The Coolest Places to Hang Out on Kwajalein

[@randyafeman837]

I flew into Kwaj in 1969. Was a loadmaster on a C124 flying into 'Nam. We were billeted in temp qtrs., kwan hut, and only for one night. I awoke at midnight and looked out the netting, no ac, at a 6' surf under a full moon on a crescent palm studded beach. The phosphoresce in the surf foamed white and was alive. I've been all over the world but never seen a more beautiful site.

[@pfizzyx]

shit thats a sweet little vignette. magic moment

[@jcee2259]

True, for most islands of the region. Except those still radioactive and toxic from chemical warfare bulk storage.

[@MjkeG]

I lived there (Roi-Namur) for 2 years. Most of the "mysteries" were abandoned Japanese fortifications, platforms, bunkers, some repurposed. tide pools were raw materials dug out by engineers, US and/or Japanese. I so loved this place. 1998~2000. Serene, peaceful. Great video bra!

[@jcee2259]

Yup. Flew over it also looking for a reported foreign flag vessel.

[@johnslaughter5475]

I lived there for a year from mid-'58 to '59. While we had imported trees, there was absolutely none of that overgrowth. Those blocks/pyramids on the reef were tank/landing craft traps put there by the Japanese. They thought invasion would be from the ocean side. Kwaj was one of the first places to really get hammered before we went ashore. Lessons learned from Guadalcanal and Tarawa. My house was about mid way between the enlisted men's pool and the officer's pool. Spent a lot of hours walking the reef at low tide picking up shells. Our neighbor tied lines to the clothes line post, baited hooks and left them on the reef for high tide. When the tide went out there'd be sharks on the hooks. The smallest sharks could swim within 2' of the beach line. You could reach out and pet them. Grab the dorsal and tail at the same time and you could throw them on the beach. On the lawn in front and to the left of the church was a Marshallese ocean going outrigger with mast. We loved to go in it. We learned why the Marshallese loved getting bubble gum in trade: after chewing it, they save it. Then, when a hole appeared in the hull, they'd re-chew it and patch the hole. Kids only came out with their parents if they could be in grades 1-6. Older kids had to stay stateside. We had a floating drydock on the lagoon side. The island CO liked to sit at the stern to fish. There was a tank trap on the reef behind his house that had a pipe stuck in it. It was bent to look like a gallows and had a metal disk hanging from it. He'd sit there on the rocks and target shoot with his pistol. The two most beautiful spots on the island were the church and it's park like setting and the Japanese cemetery. That was out at the end of the runway near the end of the island. Follow the runway the other way until you get to a little rise overlooking the ocean and you'd find a cross there. It was in commemoration for a plane that crashed there. There were 19 nurses who lost their lives. I was 8 years old, celebrated my birthday learning to swim at the pool. I got a sunburn that was almost fatal. I took a load of darts from a sea urchin's spine that made me really thick. These were the urchins with the long purple spines. Beautiful. After you safely get one and clean it out, the spines come off and make a great wind chime. As the wind always blows, the chime was constant. BTW, we cleaned all shells by burying them in the sand. The ants completely cleaned them out. Oh, all houses on the ocean side, which was the windward, had block walls behind to protect the house from the incessant winds. It wasn't a bad place. It was much smaller than it is now. In those days it was a U.S. Navy base. The people stationed there could catch flights in the dumbos to many of the islands to trade with the Marshallese. Dad came home one day with a big shopping bag full of longusters. Those are the Pacific version of lobsters. They don't have claws but their tales are bigger and very dangerous. We couldn't eat anything caught from around the island. They were all toxic due to all of the unexploded ordinance still in the water. I wasn't a Pacific history buff then. If I had been, it would have been great to go just a few miles up the reef to see the wreck of the German battle cruiser Prinz Eugen. She's still there and quite visible at low tide. She shows a little of her keel and one screw at high tide.

[@jordanvinson109]

John, thank you for your insightful comment! Very informative. Cheers.

