Torii Typhoon Volume 5 Issue 1 July 2005 Plaque Dedication Honors ASA/Inscom Friday July 1, 2005 marked a significant day in the life of the ASA Okinawa Association. At 10:00 AM that morning, the plaque that you see to your left was dedicated to the National Cryptologic Museum Foundation. This dedication culminated three years of fund raising efforts by the Association. Bill Overholt, former Association President, was the driving force behind the fund raising efforts and it seemed only logical that Bill present the check to Foundation Chairman Major General John Morrison, USAF (Retired). The plaque will permanently hang in the museum as a tribute to the thousands of men and women who served in one of the several organizations that make up the ASA Okinawa Association. The first Cryptologic operations began in April 1945 when the first operating platoon, 126th Signal Service Company landed on Okinawa to support the U.S. Forces engaged in the Ryukyu Islands Campaign of WW II. Three (Continued on page 2)
PAGE 2 (Continued from page 1) months later it was joined by the 125th Signal Service Company. From that moment in April 1945 when elements of the 126th Signal Service Company began operations, U.S. Army cryptologic units maintained a continuous presence on the island. The 1st operating platoon of the 126th Signal Service Company remained at Shimabuku until July 1948 then the unit (less personnel and equipment) transferred to Kyoto, Japan. At that time the 111th Signal Service Company deployed from Seoul, Korea, to Okinawa and assumed the personnel and mission previously assigned to the 1st operating platoon of the 126th. The 111th Signal Service Company was redesignated the 327th Communication Reconnaissance Company on 25 October 1951 ultimately transferred (less personnel and equipment) to Fushimi, Japan on 1 September 1952. On 1 April 1951, the Field Station 8603 Area Administrative Unit, assigned to the 111th Signal Service Company, was organized at Futenma, Okinawa. This unit initially existed only on paper with one officer and one enlisted man assigned. On 15 May 1952, a full contingent of personnel transferred to the 8603rd from an ASA unit located elsewhere on the island. On 3 August 1953, 8603rd personnel moved to new barracks at Sobe, but operations continued at Futenma. The soldiers commuted daily until operations were transferred to Sobe on 16 November 1953. The 8603rd was redesignated 3rd US ASA Field Station on 1 January 1957. The installation at Sobe was named Torii Station on 20 November 1958. Later that year, the Field Station adopted its motto Best In The Business inspired by the many accolades the station was receiving at the time. On 14 July 1961, the 51st Special Operations Command was organized at Torii Station and this designation replaced that of the Field Station. The 51st SOC underwent a series of restructuring through the years. On 15 December 1967 the 51st SOC was redesignated as USASA Field Station Sobe. On May 1, 1977, following the incorporation of the Army Security Agency into the newly formed Intelligence and Security command, USASA Bill Overholt is shown presenting the Association check for $5,000.00 to Major General John Morrison, USAF (Ret) Chairman of The National Cryptologic Museum Foundation. Col William Smilin Bill Vernau is shown in the background. Field Station Sobe was once again redesignated one final time this time to US Army Field Station Okinawa. This structure continued until operations ceased and the Field Station was discontinued in October 1985. A total of 35 persons (former members and spouses or guests) attended the dedication ceremony. Many of this number stayed a one of the local hotels and enjoyed the company of old friends and made a few new ones as well. The ceremony began promptly at 10:00 AM with the opening remarks by Major General John Morrison, USAF (Retired). We were privileged to have three former Commanding Officers, Col William Vernau (July 1973-August 1975), Col David Wisyanski (August 1975-August 1977), and Col Walter L Cressler, Jr (July 