I lived outside Tachi AFB (outside gate 7/the laundry gate) 64 through late 67 (4th through 6th grade) and then again in late 71 to May 72 (Yamato High School 10th grade) after which I went to Thailand until late 73. Then lived off base at Yokota/Fussa from 73-77. I've done Google Earth street views of the neighborhoods I lived in. The one off base at Tachi ( named Western Court) is completely gone now and is an industrial park. The only thing left there from those days is the noodle factory. The neighborhood off base near Yokota was called Bel Air Plaza (which was opposite the Kanto Plains Baptist Church) and has been transformed almost beyond recognition. A huge empty field that was there (and full of pampas grass) is now nothing but houses. I recognized many of the places in these photos. In 77, there was a huge spread of photos of Tachi in the newspaper after the base had been closed for awhile. It really gave me an extremely melancholy feeling. Worse was (in 77) going by places where friends had lived and realizing all those people were long gone. Made me feel extremely lonely. Years later, I moved to L.A. California and managed to reconnect with a friend (and his younger brother) I'd known at Tachikawa. As kids, we used to run around downtown Tachikawa and visit all the department stores like Matsuzakaya, Odakyu and others or go to see movies at a theater that showed English language movies. Walked out of that theater one day and right into a massive Japanese Red Army demonstration that was going on near the main gate- thousands of people protesting. I wasn't scared but the Japanese police saw us, kind of went into panic mode and surrounded us with their shields and marched us back to the gate and onto the base. Same thing happened coming home from school at Yamato one time as we had to pass by the end of the runway off base where the Japanese Red Army types had erected all the huge flag poles and towers. They didn't do anything but stare at us as my step-dad slowly drove through the crowds. As is, as kids, we had tons of freedom at Tachikawa and rode our bikes everywhere. We must have covered everything from Tachikawa to the Tama River and over to Yokota/Fussa, Murayama Park and even up into the mountains down toward Ome and many other locations. It was a great time and place to be a kid!
In another time and place, these were my childhood years I will cherish for the rest of my days. Memories are all we have who were a part of the Tachi experience. Saturday matinees were a part of my fun-filled weekends and going to the hobby shop to race slot cars. We remember the good times and the people who meant so much and were part of the joys and laughter. Memories are what keeps Tachikawa AB alive as if they were yesterday. May we continue to share our memories and experiences as long as we can and as long as there is one person alive we keep those memories alive for the love we have for Tachi.
My dad was stationed there from 66-67. We lived in Green Park. Some of my greatest years of my life was spent living in Japan. I have always wanted to go back. Thank you this wonderful trip. It brings back sweat memories
Thank you so much for your time and work on these posts. The memories come flooding back when I watch these. My family was stationed at Tachi from 60 - 63 although we lived at Grant Heights. My dad is Bill Dobson and in 66 we returned to Japan except he was w/ 610 MASS at Yokota afb. We lived at Japner Heights,then Momote Village at Ft.Drake,Then finally got base housing at Yokota our last year(69) in Japan. Dad was CMSGT. Bill Dobson . And again thank you.
James, I was born at TAB Hospital in '56 but we lived at Grant Heights until '64. Dad (Joe Barry) was assigned to FEAMCOM in the mid-'50s before he was married. Had lots of friends at Tachi. Then PCS'd to Rock Island, Ill., and returned to Japan '68-'70 at Zama and Sagamihara.
@@japanbrats Hey thanks for info. We were at GH at same time. I was born in 59 at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport(Bossier City ) Louisiana then moved to Tachi. Our dad's probably crossed paths. I'm going to hunt up our old 8 mm home movies from Tachi and GH and if I can print and post I will. Great to chat with you .Not many people understand what life as a service brat in Japan was like. But I wouldn't trade it for million.
@@jamesdobsongolf I was still very young (3-5 years old) when we lived at Grant Heights. I'm 58 now but still have memories of that area. My brothers and I talk about it often. Pop was stationed at Tachikawa flying planes.
It seems to be mostly kids who grew up around Tachi in the 70s who remember it. I arrived fully grown in 1959 as an airman assigned to the control tower. I extended my enlistment a year to get the two-year assignment, but it was cut short at one year when Osan AB, Korea, needed tower operators. I still have great memories of my year in Japan; thanks for these few reminders of what once was. I took a lot of pictures from the tower; Mike Skidmore maintains a library of them, and I have a Facebook group for the photos I took there and around Tokyo, Aug. 1959 to Aug. 1960.