[@billremick5548]

Hi John- I found your story very interesting. I wrote a book on Kwaj called Just Another Day in Paradise. You can look it up by that name on the web. I was wondering if you had any photos your parents might have taken during their tour on Kwaj. I am always looking for new material and I am a bit light in the time period you were there. You can contact me at [e-mail]. I would really like to hear from you. Bill Remick.

[@johnslaughter5475]

@@billremick5548 I'm trying to find who claimed all of the movies and slides that were taken. I remember one where I was getting off the Ebeye Express. It had rained while we went around the island, so I took my shirt off and put it in my pocket. Another is of my father BBQing. His back was lobster red.

[@MrTigerprincess]

John This is Ed Persky, I lived on Kwajalein the same time that you did.. 1958-9 I believe it was. I was in 8th grade taking classes by correspondence courses. My father was a Warrant Officer and Head of transportation on the Island. I lived on the Bay side of the island as far south as the housing went. The things I remember about the island are similar to your memories. My brother and I and I believe your older brother or some kids about our age (14 or so) built a fort above the covered pic nic tables on the bay side that looked out into the lagoon. I remember the Movies at night in the open sitting on benches and buying popcorn at the shed behind the benches. Us kids would run the snack bar to make very little money and I remember using a spike bar, something like modern can crushers, to open the can soda pop for the sailors for tips. There were no pop top aluminum cans then. Out in the bay about 2 hundred yards from shore there was a floating deck we used to swim out to and sun ourselves away from everyone when actually there was hardly no one around the pic nic area or along the beach most of the time. We would snorkel in the bay and spearfish. Our mask had twin snorkels on the top edges with ping pong balls on the top below a hook shaped snorkel that would close the snorkel if it went under water. We would spear fish and sometimes barracuda would follow us to shore and eat some of the fish right off our side that were hanging on a stringer. The sharks you discussed we used to catch and drag up on the shore overnight and the next day they would still be alive and we would drag them back into the water and grab the dorsal fin and ride them around in the shallow water along the shore until we got bored and then let them go. They were only about 3 to 5 foot long and not dangerous. The normal tour of duty for military Officers, particularly family men, was two years and we left. The Island was being transfered to Civilian use because they were going to us it for building and testing Anti Missle Missles. The Nike Zues I believe it was called. My dad was tasked with showing the Civilian Contractors all the facilities on the Island. The first thing they wanted to see was the Officers Club, and then the Water dessalting facility since there was never enough fresh water and the toilets and many other things used brakish water. Your name is very familiar to me but I don't know if you remember me. My brothers name is Freddie and I think he and you were good friends. My EMAIL is [e-mail] and we can talk about the good old days.

[@billremick5548]

Hi-John-I had forgotten all about this post and I see you responded to the comment I made. Can you contact me by email at [e-mail]? I would really like to chat with about your time on Kwaj.

[@trinichavoya9615]

Anybody My name is Trini. My mother was Linda Gruebner. Step Dad Chuck Gruebner. They lived there for 27 years. Both sadly have sadly passed. Big Props to "Antie". A very close friend of my mother, you posted a amazing video of you hang out with my Mom around the Island. (Wink/Wink). The great friends, We were able to get chuck out there too, but have never Seen that video yet. I was able to visit this beautiful place twice in my life. My last time I was 14 and had the time of my life. Spent a month out there. At the time Skateboarding was my life, and the Military had built a Half Pipe ramp on the Island for the kids. It was amazing. Met some assume people. It was so long ago. Emon Beach, having Vanilla shakes and French fries. Love watching the videos of Kwaj. Hard to explain to people the life style of Kwaj. I miss everything about the place Fast forward 27 years. My son is a Aerospace Engineer for Northrup with options to Kwaj. That would be to odd to concept. Thanks for listing, Trini

[@annebenson4222]

Lived there is the 70s with my parents. Loved it. Wish I could go back. Thanks!

[@mom2kpcj]

Sending this link to my husband, who leaves tomorrow for his new job on Kwajalein. I will be joining him next summer, along with our son, so I am trying to get as much info as I can before I get there! Thanks for the great tips and video!

