Okinawa, Japan - Camp Foster

[jp2usmc]

I was at Hansen back in 1975-1976,,,,we used to use the caves to party in,,,,,,,,,if you get a chance go see kin cave in kinville,,,,,its a big cave, thats open to the public,,,,i thought it was pretty cool.

LOL That didn't happen to be a BAR called "The Cave", did it? I went to "The Cave" and got drunk quite often. If I recall correctly, it was over by the "Kick Ass East Coast Rock And Roll" club.

I could really go for some Taco Rice & Cheese or 3 Rolled Tacos.

[airwinghma]

Habu's, watch out for snakes in the caves or at the mouth of the caves, other than that take some pics and post.

Scott

[Zulu 36]

Habu's, watch out for snakes in the caves or at the mouth of the caves, other than that take some pics and post.

Scott

Oh, yeah. Got to watch out for those Habu snakes. Never saw one in or around any cave I explored, but that doesn't mean they weren't watching. You need a long stick when beating the bushes for them, they have a good length strike distance.

They're pretty nocturnal and I used to see them a lot crossing the perimeter road at Futemna in the evening. Snakes and feral dogs.

[EGTSpec]

When I was on the Rock in 75-76 a Marine exploring in the jungle found a cave that had been blown shut in WWII but with erosion had opened back up. He found two dead Jap skeletons in uniform and a rusty machine gun, ammo, and other stuff. I think they put all the stuff he found, except the skeletons of course, in a Museum on the Island. Can't recall the name of the base anymore. Only remember it was near or possibly on Kadena.

[Zulu 36]

When I was on the Rock in 75-76 a Marine exploring in the jungle found a cave that had been blown shut in WWII but with erosion had opened back up. He found two dead Jap skeletons in uniform and a rusty machine gun, ammo, and other stuff. I think they put all the stuff he found, except the skeletons of course, in a Museum on the Island. Can't recall the name of the base anymore. Only remember it was near or possibly on Kadena.

I'm quite certain there are many more caves like that waiting to be found. I'm equally certain that many have been found as development on Okinawa has expanded over the past 40-years, they just won't get big press in English language media unless found on US military bases or by US personnel (or if they involved American remains).

I was told by a US civilian civil engineer that most of the caves I explored at Naha in 1972 had been pretty well discovered and explored. Significant amounts of Japanese remains and military equipment had been removed in the late 1940s and early 1950s as the Air Force base at Naha was being constructed. The remains were repatriated to the Japanese, the equipment and weapons were dumped at sea or otherwise destroyed. There was just so much stuff adrift all over the island it wasn't unique or seen as historical at that time. Just trash.

Naha AB also had a number of well-beat up reinforced concrete bunkers still scattered about the base proper. I remember at least one still (sorta-kinda) mounted an artillery piece about 4" in bore. These bunkers were primarily sited to defend against a sea landing. I would guess these artillery bunkers were pretty much rendered ineffective for their original purposes by the time the 6thMarDiv landed through bombing or removal of weapons to the east, although they were still mostly suitable for infantry positions.

I had a ton of photos from Naha, but I haven't been able to find all of them for years. Unfortunately, the missing photos are of the caves and bunkers.

[EGTSpec]

I'm quite certain there are many more caves like that waiting to be found. I'm equally certain that many have been found as development on Okinawa has expanded over the past 40-years, they just won't get big press in English language media unless found on US military bases or by US personnel (or if they involved American remains).

I was told by a US civilian civil engineer that most of the caves I explored at Naha in 1972 had been pretty well discovered and explored. Significant amounts of Japanese remains and military equipment had been removed in the late 1940s and early 1950s as the Air Force base at Naha was being constructed. The remains were repatriated to the Japanese, the equipment and weapons were dumped at sea or otherwise destroyed. There was just so much stuff adrift all over the island it wasn't unique or seen as historical at that time. Just trash.