1984- October 1985) present and address the group. During the command of Col Wisyanski, the station won the prestigious Travis Trophy. Each of the former commanders shared a few of their memories, and we from the rank and file appreciate their efforts probably better now than we did back then. In addition to remarks made by the former Commanding Officers and General Morrison, we were privileged to have the Acting Director of the National Security Agency, Mr. Bill Black, address the group. All in all it was a wonderful day and the plaque that now hangs on the wall insures the contributions we made to our country are not forgotten. We are reminded that to this day, most of what we did is still classified, so the credit that is due earned by all of us will have to remain a secret, but we know! And that is important! 2005 REUNION OF ASA OKINAWA SEPTEMBER 15-18
PAGE 3 ASSOCIATION OFFICERS Billy Tex Davenport, President PO Box 241 Tioga, TX 76271 903-564-7012 texokinawa@aol.com Jim Norrbom, V. Pres/Pres Elect 11409 Christensen Ct Burnsville, MN 55337 952-890-2384 norrbom@aol.com Larry Eckard, Immediate Past Pres 1225 34th Ave NE Hickory, NC 28601 828-256-6008 cw3reteck@aol.com Bill Overholt, Past President 69 Hillside Rd Turnersville, NJ 08012 856-218-0124 asasobie@aol.com Bill Alles, Secretary PO Box 744 Woodbine, NJ 08270 609-861-5272 boba7@comcast.net Tom Sturgeon, Treas 12 Cherry Lane Olmstead TWP, OH 44138-2916 440-427-9985 duosturgeons@aol.com Paul Watson, Membership Chairman 17 Baker Rd Salisbury, MA 01952 978-465-7473 The Torii Typhoon is Published By: Military Locator & Reunion Service, Inc PO Drawer 11399 Hickory, NC 28603 TREASURER S REPORT ASA OKINAWA JUNE 9, 2005 Beginning Balance as of February 19, 2005 $5268.74 Dues Received $1352.00 Total...$6620.74 Disbursements Adjustment Check to ASA Memorial Fund -$40.00 Postage and Printing for March 2005 Newsletter -$300.01 Address Stamp for ASA Okinawa..-$21.55 Total Disbursements.-$361.56 Balance as of June 9, 2005.$6259.18 Respectfully submitted, Thomas Sturgeon, Treasurer WELCOME MAT The following members have been located since the last newsletter. Welcome to the Association. We hope to see you at the next reunion and hear from you about your memories of your time spent in Okinawa. Bob Legere 12613 Pentenville Rd Silver Spring, MD 20904 301-622-1543 Donald Mahaney (1953-55) 80 Dove Plum Rd Vero Beach, FL 32963 772-234-5528 Gerry Schneberger 2807 Brite Ct Crofton, MD 21114 410-721-4813 Larry Lemoine PO Box 145 Grosse Tete, LA 70740 225-648-2159 Leon Noel 10518 Crescent Moon Dr Houston, TX 77064 281-890-2734 Richard Rydberg 6240 Mirror Lake Dr Sebastian, FL 32958 772-388-9201 Johnnie Luke, Jr. (1958-59) SP/5 114 Luke Ln Deville, LA 71328 318-253-4794 Edward Walker 109 Windamere Dr Hot Springs, AR 71913 George Heussler (1975-76) PO Box 272 Litchfield, ME 04350 207-268-4699 828-256-6008 (voice) 828-256-6559 (fax) Dinamlrs@charterinternet.com Larrymlrs@charterinternet.com karenmlrs@charterinternet.com Our Reunion Work So You Don t Have To NEWSLETTER EXPENDITURES FOR JULY 2005 $379.28 J.C. Cannon kagnewsta@netzero.net William Prudhomme 2620 NW 105th Ter Coral Springs, FL 33065 Danny Garner 516 Hadlow St Lexington, KY 40503 Robert Ayers (1965-67) 2403 Braemar Cove Austin, TX 78747 512-280-6863 amoret2@aol.com John Lawless (1972) 50 Cynthia Rd Tewksbury, MA 01876 (Continued on page 4)
PAGE 4 (Continued from page 3) Jerome Keenan (1961-65) 46405 176th St Bemis, SD 57238 Robert Lubberman (1962-63) SP4 HQ Co 1118 Fielding Dr West Chester, PA 19382 610-399-1717 Steven Preflatish PO Box 8 English, IN 47118 812-843-4593 preflat@psci.net Charles Alexander (1973-75) 10 Bridgeview Dr Rome, GA 30161 706-234-7146 chaz3787@aol.com Milton Williams 16555 N 4400 W Fielding, UT 84311 Steve Woods (1962-70) E4-E7 Ops Co A 91 Sunnyfield Dr Blountville, TN 37617 423-279-1065 swoods@charter.net Jerry Orton 327 Fantasy Ln Montgomery, TX 77356 936-582-1349 Robert Kennedy, Jr. (1958-60) 96 Rodmor Rd Havertown, PA 19083 610-449-0159 Dean Perry (1950-52) 111th Sig 3595 Santa Fe Ave Space 193 