Korean War Project

Comments: any information or photos of 22nd Troop Carrier SQD would mean a great deal.

Keywords: My Father was K.I.A. 11-20-1955 Pilot of C-124 Globe master. crashed on Iwo Jimma MyFathers name was George Giakovmis 11 His hobbies were boat racing and making model air planes Looking for any information concerning my Fathef or the crash as he passed when I was very young your respounce would be greatly appriched

20th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron

Comments: I was Stationed at Tachikawa Air Force Base from Oct. '68 to Oct '70, initially with the 20th Casualty Staging Flight, later redesignated the 20th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. This unit was attached to, but separate from, the hospital. I arrived several month after the Vietnem Tet Offensive, so the units Tachikawa facility to help with the overflow of wounded, Quonset Huts, up the street from the football field, was closed, but the facility on the flight line at Yokota AB was functioning at full capacity, that being 3 wards with a Total capacity of 70-80 patients.

As a rule, 3 C-141 flights a day would arrive from Vietnam: Cam Rhon Bay, DaNang, and Tan Shun Ut (SP) in Siagon. We would unload the aircraft and process them for immediate departure to Camp Zama, Yokuska, Tachikawa and a few others who names now escape me! Others would spend the night at the 20th for departure in the morning prior to the arrival of 3 more medevac flights flights the next day. Patient were transported, in conjunction with the Army And Navy in Huey helicopters, Ambulance buses and ambulances. Almost all patients were military wounded but occasional (and Rare) POW VIP's would arrive. Prior to the incoming flights in the afternoon, 2 to 3 stateside C-141's were loaded for departure in the morning, for patients requiring further treatment, rehab, etc. Patient turn over during a 24 hour period at the 20th was 100%.

The military made this an amazingly efficient operation, and in so doing, save many lives that otherwise would have been lost. Of course, the other side of the coin, no war no casualties is true, but since recorded time, I beleive there has been but 30 or 40 days where one tribe, clan or nation hasn't been waring with another! I will allude to the fact stated earlier, My unit, the 20 Casualty Staging Flight was redesignated the 20th Aereomedical Evacuation Squadron for PR propaganda purposes.

I have written all of this to say this: my unit has disappeared from history: Google of 20th AME, Tachikawa and Tachy hospital, gets nothing....anyone out there remember us?? Would enjoy hearing from you if you do.

George S Ramoska

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Tachikawa AFB Japan 1961

Comments:

Keywords: My Grandfather Kenneth H. Stepherson was in a band on base called the Sunset Serenaders, They played every Saturday at the NCO club. Looking for band members and Stories. Some of the other band members are Gordon Berry wife Joyce, Hersel Smith wife Sherry, Ausin Berdine. Looking for names of other band members I have a photo upon request from 1961.

TACHIKAWA HOSPITAL 1968-1970

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Keywords: LOOKING FOR WAF STATIONED AT TACHIKAWA FROM 1968 TO 1970

Tachikawa veterans

Comments: I was stationed at Tachikawa from 1947 to 1949 with the 317th Troop Carrier Wing. Is there anyone who was there at that time who would like to share experiences? contact Dr Richard Patterson

richardpatterson@gulftel.com

Keywords: C46-C54

Bobbie N. Stull

Comments: My name is Ed Love and my father-in-law was stationed at Tachikawa AB, Japan from about 1958 to 1961 as an airlift medic and his name is Bobbie N. Stull. His wife was Lois Stull and they had two daughters, Dianne and Marie. After Tachi, they were stationed at Andrews AFB, MD. Then Scott AFB. Finally, Lackland AFB in 1966 where he was medically retired. In 1977, they moved here to Panama City, Florida. If anyone knew him while he was there, I would like to hear from you and I know Lois would love to hear from you also. Thanks.

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Inter-Service Baseball League May 12 60 - ?

Comments: I am putting together a book for my dad John W Rueber. He played on the baseball league in Japan at Itazuke about 12 May 1960 and I would like anyone with a photo, info or news clipping to please contact me by email.

Keywords: Japan Inter-league Baseball League

6400 Tachikawa AFB

Comments: My Dad has just moved in with me and I was hoping to help him connect with anyone stationed at Tachikawa AFB when he was 1950-1952.

Keywords: 6400 Supply 1950-52, Tachikawa AFB, Warehouse S/SGT Don Noll

Medic Chuck Jones

Comments: Anyone remember an army medic, Specialist Chuck Jones at Tachikawa AFB Hospital from 1966-1969? Denise was his wife, baby daughter named Lynette. Originally from New York state. Denise was a teacher at Tachikawa elementary school.