[@sharkslayatokyo9420]

You both will love kwajlein atolls

[@pamhannappel8871]

My cousins grew up here in the 70’s. Mike and Robin Mitchell. My uncle was Don “Mitch” Mitchell. I loved hearing stories of their life here but until this video I never fully could understand what the island looked like. I thought it was cool that they boiled shark eyes and used them as marbles and the Boy Scouts going from island to island at low tide! I wish I could have visited them when they were here for 9 years. Thanks for the video, you did a great job and made it entertaining!

[@bartniaux8630]

Kwaj sure changed since my time. I worked for Kentron on Radots/Computers from 1970-74 and enjoyed it very much. Flew the Huey helicopters to work daily since our equipment was scattered around the atoll. I primarily worked on Legan, Eniwetak and Gagan islands. Great memories.

[@stufields5125]

As a past Commodore for the Kwajalein Yacht club and a member of "Strange Command" for the period of 1986 to1992, I enjoyed your tour. We did also enjoy night dives South of the little pass and not to far from where they dumped garbage. Night dives with sharks present was interesting. Both Kathy and I had some tours of several of the other islands in the Marshalls. We found the wreckage of a Zero on one of them, as well as quite a bit of WWII parts and pieces.

[@davidmcgown]

I was one of the AFRS Kwaj guys '72~'74. I spent a lot of time exploring, but I missed several of your spots. Thanks for sharing.

[@terryhazzard2676]

this is so cool. worked on kwaj for a few years but never knew these places existed on such a small island

[@shawnburlingame4422]

Been back on the mainland 4 years, not a day gos by that l don't wish to be back. Such a special, magical place I'll never forget!!

[@brianr1840]

Nicely done video it was fun seeing Kwajalein again, I knew of most of those places. I lived and worked on Kwaj from October 2002 to October 2003. I’m actually looking at taking another contract job there soon

[@leviparvin637]

That construction that you were talking about is Northwest demolition. I was out there working on that project. Pulling old military objects, trash, rebar, wire, sometimes old munitions that haven’t been spent, tank turrets, and the occasional crane chassis off the shore line.

[@mlrainesjr]

I recall that you have to be a member of the military with orders to be stationed there or work for a contractor that is performing work out there. I know that as a civilian that one cannot go there as a tourist. As a minimum a visitor would need to have a sponsor. I use to live there 1960 - 1962 starting at the age of 13 when the island had a somewhat frontier atmosphere with absolutely no TV , canned milk only but free movies at the Richardson Theater and the Yukwie Yuk Club. Without TV, people tended to socialize much more frequently with little parties and get togethers. My mother always claimed that Kwajalein was her favorite place of all the places we lived.

[@calcrappie8507]

The papaya we had in the dining facility was so good flown in from Hawaii nearly everyday. Top shelf quality and size, like you would never get stateside. I still crave it after 40 years. I never went past the shark pit (fishing area). I don't remember if we were allowed on that far western end of the island. I probably have been to half the beaches and spots you showed us. Nice video.

[@dorothytaylor2748]

I've been to Kwaj 3 times, 1998, 2016 & 2019 to train the firefighters. Love this place. Hope to be back in 2021/2. Definitely going to hit some of these beaches next trip. Awesome and fun video!

[@joeeickholt2532]

Do fireman have a good gig there?

[@chasisaye1225]

My husband is a firemen getting out of the Air Force. He is getting ready to apply maybe you will meet him!