Brian , I was tearing up too. My wife and daughter were laughing at me. I was saying earlier very few people experienced that life . It's great to run into this site and some fellow AF brats
These pictures were fantastic... I've visited the redeveloped west side land many times as it's now Showa Kinen Koen... such a beautiful park, you can get lost for hours. There's always flowers blooming year round. Hoping to get back to Japan! :)
My father was stationed at Tachi from 61 to 66 and then from 69 to 71, so I spent most of my childhood there. We lived on the west side both times. Google Earth shows that most of the west side is now a park. Using the train station, I was able to identify where Gate 2 was. Then following some of the still-existing roads from there up to one of the drainage canal bridges, I was able to locate where we lived the first tour, in a small 2-bedroom house (Number 2002). Of course, the house is gone, replaced by grassy parkland. I was not able to locate where the townhouse was that we lived in during the second tour. Before moving into the townhouse, we lived a few months in American Village. It's comforting to know that the village is still standing, occupied and kept up.
Hi Frank, I remember you a bit. My best friends were Walter Chapman, Davin Mehring, Chuck Schmelling, Ed Mueller, John Matson, and Doug Sailer. These guys where either in my math or science classes, or in the Chess Club. Other friends were Don Hidoni and Yamasaka. I ran into Yamasaka accidentally. He was the owner/manager of a Subway just across the street from where I worked at Honolulu Community College as a math professor. He told me that Matson had been the manager of Computerland in Honolulu, and that Hidoni was a lawyer in Honolulu. Yamasaka sold the Subway a few months later and planned to move back to Japan. Computerland closed. I don't know where Yamasaka and Matson are now. Hidoni still has his lawyer business. I met Hidoni once at a beer garden. I accidentally ran into Sailer at the chess pavilion in Waikiki at Prince Kuhio Beach Park. He was on his way to California, where he lived for several years. He progressed steadily in chess, and is currently a FIDE master. A few years ago, an internet search revealed that he was living in Luxembourg. I have also done internet searches on the other guys. I didn't find anything on Chapman. I found a picture that might have been an aged Mueller, but no other info. There were a few Davin Mehrings, but the closest match was one that lived in Virginia. As for myself, I've been married 35 years, and raised 4 kids, two cats, and two dogs. I worked at Honolulu Community College for 39 years, and fully retired 6 years ago. I live in Makakilo on Oahu and plan to stay. By the way, Mike Yuchnitz became a minor celebrity in San Antonio. He owned several tattoo parlors and glasses shops in strip malls. His Korean wife and he were in the process of getting divorced, splitting an estate worth 5 million dollars. But he wanted it all, so he hired a hit man to kill his wife on the way back from a routine Mah Jong party, and make it look like a robbery. But the hit man went to the police instead, and Yuchnitz was charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Just before the trial was to start, Yuchnitz was found dead in a parking lot next to his car. The coroner ruler the cause of death as a heart attack, with terminal cancer as a contributing factor. I think that Yuchnitz planned to get the entire estate at his wife's death before the divorce was finalized, and then will it all to his son. You can find all this info with an internet search, including some colorful TH-cam videos of Yuchnitz pitching his econo glasses. If you have any info on the guys I talked about, please share via text 808-636-4308. Best wishes!
Thanks. I was stationed at Tachi April 1966 to July 1968. 6100 Supply Squadron Orderly Room. Served under First Sgt John Yackson. These photos bring so many great memories. I actually cried when I left Tachi. It was a booming base at the time I was there. I think around 5,000 stationed there at the time with many American civilians plus a few thousand locals. Loved downtown Tachikawa and many trips to Shinjuku. Tachi in my heart.
This made me nostalgic for something I ALMOST had .. got out of the Air Force and then heard that I was about to be stationed in Tachikawa .. oh well, nice to see these lovey memories of days gone by.
Really nice job on this video. I was there December '68 - June '71 Went to Chofu HS, then Yamato HS when my dad moved us to American Village. So glad to see so much of the West Side has been preserved as a beautiful park. Would love to see more of the hospital. I spent a lot of time there, both as a patient, and as a visitor. I'm still humbled by the experience. Met a lot of dedicated and courageous people there, both staff and patients. Many of the patients were just hours out of the rice paddies and so glad to be alive. And to top it off, my youngest brother was born in that hospital!
I was an Airman assigned to the Hospital, from Jan 68 to Jan 70. Shortly after I arrived, I was loaned out to 20 Casualty Staging Flight. When Tet hit, we had hundreds of casualties coming in night and day at Tachi and thru Yokota. I recall during the initial wave we were taking guys off C-130's that still had mud stained jungle fatigues on, pressure dressing, IV's. If they didn't need immediate surgery they put them on a plane and sent them to Tachi via Clark or on a C-141 direct to Yokota. I had a really nice Teac Reel to Reel that I sold to a guy who was too messed up to get a pass to go to the Stereo shops off base before being shipped back to the States. Yes...Like you said, very humbling and my first dose of the real world right out of high school.
