duty in japan -camp fuji

The following is an excerpt from Chapter 12 of Annapolis Creed

​                                                  Chapter 12 - Duty in Japan

Upon arrival in Japan, I first visited the 12th Marine Regiment in Okinawa.  I went to the 3rd Division personnel office and noticed an opening for Company Commanders.  I was senior to the other officers, and a Captain (Select).  But when I checked into the division personnel and the adjutant reviewed my qualification record.  Because of my experience concerning maintenance and motor transport, I was sent to Camp Fuji instead of the 12th Marine Regiment.  I was sent down the wrong pathway once again.  I could have been back in California.  I asked the adjutant where the hell (X#!) is Fuji?  He replied, “you better check into supply for some cold weather gear.” I was really screwed.  No more beaches but snow and cold weather. 

Before I knew it, I was on a bus to the Okinawa Airfield and was flown somewhere to the mainland to an airbase in Yokota, Japan.  I arrived and was met by a young Marine bus driver.  It was cold, and snow was on the ground.  The airport terminal windows had frost with no visibility to the outside.  I retrieved my sea bag and followed my escort to go outside the terminal.  I could not see anything but this bus with the words “Fuji Marines” on the side.  I boarded the bus and went directly to sleep.  The trip to Fuji was on a winding decline of a road.  I would peek out and wipe the window to try to observe the scenery.  No luck it was dark and cold.  The heater on the bus was not working very well that night.  I could see no houses and the windows of the bus were covered with ice.  I had not envisioned Japanese urban life.  I was tired and fell back asleep. 

I was awakened by the bus hitting a bump in the road as it turned into the gate.  I could see a Marine Sentry and a Japanese Security Guard.  It was still dark as heck.  There were no street lights.  I was escorted to my quarters by a Marine with a flashlight across the courtyard irregular patches of snow.  It was Friday night, and all was quiet.  The company grade officer living quarters was a Quonset hut that had four adjoining bedrooms with a shared bathroom in between adjoining rooms.  I went to sleep that night but had trouble sleeping because of the squeaking noises coming from the other room.  I could only hear the squeaks. 
 
Figure 37- Camp Fuji 1980 (Shown Above)

When I woke up the next morning, I stepped outside and turned to the right and gazed at the top of Mount Fuji covered with snow.  The enlisted Marines lived in these huts and had to walk outside in the cold weather to take a shower and use the head (latrine, toilet or restroom).  This was no ordinary camp, and I was far away from home.  So my plan backfired on me, and I was now assigned duties as the S-4 at Camp Fuji because of my experience as a Motor Transport Officer and Maintenance Management Officer.  I would stay at Camp Fuji until I was able to get a change in my MOS to 0402 Logistics Officer.  I figured that I could get promoted to Major because I could stay in my technical field of logistics.  My duties as the S-4 had me to prepare routes of transportation for Marines from Okinawa to fire field artillery on the grounds at the base of Mt. Fuji.  I would perform beachhead operations and run convoys from Yokusuka Naval Base and the port of Yokohama.  My job at Range Company was to escort Marine convoys through a Major Japanese city (Yokohama, Yokusuka, Numazu).

                                               The Marine Peeping Tom

I served as Executive Officer Service Company, Combined Arms Training Center (CATC) because the former XO got fired for literally being a “Peeping Tom Stalker.” I remember being ordered to report to the Commanding Officer (CO) ( a rather large definitely overweight Marine Colonel) and being told that I was now the XO.  When I asked why he gave me the keys to the visiting quarters, then he instructed me to look for the holes in the walls and curtains to see for myself.   ​There were holes ....