[@el_heizenberg9172]

@@chasisaye1225 Im trying to figure this out as well. How the gigs are out there

[@larryhutchens7593]

Wow, what a change. I was there in 56 with the rest of my family. My father was in the Navy & stationed there. Lots more, way more vegetation. The Island was completely denuded of vegetation during the invasion during WWII & hadn't recovered. They were still removing live ammunition from areas where construction was on going. We lived in a single story concrete block house on the lee side of the island near where the old Navy pier was located. Numerous warships & cargo ships visited & dropped anchor, sometimes Martin seaplanes would anchor in the bay on the lee side near the pier. First school I attended there was at the turn around near the end of the runway. Second one was on the windward side near where the Navy swimming pool was located. Took swimming lessons from a navy instructor at the pool. We had a PX (base store), a bowling alley, and an outdoor theater where we would sit on benches & watch movies. Not much to do. We were not allowed to swim in the ocean or eat any fish that we caught in the ocean. There were still N tests going on at Bakini & Eniwitok at the time. Planes flew in & out, B-29s, large prop driven cargo planes that were real noisy & an occasional Super Connie (Constellation passenger plane, Air Force). Video is neat but hardly recognize anything.

[@ronnyber]

Thanks for the tour. I would put a Disc Golf course on that Golf course. Cheers

[@num1cheechwizard]

I was on Kwaj back in the 70's working at the TPQ18 .Hey herb Harris,Bob Bug and the old gang. Did Cactus ever return? Looks totally different now, Salt water pool is still there I see. Cool Video.Wish I had stayed.

[@noelfreedman289]

I served on Kwajalein in 1953. At that time, Kwaj was the staging area for testing Atom Bombs. The landing field was slanted to catch rain water. Other fresh water was held off shore in floating concrete storage. The saltwater was littered with exploded shells. There were Pill Boxes around the island. Workmen build housing with bricks made of seashells. I don't remember any sand on the island. My tour on Kwaj was a vacation with pay!

[@jordanvinson109]

Noel, can you shoot me an email at [e-mail]? I'd like to talk to you more about your time out here!

[@joecarrera2879]

I worked there back in 94,95 I worked for Zachry beautiful place and great fishing

[@justpassingthrough4802]

1980-1982 spent summers on Kwajalein when on summer vacation from college. Lived in a trailer in Silver City. Dad was a caribou pilot for Global. Worked at the PDR and at Surfway. Had a total crush on Judy Baer and Lucia Makonnen. I'm 60 years old now, but those were the best days of my life.

[@billclancy4913]

Did a tour there 2007-2008, good times, great diving!

[@RussellHogan]

Thanks for video!

[@iakwe8087]

Bruh. Literally grew up my whole life here! From George Seitz to Kwaj Jr/Sr High grad!!!!! Go Spartans! Cool vid bro. Gotta go back soon but gotta find a sponsor which I got a few friends working there now.

[@jcee2259]

Ditch digger hire happens. Usually from Hawaii Low pay and one great adventure after another. Watching EOD .return to where you're paid to be.

[@robertoler3795]

well done BZ been on Kwaj in my past :) fly safe

[@The-Drone-Hobbyist]

I used to live there from 2016 to 2017 . I really miss it... also on stop 5 I called it crabby beach

[@katherinecoles191]

I lived there 10 years from 1988- 2000... pct'ed a couple of times. You revealed a couple places I hadn't seen. I thought I saw every square inch of the island! : )

[@teresaanakalea5996]

I was there from 1970 to 1975 and a few of those places looked much different from when I was there as well. Some didn't exist but the ocean has pushed sand around to create new beaches and washed some others away. One thing I did notice was that there were no people on any of them except that one girl. That definitely would not have been the case in the 70's. We were were always at the beach having a good time!

[@katherinecoles191]

@@teresaanakalea5996 Yes! Same in the late 80's and 90's.

[@jerryduck1619]

A lovely island! I lived on Kawjalein from October 1960 to September 1961. At the time there were 44 sailors and one Army SMGT managing construction of the missile facilities. We enjoyed daily skin diving and evening movies and the walk-in theater. We had 1200 Philippine and Hawaiian laborers. Navy personnel ran a sizable communications network. I worked at a WWII quonset hut and radio equipment on the north end of the island. I operated the Loran radio site next to the north end of the island (NDJ call letters). We had the four lane self-setting bowling alley and rode the island shuttle for hours. The Hour Glass was our two page newspaper. We swore that wood would rust, as out bicycles were lucky to last one year. Drinkkng water was gathered along the south edge of the runway and was scarce during the dry season. Ebeye, an island nearby, was and still is a slum for the local Marshalese. The US and military always turned their backs to the Ebeye island presdients' conditions. Roi Numar was an island still booby trapped and contained stacks of WWII equipment still on their pallets. A wrecked WWII bomber was seen along the SE coast of Roi Numar, as well as Japanese bunkers. Guggeegu was several hundred yards long and was an alternative transmitter site. Ennylabegan was also used as an alternative receiver site. Both islands were otherwise unoccupied.

