I first got to Iwakuni in August 1971. The first thing I noticed was the smell. When I asked what it was I was told it was coming from the crematorium. I'll never forget thaT SMELL.
And my first night in town this blonde headed Japanese girl tried to get me to take her home.
What an experience for a young lad from the midwest.
I got to Iwakuni in November 1971 and said the same thing. That placed really stunk!!! I was assigned to VMA-AW-533 and we were part of MAG-12 at that time(We transferred to MAG-15 when we went to Nam Phong). Anyway, we stayed in what was known as Block 8. Some of my memories are the Soup Soba truck that went around base selling fried rice and soup. Catching the cabs out front and taking them to "Four Corners" since I didn't really know street names. And of course who could forget "Creep Street". And going over to RTO after the bars closed. It always amazed me how the bars seemed to just pop out after dark.
I have to confess, I had a sensational time in Iwakuni. I joined H&MS 13, in Iwakuni, in August of 1966. H&MS 13 was was staging for deployment to Vietnam, but I was there almost a month before going South. I have fond memories of Three Corners, but I can't recall the name of the area beyond Three Corners. I remember having to cross over the Iwakuni River to get there.
I was transferred to VMFA 323, in July of 1967, and was able to return to Iwakuni for six more weeks.
Legendary names:
Pigtails Jimmy the Pimp
I was with some great guys, and without a doubt, I had one best times of my life.
I hope all is well with my old 323 buddies: Mad Dog, Paz, Sammy, Shorty Bob, Whiskeyman, & Choo Choo.
I got to Iwakuni in November 1971 and said the same thing. That placed really stunk!!! I was assigned to VMA-AW-533 and we were part of MAG-12 at that time(We transferred to MAG-15 when we went to Nam Phong). Anyway, we stayed in what was known as Block 8. Some of my memories are the Soup Soba truck that went around base selling fried rice and soup. Catching the cabs out front and taking them to "Four Corners" since I didn't really know street names. And of course who could forget "Creep Street". And going over to RTO after the bars closed. It always amazed me how the bars seemed to just pop out after dark.
Was there in 'Iwanooki' with '533 from July of 1970 to June of '71...then to NAF Naha until I PCS'd to the states the next month. Remember 'Skivvi Bridge', 'the Castle', 'Bar Snoopy', 'RTO', 'Four Corners', 'Kintai Bridge'...'Machinato'...et al... Assisted in volunteering the set-up of AFN TV/Radio station near the PX.
I joined the Blacksheep (VMA-214) at Iwakuni the last week of March, '66...The squadron had rotated up from Chu Lai for 're-fit' a couple weeks earlier...With a sizeable Detachment down at Cubi Pt.
Just about all of us "New Guys" were put on "Detail", relieving the "Old Hands" for more Liberty time...I caught Guard Duty...
Wasn't bad really...We walked post in four-hour shifts from 1600 'til 0800 the next morning...Worked out to a total of 16 hours on post over three days, followed by 48 hours "Off"...And members of the Guard were allowed to carry their "Liberty Cards" along with permanent "Over-Night Passes"...
The place sure as hell stunk...Somebody told me it had to do with a Tannery where they processed Leather...I dunno...Smelled a lot like really rotten cabbage, to me...
The weather was lousy...Chilly...Alternating between thick fog and barely dripping rain...Caught myslf the "Mother of all Colds" by the second week...So I swapped the Gig for a spot on the "Advance Party" going back to Chu Lai (Smart Move, What?)...We left on 15 April...
Had some great times in Town, though...One of the Pilots got himself grounded for a week by landing after "Closing Time"...(Since the runway lights were turned off, he just set his A-4 down on the Taxiway)...He went out to Imazu and held a week-long party in the "Bar New V"...
Too bad I wasn't there when VMA-224 replaced us on the rotation...They carried on some legendary hijinx...Led by a pair of brothers from S.C. and their truly warped Sidekick...
Got to see some awesome sights...Ground Zero Park in Hiroshima and Kintai (sp?) Castle with the Cherry Trees just beginning to blossom...