@@GMak-oj7gm Dad was in Saigon TDY a lot during Tet. I have home movies he shot (some day I'll post some of them). Since you were at TAB Hospital during those years, you'll recognize some of the scenes in my "Evac to Zama" video. I remember not only the hospital buses from Tachi and Yokota coming to Zama General Hospital but the Medevac Hueys ferrying the seriously injured day and night from Tachi and YAB. I also remember walking through the burn ward for the first time and seeing all of our wounded, most not much older than me. It was a reality check. Yes, there really is a war going on. Here's the link to the video: th-cam.com/video/tzsvZymgb1k/w-d-xo.html
@@japanbrats Thanks for the link. One of my barracks mates cousin was wounded twice and evac'd to Japan. The second time the Army allowed him to stay at Zama and finish off his enlistment. He came down on weekends and stayed in our barracks. We became good friends. I'll forward the link to him. When I returned to the States, I got bumped from my World Airways flight by a Lt. going home on emergency leave and they put me on a C-141 burn flight going to Travis, final destination Brooke Medical Center at Ft. Sam. That was an incredible experience. I look forward to seeing the vids you post in the future. Best Wishes!!
@@GMak-oj7gm We arrived at in August 1968, living outside the base gate (right turn, little area of homes not far down). I was around 12 yrs old when I had to spend 10 days at Tachi hospital from around Dec. 14th-Dec. 24th in '69 or '70 due to a foot injury. I remember the docs asked if I would go into the ward where the 'Nam soldiers were recovering, which I did, the staff taking me there in a wheelchair. I was a kind of good will ambassador for those few days, talking to the bandaged soldiers who all wanted to know what was going on back in the "world"! I'll never forget spending that precious time with them. Some of them were going home to the states, but others were going back to war. I can't remember any of their names, but I often wonder if those I met survived when they went back. Not long after that stay we moved to Kanto Mura and left Japan in May 1972, after getting bumped and having to fly a transport to Travis. That thing was loud as heck! lol
I was happy to see these shots of Tachi, my Dad was stationed there 62-65. Our family of 8 lived at Kanto Mura housing. Have been looking for anyone I went to school with there. My best friend was named Glenn Gully. Our families flew into Japan together and Glenn and I became friends on the plane. We had all our classes together for 3 years. Would love to hear from him.
@Richard Tolbert I attended Tachikawa Elementary School from winter 61 to spring 66. My 3rd grade teacher was Mrs. Boyd, 4th grade was Mrs. Lee, 5th grade was Mr. Mazure, and 6th grade was Mrs. Nelson. I don't remember you or your best friend Gully being in any of my classes, so maybe we are not the same age. But maybe you had some of my teachers at a different time. I was also in the school choir, taught by Mrs. Adkins. We actually got 1st place in a national singing contest held in Tokyo (performing the Little Drummer Boy in a-cappella). Do you remember Mrs. Adkins, and were you ever in the choir?
@@michaelkaczmarski2938 Thank you for responding Michael. Yes, we were in lower grades but also lived at and attended the school on the Kanto mura housing site some 3miles from Tachikawa. We may have crossed paths at the squadren picnics. Thanks again.
I attended Tachi elementary 64-66 and then middle school in 67. While in elementary school, one of the most popular games to play was with minko's. Does anyone else remember those? They were the heavy cards with cartoon characters or other popular characters printed on them and the goal was to throw your card down hard enough on the ground that the opponents card got flipped over by the force of the wind whereupon you won that card. Some kids had large collections of the cards they'd won. Of course, some kids tried to cheat because the cards would eventually become pretty worn out and then they'd try to use duct tape to both hold them together and make them heavier so it was easier to flip over an opponents card but since no one wanted those worn out cards, no one would let them get away with using them. We always insisted on new cards or cards at least in good condition. Another game that became popular involved marbles and huge chunks of colored glass obtained from an off-base glass factory. Depending on the size, shape and color, one would have to shoot and hit the glass X number of times to win it. All that came to an end when a student was running with a huge chunk of glass when the bell rang at the end of recess and he fell and his face got cut up pretty bad. After that, all the chunks of glass were banned from the school. Oh yeah. Does anyone else remember cinnamon paper? When I first got to Japan and started school at Tachi, I saw kids tearing off huge chunks of what appeared to be notebook paper and chewing it. I thought they'd gone crazy but that's when I was told what it was and found out it was cinnamon flavored and tasted pretty good. lol.
Mike Skidmore and everyone involved in this project...ARIGATO! You all have preserved the beautiful memories we ALL had of our childhood that has shaped who we are today. God bless you all ❤️
My father was stationed there from 74 to 77, I believe? Robert Cathey. I'm Todd, and my older brother is Mark. Thanks for this! Such awesome memories. I think I still have the last edition of the Tachi Tomodachi ;)
Wonderful memories of Tachi. Tom did such a great job of matching the music to these video scrapbooks for those of us who have some deep attachments to our experiences in Japan. Mine were from 1965-72. I landed at Tachi in a turbo prop, we lived at Johnson AS nearby. Our family would occasionally take our Sunday meals at the clubs…and what great, affordable meals they were! As I have aged, I became more aware of how that experience was a “rescue” for me. We looked at housing nearby at one point, but chose to stay at Hyde Park Annex at Johnson AS. It would seem that those of us dependents that really “grew up” there are a special collection of people that somehow know that our connection to that time, those places are foundations to who we are…above all else. And as Tom Barry would acknowledge…our hosts embraced us wholly. I only wish I could return today as an “old man” and feel that way (without a supporting letter to local police explaining my history). But, that is life…just like we learned then. Thank you, Tom…you have brought us back to the memories that fuel the fire of our lives.