[@YouTubeTyler]

Excellent.

[@timothywalker4563]

A gamers guide to the beaches, a good overview 😊

[@GulfIslandRock]

Gorgeous there

[@kboy6150]

Wow, great video.

[@Ammo08]

I think us missile troops should have had a chance to go to Kwaj and watch the RVs come in from the missiles we built.

[@georgej5841]

Those stones in front of the Colonel's house are Drachensahne. They prevent tracked and amphibious vehicles from moving over them. Essentially, a protection for the Colonel and his family from anyone trying a snatch and grab from the sea.

[@donedeal2012]

Lived on Kwaj back in 1964...what a place as a kid to experience.

[@stevendabiunkoyan9509]

Beautiful 😍

[@maggiemoo6854]

Wow when i lived there in the 60's we had two beaches. Nice that u can have the golf cart all we were allowed was our two feet or a bicycle. Do they still have the walk-in.... kwaj's version of a drive in? My family lived in the trailer part of the houseing.

[@nathanwhouston]

This is a great video

[@joestephan1111]

Would love to know the name of the ska background song. Good stuff.

[@johnescalante964]

1984/85 best time of my life, although I was a dependant. In highschool. I lived to fish so I was my element in kwaj. Coming back from Hawaii to kwaj. from vacation, the must stop was McDonald's, big Macs from Hawaii to kwaj. Could fetch 100$ as there was nothing close but the "snack bar" back then

[@AdventuresinthePhilippines]

The water off that landfill dump area used to be Tiger shark territory. Not a good idea so swim or surf there in the late 70's. Not, sure if they still dump stuff into the ocean anymore. Also used be be a lot of WWII wreckage there, tanks, etc.

[@stulynn2005]

63-72 I don't remember ever having shoes and we kids explored every inch of it

[@richarddixson1971]

A family member was some type of commander in the 60's his joke was it was the only place in the world with two jeeps and they would run into each other. Wish I would have been old enough to ask questions, He had tons of cool places to talk about.

[@stevenobitea7959]

Yeah true I'm from ebeye the other side of kwajlein everybodys knows everybodys on the both island lol

[@warrenstemphly5756]

‘96-‘98, miss it all the time.

[@deaththink]

Did you use Movavi to make this?

[@flip4v]

I grew up on Kwaj from 1995 to 2005 and in my childhood, that bench at spot #3 was called the kissing bench ;) Also, Coral Sands was always a spot for camping and bonfires when I was in the girlscouts out there. Is the building gone now?

[@iakwe8087]

@@yf3703 Yup

[@stevenobitea7959]

Hello from your neighbor here on ebeye lol

[@daviddarden1915]

Wow, I spent 13.8 years there. Working at the Kwajalein Police Department. Many blessings too.

[@damage4hire]

Hey, David. I'm actually looking at heading out to Kwaj when another police gig opens up. What is your opinion of the department over there? I'm currently at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah.

[@daviddarden1915]

@@damage4hire Currently the new contract belongs to Chenega. They are so great at pay the locals working are getting a starting pay of over $15.00 dollars a hour. This has change their life so tremendously. So, I was thinking if the locals are getting paid like that. Usually their economy is $2.00 dollars a hour for them. I can imagine what Americans are getting there now on the new contract. I suggest you go for it. Right now my son age 22 is thinking about getting out US Army so I encourage him and you to go for this too. Good luck and GOD speed.