Note: The Exchange Rate in those days was 360 Yen to the Dollar...And, even in an upscale resturant, it was practically impossible to eat $5 worth of food...
'72. Indian clothing stores, the Top Hat, ABC club and a little bar where popasaun made chili by starting with a pile of onions a foot tall. (That was a little hole in the wall, back down an alley somewhere). 3 and 4 corners, a golf course that had nine holes and weaved its way between wing and mainside and bicycles in the racks. Slot machines, God awful smells and sea planes flown by the Japanese airforce (or whatever the hell they were). Cockroaches entertaining us as they crawled on the bottles of whiskey behind the bars, bathtubs in the floor of the hookers houses and bologna and cheese sandwiches from the little geedunk on the other side of VCMJ whatever their number was. Funny money, thinking you were getting a DEAL on electronics and coming home to find out your old lady had been sleeping with a grunt from 1/3 at KBay. Yeah, I remember the place.
Baseball, the Hiroshima Carp (should have been the Hiroshima Crispies), and what was the name of the park with the deer North or Iwakuni but not quite to Hiroshima??
I was there for six month rotation from September 02 to March 03 and the burning carcasses still flavor the air. The fighter (Zero) is still on display in it's bunker by the front gate.
aahh 4 corners and the binjo ditch got to love it that palce reeeked i as there in 94 and again in 96 with VMA-513.. got that lovley aroma every night when i ran the wall
Man, that was a sandwich. In '84 and '86, Sako's and Wakima-Zoo had some of the best late-night food you could find. I also remember Smiley from the Soba Truck. Word has it he "died in the line of duty in '87 or '88.
I was stationed in Iwakuni Jan '82 to Jan '83. It was by far my best duty station. H&MS-12 Group Supply, ADP. Anybody else same era?
I remember the BLT's, they WERE the best. Charlie Browns, Doobies, Club Chicago, were a few local bars I remember. Would stay out all night long, stumble back to base next morning for early chow. Was great working nights!
Remember the Swimming hole out of town? Forget exactly where it was but what a nice place to swim and jump off the cliff.
I had my share of the soba truck offerings. Soup and shrimp fried rice. I had some good friends from VMA-242 and Q2 Playboys.
Made many trips to Kintai Bridge and castle area. Also Hirosima, Kyoto, Osaka, and even climbed Mt. Fuji during a trip organized by mama-san.
I remember the slot machines in the E-club. Remember well the Birthday Ball in the club, believe it was the 208th. OOORAH!
Guards duty with MABS, Friendship Day, and walking the flightline with a radio and a nightstick.
John Cougar blaring loudly from speakers in our rooms, memories of the Philippines in our lockers, and plans for the night out in the ville with machiko and june.
yeah Soba joe, used to love getting the big bowls of curry rice from him.. when i went back in 95 though we didnt see his truck driving around base adn later found out he had died. damn shame. but also they had built a new $4,000,000 sports complex for us over near the fuel farms.. man it was nce full court, spas, sparring rooms indoor raquectball courts, juice bar, the works loved that place.
I was there from 5/70 thru 11/70. The biggest memory is as everyone says is the creamatorium & the open benjo ditch. Nothing worse than waking up with a hang-over and getting a good whiff. How about the guy who went from bar to bar dressed as a samuari warrior? And Amy saving her money from creep street to buy a American Chevrolet Caprice?
Best kept secret in the Corps. H&HS OMD SAR: Smiley-the soba truck, Kintai Park, Seven Falls, Miyajima Island. The list goes on and on. Made alot of Japanese friends. Great Place....
Pity any 'newbie' who pulled 'Group Guard' and had to reside in the huts on Wingside...and faced the aroma of the ditches and 'smokehouse' in the wee hours of the a.m. I don't think anyone ever got used to the odor...but the townsfolk carried on like these places never existed...fripplin noses/sinuses must have been melted away from birth.
being at station weapons and running over all the crabs in a crumb snatcher or chasing down larry the goat. had some mean shop dogs there too. we lived in the bolt together barracks behind the chow hall on main side.the whole building shook if you walked fast.everyone would watch soaps after eating lunch before we went back to the shop.