Long Beach, CA 90810 562-424-0666 Daniel Roberson (1969-71) SP5 14828 S Locust St Olathe, KS 66062 913-764-1854 drober3@sbcglobal.net TAPS The Typhoon learned of the following deaths since the last newsletter was published. The deaths are not necessarily recent, but they were just learned of. The entire membership extends our deepest sympathy to the widows, families and friends of the deceased. Charles O Donnell (1961-63) Date of death not reported David Sewell Died April 29, 1980 Samuel Walton, Jr. Died June 27, 1999 Paul Bartel Date of death not reported Benjamin Farley Died December 28, 2003 Rev. Worrell Holby Died August 29, 2001 Richard Huff (1958-59) SP4 Died June 26, 2005 Norman Smith Died April 8, 2003 Wendell Sears Died April 11, 2003 Clarence Greene (1949-53) SFC 327th Co Died March 4, 2005 Frederick Rivenburg Died October 9, 2000 Elvin Butcher Died July 29, 2003 David Lange Died January 16, 2003 Richard Hensley Date of death not reported MAIL CALL Dear Tom, My time at the 111th SSC was Jan. to May 1950. My MOS was 709. I read the list of members attending the 2004 reunion. I did not recognize any of the names. It seems that most of the active members are from the later years. At one time there was talk of having VP s from the different years. I belong to the group that served in Tokyo from 1946-1952. ASAPAC HQ. This reunion will meet at the same time, Sept, 2005. They have many of the people who also served in Okinawa. I will look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes for 2005. John S. (Sam) Rich 304 Barr St Carterville, IL 62918-1816 Dear Mr. Sturgeon, For clarification, for nearly 2 years beginning in June, 1950, I was part of the old 111th Sig. Svc. Co. which then in 1951 became the 327th Comm. Recon. Co., located just outside the village of Futenma. I ve not attended any of the reunions, but from the Nov. 2004 issue of the Torri Typhoon, I was pleased to learn three of the vets who were there at the same time I was are still around. They are Hobo Crawford, Mike Nuin and Erland Scribner. These three evoke a few of the relatively rare pleasant memories of that period of service. Earle C. DeKay 2805 NE 128 Ave Portland, OR 97230 Dear Tom, Greetings from Wisconsin! Allow me to introduce myself. An ASA oldtimer, I enlisted for a 3-year hitch in (Continued on page 5)
the Army Security Agency as a private back on 29 June 1951. (I had just completed two years of college at Bucknell University in PA.) After BCT at Fort Knox, and a brief transition at Vint Hill Farms, VA, I was sent to Fort Devens for AIT (Radio Traffic Analysis) then flew to Two Rock Ranch Station in preparation for subsequent deployment to the Far East Command (FECOM). Reporting to Hqs, ASAPAC in Tokyo in May of 1952, I found myself assigned to the ASA Field Station (then called 8603 AAU) on OKI- NAWA! At that time, we were quartered in Quonset huts of WWII design and the ASA installation was located south of RYCOM Hqs near the village of Futenma. Our site was situated along high ground flanked by two deep ravines (gullies) with a commanding view of the most beautiful sunsets I ve ever seen. WWII Bailey Bridges spanned the local creek. During the nine months I spent on Oki, Kadena AFB was built, along with the blacktop highway up the west side of the island, from Naha to Kadena. Then there was New Koza and Old Koza, but we won t get into that! Many fond memories of signing out a threequarter ton at the motor pool with friends on Sunday afternoon, driving up north along the east coast, fording a stream (concrete bridge nearly destroyed in WWII invasion), then machete in hand- harvesting bread fruit from the trees which lined the beach then- skinny-dipping in the ocean!! Then in February of 1953, I decided that I wanted to experience the ASA in Korea while the war was still on! I walked into the orderly room, visited the LTC Terry, our CO and low and behold, 15 days later I was in SEOUL at the Hqs 501 Comm Recon Gp (after a brief stop in ASAPAC)!! Korea was a whole different story which I won t go into in this letter, other