Shemya Alaska Memories My tour 1967

[@marsonskates]

i was there in June of 68 to paint the big radome with a small crew.I remember Boozer in that same position.there was the Shemya National Forest and the chained phone pole windsock that brought a laugh.Thanks for posting !

[@EdDuguay]

I was in the ASA and we use to send our bad boy to Shemya (1961)

[@jetdriver1jetdriver194]

"Its not the end of the world, but you can see it from there!" Thanks for the pics & the stroll down memory lane. I flew the Cobra Ball RC-135S in & out of Shemya 1982-84. Great memories, challenging & rewarding mission, AWESOME PEOPLE! Cheers, Lt Col Jet In an interesting side note: In World War ll, my future father-in-law fought the Japanese in the nearby Battle of Attu. It was a bloody, aweful, & gruesome battle ending with a final suicidal Banzi Charge. The battle lasted 19 days in May 1943 hindered by the typical Aleutian weather we know so well. Losses: 549 US KIA & 1,200 wounded. 2,351Japanese KIA & 28 POW. He never really got over it. Not many Americans realize the Japanese invaded and occupied US soil in WWII.

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for visiting and sharing your memories.

[@steves3734]

I was an Aircraft Electrical Systems specialist. Worked on Cobra Ball from 84 to 86. We did two week rotations to Shemya.

[@jetdriver1jetdriver194]

@@steves3734 Kool, we may have crossed paths & even pulled a two week tour at The Rock together. I was one of the six Instructor Pilots, a blond Captain at the time. I enjoyed spending time working with the maintainers, teaching each other what we knew about the aircraft's systems. When I left, the maintainers presented me with one of their Cobra Ball caps that I wore for years. The bad guys, from a certain hostile country, knew me by that hat! I left Alaska in April 84, PCS to the 38th SRS, 55th Wing, Offutt, Nebraska. Sheesh, was it that long ago? I knew a pilot named Stan Sievers--any relation? Thanks for serving! Cheers Lt Col Jet

[@steves3734]

No pilots in the family. I have been to Offutt a couple times. I would catch a ride on a tanker going there for a wash. After the plane was washed we usually had a few days off work. I grew up 90 miles from there so it was a free trip home.

[@jetdriver1jetdriver194]

@@steves3734 Heheh, I almost forgot about the Wash Racks. First time, I had been up in Alaska only three weeks. I flew Aircraft 121, and the maintenance troops to Offutt. (Aircraft 121 was the RC-135T that ultimately crashed into a mountain @ Valdez, Alaska not long after I PCSed). We also carried almost everybody in the unit (who took leave) with their familes for a free ride down & back and an Omaha shopping trip. When we showed up to fly back to Alaska, the jet had four 3-wheeler ATVs loaded on it! I bought a first generation Microwave at Nebraska Furnature Mart & they almost didn't accept my check cause it showed my address was on Easy Street, North Pole, Alaska. The salesman was trying to be a wise a** & asked if I lived anywhere near Santa's House. He freaked out when I answered, "Yeah, three blocks away!" My future wife (years later) was one of the maintainers in the Radar Shop. Those were the days..... Thanks for jogging my memory. All the best! Jet

[@tomward5011]

I was there from Nov 67 to Aug 68. Assigned to 16th Surveillance Squadron. There to start up a Satellite Communmication System. Enjoyed the tour kind of.

[@bobwoodruff2529]

James, thanks for posting! You lived in the lap of luxury (relatively speaking). I was there (USAFSS) in 1958/59. We were just a detachment and lived in Arctic huts. It's amazing how the place expanded in that time. Againk, thanks for sharing!

[@PJ-jk1ji]

My brother was there in the late 60's. Can't remember the exact year. He was a fuel specialist.

[@garyjones2582]

Ran across this by accident.. I was TDY there for a month in January/ Feb of 73.. I was stationed at Eielson AFB AK...I lived in the hangar with the aircraft there at Shemya. When the plane took off we had 4hrs to explore the island.. All the old Coke bottles, 50 cal. ammo shells, the glass balls from the Russian fishing boats.. One time I found an old bomb (about 3 ft long) and carried it back to the hangar and showed it to the commander.. I asked him if I could keep it.. He said if I could find a cardboard box to put it in, I could keep it.. maybe that was a way of saying " NO" cause I never did find a cardboard box.. Maybe he knew there wasn't any on the island.. So I hung it up n our room.. I wonder how many others found that bomb before me...Lots of memories...Nice to hear stories from people who had been there before and after me...

[@Chalybeateman]

Collecting those glass balls was a favorite collection hobby. I wrote a story about it and was published in the Security Service magazine.

