Driving around Wake Island

Just driving around Wake Island.
March 7, 2023

[@GunnySpook]

I spent 2 1/2 weeks as part of a Marine F-4 Trans-Pac move. Fondly remember the beauty of the turquoise lagoon in the middle - You could visualize the PanAm Clippers setting down on their Pacific flights in the 30's. Also the Drifter's Reef - a small bar on the tip that had a water glass of Canadian Club for .75. And the 50's big band (Artie Shaw, etc.) that had never been updated being broadcast from the Coast Guard Loran station on the tip of the island. 11 CG guys stationed there. On my way to Japan. June 1964. I am 80 now.

[@paulbove6099]

I know this was about a year ago but thought I'd drop a note anyway. I lived there from about 1953 to 55. My dad was an aircraft controller with what was then the CAA. Loved living there as a 10-12 yr old. Lived in the water, best fishing ever. Good memories. These late pics sure show how it's changed.

[@rayfordstrange1963]

We were on our way to Tokyo in Feb 1959 transported in a c-121, if I rightly recall. We laid over for refueling and some repairs for most of the day. I walked to the end of the island where some giant whitecap waves were rolling in. On the walk, I noticed the bow of a rusting Japanese ship protruding above the water's surface. I'll never forget Wake Island. Thanks for posting this.

[@rodnabors7364]

Thanks for posting. Cool place and doubly hard for most folks to get to see it.

[@jimfinn3199]

I was on wake isl in1960 Army ,heading for Japan . Landing in C119 air transport MATS, There was A Japanese Distroyer beached with sun logo.,is it still there ! The local were having there seaetis to hot work time 11:00- 2 pm. Upon take off one of the engines quit . pilot no time notify the tower.made a sharp turn, I really thought we were going to crash on the rocks below😅 I am 82 yrs old. One ofthe sincorniser went out on the left engine! Went back to the PX and Drankall there 3.2 Fallstaf Beer. Thanks to pilot&crew arrived in Japan spending 2 great years.I am a Cold War Veteran, living in Cape May NewJersey.Thanks for letting me share my story! Rank specialist E-4 US Army Signal corps.

[@thefreestylefrEaK]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Bless you.

[@maureenburgess5696]

My Dad was the MIC there from 1960-63. It was a wonderful place to be a kid!

[@francisalford6651]

I was on Wake for a couple of days in 1965. We were down for engine repairs to the C-124. Our destination was Thailand, but we had to divert to the PI in order to replace that engine. I spent a week on security duty for an emergency B-52 landing strip being built. No buildings yet, just tents and a field kitchen. Everyone was "sick."

[@Foldisfitch]

Great video! If you have more footage of Wake we'd love to see it!

[@ogoshen]

Spent about 4 years there one lifetime. Really awesome place. I have about 10 yrs of good stories and WTF stories in my memory. ( it was that crazy) You have to have your shit wrapped tight in order to deal with the remoteness but if you can you can have some good times.( we didn't get to leave every 6 months and we all usually stayed for at least 1 year before a break off the island.) It all depends on the people of course. I saw a lot of people lose it after about 6 months of being in the middle of nowhere. Lots of strange events happen there too. If you stay for any length of time there you will probably know what I'm talking about. Diving and fishing is fantastic and like nowhere else on the planet but again you have to have your shit wrapped tight as you are at least 24 - 48 hours from a dive chamber if you ever need one so basically it's game over if you are careless. Don't be careless. The unexploded ordnance is fun also. We had contractors who would find and throw WW2 mortar rounds and grenades in the back of their truck for souvenirs as they were digging up a section of the island. I was throwing rocks at something in the water one time and it ended up being an anti ship mine from WW 2. Fun times. Exploring the WW2 pill boxes and bunkers is really cool if you're into that sort of thing. The word was that there were still about 600 Japanese soldiers buried on the island somewhere. So if you are driving late at night and see a ghostly looking soldier walking along the road, just keep going. A lot of us saw him and others among other weird events. I had a Hawaiian friend see a whole platoon walk through his quarters in the middle of the night. A contractor in his room by himself was using his computer one night and felt someone's hand on his back. Another had something jump on top of him in the middle of the night and he had to literally wrestle it off. I've said to much already so believe it or not. Enjoy the telescope if it's still there. And the 4 Palms Resort. Oh yeah watch out for the rats. lol.

[@willybadonkatonka8465]

That’s some great Wake Island lore. Thank you for sharing.

[@sonicimperium]

Sure tough guy, "shit wrapped tight" to sit on an island. Thank god we never had to depend on you in a war.

[@Capt_OscarMike]

You are 100% accurate about feeling the presence of what occurred there...

[@M.Đ-z4u]

Ghost don't exist 😂.stop smoking 🌿

[@ogoshen]

Were you there? What's your experience?

[@andrewniemyer8286]

I made frequent overnight TRANSPAC stops at Wake with the Navy throughout the 1980s and recognized all these "sights to see" on the atoll. Lots of changes, but also the place remains incredibly unique. Due to its current status, I know it no longer allows non-duty visits by retirees, etc., but it remains one of my best memories of those times.

[@stinzz3]

Gosh I love stopping in Wake!

[@ragingpatriot772]

I’d really like to work here

[@derrickdrakeford8458]

I wanna go back so bad

[@douglaskerins6030]

coast to coast in 60 seconds .....

[@glendamitchell3261]

How can I visit?

[@maureenburgess5696]

It's off limits to civilians. A lot of us who lived there and would like to go back can't.