good to see more people from the Mace B program in Bitburg on the web site, Jerry Katzenberger and George Callahan. Hope they join and come to the reunion in San Diego next year. Looking forward to the reunion. Hope to have more pictures for the reunion.

Mace B
Bitburg, 67-69 shutdown.

jerry katzenberger wrote on October 15, 2010 at 11:38 am

71st TMS Bitburg 67/69
Tech 5 Capt Acuff and Harry F. Hummel

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