Any old Far East Hands have memories of your "Mama San?"

[Griff Murphey]

On Okinawa, '74-'75, we in the Camp Hansen BOQ paid our mama sans $25 per month. For that my boots and shoes were all kept spit shined, fatigues (utilities) heavy starched, military creased, utility cover smartly shaped and starched, and Navy and civvy perma-pressed stuff, perfect. Room was kept perfect. Being a model builder it was full of fragile stuff, never had anything damaged. Only one time did I have anything taken. Being a model goon, I and one of the HM-2s in BAS 1-4 used to cruise the hobby shops in Naha for kits. More often than not they were put into bags with Japanese model manufacturers' names such as Hasegawa, Nichimo, or Tamiya. One day Mama san decided to dispose of my carefully stored pile of sacks (I have no idea what I was going to do with them, I just kept them because we could not get them in the States, I guess!) and she was, I think, a little taken aback that I chased her down. I rather think she thought I was accusing her of theft. Another cultural thing, for Christmas, my folks sent me a plastic Christmas tree and a few other things to go with it including some spray-on the-window fake frost which I used a bit of. Mama san tried to clean it off, not realizing it was a "decoration!" I should mention, my mama-san looked to be about 80, weather-beaten, and not a glamour gal, by any means! As I recall, they all were, probably employed on THAT basis by the USMC! I never knew her real name - she just went by Mama-san... but I will never forget her faithful service.

Might as well include some memories of the Philppines; totally different set up as I was in a squad bay type Quonset hut in the MAU Camp at Subic.. We had a "cabin boy" who swept up and provided some measure of security although my Navy windbreaker WAS stolen. Laundry was a separate deal. Nobody could starch a cover and roll the bill of the cover like the Filipinos could. One time I left my dogtags in my shirt pocket. Godbye dogtags. Someone in the PI has my SSN, for sure.

[comm pogue]

Camp Hansen was the RVN transit camp for awhile. the EM club (animal pit) was rather unique, 1/2 the guys thought they where going to die, the other 1/2 where rotating home. very good place to be polite at the time. Semper Fi

[Maury Krupp]

Two from Korea '78-'79

Mr Park was a real mild mannered guy who did his work and kept pretty much to himself. Always had the place cleaned up, laundry done, boots shined, etc. Never asked anyone to buy him smokes, liquor, or other black market stuff. Some of the guys liked to give him a hard time over petty stuff. Mr Park would just smile and go about his job. On Open House day there was a Tae Kwan Do demo featuring none other than Mr Park. Nobody gave him any $hit after that :evil6:

Ms Kim was another nice person who did her job in a quiet way. Her failing was a love of American coffee. Several of the guys in rooms she was responsible for had old Mr Coffees; most of the pots had broken long ago and been replaced with big Pyrex measuring beakers. Every chance Ms Kim got she'd sneak a cup of American coffee. We all knew she was doing it but nobody cared (or looking back, thought to tell her it was OK either).

One day our guy came back from work early and found our beaker in pieces in the trash. He suspected (knew) Ms Kim had broken it that AM so he just zipped out to the BX, bought a new one, and put it in its place. When Ms Kim came back that PM with a new replacement beaker and saw it'd already been replaced, the look on her face was priceless. You could tell she was hoping to sneak the new beaker in so we'd be none the wiser to her coffee habit. She was also sure she'd broken the beaker in *some* room but now wasn't sure *which* room. At first we all played dumb, acting like the new beaker was still the old one and nothing untoward had happened. After a while, rather than let her stew any longer, one of the guys offered her a cup and told her anytime she wanted one she should just help herself :icon_lol:

Maury

[mike24d20]

Korea 73-74 Lived in quancet huts an had house boys. Never anything taken an everything was always in it's place. Forgot what the pay for their services were because it was all taken out in the payline. Korea 75-76 it was the same set up but the Mamma-San who ran the bar in the villiage took real good care of me when I got pieface drunk. She would put me too bed in one of her girls rooms, an in the morning when I came awake my money an cloths would all be there. I found she was more honest than some of the guys in our unit. A 1/44==C 1/2

[dave]

Korea 1954, 60 man radar detachment 20 mi from DMZ. Had a house boy, one day a guys watch was missing and he accused the house boy, had no evidence of course (hell I had my watch stolen in basic, in the US!) Anyway provest sgt called Korean military police and they took him away. Came back 2 wks later to get his meger belongings and you would hardly recognise him, beat to s**t! He never said a word to any one, just left and the watch never showed up! I never did think he took it. And then there was the dog that belonged to everyone---had pups and they dissapeared one by one when they were 6 mos old or so and nice and fat----hmmmm.!