[@garyjones2582]

@@Chalybeateman yeah they were very cool.. if I had been stationed there I would have started a collection myself.. God Bless and take care...

[@fogtenderprod1199]

Nice video, thanks for the memories. Spent a few years there at the Power Plant

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for visiting

[@mjordan812]

Memories! I remember Boozer. Was there from Dec '66 through Mar '67 TDY with the 3rd Mobile Comm Group. We were running backup for the White Alice system and were billeted in one of the old WW 2 barracks. Not as cozy as the Composite, but a lot less BS to put up with. Thanks for the pics.

[@spacetragedy]

Great post, thanks for sharing👍

[@GrizrazRex]

I overnighted on Shemya 50 years ago as a boy. Mom & I were adventurers, and the only civilian passengers on the Reeve Aleutian Electra. We wanted to go to the northern and westernmost points in the country. With Hawaii at the back end of this trip, we worked in the southernmost, too. I gotta do Maine, at some point.

[@mrz6822]

I was also there most of 1967. USAF pavements & grounds maint. Thanks for the memories.

[@Berham471]

Made me home sick for Vietnam! LOL Enjoyed the pictures. In February 1967 I woke up with a foot of snow on top of my sleeping bag (no tent). Submitted my papers for Vietnam the next morning!

[@robertjones1381]

Was there in 81-82 and 87-88 was in the 5073 Transportation Heavy Equipment Mechanic

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for visiting

[@thomasengels7395]

My cousin was an SP on Shemya about 1976. Lots of strange stories! Very nice photos!!! Sort of my first real look at the place.

[@guyman4234]

I spent the winter of 1981-82 in Adak. Loved it. Flew a lot in horrible God awful weather.

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for dropping by

[@lloydbarnes3641]

James, I arrived on the Rock in Jan 1967, I was assigned to the AAFJOG with the 6987th USAFSS team, had one hell of a time there. We would pick a spot to explore every weekend, on on times off. We found the old ammo dump, and tons of supplies just left on the beach, along with numerous cases of old beer, most not even opened. I left in Jan 1968. Going through my stuff last week and found my old snow boots. I would love to go back. I remember that NW Airlines used to refuel there in the late 50's on the way to the Far East.

[@Chalybeateman]

Original photos here: www.dropbox.com/sh/jx0shryzj048z86/AACWZvUkaryhxVfx47ZwqBEZa?dl=0

[@Chalybeateman]

You and I served about the same period. We worked in different shifts. I always loved midnight chow.

[@lloydbarnes3641]

James Wilson James, In my original post, I mentioned the 6987th, I meant the 6984th, as I found a copy of my orders posting me to the Rock. From your reply I presume you were in the same unit. I remember working rotating shifts. Also feeding the foxes in the AAFJOG compound, they seemed to like the ketchup packages when we tore them open. Even though we were there for 12 months, I really enjoyed exploring the old pill boxes and huts under ground. The Rock was my first USAFSS assignment, Prior to that, I spent three years with ASA, in Okinawa, attached to Special Forces. There I worked at JSPC (Joint Sobe Processing Center), and other locations in Okinawa. I spent a total of 26 years 8 Months on active duty, and loved every minute of it..

[@Chalybeateman]

You must have been in C-ops where I was in E-ops since I don't remember your name.

[@Dem1g0ds]

Thanks for posting this!! Really neat stuff..

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for visiting

[@lbonnema]

Thanks for the memories. I was stationed there Nov 72 - Nov 73. My first duty station. If there was a right way to things in the Air Force, I did it the wrong way. I can imagine that it would be a better place now with all the technology now.

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for checking my page out.

[@vikkiolsen4493]

My husband Paul Olsen was at Shemya Air Force Base 67-68. He and James Horton were in one or two of the photos walking down the mountain. I would love to have a copy o of these photos for my husband. the Earthquake that was reported today got him reminiscing about his time there.

[@Chalybeateman]

I remember Paul and James Horton (we called him Joe). Contact me directly at [e-mail] Include your e-mail address so I can send you the pictures as an attachment. I have a story about Paul that is funny.

[@robertfletcher5384]

James Wilson i was on shemya june 64 to jun 65. iwas detco of weaher det that supported sac kc135. there is a chapter devoted to shemya in my book soon to be published. the name of thebook is' an airmans journey.....by robert m fletcher

[@cathylagemann1795]

Robert Fletcher...my dad Billy W Johnson was based there same time as you in the 60s. He was the supply man. He talked a lot about Boozer and earthquake and the cold....how bad the food was.

