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At random: The first Japanese prisoner of war captured by the Americans was Kazuo Sakamaki, an ensign in the Imperial Japanese Navy. He was captured on the morning of December 7, 1941. Sakamaki had set an explosive charge to destroy his disabled submarine, which had been trapped on Waimanalo Beach. When the explosives failed to go off, he swam to the bottom of the submarine to investigate the cause of the failure and became unconscious due to a lack of oxygen. Sakamaki was found by a Hawaiian soldier, David Akui, and was taken into military custody. When he awoke, he found himself in a hospital under American armed guard. After the war he returned to Japan and found work with the Toyota Motor Corporation before retiring in 1987. Sakamaki died on November 29, 1999, aged 81.

Qualified 55 years Moderators: Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page]
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TSpoon

Posted 2018-05-15 11:58 AM (#89313)

Great Sage of the Sea

Posts: 561

Subject: Qualified 55 years

Fifty five years ago on 5/15/1963 at Gitmo I was awarded my Dolphins. Two days earlier on 5/13/1963 I sewed on Electricians Mate Third Class.

Thus in a two day period I went from EMFN(NQP) to EM3(SS) and found that the water at Gitmo was warm.

As they say, "What a long, strange, fun filled trip it has been".

T.Spoon, EM2(SS) at the end

GaryKC

Posted 2018-05-15 1:30 PM (#89314 - in reply to #89313)

COMSUBBBS

Posts: 3666

Location: Kansas City Missouri

Subject: RE: Qualified 55 years

steamboat

Posted 2018-05-15 1:49 PM (#89315 - in reply to #89313)

Master and Commander

Posts: 1814

Location: Boydton, Virginia

Subject: RE: Qualified 55 years

Hey T, Good to hear from Y'all! Feb '63 is when I took my plunge at Key West on the Atule. Happy Double Nickels SS qualified Day!

Steamboat sends

JrKrup, Skimmer

Posted 2018-05-15 5:02 PM (#89318 - in reply to #89315)

Master and Commander

Posts: 1322

Location: Oxnard, CA

Subject: RE: Qualified 55 years

Just be glad you didn't qualify in Dutch Harbor, Kiska or Adak. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

TSpoon

Posted 2018-05-15 5:13 PM (#89319 - in reply to #89315)

Great Sage of the Sea

Posts: 561

Subject: RE: Qualified 55 years

Steamboat, Glad to hear from you as it should mean you are still alive. Yes, 1963 was a good year.

The hard part is thinking about how old we have to be to have been Qualified 55 years.

The VA has me 80% disabled, ears & back problem, which should go to 100% due to my Prostate Cancer when they decide we Blue Water Viet Nam sailors actually were exposed to agent orange. They are close to making that decision in our favor.

I was just thinking about our brother Gary Walker and how we did Pampanito Docent duty together with Cowboy. Some fun times.

Ric

Posted 2018-05-15 6:13 PM (#89320 - in reply to #89313)

Plankowner

Posts: 9163

Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map.

Subject: RE: Qualified 55 years

Congratulation Tim!!!

JrKrup, Skimmer

Posted 2018-05-15 7:16 PM (#89321 - in reply to #89320)

Master and Commander

Posts: 1322

Location: Oxnard, CA

Subject: RE: Qualified 55 years

I was in Vietnam in 1965 and 1967, but I think this was before Agent Orange was being used. Does anyone know the dates when it was?

TSpoon

Posted 2018-05-15 8:38 PM (#89322 - in reply to #89321)

Great Sage of the Sea

Posts: 561

Subject: RE: Qualified 55 years

Per the official site:

"....In Vietnam anytime between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975, including brief visits ashore or service aboard a ship that operated on the inland waterways of Vietnam

In or near the Korean demilitarized zone anytime between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971...."

Ric

Posted 2018-05-15 9:22 PM (#89323 - in reply to #89322)

Plankowner

Posts: 9163

Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map.

Subject: RE: Qualified 55 years

TSpoon - 2018-05-15 8:38 PM

Per the official site:

"In or near the Korean demilitarized zone anytime between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971...."

Interesting. I was off Wonson Harbor (North Korea) around that time.

Holland Club

Posted 2018-05-16 8:57 PM (#89330 - in reply to #89315)

Master and Commander

Posts: 2490

Location: East Coast of Wisconsin

Subject: RE: Qualified 55 years

I'll see your 55 and bump you 4.

Don Gentry

Posted 2018-05-17 4:50 PM (#89334 - in reply to #89313)

Admin

Posts: 2294

Location: Renton, WA

Subject: RE: Qualified 55 years

Great to hear from ya Tim!! Miss both Gary's as well - time passes quickly...

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