Naha AB also had a number of well-beat up reinforced concrete bunkers still scattered about the base proper. I remember at least one still (sorta-kinda) mounted an artillery piece about 4" in bore. These bunkers were primarily sited to defend against a sea landing. I would guess these artillery bunkers were pretty much rendered ineffective for their original purposes by the time the 6thMarDiv landed through bombing or removal of weapons to the east, although they were still mostly suitable for infantry positions.

I had a ton of photos from Naha, but I haven't been able to find all of them for years. Unfortunately, the missing photos are of the caves and bunkers.

Yeah, I have a picture I took of the bay off Camp Schwab looking north. In my picture all you see is jungle across the bay. I found a picture on Goggle Earth taken at the same exact location just a couple years ago. The whole area across the bay is now covered in buildings. Also I have searched and searched and can't find the area where Camp Hauge was. I suspect it is now a houseing area, but not sure. There was a huge Rocky area fenced off in the middle of the base as I recall that was off limits because of dangerous caves, habu snakes and the like. I wander if it was cleared or is still there.

[tripledog]

I was there in 62-63 and the caves were a no no to military.

I Remember when survival was taught there and the forrest were real then.
I suspect it is all housing now.

Thought about going back many times, but remembered the way they drove those dam Datsun cabs and changed my mind. And besides, I suspect that steam baths, massage and honk jobs have gone up quite a bit anyway.

[Ray Merrell]

1945...In the Northern end of Japan at Nago, just before we started up Mt. Yaetake, the Japanese knowing we were coming left their Barracks before we arrived. They left everything just as it was except they took their weapons. I picked up a photo album of good Japanese pictures and a good Japanese flag. The pictures are now in my photo album.

Gung Ho,

Ray

[Zulu 36]

When Google Earth came along, I went on and checked the places I had been. Okinawa was the one place that really stunned me by the extent of development.

I had known, of course, there had been significant development just between May 1972, when I left Oki after my first visit, and Oct 1974 when I returned. But the Google Earth views really astounded me.

Some of the familiar terrain features around Naha AB are totally gone, including one very large coral pinnacle that had been an absolute ant farm of tunnels and fighting positions. Such is the price of progress I suppose.

[EGTSpec]

1945...In the Northern end of Japan at Nago, just before we started up Mt. Yaetake, the Japanese knowing we were coming left their Barracks before we arrived. They left everything just as it was except they took their weapons. I picked up a photo album of good Japanese pictures and a good Japanese flag. The pictures are now in my photo album.

Gung Ho,

Ray

Post the Pics Ray I would love to see em. SF

[Ray Merrell]

EGTSpec, I have posted a couple of pages from my scrapbook of pictures found on Okinawa and also a picture of a page from my mothers scrapbook of pictures found on Bougainville. I will post more pictures from Okinawa later. You will find them on my profile in my photo album page. Ray

[EGTSpec]

EGTSpec, I have posted a couple of pages from my scrapbook of pictures found on Okinawa and also a picture of a page from my mothers scrapbook of pictures found on Bougainville. I will post more pictures from Okinawa later. You will find them on my profile in my photo album page. Ray

Cool pictures Ray, Thanks for sharing. SF

[Reddog48]

I explored the caves near Foster back in 81. I was with Delta 2/12 and the caves were near there. The caves I went into were not very deep. Some contained clay pots with human ashes in them. I took a metal detector there and found some brass, a piece of a rusted US helmet, and a US hand grenade. Dumb?... yep. EOD took the grenade from me.

[William Hardy]

I'm confused...
When I was there it was 3rd FSR and nobody mentioned anything about caves. I checked out Google Earth and found the two "H" shaped HQ bldgs. Between them is a long bldg. Behind that is a building that is surrounded by a fence. (zoom all the way in). When I was there, that was the Comm Center where I worked. We had our own compound inside the base. To the right of that area is a line of bldgs that were barracks. The one closest to the HQ buildings was the Comm barracks. In front of those is the parade deck and what use to be our PT area. This is the area where I have no knowledge of caves. It was too built up. Unless they were "hidden" or something, I think you guys are talking about a different area. If they were there, please give more information. Thanks guys.

[jp2usmc]

What are the map coordinates of Camp Foster?