An excellent video. I live close to Tachikawa and visit Showa Kinen Park regularly. I'm British but am interested in the history of this former airbase and how it has developed. I visited the American Village adjacent to where the airbase was. I've enjoyed reading the comments here too. So many in people's memories. Thank you
Hi David, don’t see too many surnames of “Francis” so your post stood out to me. It’s my maiden name. My father was stationed here in the 60s and my sister was born here. Must be a very interesting place to live. I haven’t been back but hope to make the trip one day.
@@franciet99 Thank you for replying, TF. Not many Francis in Japan! Your story is interesting. Part of the old airbase is still functional and used by helicopters from the Japan Defence force. The remainder is now Showa Kinen Park or built on as part of the Tachikawa redevelopment. The nearest US airbase is Yokota (only 6 miles away) I hope you get to visit Tachikawa some time in the future. Best wishes
I arrived in Japan about a year and a half after TAB closed (spring '79). Wife and I lived just outside of it for two years in American Village. I wonder if it is still there. Moved onto Yokota for another couple of years. Worked at Fuchu as a tech controller. Loved my time in Japan. Enjoyed the video very much!
Great pics. We landed there in October of 63 spent 2 weeks in temp housing then to Green Park. Finally ended up in Kanto Mura from 63 to 66. One thing I remembered that will always effect me deeply was seeing the shiny coffins lined up on the apron by the hangers that contained our Vietnam dead. Such a waste.
Lived in American Village 1986 Housing was horrible Paper thin walls no insulation Used space heaters to warm the house I remember making the crazy drive to Yokota AB every morning hoping to make it to work on time lol Great memories
I lived off base in what was called a paddy house. Every autumn (back in the early to mid-60's), there'd be an old Japanese guy riding around on a bicycle with a huge roll of plastic and lots of wood stripping. All the windows would get covered in plastic to help keep out the cold. However, since the plastic was opaque, it meant the windows were pretty useless all winter long as far as seeing outside goes- all we could see were blurry images. I was always glad when the plastic came off the windows in the spring. We also had to use space heaters to keep warm in the winter.
I just came across this article and I am a bit confused. Is the article saying that the pictures were taken in 1977 after the based had closed, or that the base had closed in 1977. I was stationed at Tachikawa AB from April 1969 until it was returned to the Japanese in 1970, at which time I was transferred to Yokota AB.
Tachikawa Air Base was officially closed on Sept. 30, 1977 (Special Order GA-45, Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces, Sept. 27, 1977). However, most units had been transferred to Yokota Air Base by 1973 under the Kanto Base Consolidation Plan. The base was formally returned to the Japanese government on Nov. 30, 1977.
When I was on my way to Misawa I stayed over night at Tachi in transient airmen's quarters. That was April 1974, I couldn't stay at Yakoda because they had no accommodations for women. Pretty much everything was abandoned at Tachi. It was kind of eerie seeing the weeds growing in the cracks of pavement and sidewalks.
I lived outside Tachi AFB (outside gate 7/the laundry gate) 64 through late 67 (4th through 6th grade) and then again in late 71 to May 72 (Yamato High School 10th grade) after which I went to Thailand until late 73. Then lived off base at Yokota/Fussa from 73-77. I've done Google Earth street views of the neighborhoods I lived in. The one off base at Tachi ( named Western Court) is completely gone now and is an industrial park. The only thing left there from those days is the noodle factory. The neighborhood off base near Yokota was called Bel Air Plaza (which was opposite the Kanto Plains Baptist Church) and has been transformed almost beyond recognition. A huge empty field that was there (and full of pampas grass) is now nothing but houses.
I recognized many of the places in these photos. In 77, there was a huge spread of photos of Tachi in the newspaper after the base had been closed for awhile. It really gave me an extremely melancholy feeling. Worse was (in 77) going by places where friends had lived and realizing all those people were long gone. Made me feel extremely lonely. Years later, I moved to L.A. California and managed to reconnect with a friend (and his younger brother) I'd known at Tachikawa.
As kids, we used to run around downtown Tachikawa and visit all the department stores like Matsuzakaya, Odakyu and others or go to see movies at a theater that showed English language movies. Walked out of that theater one day and right into a massive Japanese Red Army demonstration that was going on near the main gate- thousands of people protesting. I wasn't scared but the Japanese police saw us, kind of went into panic mode and surrounded us with their shields and marched us back to the gate and onto the base. Same thing happened coming home from school at Yamato one time as we had to pass by the end of the runway off base where the Japanese Red Army types had erected all the huge flag poles and towers. They didn't do anything but stare at us as my step-dad slowly drove through the crowds.