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Birthday

Comments: I was stationed at Tachikawa from 1968 to 1971 as a member of the 36th ARRS, which was moved to Yokota when the Tachikawa runway closed. I have many wonderful memories of my days in Japan. But, there is one in particular. That would be the birth of my daughter on May 1, 1970. All these years later I can still recall in absolute detail the events of that day. I won't bore you with ALL of the particulars. But, suffice to say it is as vivid today as if it happened yesterday

Keywords: HC-130P

Patient Records

Comments: My dad was hurt in a Jeep accident in Iwo Jima and was airlifted to FEAMCOM hospital. Is there anyone who would know if there is a way to contact the hospital to get back records? This took place in 1950 - 51. Any help wiould be greatful.

Thanks

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1965 patient

Comments: Due to the plastic surgery skill of the surgeons at the Tachi hospital in the summer of '65, I have little or no scars from a burn. I had a phosphorus burn on my right hand to my elbow and have virtually no scars from that experience. I spent time in the hospital and had all the scar tissue work done there. To whomever was responsible, I thank you , my children and grandchildren thank you for the dexterity, form and function you restored.

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Was there 6/52-12/53

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Keywords: I was a Surgial Tech at Tachy from 6/52-12/53 and frequently made trips in cracker boxes to Toyko, carrying wounded flown in from Korea compliments of C-124 Globe Masters. The seriously wounded were transported to Toyko, we kept the rest at Feamcom. My barracks,(Fox), was next to acouple of large smoke stacks that Doolittle had bombed during WW=2. F-86 Sabre's were flown in for 1,000 hour check ups at Tacky or Johnson AFB. Rumors from Japanese nationals I worked with stated that during WW-2 the Japanese Gov., had large elevators at the end of the runways that allowed bombers to be stored underground. During the May Day riots the base qwould be completly surrounded with Japanese, hanging on the security fences complete with small lanterns which made sleeping difficult. Once there had been a belief that we poisoned their water supply, later to find out that their own World War-2 gasoline tanks stored underground had rusted out; it created a great deal of tension! FEAMCOM Hospital was a busy place during some serious battles in Korea that left many wounded that had to be air-evaced. In fact I was there when 127 were killed just off the base on a C-124 Globe Master; they were returning to Korea. We had to deal with an Officer that tried for two weeks to get his brother on that fatal flight. Cause of crash; a sheared generator shaft plus two command pilots at the controls. They lost number one engine and the co-pilot instead of killing the bad engine he killed number two which left them with zero power on the left side; the rest is history. That's about all I have to contribute.

Rev. Matt Underwood

Comments: Dear Rev. Underwood, I was "surfing the net" for Keesler AFB in Biloxi & wondering why it was not mentioned on the news about Hurricane Katrina, when I decided to check up on another base where I had been stationed: Tachikawa. I came across your message. I served there around 73 to 75... much later than your father. As you know things change with time. Tachikawa was a much smaller "operation" while I was there & more emphasis was being placed on Yokota where my husband was stationed. You mentioned one of the reasons. Local (Japanese)public opinion. The incident with the communists was still talked about when I was there(75).In fact a single tall pole or two erected just outside the base fence prevented air planes from landing on the run way at Tachi & this is my under-standing of why more operations were moved to Yokota (about seven miles away). In fact grass & weeds were invading the macadam on the former runway which I remember because someone tried to teach me how to ride a motorcycle there. Also large parts of the base were abandoned or just not used. However there was one isolated area where some of the Japanese women( 2 single nurses who, ancilary help, a few maids) worked on the base lived. But by any American standard these conditions seemed to be substandard.

Keywords: Part 2 . One of these Japanese RNs was MORIMOTO-san,who worked in the newborn nursery with me. She had been stationed at Tachikawa when she was in the Japanese Army during WWII. She was about 5 ft. tall. Truthfully, she was wonderful, an absolute treasure. I think about her alot. (I'll write more.)

6407th USAF HOSPITAL - Underwood E-Mail Update

Comments: Sorry out there to anyone who had tried to contact me about Tachikawa AB, the 6407th, or any other FEAMCOM unit or squadron. My E-mail changed a while back to the following:

uwood2@i4f.net

It has been a while since I have checked back on this site. My dad, A1C / SSgt. Robert A. "Bob" Underwood, medic from the 6407th USAF Hosp at Tachikawa AB 1953-1955, is still in the business of helping folks. He spent two tours---1 month each---with the Red Cross in New York City since September 11th, 2001. He'll be 70 on 29 Jan 2002, but still seems like the same old dad I always knew, just with whiter hair.

