Shuri Gate
by
Herb Blanchard
Shuri Gate
by Herb Blanchard
Copyright 2011 Herb Blanchard
DEDICATION
This book is dedicate to the people I served with in the US Air Force in particular the tanker crew chiefs and flight crews who shared with me the experiences fictionalized here.
Also the people of Okinawa who always made me feel welcome and made me look forward to each new trip to the island.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Shuri Gate is a fictional memoir of the author’s tours in Asia particularly on the island of Okinawa while serving in the US Air Force as a KC135 tanker crew chief.
It is the story of the relationship and eventual marriage of an inter-racial couple on the island. Tomako is Okinawan by birth and has lost her first true love in Vietnam. She is carrying his child with a very grim future to look forward to. She then meets and falls in love with Rick Davis a tanker crew chief who is flying combat missions in Southeast Asia.
Rick’s tours are typical for a tanker crew chief that can and does produce stress for Tomi as well as his Air Force family.
ONE
The flight from Anderson AFB, on the island of Guam, was unusually smooth. The sun was moving low on the western horizon and the few clouds on the far horizon were starting to turn pink and orange.
Sitting in the instructor pilot's seat behind the two pilots was the KC135's,( tail number 56-3653), crew chief Sgt. Rick Davis looking through the pilot's windshield. Over the intercom the navigator had just announced that the green glow on the horizon ahead of them was the island of Okinawa.
The changing colors of the South China Sea were the first things that drew Rick's attention. The dark blue of deep water became just a bit lighter blue before changing to green with a touch here and there of blue under white capped breakers which were starting to form running across the island's coral barrier reefs and golden sand flats.
This was Rick's first trip across the Pacific and to the islands where the flight crews had spent the past two nights. From Castle AFB in California, where each of the five tankers had picked up four F4 Phantoms to escort to a base in Thailand. The first RON had been Hickam AFB on Oahu. The next stop had been Anderson AFB on the island of Guam from where they had departed this afternoon at about 1500 hours. Tonight they would RON at Kadena AFB on the island of Okinawa.
Tuesday morning, 07/04/67, the five tankers made a round trip to Utapao RTNAB where they left their F4 chicks, refueled, and returned to Kadena AFB. The trip back to Kadena had been uneventful. Actually it had been a short day.
"Show time will be 0800 in the morning. Your tanker will pick up three F4s off the coast of Thailand. You won't be going into UT (Utapao) this trip since the chicks will be coming from Udorn which is deeper in Thailand. It will save you from having to refuel before coming back to Kadena." The Major from operations briefed 3653's flight crew. Then turned to the aircraft's crew chief to bring him up to date. "Check with the flightline super, but if your tanker is ready to go you should be able to take the rest of the day off."
Rick wasn't sure that he was very happy about sitting on Kadena AFB for three or four more days. There had been some kind of SNAFU in Thailand with the fighters that 3653, was supposed to rendezvous with this morning. Flight operations had got the word to him that his tanker's planned mission had been cancelled. It would be at least 48 hours if not longer, before the fighters would be ready to leave Udorn RTAFB and he could take the next two days off. But to check-in with them on Saturday, 08 July at 0800 and they might have a takeoff day and time for him.
Not having any particular place to be or go to, Rick hung around the flightline and helped the other crew chiefs get their tankers ready to leave for the coast of Thailand to pickup their chicks. They would each pick up four fighters and return to Okinawa in the late afternoon. Tomorrow they would leave Okinawa with their chicks to start island hopping back to CONUS. Their next RON would be the island of Guam. Reversing their flight plans from their incoming flights.
Rick closed up 3653 and started to walk across the ramp when the flightline supervisor's pickup pulled up behind him. Rick turned, and though the early morning sun was hitting the truck's windshield, there was something familiar about the driver. The truck creeped up along side of him and Rick stopped, looked into the truck's cab in mild disbelief.
"What in hell are you doing here?" Rick's former boss from the flightline on Loring AFB hollered at him. Bob Kruse, was now a Master Sergeant and obviously a tanker flightline supervisor.
"I was about to ask you the same question. Is SAC so hard up that they send old men overseas now? Or did Cheryl get tired of you hanging around the house and make you go TDY?"
"You haven't changed a damn bit have you?" Kruse declared as he stepped out of the pickup and the old, close friends hugged each other. "Damn, I'm glad to see you Rick. How did you manage to get your own tanker so soon?"
"Your fine letter of recommendation seemed to carry a little weight with the folks at Fairchild. The almost four years that I spent on ground crew at Loring AFB in the sunny and warm climate of Limestone, Maine also seemed to help. Another fact is they have 26 tankers and had only five fully qualified crew chiefs who they felt comfortable giving a tanker to put their name on. I made number 6.
"You asked for Fairchild AFB on the West Coast and tankers when you reenlisted. Correct?"
"Yeah. I thought I would enjoy flying on them after spending so long learning how great these airplanes are.
How did you end up here Bob?"
"They're scraping the bottom of the barrel I guess. One morning I went to work and they gave me a choice.
'Kruse', the Major said. 'I can offer you the best and the worst in TDYs. You pick, because you are going.