As is, as kids, we had tons of freedom at Tachikawa and rode our bikes everywhere. We must have covered everything from Tachikawa to the Tama River and over to Yokota/Fussa, Murayama Park and even up into the mountains down toward Ome and many other locations. It was a great time and place to be a kid!
In another time and place, these were my childhood years I will cherish for the rest of my days. Memories are all we have who were a part of the Tachi experience. Saturday matinees were a part of my fun-filled weekends and going to the hobby shop to race slot cars. We remember the good times and the people who meant so much and were part of the joys and laughter. Memories are what keeps Tachikawa AB alive as if they were yesterday. May we continue to share our memories and experiences as long as we can and as long as there is one person alive we keep those memories alive for the love we have for Tachi.
Two of the best years of my life. Memories I will never forget.
My dad was stationed there from 66-67. We lived in Green Park. Some of my greatest years of my life was spent living in Japan. I have always wanted to go back. Thank you this wonderful trip. It brings back sweat memories
Thank you so much for your time and work on these posts. The memories come flooding back when I watch these. My family was stationed at Tachi from 60 - 63 although we lived at Grant Heights. My dad is Bill Dobson and in 66 we returned to Japan except he was w/ 610 MASS at Yokota afb. We lived at Japner Heights,then Momote Village at Ft.Drake,Then finally got base housing at Yokota our last year(69) in Japan. Dad was CMSGT. Bill Dobson . And again thank you.
Tom, another wonderful Tachikawa Air Base History video, thank you for being a Writer/Historian, Video Producer and good friend to me.
My pleasure, Mike. You got me started on these videos the great historian that you are!
Tom ,when was your family at Tachi.? Also were you ever at Grant Heights ? Your name sounds familiar.
James, I was born at TAB Hospital in '56 but we lived at Grant Heights until '64. Dad (Joe Barry) was assigned to FEAMCOM in the mid-'50s before he was married. Had lots of friends at Tachi. Then PCS'd to Rock Island, Ill., and returned to Japan '68-'70 at Zama and Sagamihara.
@@japanbrats Hey thanks for info. We were at GH at same time. I was born in 59 at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport(Bossier City ) Louisiana then moved to Tachi. Our dad's probably crossed paths. I'm going to hunt up our old 8 mm home movies from Tachi and GH and if I can print and post I will. Great to chat with you
.Not many people understand what life as a service brat in Japan was like. But I wouldn't trade it for million.
@@jamesdobsongolf I was still very young (3-5 years old) when we lived at Grant Heights. I'm 58 now but still have memories of that area. My brothers and I talk about it often. Pop was stationed at Tachikawa flying planes.
It seems to be mostly kids who grew up around Tachi in the 70s who remember it. I arrived fully grown in 1959 as an airman assigned to the control tower. I extended my enlistment a year to get the two-year assignment, but it was cut short at one year when Osan AB, Korea, needed tower operators. I still have great memories of my year in Japan; thanks for these few reminders of what once was. I took a lot of pictures from the tower; Mike Skidmore maintains a library of them, and I have a Facebook group for the photos I took there and around Tokyo, Aug. 1959 to Aug. 1960.
These videos always have me in tears.
Sorry, didn't mean to make you cry Brian. I'll try to do better next time.
Brian , I was tearing up too. My wife and daughter were laughing at me. I was saying earlier very few people experienced that life . It's great to run into this site and some fellow AF brats
These pictures were fantastic...
I've visited the redeveloped west side land many times as it's now Showa Kinen Koen... such a beautiful park, you can get lost for hours. There's always flowers blooming year round. Hoping to get back to Japan! :)
My father was stationed at Tachi from 61 to 66 and then from 69 to 71, so I spent most of my childhood there. We lived on the west side both times.
Google Earth shows that most of the west side is now a park. Using the train station, I was able to identify where Gate 2 was. Then following some of the still-existing roads from there up to one of the drainage canal bridges, I was able to locate where we lived the first tour, in a small 2-bedroom house (Number 2002). Of course, the house is gone, replaced by grassy parkland.
I was not able to locate where the townhouse was that we lived in during the second tour.
Before moving into the townhouse, we lived a few months in American Village. It's comforting to know that the village is still standing, occupied and kept up.
Hi Mike, it's Frank Roberts. I remember you from Yamato HS. I too was in the class of '71.
Hi Frank, I remember you a bit. My best friends were Walter Chapman, Davin Mehring, Chuck Schmelling, Ed Mueller, John Matson, and Doug Sailer. These guys where either in my math or science classes, or in the Chess Club. Other friends were Don Hidoni and Yamasaka.