[@MrAmusgrove]

I was there in 64-65, I loved it. I worked in the Fire Department, but did not live in the Composite Building

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for visiting

[@patrickcramblet2031]

I spent April 1964 till April 1965 in U.S. Air Force.ived in compound building. I knew Boozer the dog so sad that he died after I left Shemya!in February 1975 we suffered a major earthquake!.I was glad when my tour finished!😱

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for stopping by. I think that anybody that served on Shemya has memories that last a lifetime.

[@thomasengels7395]

My cousins name was Ricky Ksiazkiewicz. He passed in 2004. His nick names were "Soup"( alphabet soup), KZ, and Alphabet. He got out, joined the Rangers, was in the 509th PIR in Vincenza Italy, was my brother in laws' nephews Drill Instructor at Ft Benning. He got out cause he didn't want to do a stint as a recreuter "I'd have to lie to all those kids". He gave me more self confidence than any ten other people.

[@adamdrain]

Hi! Curious if you were there anytime before Dec. 1966. My grandfather was stationed there, but left in '66. Richard Drain.

[@johnburke2741]

James, Thanks for taking me down memory lane, I didn't arrive until February 1971 as a civilian contractor (GE) assigned to the FPS-80, we were called "Bubble Rats". This was the big white golf ball next to the 3 tall antennas on the FPS-17, they were called "fixed phase array", together they were part of the "DEW Line, or Defensive Early Warning. I stayed 18 months and left in December 1972, it was a hard tour as the work schedule was 12 hours a day 7 days a week, we were not allowed to be sick or hung over. But the money was so good I went back in Sept 1973 for another 12 months and left October 1974. After taking a 12 month vacation and spending all my money, I went back for a third time in October 1975 to December 1976. The FPS-80 tracked and identified every rocket/missile the Russians launched. SAC did have a special plane on the island, it took off to video record every large missile launch the Russians put up. Up until 1975, no pictures were allowed to be taken of this plane called "Snoopy"'. Thanks again!

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for your comments.

[@Chalybeateman]

Money talks, no doubt. Place is so unusual that it does make an impact on you.

[@charlesstanford8597]

John, good to see this narrative. Cheers, Chuck Stanford

[@42trailblazer]

I was there July 1964 to August 1965. Great video of your pictures.

[@Chalybeateman]

Thank you very much!

[@louisdupilka2870]

video was outstanding---I was stationed there same time you were temporary duty out of adak , alaska-navy base.. I was a CT-- Have pictures of "Boozer" .. him and I on front step of barracks-- really brougt back memories.. Lou Dupilka ct3

[@Chalybeateman]

I read somewhere that when he died they gave Boozer a military funeral.

[@Chalybeateman]

I have received an email from another Navy person who would like to talk to you. Would like your email address if you don't mind.

[@Jeeperdad48]

I was stationed there Mar 1970-71. There was a monument to Boozer then and Penny took his place as our Island mascot. Thanks from an ASA member of Col Stockton’s Aleutian Chain Gang.

[@Chalybeateman]

I read somewhere that they gave Boozer a full military funeral with honors. Maybe somebody could share a picture of Penny with us.

[@buckingalong]

WoW!! I was there 68/69 I think it was March to March. Time has passed me by a little. I was ASA, I really liked the tour, it was listed as a hardship, so the only other at that time was Nam. I worked both C-ops, and E- ops. Had lots of friends there but we didnt stay in touch. I cant say the money was that good for me:)) I did save my money , never got into the poker games, I went to Germany after that tour...then discharged...I almost stayed in the service and make a career , but changed my mind, sort of like, well I have done this may as well try something else.. roger shortt

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for visiting.

[@buckingalong]

James Wilson I enjoyed the visit ,try to read up maybe memories will return . Question ? Is the base still active ?

[@Chalybeateman]

I don't think the base exists as we knew it. There were people there working on a missile defense system at one time. Maybe some other viewers can bring us up to date.

[@Chalybeateman]

Refresh my memory. What was ASA? I left in December 68 so we were there at the same time. I was only in E-ops.

[@buckingalong]

James Wilson Hi James , ASA= Army Security Agency, I worked both ops. I actually ( sort of) reported directly to the private agency staffed that reported to DIRNSA... It was the best tour I had, great mission. Great staff, top to bottom..I worked Morse Code , equipment, and Russian . I spent my first 2 years in the service in school, loved the training .After Shemya I spent time in Europe ( all over), Spain, And finished in Maryland...( hated it) there....it was only 6 months....

[@davidholman48]

Was there from 1969 to 1970. Worked in the dispensary. I was known as Loach. The doctor was Dr. Richard Deucher. Anybody else there at the time?

