As a loadmaster on c141s, during Vietnam, we stopped in here quite often. Spent a lot of time snorkeling not far from drifters reef and steak night on Wednesdays!
Viewing some of the more recent videos of Wake, things are quite different from when I lived there for 13 months back around 1969. When I was in Security Police Training at Lackland AFB, we each of about 100 men put our name on a piece of paper and put into the Sgt's hat. The first name to be pulled out of the hat was mine. I could take my pick of a number of duty stations they wanted to fill. I honestly had never heard of Wake Island, but thought it sounded interesting and even more importantly, was not in Vietnam. It turned out to be very nice duty. Lots of things to do as long as you can tolerate not having women available (for the most part). Some guys would drink excessively, but I enjoyed volunteering at our local AM radio station KEAD, swimming, snorkeling, water skiing, listening to shortwave (we actually had a state of the art for that time, Hammarlund HQ-180 or similar radio). Food was the same as flight crews got which included officers. The menu was a little repetitious perhaps but it is hard to ignore once a week prime rib of beef and once a week thick grilled steak. Got a TDY back to Hickam AFB, HI for a two week driver training to get my military driver's license. I had two friends from college who had moved to Hawaii in preparation for Peace Corps duty and got to see some of Honolulu and surrounding area.
Thank you for sharing your stories about your time there. I have only passed through a dozen times or so, so my experiences pale in comparison to yours. Neat place though.
You are one lucky guy... I dream of living on this island. Ever since I came across some videos of it. :) Did you snorkel in the lagoon ? If so was there coral in there? and a lot of fish? I tell you what if I lived on that island I would not need TV or internet. I would spend my days just out enjoying the island completely. I noticed in one of the videos of the island there are some more modern houses where people live.. The guy said some military people.. but I guess it would be older people that somehow got a CLEAR to build there? I dont know how? but its awesome.
Sooo.. I came through there, many times, as a crew member on C-141s. The old drifters reef and snorkeling in the lagoon. My old roommate said that he saw Bob Hope perform in the terminal. Perhaps that was after you left? Great place
Wake is pretty interesting. Was stuck there for 3 days. Toured the island. Saw POW rock, the old PanAm seaplane ramp and remnants of the clipper hotel and pool. Gun emplacements and aircraft revetments. Also old base housing areas that were in ruin. Also saw what was left of a tank in the bay between the main island and Peale island. They have a little museum at the air terminal with history and artifacts that have been found around the island. Impressive story of an Alamo defense of the island. For my retirement I asked for and was presented with an American flag flown on the island on the anniversary of the attack. A group of brave men they were.
Did you happen to check out the air tower? inside? Man I just LOVE this island. I noticed in one of the videos that there is some more modern houses... Do you know who lives in them?
It’s been at least 10 years since I was last there. The terminal had some interesting artifacts and history. There aren’t many active duty that I remember. Mostly foreign contract workers.
Wake Island is an U.S. Air Force military installation--home to 611th Air Support Group Det 1-15 AW. Entry onto Wake Is is heavily restricted requiring advanced permission from the military to visit. Such visit are almost always restricted to military personnel only, who have been given special use permits.
The Japanese had no such permits in 1941. That airstrip was the scene of ferocious combat in WW2. The USMC held out for a week before succumbing to the weight of the enemy.
@@SuPaKidge Of course not! My Uncles saw to that. They fought the IJA/IJN on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. My Father was Army of Occupation Tokyo Japan. I served at MCAS Iwakuni Japan MAG-12 May 1978/79.
I have spent countless hours on Wake island in BF too :) Great map for some compressed action... And Wake is one of 17 entities "DXCC's" I still have not worked on amateur radio. :P
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I stopped there Nov 1970 on my way to Nam, Marine monument very humbling, thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing your story Larry.
As a loadmaster on c141s, during Vietnam, we stopped in here quite often. Spent a lot of time snorkeling not far from drifters reef and steak night on Wednesdays!
Super awesome!! Id love to check it out!!!
I still have my T-shirt from the "Drifter's Reef" bar and grill. ;)
That's awesome! Mine has long since disappeared, but I'd like to get another.
Wake Island! Lots of History there
Viewing some of the more recent videos of Wake, things are quite different from when I lived there for 13 months back around 1969. When I was in Security Police Training at Lackland AFB, we each of about 100 men put our name on a piece of paper and put into the Sgt's hat. The first name to be pulled out of the hat was mine. I could take my pick of a number of duty stations they wanted to fill. I honestly had never heard of Wake Island, but thought it sounded interesting and even more importantly, was not in Vietnam.