than to say that in August of 1953 two weeks after the 27 July armistice and ceasefire, I had a couple of days off. A buddy and I flew up to the UN Base Camp (just south of the DMZ) and had the chance to photograph part of Operation Big Switch, the prisoner repatriation operation! Quite an experience. I rotated home on Points, leaving the Port of Pusan on 27 Jan 54 and arriving at the Army s Staten Island Ocean Terminal (with a magnificent view of the Statue of Liberty on 06 March. We took home many of the UN troops of other nations stopping off in Athens, Greece for 12 hours of Liberty!! (I edited the troop ship newsletter enroute.) After a post-overseas leave, I vacationed at Devens until ETS on 28 June 54. Back to college to finish my journalism degree (this time at Seton Hall Univ in my native NJ), joined the Army Reserve and got married. Jumped from SFC to first lieutenant upon Direct Commissioning in 1958. Now a lifer, I spent a total of 35 years combined service (Active Army, ARNG and USAR including 3 years EAD during the Vietnam War) retiring as a full colonel in April 1990. Sally and I raised four sons and a daughter along the way. I have enjoyed receiving your ASA Okinawa Association newsletter. Inasmuch as I am a life member of ASA-Korea and attend all their annual reunions (this past fall our reunion was held in Baltimore/Washington, DC and, among other things, we visited the NSA Code Museum!), it s unlikely that I will attend the ASA Okinawa reunions (only so much $ in retirement, you know!). However, I like to stay in touch. I have some really good color photos of the time I served with FS 8603 AAU on Okinawa (1952-53) which I could send you for possible publication or display if you would have use for same. In the meantime, I want to wish the many members of your fine organization of fellow ASA veterans, all the best!!! In Comradeship, Cliff Borden Colonel, AUS, Retired 4304 Drexel Ave Madison, WI 53716-1630 csborden@chorus.net PAGE 5 P.S. I was managing Editor of the 8603rd Typhoon weekly while assigned there (PFC Borden)-a mimeographed tabloid. Tom and Marian, Thank you for your e-mail. I m glad to know that you really enjoyed your holidays. I hope your sons and their families are well. It s always nice to see the children and grandchildren in distant places from time to time. How many grandchildren do you have? We also had an unusual cold weather throughout Japan this year. There was lots of snow in mainland Japan. In Okinawa, the lowest temperature was 6 degrees centigrade. We had very few daylight hours last month. I hope we don t have to worry about a water shortage problem this year. At this moment, I do not know whether I will be able to attend this year s ASA reunion. I know you are very active in this and I salute you and other officers for engineering the reunion activities. I hope you will have a good turnout this year. That s all for now. Stay healthy. Shinsho Torri Typhoon, Please mention in one of the newsletters a great book about NSA and ASA. It is a good history of ASA and tells of the many ASA stations from start to finish, including Okinawa. Anyone that was in the ASA would like to know about it and read it. It s in paperback and is entitled Body of Secrets by James Bamford, Copyright 2001-2002, First Anchor Books, Edition Ap 2002. William Desrocher
PAGE 6 The former Commanding Officers and Gen Morrison. l to r: Col Wisyanski, Gen Morrison, Col Vernau, Col Cressler Bill Overholt and General Morrison unveiling the plaque. Gen Morrison introducing Mr Bill Black, Acting Director National Security Agency. Socializing at King Contrivance Restaurant Front Row L to r: Col Vernau, Sherri Legere, holding a plaque presented by Bill Overholt for her role in planning the presentation, Gen Morrison, Bill Overholt; Back Row, mostly hidden is Col Wisyanski, Col Cressler, Jr, and almost hidden is Bill Black, Acting Director, NSA The National Cryptologic Museum Curator welcomes everyone and provides a bit of background as our own Charlie Hoover in the light shirt (right) listens intently.