COM UNIT SUPP 3256 - Aragusuku, Okinawa - 1945

Images from   Ralph Rupe and narrative from Ted Philippi

My name is Ted Philippi (ret. CTRCS) and I was one of 4 guys that opened up Okinawa in 1946. At the time the station was in care station status manned then by Chief Katzenberger, Chief Katzenberger was relieved by Chief P. G. Garner in the spring/summer time frame of 1946. We four (RM1 Joe Griffin, RM1 Bob Settles, Willie Williams and I were RM3's) were sent TAD to Okinawa in the fall of 1946 from Guam. After arriving at Okinawa we went about the business of setting up the DAB. Chief Garner had the DAB building already built by the time we arrived and we more or less just finished up the job under his direction. Our station was about 1 or 2 miles from the Naval Operation Base. They were in the process of closing down but before they pulled out we had our own Quonset hut built at our site and moved in. The Quonset hut was an elongated one with our quarters/living spaces at one end, operating spaces in the middle and the crypto area at the far end. It was a really nice arrangement. Chief Garner was relieved by Chief Skinner in late spring of 1947. We four were supposed to stay only for six months but we all extended for an additional six. It was great duty.

105 photos of Okinawa from Ralph Rupe - as scanned by Bob Pepper!

Home

|

Back