It turned out to be very nice duty. Lots of things to do as long as you can tolerate not having women available (for the most part). Some guys would drink excessively, but I enjoyed volunteering at our local AM radio station KEAD, swimming, snorkeling, water skiing, listening to shortwave (we actually had a state of the art for that time, Hammarlund HQ-180 or similar radio). Food was the same as flight crews got which included officers. The menu was a little repetitious perhaps but it is hard to ignore once a week prime rib of beef and once a week thick grilled steak. Got a TDY back to Hickam AFB, HI for a two week driver training to get my military driver's license. I had two friends from college who had moved to Hawaii in preparation for Peace Corps duty and got to see some of Honolulu and surrounding area.
Thank you for sharing your stories about your time there. I have only passed through a dozen times or so, so my experiences pale in comparison to yours. Neat place though.
great story, thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your story, and your service.
You are one lucky guy... I dream of living on this island. Ever since I came across some videos of it. :) Did you snorkel in the lagoon ? If so was there coral in there? and a lot of fish? I tell you what if I lived on that island I would not need TV or internet. I would spend my days just out enjoying the island completely. I noticed in one of the videos of the island there are some more modern houses where people live.. The guy said some military people.. but I guess it would be older people that somehow got a CLEAR to build there? I dont know how? but its awesome.
Sooo..
I came through there, many times, as a crew member on C-141s.
The old drifters reef and snorkeling in the lagoon.
My old roommate said that he saw Bob Hope perform in the terminal.
Perhaps that was after you left?
Great place
Wake is pretty interesting. Was stuck there for 3 days. Toured the island. Saw POW rock, the old PanAm seaplane ramp and remnants of the clipper hotel and pool. Gun emplacements and aircraft revetments. Also old base housing areas that were in ruin. Also saw what was left of a tank in the bay between the main island and Peale island. They have a little museum at the air terminal with history and artifacts that have been found around the island. Impressive story of an Alamo defense of the island. For my retirement I asked for and was presented with an American flag flown on the island on the anniversary of the attack. A group of brave men they were.
That’s an awesome story. Thanks for sharing. I assume your flew Carolina Lawn Darts (AV8B)?
@@smashedheadcat AV8R (aviator). Actually flew A-4s active and C-130 in the reserves.
@@av8rgrip That’s awesome. I spent my career on C-130’s as an Flight Mech/FE/Crewchief, and I still work with Hercs today.
Did you happen to check out the air tower? inside? Man I just LOVE this island. I noticed in one of the videos that there is some more modern houses... Do you know who lives in them?
It’s been at least 10 years since I was last there. The terminal had some interesting artifacts and history. There aren’t many active duty that I remember. Mostly foreign contract workers.
That little bay in the middle looks so blue and nice. Some really interesting WW2 history there.....wish I could go.
It’s definitely a cool place. I wish I could go back, but I don’t think it’s possible.
So cool!
Where “America’s Day” really begins!
Wake Island is an U.S. Air Force military installation--home to 611th Air Support Group Det 1-15 AW. Entry onto Wake Is is heavily restricted requiring advanced permission from the military to visit. Such visit are almost always restricted to military personnel only, who have been given special use permits.
The Japanese had no such permits in 1941. That airstrip was the scene of ferocious combat in WW2. The USMC held out for a week before succumbing to the weight of the enemy.
@@TheDustysix there’s no more IJN
@@SuPaKidge Of course not! My Uncles saw to that. They fought the IJA/IJN on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. My Father was Army of Occupation Tokyo Japan. I served at MCAS Iwakuni Japan MAG-12 May 1978/79.
Been there! Done that!
Solid!
Top KEK!
Not full time. It's a military only island. There is a group of people that stay there to run things, but I don't think it's permanant.
@firebolt120 No, but that is a good thing. After 4-5 days, you'll be ready to leave. There's just not "enough" stuff to do there.
I passed through there in 1969 in route to Vietnam. Who do you upset to get stationed on Wake Island ??? LOL
It's a military field, so unless you're in the military, it's unlikely you'll be able to go.
if i join the airforce can you ask to be stationed there???
If you piss someone off it may very well come to pass.
Is the Drifter's Reef still there?
This was from late 2010, and if memory serves, it was not open. We did a gas and go on this particular trip so I cannot recall for sure.
Can i go there ? :D
And i thought it was only in battlefield :0
I have spent countless hours on Wake island in BF too :) Great map for some compressed action...
And Wake is one of 17 entities "DXCC's" I still have not worked on amateur radio. :P
do people live there?