[stars-n-bars]

Hey, Griff you ever go into Kim village or drink any of that Cherry Sloe Gin? Ever go to Naha City and see a flight of 52's taking off for the Nam?:1948::icon_salut::eek::eusa_boohoo:

[Griff Murphey]

At the time I was there, Vietnam appeared to be past history. At least it WAS until I got sent on Eagle Pull (Evac of Cambodia) and Frequent Wind (Evac of RVN) Easter Weekend of '75. So no mass Buff take offs. We went down to Kadena to ogle the DOD Schoolteachers and nurses and to eat Mongolian BBQ. Dentists did not compete well against aircrew in the O club. One of my friends was going to have his parents buy him a flight suit at a surplus store....Oh yeah I drank some beer in Kin Vill. I think it had a tiger on the label? Did not buy the Sloe Gin or Suntory Whiskey! Never bought an Okinawa B-girl a drink - a losing proposition. Further, affiant sayeth not.

As far as planes, we had lots of USMC OV-10s over Camp Hansen, which looked and sounded like P-38s. Lots of 141's in the pattern for Kadena; lots of JMSDF P2V Neptunes. The real treat was the "Habu," the SR-71!

[C5M1]

Eagle beach. A week shy of being gone, would have been a nicer place if I wasn't so short. Hooch maid, Called her baby san.

regards, dennis


http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd395/c5m1/Vietnam046.jpg

[pelago]

almond shaped eyes, almost lavender, quiet un assuming smile that melted hearts, smallish but incredibly beautiful breasts, they pointed up, flat stomach and well, you go the idea

no girlfriend at home, why not, did not know from day to day whether to live or die, i was 18

[jbntx]

Kadena, Okinawa 1971-72.

We had an Okinawan man and his wife that did our barracks. Cleaned the rooms, shined our boots and definately made life easier.
All for 25.00 a month.

The place was always spotless!

[Greg]

Korea 79-80 and 82-83. First tour had an older woman who took care of all the cleaning and laundry in the BOQ, second tour, had a guy who took care of everything. Never a problem. Think it was around $25 to $35 a month. But the real treat was the lady who managed the "business girls" in town. One day, all of us on the battalion staff were were in the commanders office when the 8th Army Chaplain (0-6) was visiting. She came to the office wanting to talk to the battalion commander. She pushed her way past the secretary into the office and invited the battalion commander to the opening ceremony for a new VD clinic in the "vill". After asking him, she turned to the Chaplain and asked him if he would like to come also. He said yes. Even now, years and years later, I look for churches where the priest is a former military chaplain. I believe they relate to real life better than those who never served. And memories of nights in the "vill" still bring a smile to my face.

[Oxmix]

Hey, Griff you ever go into Kim village or drink any of that Cherry Sloe Gin? Ever go to Naha City and see a flight of 52's taking off for the Nam?:1948::icon_salut::eek::eusa_boohoo:

Allow me to make a correction. It was Kin Village, outside the gate at Camp Hansen. The B52's took off from Kadena. Kin Village was a cool place in 68 &69. B.C. St. & Gate 2 St. were the best. A taxi ride from Koza B.C. St. to Kin Village was $3.25. If you rode the local bus, it was 28 cents. A small, standard bottle of Orion Beer was 70 cents. A large bottle was $1.00. A short time was $4.00. A long time was $8.00.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Okinawa%20the%20Rock/MatchBox0005.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Oxmix/media/Okinawa%20the%20Rock/MatchBox0005.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Okinawa%20the%20Rock/MatchBox0006.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Oxmix/media/Okinawa%20the%20Rock/MatchBox0006.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Okinawa%20the%20Rock/MatchBox0002.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Oxmix/media/Okinawa%20the%20Rock/MatchBox0002.jpg.html)