The Airman/Medic he was with when they were dropped in to treat the infantry company was a guy named Blount---he couldn't remember his first name. If anyone knows of this fellow, please let me know.

Also, I have a correction to make in my previous posting. My dad did not actually fly the medevac mission to Viet Nam to evacuate the French troops. It was my misunderstanding that he actually was part of the flight there and back. But he was, of course, actively involved in their treatment when they returned. He had mentioned "Vietnam" in connection with his service often enough, and his medically treating the French general, etc., but I had inadvertently misplaced him as part of the mission's flight crew medical personnel rather than simply being part of the receiving personnel strictly at Tachi. The fact that he had gone on other flights made me assume that he had gone on this one as well, though he naver actually said he did. He did describe the objective of the mission and what was basically done by the medics who typically went on such missions. I must have assumed the rest.

My apologies for any misrepresentation, as I assure you all it wasn't intentional. Sometimes it is difficult getting veterans to discuss much detail about their service activities, and I assumed too much and filled in a blank which didn't actually exist in my dad's tour of duty. Well, at least he was on hand at Tachi to help when they arrived.

Again, my sincerest apologies.

As one interested in history, I would encourage all you veterans out there to write down factual particulars of your service records for posterity, even if you think that no one else is interested or that your family doesn't care. I assure you that they might care more than you know. Such personal stories, testimonies, and eyewitness accounts, as well as personal records of involvement in these events in history should be preserved.

Growing up, I always remember looking through the old cigar box which had what few items my dad was able to preserve from his service days. Ribbon bars, enlisted "US" discs of the silver Air Force type, etc., etc. It was always fascinating to me. This was before I even knew where Korea was on a map. Only until recently did I really realize that my dad won't be around forever, and I have got to make sure that the details of his service are WRITTEN DOWN, not just talked about. And a DD-214 sheet of paper doesn't do any justice to the full story of his activities overseas. I want to pass along to my children and nieces and nephews the heritage of service that their grampa had, and if my brothers and sisters aren't intrested (which isn't the case), then at least I would do it for the next generation.

So vets, help your families out by not making it as tough as pulling teeth for them to understand at least a little bit about your service. And remember, the facts and figures and names and dates and places may sound boring (though I disagree with that assessment), but they provide a skeletal framework around which the human-interest stories are placed. They provide the context for the memories of the acts and deeds and duties which were rendered under the American Flag which is thankfully prominent again in American life (the A.C.L.U.'s efforts notwithstanding).

Thanks to all of you for your service to our country.

In Christ,

Rev. Matt Underwood, Tampa, FL

Keywords: 6407th USAF HOSPITAL - Underwood E-Mail Update

6407th USAF Hospital, Tachikawa Air BAse

Comments: My dad is Robert A. "Bob" Underwood of Decatur, Illinois, who was at 6407th USAF Hospital at Tachikawa from 1953-1955.

He was a NCO and was a physical therapist, ward, and also a neurosurgeon's assistant under Dr. St.-John of California. A good friend, among several, was Airman Norman Soderquist.

He went on several med-evac flights in and out of Korea, even after the cease-fire, was involved as a medic on-hand in some sort of Prisoner of War exchange at a long bridge, and went on at least one occasion to med-evac French troops out of what was then French Indochina, i.e. Vietnam. There was a French general who somehow had horrible burns all over his back, and my dad personally treated him by putting powdered-milk on it. The monsieur was forever grateful.

He also got shot in the leg when he and another medic were dropped into some sort of hot zone to tend to the wounded in a company of Marines or Infantry.

He also drove base ambulances on occasion. He also ran and tackled a patient who was a very athletic black guy who had a stateside career as a pro-football player --- at least as high up as he could get at that time --- who had been blinded in both eyes. The guy started running toward the sound of some transport propellors intending to kill himself, and my dad, who was a star defensive tackle at Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Illinois, ran after him and caught him.

Another incident he related was that the U.S. troops had to fire upon a mob of some Japanese civilians who were pushing down one of the base fences. My dad said that he was told that they were known Communist activists of some kind. Did you ever hear of that? As medics, they treated the wounded from this incident. All was apparently done at the "Tachi" Air Base. I'd like to find out more about this incident, and if the government tried to cover it up or something typical like that because it involved civilians. (Not that I necessarily disagree --- if you have to guard the Base then I guess you have to --- I'd just like to know more. It's one of those kind of things you'd expect to see on the History Channel or something.)

