Looking for anyone who can give me info on how to find an old friend from Gotemba. What is Gotemba like now? Tried old mailing address for friend and mail was returned. Don't know if mailing address format has changed. I was up at North Camp on three different ocassions during 1960-61. Village of Tomahoe(?)was located right outside base. On ocassion of third visit we loaded out from White Beach on Okinawa, in the middle of the night, not told destination, switched ships twice in the middle of the ocean. Other 2 ships continued on and my team and one other team went into Vietnam. We had top secret clearances for that particular mission. On backload we continued on to Mt. Fuji and assisted in making movie called, "Marines, Let's Go". Starred Tom Tryon, David Hedison and Elaine Stuart. Was directed by Raoul Walsh, famous director at that time. Fell in love with girl from Gotemba on previous visits. Saw her for the last time on third visit. Old address yielded no results for locating her. Long time ago, but still would like to try and find her. I tried shipping over while I was stationed there, but Marine Corps said no. Wish I had went back after discharge.

Hi Marine, This brings back a lot of fond memorys. I was at Middle Camp until we went to the Suez in 56, I think we was aboard ship for 78 days. Upon returning to Fuji, I was transfered to North Camp. I wish I could go back to Tomaho now to drink a bottle of Asihi & just look for a jo-san named Mariko Takahashi. We lived togather for over a year. I would have married that gal but you know the Corps policy on FMF Troops. OK Marine, Got to go.
Semper Fi
(former Sgt.) Bob Robinson

I was also on the movement to the Suez crisis. "I" Co. 3-3-3. I was in the second platoon as a BAR man.

Was stationed there. Was infintry "D-2-3" Barracks
right near main gate just down from PX. About 2 minuet
walk to Tomaho & some very fun nights and even during
the day. Gotemba ok also, but our little village had
a lot to offer horney 18 yr.old kid.
Believe it or not but I thought we had the best of
food at our mess hall. Not too many places where
the menu is different every day for 21 days
except sunday which was always the same. Weather was darn good for being at about 6000 ft. elevation.

Finished tour of duty at Pendelton and out on April
4, 1957
Vic,

http://www.yorihuzi.net/1--3-1.html

Try this URL. You may find some one who can tell you how to locat4e a person in Japan.

I was N.Camp Fuji 54-56 Weapons Co. 3-3.

Hope this helps you

was stationed at camp mcnair in 53 and 54. gotemba was one of our favorite leave spots. i was with the 12th marines service battery. visited gotemba on jan 1,2002(several weeks ago). the town is now a city and the buildings rise above one story. some are skyscrapers. it is modern and clean and mostly unbelievable. i have no idea as how to find anyone. camp mcnair is gone as is everything else since 1954. my son is a lt col in the usaf and is stationed in yokada (nw of tokyo. our battery also ran the special services r and r hotel on lake yamanaka. it was turned over to the japanese and the lake is a very lavish resort area.regards len castelli

Hi, I was stationed at souith Camp Fuji during 1954. Pulled lots of liberty in Gotemba and went back to see it in 1994. Took my wife so she could see the place I'd talked about for so many years. It was a bit disappointing because the train trip from Tokyo to Gotemba was drastically changed.

There were no open areas, no rice paddies, nothing that looked like Japan of the 1950's which in turn looked like Japan of ancient times. In 1994 it was one solid megalopolis of built up industrial and commercial buildings all the way to Gotemba.

When we got off the train I recognized the same rail depot at Gotemba but that too was changed. It was now very modern and crowded. As I looked out into Gotemba I was stunned at the changes. It was like looing out at any town in the USA. Now they had all paved streets, street lights, neon lights everywhere, tall buldings, heavy traffic and everywhere you looked you saw Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell ... you name it, it was there.

All the Japanese were dressed like Americans, all were taller, younger, rowdier and smart-assed, just like our American kids.

We found an old Japanese gentleman who remembered "the good old days" of 1953-54-55 and he personally missed the Marines. He was able to escort us to find some old locations. We found the building that was once the "Grand Palace" muy favorite nightclub bar. We found where the "New Cherry Bar" used to be and a few other places. I was terribly disappointed but still excited to be there again.

Had some wonderful times there.

Eddie Arechiga

Hello Ed,
TRIED TO RESPOND EARLIER BUT WAS CUT OFF. DO YOU REMEMBER THE MIDDLE CAMP BAKERY? ON COLD DUTY NIGHTS SOME ENTERPRISING SCROUNGER WOULD TALK THE BAKERS OUT OF A LOAF OR TWO OF FRESH BAKED BREAD AND SOME BUTTER.AND WE WOULD FEAST ON IT. THAT IS, AFTER GETTING A WHIFF OF THE BREAD BAKING WHICH SEEMED TO PERMEATE THE NIGHT AIR. tHE OTHER THING WAS GETTING UP EARLY IN THE MORNING AND SEEING MT. FUJI GO THROUGH ITS YEARLY PHASES. BEAUTIFUL STUFF. WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO BE IN THE CORPS AGAIN AND DO IT ALL OVER...ONLY WITH MORE STYLE.
SEMPER FI, MARINE...RICH BISETTI

I spent 1954 at middle camp fuji.I also had bread from that bakery,it was GOOD.My barracks was right across the street from the theater. A co 3rd eng bn 3rd mar div.I still have my co. picture with mt.fuji in the back ground.That picture is faded now and 49 years old,but I still remmember those days when I was young and a MARINE.

I was in w-2-9, about two barracks down (I think) from the bakery. We also bummed hot bread.
I heard the reason it was so good was because it was made with rice and that made sense to an 18 y.o.
At 64 and having cooked a couple of things, I'm not so sure.

You bet I remember that bakery - I was an MP and after late night shifts we would stop at the bakery for several hot loaves.

I was stationed at Middle Camp, and spent many visits to Gotemba. I was a Corposmen with the 3rd marines.
I was there 1952-1953. A great place. dick

I too was at North Camp during 53/54 as an HM-3 & 2. Most of my time was spent with a VD Control Team charged with setting up a VD control program, one element of which
involved tracking down Gotemba and Tomaho
'ladies' who had sidelined North Camp marines and seeing to it that they got treated and temporarly retired until fit for continued 'duty.' Another element involved early morning unannounced
'shortarm inspections' (I am sure everyone remembers them) and then getting marines who appeared likely candidates for further inspection to look over the mug book photos of all the girls and identify the most likely candidate responsible for their problem. Sometimes an evening of too much sake or shochu made this difficult. About 500 girls belonged to the local 'Working Girls Association'.

As this job required considerable time to be spent in the village, I got to know it inside and out as well as all of the 'mama-sans and most of the 'ladies.'

This duty led to many humorous experiences. But the mostly experimental program we put in place was eventually adopted by all marine units in Japan and when we departed was being introduced to the other services. It definitely reduced the amount of lost duty time being experienced.

Was in Middle Camp Fuji in 53. What a place. Great memories. Sacked out in the M.P. barracks. Worked at the Dispensary.

Send me an email with the person's info and I will see what I come up with here.

S/F,
Chilly Willie
0341/USMC
7th Marines