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for visiting.

[@LesHarrington]

My dad was stationed on Shemya in 1952. They had a fire destroy destroyed most of their food supplies, so dad and and another avid fishermen were ordered to fish for the cooks until more supplies arrived.

[@Art367]

Looks familiar. I was there 68-69. Lived in one of the old WW II barracks though.

[@battlefoxx]

My dad was stationed in Shemya 1962-1966 flying the P-3 Orions.

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for his service. Shemya people have a shared and wonderful story.

[@joehorton5408]

James, I think I might have been one of the guys in some of the pictures. The tall, thin one in the Air Force field jacket (with the Shirley Temple collar) looking sort of lost and forlorn on the beach. I also think I recognized Denny Gaines and one of the other guys (who I think was one of your roommates whose name I can't remember) looked familiar. Thansk for the pix. Joe Horton

[@Chalybeateman]

Joe, I remember you very well. We've played basketball and cards together. You and Denny came to Shemya from Japan along with Richard Ball and Paul Olsen and one other guy. My roommate's name was Mike Gronoski. If you want to share memories, drop me a note at [e-mail]

[@tomsalmon6059]

James - arrived Shemya 9-1-66 and departed 8-15-67. Worked in printer intercept in C Ops on C-Trick. Special assignment on Mids gave me ample time in E-Ops where I made a number of friends who I cannot remember now. Assisted in some activities there but not position qualified at all. Recognize most locations in your presentation. Great duty assignment - lousy place to live. Spent last 2 years in Army in Nurnburg which was also good but not enough to re up.

[@Chalybeateman]

So we were there about the same time. I worked in e-Ops but also can't remember many names. I actually enjoyed my time there but missed my wife.

[@chrharr19721]

@@Chalybeateman My dad, Allen Harris was there 66-67. He was in 6984 SS . He has not kept up with anyone but if there is anyone here there at the same time. He worked in E-Ops. He was sent to Tempelhof in 67-70

[@Chalybeateman]

@@chrharr19721 Difficult to remember names after all these years. All your references match up to the time I was there. If your father wants to review notes, he can write me at [e-mail]

[@josemoreno3334]

Me and our team were sent there in mid 1991 from McClellan AFB, California to install new telephone cables. What a strange and cold place . I would like to go back there one day. 1849th EIS, AFCC. 😐

[@bobharris7401]

1 year 64-65ish. Great quake8.2. Great year. Wouldn’t trade it.

[@donjohnson8627]

Yep...EXACTLY!! i was there at the same time!! Notice all the trees?? Uhhh--no,, I didn't think so!

[@Chalybeateman]

Good memories

[@marcybrown6577]

4/68 to 4/69 Civil Engineer Refer Shop. Capt Dukes was our Co

[@emjaytwelve]

there was a dog called boozer that used to wait for the bus around the island!!

[@charlesstanford8597]

At 1.01, the radar with the 165 foot high reflectors was the FPS-17 detection radar capable of seeing deep into Russia. The 100 foot radome housed the antenna of the FPS-80 tracking radar also watching Russian missile and satellite activity.

[@joeovalle7775]

i was stationed at Shemya jan 75 to Jan 76. i remember that the areas were 16th surveillance sq and Anders facility which was run by civilian contractors (ge). I do remember the earthquake that we went through in feb 75. That was ugly 7.5 on the Richter scale

[@Chalybeateman]

+Joe Ovalle Thanks for your comments

[@jmsenner]

In 1961 I was offered a choice between Shemya, Sinop or Asmara because---get this--I had good teeth and those places didn't have a dentist. We had been told that top of the class would get first choice of postings and I was all ready to go to Bad Abling or Chitose but it was not to be. I chose Sinop because Asmara was 18 months. Soured my outlook on the Army and I got an early out to go to college in 63.

[@Chalybeateman]

Interesting story. Where was Sinop?

[@garykaraff2814]

@@Chalybeateman Turkey

[@raymondgendreau9781]

Jan 68 to Jan 69 as the supply officer. Great bunch of guys. Still communicate with some. Arrived 3 months after marriage - wife not happy. From there they sent me to Panama (while a revolution was underway -- and that would prevent my wife from joining me.) We 'beat the system' by driving to Panama as that allowed us to be together. Eventually served 13 years active and 11 more with ANG and as an IMA in Reserves. Retired as Lt.Col.

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for checking out the site. I also still communicate with some of the guys after all these years

[@cathylagemann1795]

My dad Billy W Johnson was the supply man in 65-66.