First is; Anderson AFB with the BUFFS;(Big Ugly Fat Fuckers. B52s) or second; Kadena AFB with the tankers. The choice, as I said is yours.'
"Major, do I look stupid to you? When is the next plane for Okinawa?
Here I am. Actually, I've been to both places before, and I have worked on BUFFS. They're always broken and you stay up all one night and all the next day in order for them to fly the that night. And I'm getting too old for that 24 hour shift crap. Besides Guam is a bit less civilized than Okinawa."
"So what’s the skinny with me and 3653, Bob? How come these other tankers are leaving and we get to stick around?"
"I didn't think that you would mind after you knew I was here. Give us a chance to visit.
The truth of the matter is that three of the F4s that you were going to rendezvous with this morning are broke. Udorn didn't get the word to have them ready to leave today. So all three flew missions yesterday. The pilots need down time and two of the aircraft need phase inspections before they'll let them fly across the pond. (The Pacific Ocean to the tanker flight crews). The third took some antiaircraft rounds and barely limped back into Udorn on a wing and a prayer with a wounded backseater."
"Under those circumstances Bob, I think that I'll wait around for a day or two before I head for home.
When are you off? Can we get together today?"
"Hell, yes. I only came in to get your buddies out of here and find you. Today is my day off. So jump in and I'll drop you at the VBOQ then I'll go change. I'll meet you there as soon as I can and we'll head for Naha."
TWO
"We'll grab the base shuttle bus to the Highway #1 gate. There we can catch a sukoshi cab for Naha. It's the biggest city on the island and has some great shopping and coffee houses. The Kokusai Coffee House is my favorite. It has no "A" sign which means that GIs aren't supposed to go there, but I do anyway. A few GIs wander i
n and out but few stay very long or come back. The coffee house doesn't have any girls hanging around so the average GI isn't going to get laid in there."
"I can't believe that you're breaking regulations, Bob. You, a newly created master sergeant. Married with two kids. What is this world coming to?"
"It's not as bad as it seems from first impressions. Most of the coffee houses are cool places and the Kokusai is a big step above the average so it never attracts the attention of the RASP (Ryukuian Armed Services Police). Besides, I've seen couples in there which I'm very sure are higher on the food chain than the average young lieutenant, with women whom I am sure are their girl friends and/or mistresses. I heard that some of the women are single, civilian school teachers from the states and working for the Department of Defense in the military base schools.
You know, military politics. Besides, the girl or I should say woman, who manages the coffee house is a real doll. Very friendly and nice."
"Are you flirting with her, Bob? I have a hard time believing that. Maybe I should call Cheryl and tell her to catch the next plane for Okinawa because her Bob is getting horny and falling in love?"
"You shithead. No. I'm not hitting on her, nor am I so horny that I'm thinking about getting laid."
"Cool it Sergeant. I'm only jerking your chain. I know you better than that."
"Sorry Rick. I may be looking a little too closely. and thinking a bit too much about them so I’m having some feelings of guilt. But after a TDY here of a month or two with all these nice looking women around and not playing touchy-feel is hard work.
This is the gate. We'll catch one of those little pink cabs that you can see outside the gate."
"I don't think those two guys next to those yellow taxis like GIs very much. Did you see the looks they gave us when we didn't take their taxi, Bob? How come we took this taxi instead?"
"These pink cabs are owned by the drivers and they take pride in being trustworthy and honest. The others are hired drivers and some, not all mind you, but some of them will rip you off by overcharging or taking the long way around. I heard that some are stealie boys who find out where an American lives off base and then burglarize their houses.
This is Kokusai Dori. Kokusai Street to us round eyes." Bob declared. "The Kokusai Coffee House is down these stairs." Bob said as he turned and started down a narrow, but clean and well-lit set of stairs.
Above them Rick saw the sign which was barely two feet long. It was written in Japanese characters except for a small line of English script underneath which read 'KOKUSAI COFFEE HOUSE'. On the end of the plain wooden sign was a small arrow pointing down the stairs.
Rick almost stumbled into Bob who had stopped after entering the reception area to take off his sunglasses. After the bright Okinawan sunlight, the dim interior of the coffee house was a shock.
"Sorry. I can't see very much in here." Rick said as he took off his sunglasses. "That helps." And he continued to look around.
"Me neither, just let your eyes get used to it."
Rick heard a faint, quiet giggle at the same time as he felt her presence.
"Would you like a table? How about over on that side?"
He could see her more clearly now and nodded that her choice of table was fine. She walked away, gracefully sidestepping between tables and led them to a table almost all the way in the back and against the far wall.
Rick had watched her and became more aware of her physical presence when she moved around the table and offered him a menu half the size of a piece of typing paper. She's barely 5 foot tall, maybe 25 years old. Rick thought as he sat in the chair facing the coffee house's entrance. He watched her walk away. Sexy walk, cute butt.
"That's the woman I told you about. Great figure and speaks very good English."
"Did you by any chance notice the rings on her left hand Master Sergeant? A rock big enough to choke you.
Do the Japanese use rings like we do? If so, I would say that she is very married."