[@kalilipa]

You should show how "kwaj" became "kwaj" by showing the neighbor islands and the people.

[@2meirmeir]

I was born there in '57. Dad was navy warrant officer. My first memory was smelling powdered eggs or such, nasty smell! Now I am having problems signing up for social security because the drop down list for country of birth on application, does not include Marshall Islands. Even in the list for countries around the world it is not listed. Now that Marshall Islands is independent republic and all of the controversy with the Marshallese and wanting medical care for their maladies from nuclear sickness and such, I wonder if they just want to sweep away any connection with the territory. But have to believe they will fix the mistake of not having Marshall Islands listed as birthplace. I have always wondered how many navy babies were born on Kwajalein the years the US presence was there. Hello where ever you are!

[@jordanvinson109]

Hey there! Many, many children were born on Kwajalein well up until the early 2000's. You'll likely have to make a dreaded phone call to the Social Security Administration to get that birthplace sorted out. Thanks for the watching the video. Subscribe for more! Cheers from Utah (I moved from Kwaj after 7.5 years last year). Great place, but it was time to move on.

[@jcee2259]

All the cool places have been cleared of things that go BOOM if you build a fire on sand over the wrong spot to be. As Kwaj does still have WW2 risk. Ditch- digging was one of the most dangerous jobs. Under the runway was where all the dead enemy were buried. By the US Army. The runway collects every drop of what people drink and flush toilets with. Treated, so it won't taste nasty. The US Army has returned to supervise various places that every tourist and most Kwaj' residents aren't allowed to visit. I know, having been part of the Military/ Industrial Complex. Where?, In places like Kanton Island. What? You thought Kwaj' was the only COOL PLACE to hang out ?

[@comm2531]

Would have liked to seen WW2 invasion beaches and historical facts about Kwajelein. I saw you blew by some informational signs that maybe talks about wildlife or about the invasion. Looks like way more things to do than Diego Garcia.

[@PTJunkieCoach]

What's up Jordan? Lots of memories SJC (14'-17')

[@alangeorge1661]

Can civilians live there, or is it strictly military?

[@carolinevanwinkle3755]

Seems more concerned with the sound of his voice than showing Kwajalein.

[@romanaround778]

My dad fought there in the Marines in WW2

[@jcee2259]

My dad built ships that went to Pacific Ocean destinations. And helped repair war damaged vessels that entered the San Francisco Bay.

[@sdimas73]

#16 was my beach the 5 times I was there.

[@SunnyDiegoProduction]

I think most kids know all these spots, at least “back in the day” without internet all you could really do was explore the island. Nevertheless great fun video!

[@Noah-ns2tx]

i think im moving here soon

[@randonjack6184]

It's Emman (eh-mman), not eemon. I'd like to see ya'll tour around Ebeye.

[@OldAccNotActiveAnymore]

I use d to live there and the natives called it and spelled it emon

[@maas6927]

Stop 1. The beach in translation means Good Beach. Edit: Also stop 6. Those pyramids are called dragons teeth for strategic obstacles. They supposed to be huge not tiny.

[@hotte13469]

You have to be part of the US Military to be there right ?

[@jordanvinson109]

No, there is a mix of soldiers, civilians, contractors and dependants on the island. Even some foreign nationals.

[@johnslaughter5475]

Also, people can come there by invitaion. There is a 30 day time limit.

[@luto2000]

Now do a tour of Ebeye!!

[@bethdyer6542]

Oi

[@pamhannappel8871]

My cousins grew up here in the 70’s. Mike and Robin Mitchell. My uncle was Don “Mitch” Mitchell. I loved hearing stories of their life here but until this video I never fully could understand what the island looked like. I thought it was cool that they boiled shark eyes and used them as marbles and the Boy Scouts going from island to island at low tide! I wish I could have visited them when they were here for 9 years. Thanks for the video, you did a great job and made it entertaining!

[@egay86292]

LOTS of fundychrists. bring a bible.

[@choctawriverlife194]

Are there any opportunities to learn to sail there?