From Camp Chaffee, Arkansas to Tokyo, Japan - and back to Tulsa - Feb.,1955 to Aug.,1957
These pages contain pictures from the mid 1950's when I spent almost three years in the U. S. Army. The fact that my wife, Laura Ann, was with me most of the time, and the good friends we met, made the whole thing bearable.
I started with basic training at Camp Chaffee, Ark. From there to Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey where I attended Radio school. Laura Ann Higdon came out from Tulsa and we were married at Ft. Monmouth Chapel # 1 on June 4, 1955. We lived off post at Eatontown, N. J. until Oct., 1955., when I received my orders to the Far East.
Laura Ann went by bus back to Tulsa while I went by train to Ft. Lewis, Washington before shipping out for Japan. The ship was a civilian operated Military Sea Transport Service (MSTS), General Nelson M. Walker. It was loaded with GI's, some going to Japan and some to Korea. I was surprised when it bypassed Japan and didn't stop until reaching Inchon, Korea. There, they unloaded about half the human cargo and loaded up about the same number who were going to Japan or to the States. We finally arrived at Yokahama, Japan in early November, 1955, 28 days after leaving Seattle, WA. For more information about the Nelson M. Walker, visit this site: >http://1-22infantry.org/history3/walker.htm <
After about 6 months, Laura Ann arrived at Tokyo International Airport and we took up our lives where we left off, spending nearly 16 months in Japan. I was assigned to Camp Owada Receiver site. We lived off-post at Narimasu, Japan, about 8 miles from Owada.
Never before, or since, have we met such good friends as those we met in Japan. Names that have remained in my memory for over 50 years include: Hummel, Killen, Robinson, Purnell, Tedder, Rigsbee, Higgins, Turner, Black,and others.
While in Japan we took hundreds, of pictures, some of which I will include here, for those old army friends who chance to stop by and have their memories revived.
So let the memories begin with our days [daze ] at Camp Owada, Camp Drake, Grant Heights, Narimasu, Tokyo, Nikko, Kamakura . . . motorcycle rides through the Japanese countryside with good friends . . . picnics and visits to parks and other areas of recreation . . . playing hearts and pitch at the kitchen table in the evenings . . . probably lots more that I'm too old to remember.
Here are some pictures of my army Daze. I intend to keep adding to the list as long as the pictures hold out. Some are not in such good condition but then neither am I, after 50 plus years. I have added some new pictures to "Scenes around Camp Owada" that were sent in by others that were stationed there after I left.
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Jim and Friends at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, 1955
Jim & Laura Ann in New York & New Jersey - Ft. Monmouth, 1955
From New Jersey to Japan Oct. - Dec. 1955
Scenes Around Camp Owada 1955 - 1965
1956
Unknown Air Force Facility, Feb. 1956
Tokyo Street Scene, March 1956
Laura Ann's Plane Arrives at Tokyo International, April 6, 1956
Hummels at our house, June 1956
Playing Cards with Hummels, June 1956
A day with JoAnn and Phil Hummel, June 10, 1956
Us & Hummels at Kamakura getting sunburn, Thursday, July 19, 1956
Buddah at Kamakura, July, 1956
Ann Carpenter with Phil & JoAnn Hummel, at Carpenter's House sometime in 1956
Tokyo Street Scene, Summer of '56
Tokyo Street Scene, Summer of '56-2
Tokyo Diet Building, Summer of '56
Laura Ann Carpenter and Three Wheeler, Summer of '56
Laura Ann in Ricksha at Camp Drake, Summer, '56
Laura Ann and bicycle at Grant Heights, Summer 1956
Hummels and Carpenters at Nikko National Park, Oct. 1956
"Going Away" Party for Marvin Rigsbee at Hummel's house, Oct. 1956 12 pictures
Tokyo Army Hospital, Dec. 1956
Playing cards with Hummels, Dec. 1956
Christmas time with Hummels, Dec. 1956
Jim, Laura Ann and Cat at Christmas time, 1956
Open House Christmas Party at home of Lloyd and Beverly Higgins, Dec. 24, 1956
Christmas Dinner with Ted and Mardy Tedder, Dec. 25, 1956
Jim & Laura Ann Carpenter with Lloyd & Beverly Higgins, Dec. 31, 1956
Japanese Home in Narimasu, Jan. 01, 1957
Phil & JoAnn Hummel, Ann Carpenter at Narimasu, Japan, Jan. 1, 1957
Phil & JoAnn Hummel preparing to leave Japan, Jan. 1957
Tedder's at our house, Jan. 1957
Front of Tedder's house in Narimasu, 1957
Three Wheeler in front of Tedder's house, Narimasu, 1957
Post Exchange at Grant Heights, 1957
Fuji View Hotel, May 1957 - 14 pictures
Includes 2002 pictures by Hiroyuki Ishizaka
Laura Ann and Mona Carpenter, 1957
Japanese Soldiers near Narimasu, Summer, 1957
Killens, Carpenters, Robinsons, Summer, 1957
Killens, Carpenters, Robinsons picnic, Summer 1957
Laura Ann and our dog, Mona in park, Summer 1957
Pat Killen & Laura Ann Carpenter, Saturday, June 15, 1957
Jim Carpenter, Dave Robinson & Hollis Killen, Aug. 1957
Farewell dinner for Jim & Laura Ann, Aug, 1957
Hollis, Patricia, Laura Ann in Tokyo, Aug 1957
Laura Ann Carpenter at Tokyo International, Monday, August 19, 1957
Winging our way home, Mon. Aug. 19, 1957 [Take me back to Tulsa]
Honolulu International Airport, August 1957
Our Plane at Hawaii, August 1957
Date Unknown or questionable
Laura Ann & Jim Carpenter playing records at home in Narimasu, Japan, '56 / '57
Swimming Pool at Grant Heights
Street Scene in Narimasu, Japan
Tokyo Street Bird's-eye View, '56 or '57
Crops and Fields near Narimasu
More Crops and Fields near Narimasu
Carpenters, Killens on motorcycles, 1956 or 57
Laura Ann & Hollis on Motorcycles
Jim & Hollis on motorcycles at Carpenter's house
Laura Ann & Pat on motorcycles at Carpenter's house
Roberta & Dave Robinson on bicycles at their house
Laura Ann Carpenter, Carolyn & Calvin Black, Lloyd Higgins
Carolyn & Calvin Black, Mardy & Ted Tedder
Group at home of Lloyd & Beverly Higgins
Don Purnell in Choir Robe, 1956 / 57
Workers in field near Grant Heights, 1956 or 57
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