I ran into Yamasaka accidentally. He was the owner/manager of a Subway just across the street from where I worked at Honolulu Community College as a math professor. He told me that Matson had been the manager of Computerland in Honolulu, and that Hidoni was a lawyer in Honolulu.
Yamasaka sold the Subway a few months later and planned to move back to Japan. Computerland closed. I don't know where Yamasaka and Matson are now. Hidoni still has his lawyer business. I met Hidoni once at a beer garden.
I accidentally ran into Sailer at the chess pavilion in Waikiki at Prince Kuhio Beach Park. He was on his way to California, where he lived for several years. He progressed steadily in chess, and is currently a FIDE master. A few years ago, an internet search revealed that he was living in Luxembourg.
I have also done internet searches on the other guys. I didn't find anything on Chapman. I found a picture that might have been an aged Mueller, but no other info. There were a few Davin Mehrings, but the closest match was one that lived in Virginia.
As for myself, I've been married 35 years, and raised 4 kids, two cats, and two dogs. I worked at Honolulu Community College for 39 years, and fully retired 6 years ago. I live in Makakilo on Oahu and plan to stay.
By the way, Mike Yuchnitz became a minor celebrity in San Antonio. He owned several tattoo parlors and glasses shops in strip malls. His Korean wife and he were in the process of getting divorced, splitting an estate worth 5 million dollars. But he wanted it all, so he hired a hit man to kill his wife on the way back from a routine Mah Jong party, and make it look like a robbery. But the hit man went to the police instead, and Yuchnitz was charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Just before the trial was to start, Yuchnitz was found dead in a parking lot next to his car. The coroner ruler the cause of death as a heart attack, with terminal cancer as a contributing factor. I think that Yuchnitz planned to get the entire estate at his wife's death before the divorce was finalized, and then will it all to his son. You can find all this info with an internet search, including some colorful TH-cam videos of Yuchnitz pitching his econo glasses.
If you have any info on the guys I talked about, please share via text 808-636-4308.
Best wishes!
Thanks. I was stationed at Tachi April 1966 to July 1968. 6100 Supply Squadron Orderly Room. Served under First Sgt John Yackson. These photos bring so many great memories. I actually cried when I left Tachi. It was a booming base at the time I was there. I think around 5,000 stationed there at the time with many American civilians plus a few thousand locals. Loved downtown Tachikawa and many trips to Shinjuku. Tachi in my heart.
This made me nostalgic for something I ALMOST had .. got out of the Air Force and then heard that I was about to be stationed in Tachikawa .. oh well, nice to see these lovey memories of days gone by.
米軍立川基地 とても懐かしい あの頃の街並みが今蘇りました この頃 私は小学生 街には米兵が溢れ 外国の雰囲気がありました
今の立川はとても近代的できれいな街並みですが 私は昔の立川のが好きです
素晴らしい映像を見せてくれて ありがとう
Really nice job on this video. I was there December '68 - June '71 Went to Chofu HS, then Yamato HS when my dad moved us to American Village.
So glad to see so much of the West Side has been preserved as a beautiful park.
Would love to see more of the hospital. I spent a lot of time there, both as a patient, and as a visitor. I'm still humbled by the experience. Met a lot of dedicated and courageous people there, both staff and patients. Many of the patients were just hours out of the rice paddies and so glad to be alive.
And to top it off, my youngest brother was born in that hospital!
So was I (born at Tachi AB Hospital). I've still got tons of photos, so I'll probably make a few more videos.
I was an Airman assigned to the Hospital, from Jan 68 to Jan 70. Shortly after I arrived, I was loaned out to 20 Casualty Staging Flight. When Tet hit, we had hundreds of casualties coming in night and day at Tachi and thru Yokota. I recall during the initial wave we were taking guys off C-130's that still had mud stained jungle fatigues on, pressure dressing, IV's. If they didn't need immediate surgery they put them on a plane and sent them to Tachi via Clark or on a C-141 direct to Yokota. I had a really nice Teac Reel to Reel that I sold to a guy who was too messed up to get a pass to go to the Stereo shops off base before being shipped back to the States. Yes...Like you said, very humbling and my first dose of the real world right out of high school.
@@GMak-oj7gm Dad was in Saigon TDY a lot during Tet. I have home movies he shot (some day I'll post some of them). Since you were at TAB Hospital during those years, you'll recognize some of the scenes in my "Evac to Zama" video. I remember not only the hospital buses from Tachi and Yokota coming to Zama General Hospital but the Medevac Hueys ferrying the seriously injured day and night from Tachi and YAB. I also remember walking through the burn ward for the first time and seeing all of our wounded, most not much older than me. It was a reality check. Yes, there really is a war going on. Here's the link to the video: th-cam.com/video/tzsvZymgb1k/w-d-xo.html
@@japanbrats Thanks for the link. One of my barracks mates cousin was wounded twice and evac'd to Japan. The second time the Army allowed him to stay at Zama and finish off his enlistment. He came down on weekends and stayed in our barracks. We became good friends. I'll forward the link to him. When I returned to the States, I got bumped from my World Airways flight by a Lt. going home on emergency leave and they put me on a C-141 burn flight going to Travis, final destination Brooke Medical Center at Ft. Sam. That was an incredible experience. I look forward to seeing the vids you post in the future. Best Wishes!!