[@chicaluna8454]

My father Phillip Sparman was stationed in Shemya 67-68. My uncle Bill Sparman was in Panama 67-68.

[@kevindrain6671]

James, my grandfather Richard E Drain was there in the mid 1960s. Did you ever meet him?

[@Chalybeateman]

Hard to remember names after all these years. I don't remember a Richard Drain. There is a Richard in my video. Show it to your grandfather to see if it is him.

[@JoeBotts]

This is when I was Shemya AK Sept 1966-August 1967

[@petrofilmeurope]

Nice pictures, James - this must have been before the phased array radar was built; do you remember when that one was active?

[@Chalybeateman]

I am not familiar with radars that are there. Thanks for looking.

[@Chalybeateman]

Sorry I don't Thanks for viewing

[@mdriley4135]

1974 at the weather station. Balloons. As I said I didn't like shemya but it was Unforgettable

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for commenting. That place seems to stay inside of us.

[@kenshaw1964]

anybody remember NAVY AWACS VQ-1 flying in and out of there 69 70?,looking for crew4 guys..

[@lambda100]

White Alice? NO! That's the FPS-17 radar designed, built and operated by GE. White Alice was a communications facility with similar fans in a different location. Chuck Stanford, GE. Shemya 1964-67.

[@Chalybeateman]

Thanks for your correction. I use to work under the big bubble. I can't remember what it was called.

[@lambda100]

James Wilson I left Shemya in Sept '67 and spent the rest of my GE career at GE Spacetrack Headquarters in Syracuse, NY, retiring in 1989. That got me trips to the GE sites in Turkey (again), Shemya (several times, including shut down), and The Philippines. At Shemya, I was the Operations Supervisor, leaving as the Air Force was taking over the operations function. Heard many amusing stories about their attempts at operations. In Turkey, the Air Force wisely left GE to run operations. I've seen several pictures with the White Alice label applied to the '17 fans. Often wondered where that mistake came from. I must have run across you, but don't recall. Chuck Stanford

[@Chalybeateman]

I would love to visit it again just to see what it looks like after all these years.

[@lambda100]

James Wilson I've thought of that often. Looking at recent pictures, I see many changes-our site is almost completely wiped out, however, the FPS-17 transmitter building seems intact. Wonder how it's used? I keep in touch with a few Spacetrackers. Until 2 years ago, there was an annual clambake in Sept. and I'd meet several old friends-as many as 30 one year. But Lockheed-Martin, facing financial problems stopped sponsoring them.

[@AMVETSWA]

James, me too. Brings back a lot of memories.

[@Bob31415]

Interesting video but I had to mute it.

[@emjaytwelve]

I was there 1965 to 66 bloody awful dump!!!

[@lambda100]

The caption at 0.57 is dead wrong. This is the FPS-17 detection radar, built and operated by General Electric. White Alice was a communication system located elsewhere. Other pictures show these antennas with a nearby 100 foot spherical radome - The FPS-80 tracking radar, also built and operated by GE. Both radars were part of the NORAD Spacetrack system. Charles Stanford, General Electric. Shemya 1964-1967.

[@Chalybeateman]

lambda100 I could not figure out how to delete the picture so I put a corrected annotation there.

[@truefoe155]

lambda100 General Electric built the diesel powered power generators there as well. I worked for supply there from 1981 - 1982 we had 3 of them, one on duty one on standby and one for spares. Worked well, never had an outage while i was there :-) The white alice had long since been decommissioned and the Phased array tower was pulling all of the heavy lifting there. I was stationed inside of that thing as well.

[@AMVETSWA]

Richard: When I was there in 1987, I ran the PMEL laboratory located inside the phase array facility. I remember how the 100 knot winds would push all the trucks around parked outside during a storm.

[@truefoe155]

Do not remember 100 miles an hour but we got 65 miles an hour regularly

[@robertjones1381]

@@truefoe155 I was there 81-82 Transportation Heavy equipment Mechanic

[@battlefoxx]

My mom tells me of an Orion that crashed around 1967 in Shemya, just after my dad's enlistment. A few of our dedicated men passed away. I don't know their names, but I salute them nonetheless.

[@raymondgendreau9781]

I was at Shemya from January 1967 to January 1968. As a Captain then I think I would have known about the Orion crash . . . I do not think it happened during that time.

[@bobharris7401]

Shit did I see paved roads?

[@roaideman1]

Remote duty!

[@kangarookongress3888]

OFF BASE FACILITIES MAINT. BEEN THERE 3 TIMES IN LATE 70s. Thanks, Frank C. Been 40 yrs but feel free to contact