Bob Hope 1968 Christmas show.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Okinawa%20the%20Rock/BobHopeonOkinawa1968.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Oxmix/media/Okinawa%20the%20Rock/BobHopeonOkinawa1968.jpg.html)

Short time girl.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Okinawa%20the%20Rock/OkinawaStreetGirl2.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Oxmix/media/Okinawa%20the%20Rock/OkinawaStreetGirl2.jpg.html)

Agent Orange was stored and used on Okinawa in the 1960's and early 1970's. I only say this, because some of you may have health problems that you may not be able to explain. The VA and DOD refuse to acknowledge that fact, even though 1 agent orange claim was awarded.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-jon_mitchell/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Agent-Orange-Okinawa/205895316098692?fref=ts

Let me also add the the first time I saw a SR71 Black Bird (Habu) was in 1968. At first I thought it was w UFO,lol. Saw them take off and land at Kadena. The take off was spectacular. As soon as the plane lifted off the runway the pilot put the nose straight up and it was gone in a flash.

B52's were loaded beyond specs and had just enough fuel to get airborne and refuel with an awaiting KC135. Technically they weren't suppose to be able to get off the ground. In November 1968 one didn't.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Okinawa%20the%20Rock/B52Crash.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Oxmix/media/Okinawa%20the%20Rock/B52Crash.jpg.html)



Regards

Ox

[Art]

Well Oxmix, you and I saw the same USO show, I just saw it in Korea.

I wasn't much more than a kid when I was in Korea, and I won't say I didn't like being waited on by servants, not what folks think of as the usual military gig, right. However, looking back on it, if I knew today what I know then, and was appointed king, the whole "houseboy" "Mama San" system would have been abolished. Soldiers really should make their own beds, sweep their own floors and polish their own brass and footwear.

[Oxmix]

Actually I didn't get to go inside the stadium to see the show. Our section drew straws. I wasn't one of the lucky ones. I did however detour on my way to service a Nike site and stop outside the stadium for a bit and listen to the show. A friend was lucky enough go in, see the show and take quite a few pictures.

We also had house boys. Considering what the average Okinawan made in wages, these guys were rich. The senior house boy was a Japanese soldier on Okinawa during the war. Because he surrendered he felt he could never go home to Japan. I became friends with the house boys, and as far as I know I was the only guy that they ever invited to eat lunch with them.

If you need any alterations Yoko occupied a small space in the barracks. She and Mamasan also took in the laundry.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Yoko.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Oxmix/media/Army/Yoko.jpg.html)

This was by far better than anything the Company Mess Sgt. could ever cook up. I looked forward to eating C Rations. I knew they wouldn't make me sick. I couldn't say that for what the Mess Sgt. cooked up. Probably the only thing that kept me from dying from malnutrition was being able to eat at various mess facilities on the Rock and going to the commissary on payday and buying canned goods to keep in my locker so I had something to eat when the mess hall had no food. Why did we have no food? The Mess Sgt. and the CO sold our rations on the black market. I use to watch him fill up his station wagon with our food and drive off. He and the mess Sgt were eventually caught.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/CRations.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Oxmix/media/Army/CRations.jpg.html)

She was special. I truly hope she's had a good life.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/Army/Junko2.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Oxmix/media/Army/Junko2.jpg.html)

Regards

Ox

[Michaelp]

I think part of the house keeping deal was to support the masses of folks our effort and presence displaced.
Lots of things those folks did for a living ceased to exist when we set up major areas. This included destroying their farms and homes in order to deny assets for the enemy.
I think allowing these DPS was a kind on lopsided compensation. There was a downside to this as well.
I was in the Army when troops did KP-they did away with that even in the states. Created a lot of basic wage jobs in often depressedareas of military installations.

[joem]

RVN 67-68. Pretty far north. No camp mama san, no house boy. We kept our hut clean, baged our own laundry and did our own starching.

[6thMARDIV]

Yeah, a 12 year old son and a child support check.