I have been trying to compile a full service record of places, units he was a member of, and also ones in which he may have been temporarily detatched to for various med-evac operations whether major or minor. I only have two or three pictures he took at FEAMCOM, including one of the FEALOG HQ building and its sign. The rest were mostly in Tachi City or a few other of the Japanese or Korean countryside. General LeMay supposedly shows up in one of these, but he's real tiny. You know all those typical servicemen's pictures with 95% of unimportant blah space around the "main subject" of the picture?

I would love to find out more about the existence of any and all Unit histories (be they three paragraphs, pages, or chapters somewhere) of all the major units at Tachikawa, especially the Medical and Medevac ones from the beginning of the War until at least past 1955. Also, a history of Tachikawa Air Base itself. Anyone have any such data or know where I can find it? I haven't yet contacted Maxwell AFB's Historical center, but am planning to. I haven't found hardly anything on the Net, either.

It seems to me a real shame that Tachikawa Air Base and all its 6400-numbered units and others are largely ignored and forgotten, when in fact that Base and all its various units together contributed to probably what amounts to the greatest single effort in lowering the casualty rate in the whole Korean Theater. Headquartered and actively flying out of Tachikawa in particular was the largest concentration of Combat Cargo shipments and in return Air Medical Evacuation of casualties ever to be seen. And the Air Medical Evacuation techniques, from the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron to the 121st Evac Hospital to the MASH units to the pickups at Taegu and Kimpo, etc., to the Air Force removal to Tachikawa and other bases in Japan ---- most all were coordinated out of Tachikawa, the 315th Wing, FEAMCOM, and FEALOG. These techniques were honed to near perfection during the Korean War at Tachikawa, were tested and proven again in Vietnam, and are still the basic tactics used today.

Yet Tachikawa Air Base and all her operative units are practically forgotten about.

Shoot, my dad doesn't even have any of his patches or more specialized unit insignia from there, and I haven't been able to find very much on that, except for the 315th Wing, the Kyushu Gypsies, and some of the older insignia of some of the former "Troop Carrier" Saquadrons, like the 6th, 21st, and 22nd.

(My dad had two big losses of most of his souveniers and stuff, first when in 1954 his folks in Illinois had a fire that destroyed their whole house and everything in it, and 2nd, when a Scottish friend in the service promised to help ship his items home when he returned in Oct 1955 --- the guy stole everything.)

I would like to amass a sort of re-creation of items which he may have had or of units he may have known or actually have been detached to.

I would also like to find depictions of the old-style Colors of the Groups (such as the 67th Medical Group, and the 6481st Medical Air Evacuation Group, etc.) - which would have the proper distinctive "insignia" as the shield and the crest above the eagle. I am, of course, referring to the old style of Air Force colors, being the carry-overs of the Army Air Force and Army patterns of WWII, before the Air Force changed to the ones like they have today, which are still the deep blue with Air Force Yellow fringe, but which have the ring of stars, the ogee-shaped Air Force shield, and the Air Force Eagle crest on top, like the uniform buttons.

Does anyone have any pictures of any Tachi Base units on parade, by any chance? Does anyone have any pictures of the Base at all? I would also like to find or have someone recreate a basic and simple blueprint-type drawing of the Air Base from above. Does anyone have such a thing?

I would like to help coordinate the assembling of some sort of book or contribute to a website about the Base and its units and their activities from the end of WWII when we took it over, until c.1968 when it closed, or at least the actual War era of 1950-1955. But right now I don't know much at all.

My dad is 68 and in pretty good health physically, but is starting to feel that pumper of his needing a little more attention. He and my mom live in Decatur, Illinois, my hometown. (He was originally born in DeWitt, Arkansas, down in the delta in Arkansas Co.) I'd like to see if something can be done starting this year, the 50th Anniversary of the start of the War, to honor the airmen and other veterans of the Tachikawa Air Base in Japan.

Reply if you can, but if not, then maybe I'll try to write again sometime in the next few weeks or months. My internet provider and E-Mail address may change to Sprint's "Earthlink" soon, but we haven't decided yet. I'll try to get word somehow.

In Christ,

Rev. Matt Underwood, conservative Southern Baptist Pastor

Keywords: 6407th USAF Hospital Tachikawa Air Base FEAMCOM FEALOG 6481st Medical Air Evacuation Group Norman Soderquist, Airman Maj. St.John, M.D., USAF, Neurosurgeon, of so. California