@@GMak-oj7gm We arrived at in August 1968, living outside the base gate (right turn, little area of homes not far down). I was around 12 yrs old when I had to spend 10 days at Tachi hospital from around Dec. 14th-Dec. 24th in '69 or '70 due to a foot injury. I remember the docs asked if I would go into the ward where the 'Nam soldiers were recovering, which I did, the staff taking me there in a wheelchair. I was a kind of good will ambassador for those few days, talking to the bandaged soldiers who all wanted to know what was going on back in the "world"! I'll never forget spending that precious time with them. Some of them were going home to the states, but others were going back to war. I can't remember any of their names, but I often wonder if those I met survived when they went back. Not long after that stay we moved to Kanto Mura and left Japan in May 1972, after getting bumped and having to fly a transport to Travis. That thing was loud as heck! lol
I was happy to see these shots of Tachi, my Dad was stationed there 62-65. Our family of 8 lived at Kanto Mura housing. Have been looking for anyone I went to school with there. My best friend was named Glenn Gully. Our families flew into Japan together and Glenn and I became friends on the plane. We had all our classes together for 3 years. Would love to hear from him.
@Richard Tolbert I attended Tachikawa Elementary School from winter 61 to spring 66. My 3rd grade teacher was Mrs. Boyd, 4th grade was Mrs. Lee, 5th grade was Mr. Mazure, and 6th grade was Mrs. Nelson.
I don't remember you or your best friend Gully being in any of my classes, so maybe we are not the same age. But maybe you had some of my teachers at a different time.
I was also in the school choir, taught by Mrs. Adkins. We actually got 1st place in a national singing contest held in Tokyo (performing the Little Drummer Boy in a-cappella). Do you remember Mrs. Adkins, and were you ever in the choir?
@@michaelkaczmarski2938 Thank you for responding Michael. Yes, we were in lower grades but also lived at and attended the school on the Kanto mura housing site some 3miles from Tachikawa. We may have crossed paths at the squadren picnics. Thanks again.
I attended Tachi elementary 64-66 and then middle school in 67. While in elementary school, one of the most popular games to play was with minko's. Does anyone else remember those? They were the heavy cards with cartoon characters or other popular characters printed on them and the goal was to throw your card down hard enough on the ground that the opponents card got flipped over by the force of the wind whereupon you won that card. Some kids had large collections of the cards they'd won. Of course, some kids tried to cheat because the cards would eventually become pretty worn out and then they'd try to use duct tape to both hold them together and make them heavier so it was easier to flip over an opponents card but since no one wanted those worn out cards, no one would let them get away with using them. We always insisted on new cards or cards at least in good condition.
Another game that became popular involved marbles and huge chunks of colored glass obtained from an off-base glass factory. Depending on the size, shape and color, one would have to shoot and hit the glass X number of times to win it. All that came to an end when a student was running with a huge chunk of glass when the bell rang at the end of recess and he fell and his face got cut up pretty bad. After that, all the chunks of glass were banned from the school.
Oh yeah. Does anyone else remember cinnamon paper? When I first got to Japan and started school at Tachi, I saw kids tearing off huge chunks of what appeared to be notebook paper and chewing it. I thought they'd gone crazy but that's when I was told what it was and found out it was cinnamon flavored and tasted pretty good. lol.
Mike Skidmore and everyone involved in this project...ARIGATO! You all have preserved the beautiful memories we ALL had of our childhood that has shaped who we are today. God bless you all ❤️
My father was stationed there from 74 to 77, I believe? Robert Cathey. I'm Todd, and my older brother is Mark. Thanks for this! Such awesome memories. I think I still have the last edition of the Tachi Tomodachi ;)
Wonderful memories of Tachi. Tom did such a great job of matching the music to these video scrapbooks for those of us who have some deep attachments to our experiences in Japan. Mine were from 1965-72. I landed at Tachi in a turbo prop, we lived at Johnson AS nearby. Our family would occasionally take our Sunday meals at the clubs…and what great, affordable meals they were! As I have aged, I became more aware of how that experience was a “rescue” for me. We looked at housing nearby at one point, but chose to stay at Hyde Park Annex at Johnson AS. It would seem that those of us dependents that really “grew up” there are a special collection of people that somehow know that our connection to that time, those places are foundations to who we are…above all else. And as Tom Barry would acknowledge…our hosts embraced us wholly. I only wish I could return today as an “old man” and feel that way (without a supporting letter to local police explaining my history). But, that is life…just like we learned then. Thank you, Tom…you have brought us back to the memories that fuel the fire of our lives.