"I wasn't suggesting that you hit on her, Rick. I just think that she is very nice to look at, has a great personality and is very pregnant."
"You're kidding me?"
"I'm a happily married man with two children. I know a pregnant woman when I see one."
"But she's so tiny. Her waist is small enough for me to put both hands around. You're putting me on, Bob."
Rick studied her as she came back to their table with two glasses of water. Her raven black hair had a healthy shine. She wore it almost shoulder length and her bangs touched the upper arch of her eyebrows. She realized that Rick was watching her and smiled. Her whole face lit up, except for her beautiful dark brown, slightly almond shaped eyes which held a hint of sadness.
"Is everything alright?" She hesitated and Rick thought that she was waiting for an answer.
"Yeah. It's fine, can I have a cup of black coffee, please? You want the same, Bob?"
"Coffee will be fine, thanks."
As the girl turned to walk away Rick spoke up. "Miss umm, Ma'am. Do you have something like sweet rolls or doughnuts?
What is your name? I can't call you Ma'am. You're too young for that. I feel like I'm talking to my mother."
"You can call me Tomako, or Tomi. Or Mama-san." She added smiling and almost laughing at him, but the sadness remained in her eyes.
"We have some plain cake doughnuts that you might like. An American friend showed the cook how to make them. We can put cinnamon and sugar on them if you would like."
"Two. I would like two with cinnamon and sugar. How about you Bob?"
"Sounds good to me. Two for me also."
After Tomi had turned and started away from their table, Kruse spoke up.
"You're flirting with her Rick."
"No I'm not. I like her and I'm being friendly."
"Okay. If you say so. Married and baby. Remember those two important things Rick."
"Yes Daddy." Rick smiled and together the two friends laughed quietly.
Kruse sipped his hot coffee and looked across the table at Rick. "What's with you and your assistant crew chief? You didn't invite him along today. In fact I haven't even seen him. Where was he this morning?"
"He wasn't on the flightline." Rick answered.
"No kidding? Really? I thought that he was the invisible man." Kruse said sarcastically. "Facts time. Where is he?"
Rick met his friend's eyes as he thought for a few seconds. He wanted to be truthful, but not burn the kid's bridges for him. From what Rick could see his assistant was doing a good job of that on his own. "He was passed out in his bunk. He stayed out until sometime just before I went out to the aircraft. He was too drunk to be on the flightline so I put him in his sack."
"You going to allow him to drag you down with him, Rick?"
"No. There's a story and history in this whole thing that I wanted to work out before I had to turn him in."
"How would you have covered for him if you had to fly this morning? There's supposed to be two crew chiefs on the aircraft."
Rick watched Tomi walk towards them bringing their doughnuts and more coffee.
Oh Jesus. She is a beautiful woman. He thought and hurriedly looked down at his coffee cup when she met his eye and a quizzical look crossed her soft features.
"Thank you, Tomi." Bob said as she placed their doughnuts on the table and started to refill their coffee cups.
"Do itashimashite." She answered. Then smiled at the blank look on each of the faces before her. "You are welcome, it is my pleasure."
Tomi met Rick's eyes before asking, "You have not been on Okinawa or in Japan before, neh?"
She has a beautiful voice.
"This is my first time. In fact today is the first day that I have been off base. My friend though, has been here for a long time, but he's a slow learner."
"Thanks Rick. I'll tell my own story."
"Yes, you have been h
ere before with another older sergeant from Naha."
"Your right, Tomi. I visited a friend who is stationed at Naha AFB and he brought me here twice before. I'm stationed at Kadena AFB and don't get off base very often. You knew he was from Naha?"
"I used to be a cashier at the Naha NCO club. I remember him from there." Tomi answered.
Tomi was barely away from the table when Kruse spoke. "So what would you have done?"
Told the truth. Tell as it was. Rick thought.
"He was too drunk. So I left him in the barracks."
"He lives in the barracks, not in the VBOQ with the flight crew?"
"None of the assistants are in the VBOQ. And that is one of his many problems. Listen Bob, a lot of what is going on is the result of bad judgments from some of Fairchild's NCOs. The kid is barely 19 years old and has only been in the Air Force for 20 or 21 months. Only 10 of which has been spent on tankers. He thought he would inherit 3653 when its long time crew chief transferred out to Eielson AFB in Fairbanks. Instead I got the aircraft. He isn't ready, nor qualified for an aircraft of his own. But they never told him that. He was kind of ignored and to rub salt in the wound, they left him with me, on the tanker that he thought should have been his."
"So 'Mr. Nice Guy' is back to his old tricks of covering for the walking wounded. Sounds like Loring all over again. Almost losing your stripes by covering for an alkie, that didn't cure you? Damn Rick, stop doing that shit. I won't always be around to cover your bleeding heart. Now, answer my question. What would you have done if you had had to fly this morning?"
“Been screwed I guess. Or take you with me." Rick laughed at the look of disbelief on his friend's face.
"What kind of answer is that? You know damn well that I'm not on flying status. So?" Kruse raised his eyebrows in question.
"I would have been screwed if the flight crew complained."