Great memories, I wish my parents could have seen this throw back Thursday, Tachi- 75-77 then Yakota to 78.
I was born in that hospital or as my mom remembers- almost born in heavy Japanese traffic trying to get there from the apartment complex Green Park!
Kathy, so was I. Born at TAB Hospital, but lived at Grant Heights.
An excellent video. I live close to Tachikawa and visit Showa Kinen Park regularly. I'm British but am interested in the history of this former airbase and how it has developed. I visited the American Village adjacent to where the airbase was. I've enjoyed reading the comments here too. So many in people's memories.
Thank you
Hi David, don’t see too many surnames of “Francis” so your post stood out to me. It’s my maiden name. My father was stationed here in the 60s and my sister was born here. Must be a very interesting place to live. I haven’t been back but hope to make the trip one day.
@@franciet99 Thank you for replying, TF. Not many Francis in Japan! Your story is interesting. Part of the old airbase is still functional and used by helicopters from the Japan Defence force. The remainder is now Showa Kinen Park or built on as part of the Tachikawa redevelopment. The nearest US airbase is Yokota (only 6 miles away) I hope you get to visit Tachikawa some time in the future.
Best wishes
@@davidfrancis273 thanks so much for your response and the update. One day, one day, I will make a trip back.
My younger brother and my youngest sister were both born in the hospital at Tachikawa AFB
And so was I in 1956.
懐かしいですね。高島屋の最上階？の食堂から飛行場を見るのが楽しみでした。銀色でピカピカの飛行機を・・・・
I was born there and went back a couple times more during my dad’s stints in Japan. Thnx for posting.
I spent 3 days here in 1968 while our the aircraft ferrying us to U-Tapao AB, Thailand was being repaired 0:00
I was born in this base in 1964 moved to America when I was two. My father was in the Air Force and was stationed there.
Thank you for sharing this. My sister was born there in the 50’s.
Nice editing
We were there in 1952 and 1953. My sister and I were 4 and 5.
I arrived in Japan about a year and a half after TAB closed (spring '79). Wife and I lived just outside of it for two years in American Village. I wonder if it is still there. Moved onto Yokota for another couple of years. Worked at Fuchu as a tech controller. Loved my time in Japan. Enjoyed the video very much!
American village is still there.
Great pics. We landed there in October of 63 spent 2 weeks in temp housing then to Green Park. Finally ended up in Kanto Mura from 63 to 66. One thing I remembered that will always effect me deeply was seeing the shiny coffins lined up on the apron by the hangers that contained our Vietnam dead. Such a waste.
Nice to see someone who also lived in Green Park. We lived there in 1960. Spent most of our time on Tachikawa, though.
My baby brother was born at Tachi AB in 1972.
we were stationed at Tachi from 1969-1974, Lived on base loved ever minute of it.
My baby sis was born there in 75
Lived in American Village 1986 Housing was horrible Paper thin walls no insulation Used space heaters to warm the house I remember making the crazy drive to Yokota AB every morning hoping to make it to work on time lol Great memories
I lived off base in what was called a paddy house. Every autumn (back in the early to mid-60's), there'd be an old Japanese guy riding around on a bicycle with a huge roll of plastic and lots of wood stripping. All the windows would get covered in plastic to help keep out the cold. However, since the plastic was opaque, it meant the windows were pretty useless all winter long as far as seeing outside goes- all we could see were blurry images. I was always glad when the plastic came off the windows in the spring. We also had to use space heaters to keep warm in the winter.
I was born there in 1965
I was born there in 1962.
@@David-pg8oh my dad was station there from December 1964 until December 1966. Then we moved to Dover AFB in Delaware.
My Dad was there from 1960 to 1964. Nice to find another born there also.
Moved to Missouri.
@@David-pg8oh I wonder if our dad's paths ever crossed.
We lived there.
I just came across this article and I am a bit confused. Is the article saying that the pictures were taken in 1977 after the based had closed, or that the base had closed in 1977. I was stationed at Tachikawa AB from April 1969 until it was returned to the Japanese in 1970, at which time I was transferred to Yokota AB.
Tachikawa Air Base was officially closed on Sept. 30, 1977 (Special Order GA-45, Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces, Sept. 27, 1977). However, most units had been transferred to Yokota Air Base by 1973 under the Kanto Base Consolidation Plan. The base was formally returned to the Japanese government on Nov. 30, 1977.
@@japanbrats Thank you for your reply. I guess my recollection was a bit off.
When I was on my way to Misawa I stayed over night at Tachi in transient airmen's quarters. That was April 1974, I couldn't stay at Yakoda because they had no accommodations for women. Pretty much everything was abandoned at Tachi. It was kind of eerie seeing the weeds growing in the cracks of pavement and sidewalks.
I was born there in 1959
Tom Barry died in August 2022.